I don't think I've ever had a problem writing in public, not that I can remember, so long as no one approaches me asking about what I'm doing while I'm still in the midst of doing it. Then I get flustered, self-conscious... It takes a moment once I sit down to quell out everything around me (all but what I can use for influence, if anything) and get into the manuscript, so if anyone should jerk me out of it sometimes I can't get back in. Like meditation in some respects, I suppose. But I've gotten to the point where I almost need to be out in public to write at all. That one I can't explain.

As for music, no no no, I must have music, and forget trying to write if I don't. I have to have that rhythm to carry me along. Must. Can you not even write to, say, classical or other instrumental forms? Or lyrics in foreign languages?