I enjoy a good adult beverage, especially with the availability of good beer and wine over here. I should also specify that the only drinking problem I have is the very literal one my husband makes fun of me for--I tend to tip a glass too much when drinking through a straw.
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| This kid does a better job than me. |
Anyway, since some very creative people have admitted to doing some of their best work while tipsy, I thought it would be a fun little experiment to have a glass of wine or several before trying to write. Hey, anything to give the creative juices a kick-start. Worth a try, right?
Or, as I called it, trying to "do a Hemingway."
So one night, I had a couple of glasses of wine with dinner, then sat down at my computer to get my write on.
Sadly, it didn't work. I think I got stupider.
It turns out that my attention span went from "serious intellectual" to "Ooh, shiny!" very quickly and I ended up stalking people on Facebook rather than getting any groundbreaking material written.
My husband thought I was entertaining, at least until I fell asleep, so that's something.
How about you? Do you have a drink while writing? Does it let the creative juices flow? Or does it unleash your inner Facebook stalker?
xoxo Sarah
Lol, this post really made me giggle. I have never done a Hemingway, but I'm tempted to give it a go. There's a bottle of champagne stashed under my desk at work, so that could be pretty interesting!
ReplyDeleteGive it a shot (pun totally intended)! You never know what will happen. :-D
DeleteThat's hilarious! I did write one fanfic under the influence and it got voted best WTF story! Lol. But then again it's the only story that had gotten attention. Maybe I should try it again! Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteHaha, thanks! That can happen...I have a feeling that there'd have to be some heavy editing going on if I ever got anything worthwhile down while tipsy. :-P
DeleteI drink coffee. Doing a Hemingway (a great phrase I will use forever) would make me too sleepy to write.
ReplyDeleteCoffee tends to make me jittery, so I'll generally only drink it if I haven't had a lot of sleep. I'm glad you like my new phrase!
DeleteI do like to have a beer or two while writing, but any more that that, and I lose focus. I don't stray to social media, but I will find the couch pretty quickly for some mindless TV. Like everyone else so far, I too, love the phrase "doing a Hemingway."
ReplyDeleteTV can be just as much a distraction as Facebook, that's for sure. I'm glad you like my new phrase!
DeleteI haven't had any alcohol since I had a two day hangover following my friend's bachelorette party. I don't drunk text or drunk Facebook but I drunk tweet. A lot.
ReplyDeleteA two day hangover? Holy moly! And I love reading drunk tweets, lol!
DeleteHi Sarah! I'd be terrified to get on Facebook or Twitter after having even one glass of wine. I have a tendency to babble when drinking (even when drinking too much coffee). As for writing, coffee works well for that, but anything else would make me sleepy. Even Tension Tamer tea is risky. :D
ReplyDeleteThat can definitely happen! Coffee can make me jittery, so tea it is.
DeleteHey Sarah - interesting topic. And a honest one.
ReplyDeleteI try to avoid drinking when writing because I didn't want run the risk of anything being a crutch. I strive to keep it my brain and the computer, however there have been times when I've felt too "locked up" and thought that maybe half a glass of wine would help.
Friends have always given me the feedback that I "open up" after a drink, and I know that my internal editor disappears and I get kind of "love the world." And there have a been a couple sporadic times that I've sat down to write after dinner and drinks with friends (to get the writing done), but I've had to fight to keep my attention span from going "Oh look, there's a squirrel!" every five minutes.
So, coffee in the morning mostly. One drink if out with friends and a thorough re-read the following morning. ;0)
Fun topic!
Haha, yes, quite a bit of editing would be necessary if I got anything out. :-) I stick with my tea, juice, or water, mostly.
DeleteMy hubby swears on having the right amount of alcohol makes him code better. He calls it the Ballmer Effect (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Ballmer%20Peak) When I've hit a writing block, he always tries to convince me to have a drink, but whenever I do drink (and I do drunk txt friends, but I don't get insane despite how eager they are to see me get insane) I just get sleepy. Not creative juices flow what-so-ever.
ReplyDeleteYou never know! I've definitely heard of it working like it does with your husband. Odd, but interesting.
DeleteI'm a morning writer, so having a cocktail with breakfast wouldn't be the best idea. Definitely don't want to get a DUI when I pick my kids up from school at 3. I have written at night with a glass of wine, but it makes me less productive on the page.
ReplyDeleteHaha, very true! Good to stick with caffeine then. :-)
DeleteI would think my focus would be off, I don't think I'd get much actual work done. And probably any of my facebook posts wouldn't be nearly as funny the next day.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes...exactly why I like reading peoples' drunk tweets and FB posts.
DeleteI prefer a clear head. However, many of the writers in my writer's group believe they write better after having a few. Do what's best for you.
ReplyDelete:)
Kate
Follow & A to Z Visiting: http://whemkateblogs.blogspot.com
Exactly...do what works for you, and your work will always be awesome.
DeleteI don't need a drink to go "oooo shiny" so...I'd be afraid to see the drivel I'd pour out.
ReplyDeleteTrue! There are definitely some times where my attention span is short on its own...I don't need help making it shorter.
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