Do you always write sober?

I wish I could. The last thing I want to do after a drink is write. I've tried and only two things happened. Either I sober up and its just like any other time. Or I fall asleep. But I don't mind having a drink and raving about everything I will write.

AshleyEpidemic said:

I wish I could. The last thing I want to do after a drink is write. I've tried and only things happened. Either I sober up and its just like any other time. Or I fall asleep. But I don't mind having a drink and raving about everything I will write.

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Same here, alcohol just makes me fall asleep.

Ditto. Even just a little booze makes me sleepy and lazy for the next couple of hours. I simply can't make myself write.

Well, I recommend against imbibing for inspiration's sake, but I've been known to take a couple shots of bourbon for "fortification"; however, as I don't want to become dependent on external. . . objects to write, I do so only when desperate.

I also once abused my venlafaxine and found myself (physiologically? Psychologically?) unable to extricate myself from my writing environment. 25,000 words in eight hours without a bathroom break. Goddess, what a nightmare.

I ended up tossing all but 5,000 words, too. What a waste.

In sum: it may be a better idea to always write sober.

Once upon a time (read: college) I only wrote at night with drink in hand. It did help me get out of my own way and produce words (it was a wash whether they were better or not - there was just more) without all the little distractions.

But now I write primarily in the morning and, worse, I seem to have lost my taste/appetite for alcohol. Dunno what happened, but I can barely get halfway through a bottle of beer these days before I'm passing it off to the spouse to finish it for me.

I don't drink to facilitate writing, but after I've had a couple of glasses wine and I'm fairly happy, I'll suddenly decide it's a fine to do some.

Not often, though.

Sometimes, though, I'll decide it's a fine time to play Skyrim. Don't drink and fight dragons, kids.

I've never tried it. Usually it's for after I finish something, a little celebration. Hmm. I'll have to try a little experiment sometime.

Yes, I always write sober. I drink on special occasions, but I will not support any type of drug or alcohol use for any type of craft. Celebrations, maybe. Drinking while writing, no.

No way I'm drinking. People think their stuff might be better after drinking, but often it is not.

Not always, no. But I don't plan to drink and write. Sometimes it just happens. You know how ideas are.

As I no longer have to get up at silly o'clock to go to work I've started to write during the night. I like to have a drink at about midnight, scotch and soda or a cyder, and after a couple of hours of writing or research I eventually go to bed. Not necessarily to sleep though. I'll print out any research or writing I've done and read it through.

AshleyEpidemic said:

The last thing I want to do after a drink is write.

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Me too. When I drink, I just want to have stupid conversations or watch dumb movies. Writing never crosses my mind, and I could never focus enough to do it anyway.

I could see prescription amphetamines being quite useful for editing, though.

Always? I think you've confused the word "always" with "never."

...hic!

WillSauger said:

Yes, I always write sober. I drink on special occasions, but I will not support any type of drug or alcohol use for any type of craft. Celebrations, maybe. Drinking while writing, no.

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This. It would never even occur to me to not be sober while I'm writing. The whole "I have to drink/take X to be creative" thing is just an excuse to drink/take X.

Only if it's before seven (in the evening).

WillSauger said:

,but I will not support any type of drug or alcohol use for any type of craft.

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Oh, Will! Looks like you be having to burn a lot of books, music and needlepoint then.

I save my drinking for watching "Ridiculousness."

I don't really get "drunk" drunk, but nothing stops me from writing if I've had a bit of wine. It doesn't really affect my writing anyway.

Yes, sometimes. Not often. I find when I do I'm less likely to worry about what I'm writing, though - it just spills out.

Which is why I don't do it that often.

Do I always write sober? Yes.

I know a lot of people who write after they've smoked weed (particularly in California where I used to live, as it's medically legal). This holds true for a lot of comedians that I know...I guess they think it makes them funnier? Frankly, I can't understand how people are productive in this state of mind. The only substance I can have in my body when I write is caffeine...as much as possible. Black coffee by the gallon!

Do you always write sober?

Yes.

Write sober? Yes

Edit? Sometimes I have a wee bit of homemade wine, sit back, and try to look at the day's work as if I am a reader instead of a writer.

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

I don't drink alcohol under any circumstances.

But sometimes, when the work is going well, I get very drunk on the chemicals of writers' high.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal