Saturday Night at the Keyboard is Drier than it Used to Be

A while ago, in a writing group, the leader posed the question: What do you do to get ready to write?

My writing friends offered up a lot of contemplative stuff like taking a long walk, reading favorite poetry, meditating, deep breathing. When the leader came to me, I said, “Make a rum and Coke.”

Drinking and writing – my little dynamic duo for years.

So, now I’m trying to drink less overall but especially trying to write without drinking. Today, it occurs to me that the replacement for rum and Coke might be coffee and red licorice. The coffee is good but left over from this morning and the licorice, well, the licorice is from my newly established private stash. It’s top of the line red licorice, I tell you, delectable in the world of red licorice. I like black, too, but it doesn’t have as upbeat a vibe.

I wrote a pretty good story this week without drinking. I accomplished that by writing while the sun was still up, before the time of day known affectionately around here as ‘cocktail hour.’ But, at the moment, it is clearly cocktail hour, and I’ve already finished my coffee and five pieces of licorice.

So, you ask, what happens next?

I finish this post and then I go downstairs where I will measure out exactly five ounces of white wine. That’s my allotment. No second or third glasses, no ‘topping off,” five ounces is it. My little scheme sounds wacky but it’s working.

There’s not enough rum in the cupboard for a decent drink anyway.