This afternoon I sat down to fire up this here laptop and immediately had to get right back up. I hadn't gathered all of the necessary writing supplies. Sure, I had my computer, I had nothing to drink. It struck me, it wasn't just this afternoon, I can never write if I don't have something to sip on. And that got me to wonder what other Author's beverage preferences were while pumping out the prose...
I started by googling "What do Writers Drink" From the limited information that was pertinent to my search I found this list of old, dead, and famous writer's and their favorite libations. Some of my personal favorites were:
- F. Scott Fitzgerald - Gin & Whiskey
- Dorothy Parker - Martini
- Edgar Allen Poe - Wine
The list was heavy on beverages of the alcohol persuasion. While I do have an affinity for imbibing in wine during some of my weekend writing sessions, it's not the best choice for weeknight writing sessions. Plus, I'm pretty sure it would be frowned upon if I busted out a bottle of Pinot Noir at my desk while writing on my lunch break.
Usually, I need more energy to keep the story line flowing. So, when I got up to grab a beverage while waiting for my laptop to boot after work I chose the coffee route.
For you fellow coffee lovers out there here's a little brewing tip: French Press is the way to go. The ideal coffee brewing temperature is approximately 195 F. Anything more than that and the organic compounds in the grounds can get burned and create a bitter taste in the drink. Brewers heat the water too hot and the heating plate continues the charring process further. This is one reason office coffee is extremely craptastic. However the french press method allows you to have more control over water temperature and amount of time the water steeps in the grounds. I promise you, if you try it once, you'll wonder why you drank coffee any other way.
If you are a caffeine aficionado like me, be sure to check out my previous post on "Fueling the Word Count Generator" Because lets be honest, writers are just machines that turn caffeine into prose.
So, all you fellow wordsmiths out there, what do you prefer to drink while writing?
