Guilty Pleasures

What guilty pleasure powers you through your writing?

Mark Twain is known for his cigar, but also loved biscuits and real butter, buckwheat cakes and thick Porterhouse steaks. Hemingway and Poe are associated with heavy drinking and drugs.

I’m sure most of us in this group don’t turn to those mind-altering substances, but how many of you NEED a hit of chocolate to get you through that next paragraph? I like dark chocolate and recently discovered Ghirardelli’s “Sea-Salt Soiree.” Oh my! I’m fast becoming addicted and probably need to contact Chocoholics Anonymous.

Or maybe you like crunching while you’re creating: potato chips, pretzels, popcorn. In an attempt to eat healthier, I’ve also become addicted to dry-roasted almonds (with grapes. Mm-mm good!) And periodically I’ll go through a baby carrot phase.

I know it’s probably a bad idea to get in the habit of eating at my computer, but sometimes I eat lunch while working or trolling through e-mails. My keyboard doesn’t like that so much. Occasionally I find a breadcrumb or a sunflower seed stuck between two keys.

And of course there’s caffeine. Even though I’ve cut back on that guilty pleasure (I was once known at a local restaurant as “the Caffeine Queen”), I’m not much good until I’ve had at least one cup of fully-leaded Joe and a couple cups of decaf.

What is your comfort food or drink to help you with your writing process?

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A native Montanan, Heidi M. Thomas now lives in Northwest Washington. Her first novel, Cowgirl Dreams, is based on her grandmother, and the sequel, Follow the Dream, has recently won the national WILLA Literary Award. Heidi has a degree in journalism, a certificate in fiction writing, and is a member of Northwest Independent Editors Guild. She teaches writing and edits, blogs, and is working on the next books in her “Dare to Dream” series.

9 comments:

Geoff Maritz said...

I can't really comment here because the only writing I do is my blog however I must admit that a cup of coffee and a snacky thing does help. But for me being at peace with God is the one thing that really, really helps me with my writing. Strange type of comfort food I know but it works for me :)
God bless, Geoff.

Karen Cioffi said...

I'm known to eat at the computer, probably more than I should. And, like you Heidi, I've found food bits here and there in my keyboard.

It's a habit I really need to break.

Karen Cioffi Writing and Marketing

Nancy Thompson said...

Chocolate, for sure. I literally can't get through certain times of my cycle without it. At least not without murdering someone anyway.

widdershins said...

Any food source will keep me FROM writing - procrastination - but while I'm writing. Nothing. I'm too focused. I'll stop for tea breaks. Lady Grey if I can get it, but Earl Grey is my go-to drug of choice.

Carolyn Howard-Johnson said...

I drink tons of iced tea, even in the winter. And I switched from fattening chococlate to 96% cacao bettersweet Lindt, which is supposed to be good for you. Phosphotydiserines or some such thing. If it isn't healthier, at least I feel less guilty. Oh, and widdershins, I don't STOP. I just munch on through the whole process. (-:
Carolyn

Magdalena Ball said...

When the writing is really intense, I'll treat myself to a large glass of fresh pressed vegetable juice (beets, spinach, lots of carrots, an apple - whatever is in the house) with spirulina and maca powder. Used to be coffee, but the juice works better (improves the output!) and doesn't make me shaky and edgy. Do love almonds, but I have to limit myself or I'll eat far too many, especially if I'm eating while writing.

Dr. Mohamed said...

Chocolate and pizza :)

Nancy Famolari said...

Sorry to be such a party pooper, but I don't like to eat at the computer and I don't use it to escape. I escape by reading other people's novels. Probably just as sinfully guilty!

Donna McDine said...

I love a nice hot cup of tea with Oreos! Mmmm...I should go make a cup now and get to those Oreos before my girls eat them all up.

Regards,
Donna
Award-winning Children’s Author
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