The Hemmingway Method

Does anyone else out there run a Hemmingway when you need to catch up or am I the only one?

When I'm alone it's easy to focus on my writing but once my roommate gets home I accomplish nothing. To combat this I've been entertaining the Hemmingway method as of late, where I open up my writing resources and then pull out the wine/beer. I'm not by any means condoning binge drinking; however, I've noticed that getting a buzz and writing leads to much greater breakthroughs from a wordcount perspective.

Anyone else a fan of Hemmingway?

Unfortunately, I live in a dorm on a dry campus and can't try this at home. I'm toying with the idea of going down to a local dive bar on one night I have off for a change in scenery.

Normally, yes.

Unfortunately, I stopped drinking for the month of November. And more unfortunately, I did this specifically because I have a... ah... mild tendency to, um, over-indulge. Also, I've used alcohol as a crutch before with my writing, and I don't want to encourage that in myself. Though if you take a look at my word count bar, you may come to the conclusion that I removed the crutch prematurely....

And for the record, I'm really glad that your post ended the way it did, James. Halfway through I was thinking about how much of an idiot (and budding alcoholic) I'd feel like if "The Hemingway Method" turned out to be some kind of literary style or something else, when my mind immediately jumped to drinking when I read the title.

For those with self-control, I can see how it would be a useful method.

Don't think I could do that, not with alcohol anyway. Dr Pepper with chocolate works best for me, or a big hot chocolate with whipped cream, marshmallows and cocoa powder. Alcohol in any shape or form makes me sleepy. Not exactly helpful for writing haha!

Same here. Alcohol makes me sleepy after only a little bit so getting drunk would only help my word count if my face landed on the keyboard when I passed out.

I hate to admit it, but i can't write without a drink in hand, preferably whiskey on the rocks. I've been sticking to my habit of waiting until midnight, getting a drink, and starting to write. It definitely helps me pound out a lot of words! I actually started a few days late, and have taken a few days off, but this method always helps me catch up.

I want to try it, but I never drink in my apartment, only at my sister's house. I either have to write over there (bad idea) or drink here (slightly less bad idea.)

Hm.

Sadly, I might have tried something like that considering I'm unemployed at the moment but the doctors say not a single drop of alcohol can touch my lips until after I pop this little guy out. Which normally wouldn't bother me considering anything that isn't fruity or wine can make me fall asleep very quickly after drinking it.

I suppose the only thing that has helped is that Cappuccino and soda drinking privileges haven't been completely revoked by my doctor yet x3

I've used it before, but don't usually. When I do, my writing comes out all experimental and weird with no plot and a lack of concrete characters, themes, etc. But lots of imagery. I am mostly a lit-fic writer, but even that stuff is a little out there for me.

I did write one piece while very sloshed on multiple White Russians, and that piece helped me get into my undergraduate creative writing program (after heavy editing while sober, of course).

Used it once this month. Got a lot of words written, but very sloppily, and more slowly than I usually do, because I lost some of my coordination (as is bound to happen sometimes with ye olde spirits).

I've been pretty pleased not to use the method much this month, though I do find it gets me out of my head (ie, self-indulgent whining about not knowing where things are going) and into the story more easily than my sober process. Still, words is words.

I fuel my writing with an overabundance of caffeine, usually. I wouldn't really object to having a drink, but it's not the first thing I think of in connection with getting anything done...

I've done it before, but not this year. I tried it, but all I had was vodka, and that just made me all crazy and hyper and I couldn't sit still so I ended up doing a bunch of crazy things that did not involve working on my novel. I've done it with beer before and that helps, so I need to stick with that. I just haven't done it this November. I've just used massive amounts of caffeine.

Oh, is that what it's called? Yes I have. :( I was flagging on the 29th and hungry so I had a beer. It worked very well. I had a great breakthrough and managed to complete 3K in one hour at my fastest, continuous typing speed. @_@ I don't even like beer.

Definitely not making it a habit. Nowadays, I only enjoy alcohol on special occasions and always with a meal.

I know it has been a bit since the last post on this topic, but I feel like weighing in anyhow.

I am a huge fan of Hemingway. The man was a legend in many ways. That said, I drink when I write, but normally only a little bit. I don't get carried away and I don't let myself go completely to the temporary insanity of drink.

All though, when I am dealing with a particularly nasty bout of writers block I have found the only way to bust that block up is to push my brain to near toxicity level. Then I am a giggling bafoon mashing the keys on my laptop like the harder I type the more expressive my words become.

Also if I am working on a story that requires me to inhabit a character that is going through some serious emotional turmoil. I often turn to liquor to get me into the same mindset. Different alcohols affect a person in different ways(myself anyway).

If I need to write something depressing, I turn to whiskey, straight no chaser.
If I need to write something where the energy is high and fun, beer is the beverage of choice.

I realize how trite this must sound but I feel that my best work has been under the influence of Whiskey or Scotch. It gets me into a deeper emotional place and I am able to talk about things that I normally would shut my self off from.

I realize that this is also the path to ruin, thus why I only have a drink or two under normal circumstances. I want to write like Hemingway but I don't want to die like him.

Casey

I've never tried it before. Maybe at one point I will, but I'm not that desperate. But I have found inspiration while out drinking before.

I've never tried it before, mainly because I hardly drink. I'm tempted to try, just to see what the result is.

I'm told writing drunk really helps the work go down the toilet rather than to the best seller list. On the otherhand food comas are supposed to be useful.

Actually I don't mind a nice 50/50 Burbon and Tuaca, or a nice 12yr old sing malt scotch, to help me wind down and relax when I start writing.

I don't know about Hemmingway, but I bet the Sigmund Freud method is a hoot.

I never got drunk in my life. Maybe a bit tipsy, but that's about it. And I'm totally useless when being tipsy, so I guess the Hemmingway Method isn't for me. :D haha
I'm also quite useless if I didn't sleep enough. Ugh.