Friday Speak Out!: The Addictions of Potables and Writing

by Claudia Mundell

Many writers rely on the crutch of some addiction while writing or as solace after the writing experience. The creative works of many great American authors are linked to some strong beverage they imbibed.

Hemingway may have invented the Bloody Mary while F. Scott Fitzgerald relied on gin, with liquor often appearing on the pages of his tales. Faulkner leaned on whiskey, and Truman Capote loved pills and drink, his favorite swallow being a Screwdriver made of vodka and orange juice. Then there was Carson McCullers who often had beer after breakfast. At the typewriter she nursed a handy thermos full of hot tea with a splash of sherry. She called this concoction Sonnie Boy.

I am a drinker too, but my addiction of choice is straight, freshly brewed tea. Inspiration forms while the malty fragrance of unfolding leaves develops. While the pot or pitcher might vary throughout the day, a cup or glass of some kind is at my elbow constantly nurturing my creativity. The day begins with a strong breakfast blend that brews into a dark color, strong enough to walk on it seems. I might vary it from English, Irish or Scottish, but they all provide the shot of caffeine that stokes early morning fires in my mind. In the winter, I tote a tea pot covered in a quilted cozy to my desk with maybe a nice bone china cup to give a delicate dash to my day. In the summer, I arrange a tea tray with my classic white pot and a sturdy but colorful mug to carry to the deck. Nothing like early morning air and chirping birds to sing you into a story.

In late morning, I arise from the keyboard, stretch, and take a break from creating characters and dialogue. I head for the kitchen and choose a blend of black and green tea mixed with passion fruit or maybe a cinnamon orange with spicy kick. I pour it all over lots of ice cubes for a refreshing lift and grab a couple of cookies for some substance to hold me until lunch. After all, I need to update submissions and check email for editors’ responses before stopping work.

Evening time brings an easing back on writing. Sunset is time to reread what I have written in the morning and do a little editing. It also sets the scene for where I will go to work first thing the next morning. A nice blueberry herbal tea helps the day unwind or maybe a pot of amber shaded chamomile to induce sleep makes an agreeable ending to the day. My addiction for a robust drink while living the writing life is as strong as Hemingway’s and Capote’s, but tea is definitely my own potable of choice.

***

Claudia is from the Midwest and loves the prairies along with the Santa Fe, New Mexico area. She grew up in the southeastern corner of Kansas and now lives in the southwestern corner of Missouri. A retired teacher who writes fiction and poetry, she recently complicated her own life with a shepherd/border collie mix rescue dog that seems to have a case of ADD. Visit her at http://claudiapage-bookie.blogspot.com/ for thoughts on tea, books, writing and living a dog’s life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~