CONTENT CREATION 102: Find Your Own “Write Drunk, Edit Sober”

Over the years, I’ve come to figure out which tips and tricks found online in the variety of writing advice columns and blogs work for me, which I should discard completely, and which work with a little bit of tweaking. It has all been experimentation and knowing oneself and one’s own writing style. Hopefully someone finds some advice they can use in this series.

CONTENT CREATION 101: Commit To What You Create

The saying “write drunk, edit sober” is something probably every writer (and content creator) has seen on advice blogs everywhere. Most of the time it is written as a tongue-in-cheek nudge to creators to not overthink their work, to crack out their first draft.

As someone who does not drink, it has ultimately felt unhelpful, though amusing to me. The idea behind it, however, that I have always connected with. Now if only I could find a way to make it work for me…

When I was in school, this was by writing my first draft or outlines of my essays or my stories after drinking lots of coffee. It gave me an energy boost and a focus that I was otherwise lacking. It got the words I needed down. I would go back to the project with fresh eyes the following day – sans caffeine – and edit. It helped.

Was this my “write drunk, edit sober”?

I thought so, but since school ended, and metabolisms and lifestyles changed, it has not been something I could do.

It has taken a lot of trial and error for me to figure out what now works for me.

Everybody has a different approach to a first draft. Maybe you need to handwrite it, or hand draw it with a certain pencil. Your final product maybe will be then printed. Maybe it is a timing thing, and you need to work at a specific time, edit at another, and finally finish up your content at a third. There is always this one thing that works for you.

 For me, switching screens between writing and editing is the thing that works best. If I write on my phone, I edit on my laptop. If I write on my laptop, I edit on the work computer. The different screens and the different place I sit puts me in a different mindset, helping my focus and observation.

The change in place or material or state of mind shows in your work. You notice things you did not before.

That is what we all need to find. What works best for you, as an individual.

• Have you tried any tips you’ve seen online? Have they worked for you?
• What is your favourite piece of advice you might have come across?
• What does this advice mean to you?

I found my current “write drunk, edit sober”. Let’s try and find yours.

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