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“Write Drunk, Edit Sober” Is Bad Advice

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Re: “Write Drunk, Edit Sober” Is Bad Advice

#11

Post by vishbar »

nicky0 wrote: post #6
WhompingWindows wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Former copy editor here, would not recommend this approach for writing anything non-artistic. Imagine a coder or engineer following this recommendation: no plan, no structure, just throwing ideas willy-nilly. Eventually, you then have to sift through all the ideas, find what's good and what gels, and then re-write to make it coherent, narrative, and logical. You'll probably incur a lot of technical debt and overhead…

As a coder I do a lot of my best work with a beer or two.

There's definitely a different style of development, in my experience. After a few beers or when very sleep-deprived, I find myself avoiding "analysis paralysis" and just getting something written, even if it's not super elegant. There can definitely be a benefit to doing that, though I wouldn't recommend slamming shots at 9am before the workday starts!

Re: “Write Drunk, Edit Sober” Is Bad Advice

#12

Post by bobjob »

WhompingWindows wrote: post #3
cirgue wrote: post #2

I had always heard this used as kind of a metaphor: do whatever the hell you want to in writing, follow every thread, wander all over the place, believe your own bullshit, and just get all the ideas out of you and onto the page. When you edit, then it's time to worry about what your point actually is and how your reader will understand it. It's a little weird to me that someone would take this aphorism literally.

Former copy editor here, would not recommend this approach for writing anything non-artistic. Imagine a coder or engineer following this recommendation: no plan, no structure, just throwing ideas willy-nilly. Eventually, you then have to sift through all the ideas, find what's good and what gels, and then re-write to make it coherent, narrative, and logical. You'll probably incur a lot of technical debt and overhead…

But how do you form a plan/outline? -> You do prototyping and prototyping can be done in a chaotic way. And YES, after that you have to clean up that stuff.

Re: “Write Drunk, Edit Sober” Is Bad Advice

#13

Post by umichguy »

KineticLensman wrote: post #4

The article offers a binary choice between 'sober' and 'drunk' (my phrasing) while developing art and says that 'drunk' art is bad because it glorifies addiction and propagates the myth of creativity. It also equates art with work where being under the influence is clearly unprofessional / dangerous. Personally, I've found that an occasional beer - and some music - while working on a piece of art (as an unwinding act…

Same here. I sometimes have a glass of wine or beer while working with some music on and zone out and get some proper work done. Maybe it calms down my hyperactive brain a bit - I did have ADHD as a kid and used to take meds.

Of course, there is a fine line between having a couple to calm down and getting drunk, when you don't get stuff done.

Re: “Write Drunk, Edit Sober” Is Bad Advice

#14

Post by porpoisely »

WhompingWindows wrote: post #3
cirgue wrote: post #2

I had always heard this used as kind of a metaphor: do whatever the hell you want to in writing, follow every thread, wander all over the place, believe your own bullshit, and just get all the ideas out of you and onto the page. When you edit, then it's time to worry about what your point actually is and how your reader will understand it. It's a little weird to me that someone would take this aphorism literally.

Former copy editor here, would not recommend this approach for writing anything non-artistic. Imagine a coder or engineer following this recommendation: no plan, no structure, just throwing ideas willy-nilly. Eventually, you then have to sift through all the ideas, find what's good and what gels, and then re-write to make it coherent, narrative, and logical. You'll probably incur a lot of technical debt and overhead…

I mostly agree with your points. But coding or programming is as much artistic as it is engineering. It isn't an accident that the historical center of tech is also the center of the drug. Not just performative drugs but also hallucinogenic.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/07/09/hacking-the-brain-sil...

Re: “Write Drunk, Edit Sober” Is Bad Advice

#15

Post by onemoresoop »

nicky0 wrote: post #6
WhompingWindows wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Former copy editor here, would not recommend this approach for writing anything non-artistic. Imagine a coder or engineer following this recommendation: no plan, no structure, just throwing ideas willy-nilly. Eventually, you then have to sift through all the ideas, find what's good and what gels, and then re-write to make it coherent, narrative, and logical. You'll probably incur a lot of technical debt and overhead…

As a coder I do a lot of my best work with a beer or two.

I second that on a POC.

Re: “Write Drunk, Edit Sober” Is Bad Advice

#16

Post by neurobashing »

I used to do this so much. I'd get incredibly wasted and feel like I was creating amazing art, I'd pass out from exhaustion (also, drugs and alcohol) incredibly excited to show my bandmates what amazing insight I'd come up with.

Then I'd see it sober and be like, "'Club me with your love truncheon'? I can't work with this. I can't ever even admit I wrote this. What the hell even is this."

Re: “Write Drunk, Edit Sober” Is Bad Advice

#17

Post by behringer »

feocco wrote: post #5
cirgue wrote: post #2

I had always heard this used as kind of a metaphor: do whatever the hell you want to in writing, follow every thread, wander all over the place, believe your own bullshit, and just get all the ideas out of you and onto the page. When you edit, then it's time to worry about what your point actually is and how your reader will understand it. It's a little weird to me that someone would take this aphorism literally.

Taking things too literally seems to be a plague infecting many topics lately. I've interpreted the phrase similarly, do whatever you need to, just get "it" out of your head! Perfection is the enemy of good.

Hold on. I need to start a pointless semantics debate with you by taking what you said completely literally and it won't end until we've defined all the words.

Re: “Write Drunk, Edit Sober” Is Bad Advice

#19

Post by bovermyer »

neurobashing wrote: post #16

I used to do this so much. I'd get incredibly wasted and feel like I was creating amazing art, I'd pass out from exhaustion (also, drugs and alcohol) incredibly excited to show my bandmates what amazing insight I'd come up with. Then I'd see it sober and be like, "'Club me with your love truncheon'? I can't work with this. I can't ever even admit I wrote this. What the hell even is this."

I used to do similar things, except in my case it was writing longform "satire" while utterly trashed and posting it on social media.

When I'd read it in the morning, it just came across as me being a drunken asshole. I became fond of the Delete Post button.

I also only write sober now.

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