Should you ‘write drunk, edit sober?’

Many erroneously attribute the quotation to Ernest Hemingway, arguing that the author would also never employ the advice. Should you? Here are a few points to consider.

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There’s also plenty of conjecture as to whether he practiced it.

Still, for some boozy writers and creative types, the advice is part of their technique.

Is it really a good idea?

Google the phrase, and the first link that pops up is a blog post from writer Jeff Goins. He’s decidedly against what the phrase represents—a certain level of forgiveness for addiction among artists. He writes:

You would never nod understandingly if a plumber came to your house, completely wasted, assuring you he’d return to clean up the mess when sober. That would be ridiculous.

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