01
May
May
Recipes for a Desperate Writer
Hey everybody, got a question for you. It’s a bit off the wall, but I would really like to know. . . When you’re working on deadline, writing feverishly, and you don’t have a lot of time to cook, much less eat, what do you reach for to keep you going?
I’ve been working like a dog the last few weeks and finally finished editing a book manuscript. The last couple of days have been brutal. Today especially, with me putting in 10+ hours in front of the computer. (Cue the violin solo.) Anyway. . .
Anybody got a recipe for the weary writer? Something easy to fix for those long days on deadline?
Great questions, Amy!
When I’m stressed–and who on deadline isn’t??–I have a bad habit of eating at my desk and not paying attention. I’ll grab a bag of whatever’s handy. If I’m thinking at all, this will be a bag of carrots. But more likely it’s cookies or chips, and before I know it, the bag is empty, and I have no conscious memory of where the contents went!
Oh, okay, so if I look in the mirror, I can see where it went, okay?
To battle the computer munchies I TRY to start the day with a good, high-protein breakfast. This helps to stave off the cravings later on.
I also try to space out the cups of coffee with big glasses of water in between.
I keep bags of pre-washed lettuce in the fridge and the pre-cut carrots. Fast and easy salad, healthy. Dump on part or all of a can of tuna for the protein, even better.
And, I try to keep some sliced turkey in the deli drawer. Slap it between a couple of pieces of whole-wheat bread, and I’m good to go.
But if you’re talking about real meals, here, that’s different. When supper time comes, I have to stop. With an eight-year-old child in the house, I have no choice. She’ll put up with PB&J only so many nights in a row.
Yep, she’s a tyrant.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:36 pmGin and vermouth. A couple of real big ones might not help you make your deadline, but the nice thing is you won’t give a damn.
A little more seriously, I’ve had to wean myself off snack crackers and cheese and am going for various kinds of dried fruit.
May 1st, 2008 at 8:59 pmAmy - Two large gin and vermouths. It may not help you meet a deadline, but at least you won’t give a damn.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:45 pm