“Should I kill myself, or have a cup of coffee?” Albert Camus
Writers live a lonely life. Well, almost. There are very few who understand their passion for ‘meaningless scribbling’. It is probable that as a writer you have to face questions and criticisms from your near and dear ones too. They often do not see the point of your struggle to make a living through your books. Many consider writing to be a luxury, something that affluent people do in their pastime. Point being, no one takes writing a book seriously. No one understands the agony of writers. No one.
That is why, probably, we writers turn towards the little things to hold on to. Coffee being one of them. Coffee is reportedly the most abused ‘substance’ when it comes to writers. Cups of coffee go down and they get converted into words and books. But did you ever wonder why writers are so obsessed about coffee? Let us try to figure it out.
It Supports Their Erratic Schedule
You know that feeling right? You suddenly get this urge to write at an odd hour, in the middle of the night. Or have to meet a deadline? You need a companion to stay awake with and work. Who do you beckon? Why, coffee of course. Nothing seems more right than a steaming hot cup of caffeine at that time.
It Also Sees Them Through The Bad Times
As writers, we all know how bad times follow us. That horrible phase when you get stuck. And gradually depression follows. Who’s going to look after you at those times? Coffee to the rescue again. Caffeine has been proved to help curb depression and make you feel happier.
It Stimulates The Brain
Coffee has also been proved to stimulate the brain. Studies show that caffeine actually helps secretion of the neurotransmitters, dopamine and glutamate. These neurotransmitters give your brain that sudden punch that you feel after downing your double shot espresso.
It Is A Lifestyle
You heard me. Coffee is associated with a lot of things and together they form a particular lifestyle of caffeine and thoughts, and conversations and sparks of ideas that would later make great literature. It is not just about sipping on a cup of coffee; that is just the act. It is actually symbolic of an age old tradition of being creative and thoughtful and philosophical. As a writer I am sure we all want to be a part of that tradition.
It Is The Best Companion In Solitude
Solitude is as much a part of a writer’s life as conversations. Writing is like that- whimsical and full of contradictions. Solitude is important in a writer’s life; you need to be alone in order to think. And through those blissful (or otherwise) moments of solitude, no one sees you through better than a cup of good old Joe.
You Can Get Creative and Experiment
That’s right. Coffee is a brilliant ground for letting loose your creativity. You cannot do so much with tea. Coffee can take a wide variety of flavors and add-ons to complement its taste amazingly. You can try out adding new things- chocolate, cinnamon, fudge, orange peel. You can froth it up and make your lattes and cappuccinos. Or you can add a dash of good old brandy into a shot of espresso and gulp it down. There is so much you can actually do with coffee; it is a perfect thing to use your creative brain on.
Image credit: Toshihiro Oimatsu on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/215888_10150217537488939_1231540_n.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Abhinanda Banerjee is a full-time freelance writer and stage actor. She’s an avid reader, culinary enthusiast, and lover of everything about the sixties.
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