Mike C

Nowadays just caffeine and cigarettes.

I know a number of writers and artists who swear by prozac, though.

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Patrick Beverley

Coffee is a necessary companion to everything I do in life, not just writing.

Alcohol has a similar effect on my writing as on my pool-playing: one glass increases my confidence and speed, two or more decreases my skill.

Marijuana produces awful prose in me, and I no longer write under its influence under any circumstances.

missmojorising

^^I can relate.

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Azmakna

get this, it's fantastic:

http://www.download.com/3000-2279_4-....html?tag=dl.1

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boongee

Caffeine, in ridiculously large amounts. And not coffee - soda. Dr Pepper. God I love that stuff.

I type this with an empty bottle of Dr Pepper next to me. It's 4 AM. Go figure.

CatchyUsername

Prayer works best for me, but *when* I'm writing, I'd say some good background music can help me focus. I usually have classic rock or classical; some good jazz (old school or Latin are best).

Also...nothing gets the creative juices flowing like reading really good fiction and then sitting down to write. I picked up a couple of books and read one during vacation last week and it ignited my own creativity. Also, being in an atmosphere that inspires you is helpful.

I'm a painter also (watercolors), so being on vacation on St. Simon's Island, Ga. and going to Savannah (they have a wonderful, thriving, art community there), was extremely helpful and inspiring. Now, I'm back and excited to write.

Truth-Teller

A labtop and dictionary.

blackthorn

I personally don't think that it's necessary to use mind-altering substances to produces good works. I write very well just as my normal self, no alcohol or anything.

Sometimes I find it helps to have some music on. Other times, when I'm writing something long and hard like an essay (probably about something stupid) my good friend Coca-Cola can help me get through it.

But that's it.

boongee

Coke sucks. Dr Pepper 4 lyfe

Ilasir Maroa

My imagination.

Johnna

I get migraines, so sometimes if I need it my mom gives me vicodin or percacet. They make me incredibly hyper, which gets my mind reeling with new ideas for my book... I've lied about headaches once or twice when I needed that energy burst, but only in dire circumstances when I had writer's block. Other than that, I drink Pepsi and eat Now and Laters as I revise; they keep me from getting distracted by hunger.

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Ilasir Maroa

Don't those require a prescription?


Why do you all have to use drugs? Ain't y'all got no talent?

red lantern

I use copius amounts of tea with milk and no sugar and a whole lot of silence, I find that to be a uniquely mind altering substance.

Works for me anyway, I did try music got distracted with the lyrics so I do use classical music (Berloiz, Mozart, Vivaldi) sometimes if I want to work on something I have already started but never on a fresh idea.

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Krim

Unlaced cocai---I mean...

Imagination.

Stephen King wrote Cujo while drugged and didn't remember it.

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ClancyBoy

My imagination hurts me as much as it helps me. If I wrote everything that came into my head I would never get anything finished.

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