Here on WordPress there are a few blogs which offer great advice on writing dos and don’ts. As a somewhat new writer, I have grown to appreciate the advice they give and I try to apply it as much as possible.
Today however, I discovered a “writer’s don’t” that I had to learn on my own. In fact, this “don’t” has caused me to spend well over one minute on this sentence alone. What is it, you ask? Drugs. Now, before the rumor mill gets moving too quickly, they were dentist prescribed, not illegal.
For a day job, I am a freelance copywriter. It’s a fun gig where I get to choose my own hours and even how much I want to be paid. Best of all, I get to work from home. Today, as most days, I wrote an article for my main client. Drugged up and ready to go, the article was written, proofread and submitted. After hitting ‘submit’, I decided to proofread it again.
Immediately upon reading it, I asked myself, “Who wrote this?”. Within the content were three grammar mistakes and the word “On” sitting completely alone on top of the page.
If that wasn’t bad enough, I then had to top it off with this email to my client:
“Please accept my apologies for this job. Prior to writing this content, I had just returned from the dentist’s office where they put me on a substantial dose of vicodin……If you would like me to revise this, I will gladly correct the errors and resubmit this job to you…. I should have postponed writing this until after my medication wore off. Therefore once again, I apologize.”
Never before have I had to send an email to a client, or anyone for that matter, apologizing for being on drugs. But, as ‘they’ say, there’s a first time for everything. Hopefully, this will also be the last.
Lesson for today – Don’t use drugs and write. It may not be illegal, but it should be. Take it from me.
For more dos and don’ts, writing ideas, challenges and motivation, I happily recommend that you visit:
While you’re at it, be sure to visit Grandma (here and here). She will be happy to show you how with a little work and determination your writing dreams can come true.
Me - Who am I? 
Thanks for the mention! As far as the editing-while-on-drugs things goes, I made a similar mistake once after taking an Ativan for an anxiety attack. It’s amazing how quickly your skills can just go right out the window…
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You’re welcome. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t see anything on the bottle that read, “don’t edit while using this drug”. Thanks for the comment!
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Thank you so much for the kind mention…always appreciated.
I know you don’t think this is funny now, but hopefully, you’ll look back at your “editing under the influence” with a chuckle. I too must have a clear mind to wriite, but some writers, like Stephen King, used to write totally whacked! King said he drank so much that he doesn’t remember writing his first blockbuster, “Carrie.” Maybe I need to take up drinking! 🙂
I’m sure your client will understand and I hope you’re recovered from your visit to the dentist. Again, thanks for the wonderful words!
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You are very welcome.
I didn’t know that about Stephen King, but it may explain a lot. Even still, there is no denying that the man is very talented. I’ve got one more dentist visit to go and more articles to write in the meantime, so it could be an interesting week.
It’s always good to hear from you and I’m still looking forward to buying your first novel. Thanks for the comment!
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Thanks for brightening up my day with such a funny story!! At least you were honest 🙂
Have a great day and enjoy the numbing effects of the Vicodin. 🙂 🙂
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You’re welcome! Glad I could bring a smile to you today.
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Remember that some writing (for example, here) is ok if it is on drugs. Day job. Night passion.
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Excellent point you have there. Maybe I should be on “drugs” more often. That’s a joke. But, you are right. There is a time and place for everything.
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Ha! You’re so right. Vicodin is not conducive to good writing. I spent two months on heavy duty painkillers last fall for a herniated disk, and let’s just say that coherence and accuracy were… on vacation.
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Sorry to hear about your back. Ouch! Good thing is that with those painkillers I doubt you remember much of anything about those two months. 🙂 I have discovered that if nothing else, pain meds can definitely liven up a person’s writing.
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Ya know…..Jim Morrison said he did his best writing while high 😉 ….I’m not into marijuana AT ALL….but i gotta give props to Mr. Morrison as to him being a pretty good poet and all 🙂
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You’re right about Morrison. I’m not into it either, but since it does alter a person’s state of mind, it makes sense how it could lend a hand in creating some very good and unique work.
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I wish things were as easy as they say when writing. My creative side is very slow & I don’t produce a lot of good writing either. I am always trying something & if need to look at, I usually just set it in the draft to reread & forget for a bit so can come back after being better from exercising some. This will clear your mind & help you to return fresh & anew for anything you are writing.
Rodney
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Thanks Rodney. I do the same thing actually. Post ideas will come to mind and often times, I will start a draft with just the title and list a few key points. Then later after pondering it a bit, I will come back and write it. It seems to work well that way for me also.
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