Smoked Coke, here I come!

By Alison

I've got three weeks to finish the immensely crappy first draft I'm working on. I'm pretty sure I'm going to make the deadline -- of course, at this point in the process, I'm equally as certain that I am the worst writer ever to take in oxygen.

I'm waiting, hoping for that moment that almost always comes, when I look at the stuff I've committed to the screen and think, Hey, this isn't half bad.... But until then, I'd rather focus on something a lot more appealing: the reward. After I turn in a draft, I like to treat myself to something superfluous. It doesn't have to be expensive -- after I turned in the first draft of TRASHED, I bought myself a pair of flashy, ten dollar earrings. But it does have to be something I'd never think about buying or doing in a normal frame of mind -- something that feels frivolous and fun. This draft has been so painful, I've been thinking my pointless treat this time needs to involve alcohol, and when I heard a friend of mine at work talking about a place in New York that she and her husband went to, I thought. Eureka. I've found my reward. The place is in SoHo, and they specialize in drinks that are "'scientifically based." When they went there, my friend told me, her husband ordered a "bourbon and smoked Coke."

"Smoked Coke?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied. "They smoke their own." Normally, I would have said something like, "I prefer my soda barbequed, with a nice, mesquite rub," but not the way I'm feeling now. I've been working my imagination so hard that when I'm done, I need to get out of my head and actually experience something. Smoked Coke is gonna be it. In 42 years on this planet, I've tasted a lot of weird stuff, but never cured cola and it's high time I did.  So when I'm done with this draft (and please let it be soon!) I'm getting a babysitter, dragging my husband to SoHo and saying, "Bourbon and Smoked Coke, please." Then, and only then can I say, "Yay for me! I'm done!"

Do you like to reward yourself when you've finished a draft? If so, what's your favorite reward?

Comments

[Lori G. Armstrong]

Ooh, smoked Coke? What is it with people "improving" Coke products? Didn't Shelby have fried Coke at the TX State Fair? What do they have in CT?

Can't wait to hear if it tastes like shit.

I indulge in my love of western rhinestone belts when I finish a contract deadline. Yes, yes, try and quell your jealousy, but I have quite the nice little selection of cowgirl glitter - notice I didn't say CHEAP cowgirl glitter, 'cause lookin' like a rodeo queen takes some bucks.

Tee hee, bucks, get it? Like young bucks to buy you bling and bucks as in...oh, never fucking mind.

Okay, obviously I'm delirious - since I'm also in the throes of deadline hell. Times two. YAY!

But I might sneak over to ebay and see what's what in the kippybelt section...sort of as a motivation.

[Jeff Shelby]

Big, expensive dinners, always at a steakhouse. I will also splurge and buy some sort of ridiculously good tix for a sporting event.

But being a Coke and bourbon aficionado, I'm very intrigued by the notion of smoked Coke.

[AlisonGaylin]

Jeff, I'll definitely let you know how this intriguing combo tastes. And a steak dinner sounds excellent.... Lori, love the cowgirl bling! Maybe you can lend me one of your belts for when I go out for the smoked Coke.

[spyscribbler]

Okay, please, you MUST tell us what it's like when you drink it, PLEASE? I'm so curious!

[AlisonGaylin]

I definitely will, Spy! I just hope, after this hellish book is through, I'm able to find the words to describe it.