Wine Is The Answer

on November 18, 2009

I figured out the solution to my incessant writerâ€™s block: WINE!

Totally breaking my Back On Track Month goals, I had two glasses of wine this afternoon. And my goodness, the words just flowed from my fingertips. I think Iâ€™m experiencing a little bit of stage fright when it comes to writing the book, and the wine took away my nerves! In fact, I completely wrapped up two chapters!

Donâ€™t worry â€“ Iâ€™ll be sure to read everything over tomorrow.

The wine prompted an interesting discussion on Twitter â€“ Is Wine Vegan? Tomorrow is Blogger Vegan 4 A Day, and now that Iâ€™ve discovered the key to writing success, I donâ€™t want to give it up! :) I was disappointed to learn that most wine is actually NOT vegan â€“ hereâ€™s why (prepared to be grossed out). According to this list, the first glass I had was not vegan (or really vegetarian), but the second glass was â€“ whew!

Learn something every day, right?

Dinner was jus leftover casserole:

Snacks included Oikos yogurt and granola:

And pita chips and hummus:

Kind of lacking in the fruits and veggie department today â€“ Iâ€™m sure Iâ€™ll make it up tomorrow as part of Blogger Vegan 4 A Day! 🙂

Back to writing I go!

{ 49 comments }

Nicci@NiftyEats November 18, 2009, 8:32 pm
Sometimes Wine is the ”ANSWER” lol.
Angela (Oh She Glows) November 18, 2009, 8:35 pm
Rock out that book!!
Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) November 18, 2009, 8:35 pm
I am totally grossed out. I would have NEVER in a million years guessed that wine was made that way sometimes. GROSS.

I am going to do Vegan 4 A Day too. I am slightly nervous about it. But honestly my diet needs a challenge or a change and this is the perfect way to kick start that.

But I am TOTALLY getting ice cream tonight. And I drank coffee with milk. Gotta dairy-load right? (I’m horrible!) Can’t wait to see how every participating does tomorrow!
Estela @ Weekly Bite November 18, 2009, 8:35 pm
Ok, the whole wine/vegan explanation was not fun to read while drinking a glass of wine… fortunately for me, the wine i was and still am consuming is vegan… phew! 🙂
Kate November 18, 2009, 8:35 pm
Great idea. You’re so much more relaxed with a bit of wine in ya, great for getting rid of the writers block. When writing my thesis I think my “writer’s block” just came from an anxiety of having writer’s block!
Those pita chips look so yummy!
Kelly November 18, 2009, 8:39 pm
Was going to do Vegan for a Day but I got invited to a coworkers for dinner and I don’t want to be a serious pain in the butt. I think like you mentioned earlier, I could do most any “diet” vegetarian, vegan etc at home, but it’s eating outside the home that is the problem.

Kinda hope I am not offered wine tomorrow night after reading that post. Is beer vegan? haha
Nikole November 18, 2009, 8:40 pm
After reading this I am glad that the wine that I am drinking is from my family’s winery and I am the one that made this particular label. We are very conscious of what we add to our wine and I think it makes a difference in the taste. If you notice on that list the super big wineries are the ones that are not vegan and the smaller ones were.
- Shelly November 18, 2009, 9:44 pm
  Your family has a winery? Lucky!!! Do they want to adopt any more daughters? 🙂
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries November 18, 2009, 8:49 pm
I looooove wine-induced writing!

Or wine-induced anythang…
Evan Thomas November 18, 2009, 8:49 pm
Non-vegan wine 0_0 that’s a little disconcerting. Glad you found the key to fluent writing! Now if we buy the book and find a ton of typos and random rants at least we’ll know why 😉 Jk
Tasha - The Clean Eating Mama November 18, 2009, 8:51 pm
Yay for wine!
alli November 18, 2009, 8:55 pm
you make me laugh out loud! “wine is the answer”
seriously, im eating dinner and spaghetti squash almost came out my nose! you’re great! i have yet to read why it’s not vegan…..
Kristie Lynn November 18, 2009, 8:56 pm
I just found that website too! I am sad at how many wines aren’t vegan – especially popular ones like the Barefoot wines. At least most of the beers I like are 😉 So glad you broke out of the unofficial writer’s block though!
Jenna November 18, 2009, 8:56 pm
Isn’t it funny how a glass of wine or a beer makes everything seem 100 times easier? You got to do what you go to do 🙂 Nice work on rockin’ out the pages!
Katie November 18, 2009, 9:04 pm
If you need a sweet treat try Love Veggies and Yoga vegan PB Cups. I ate two tonight thank goodness they didn’t make more! I totally could have devoured enough to feed an Ironman!

Congrats on two chapters that’s two chapters closer to your goal!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg November 18, 2009, 9:10 pm
Ha ha…careful with that wine-induced writing. When I was in grad school getting my MFA in creative writing, I would come home from going out and write PAGES and PAGES of what I thought was the best poetry ever. The next morning, I’d have to toss it all 🙂
Joelle (The Pancake Girl) November 18, 2009, 9:18 pm
Haha I had a good friend in undergrad who sometimes would do her papers after coming home drunk from a party– and then get As! I was always amazed.
katherine November 18, 2009, 9:24 pm
I totally understand the writing “stag fright” but you have no reason to be worried. You’re a great writer and Operation Beautiful is an incredible concept so you’re guaranteed to succeed! That said, if a little bit of wine helps, I’ll be the first person to offer a bottle opener and a nice glass 🙂
Gab* November 18, 2009, 9:27 pm
Oh, nothing like a relaxing glass of wine! Good work on knocking over two chapters!! 🙂
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) November 18, 2009, 9:36 pm
I totally think booze makes me write better … and dance better … hehe!!
Shelly November 18, 2009, 9:48 pm
I’m completely amused that Campari has cochineal in it! My fiance drinks Campari and soda and I have always sworn that Campari tastes the way the stinky yellow fluid a lady bug leaves on your hand smells. Now that I know that there are actual bugs in Campari, it makes sense! 😛
As for the wine, when I wrote a novel last year(unpublished b/c it’s terrible, fyi- I did it for NANOWRIMO) I definitely needed wine to get me past a few points where I was stuck. 🙂
Meg C. November 18, 2009, 9:55 pm
nice job rockin’ the drunk writing. i think there should be a book published that was written exclusively while the author was drunk. and you could get a famous author to do it, too, like drunk stephen king horror novel, drunk maya angelou poem…
Erin November 18, 2009, 10:02 pm
My roommates and I used to drink wine while writing big term papers in college — it always got things flowing! 😉

Planning out my meals for tomorrow… shouldn’t be too difficult for just one day. 😀
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is November 18, 2009, 10:03 pm
I agree, wine is always the answer. 🙂
Karla November 18, 2009, 10:08 pm
Maybe I need a glass or two of wine to bust out these next few papers that are due in the following weeks (probably about 100 pages due in the next 2 weeks! eek!)

Congratulations on getting 2 chapters done!
Lex November 18, 2009, 10:10 pm
Aha – wine is always the answer!!

Enjoy vegan for a day! I am interested in checking out your review afterwards! 🙂
Tania @ Moment Anew November 18, 2009, 10:17 pm
Enjoy the wine and have a glass for me! Good luck with the book–I am positive that you’re going to turn out a beautifully written, inspirational book. Savour this moment and have fun with it!
Mary November 18, 2009, 10:30 pm
I am going to choose not to click that link since I enjoy my wine! haha. I don’t even want to know what it says about how wine is made. I have been craving a glass of wine for about 2 weeks. Yesterday I finally enjoyed a couple of glasses. Sometimes it’s just what you need!
Catherine November 18, 2009, 10:36 pm
Several studies have shown that ONE glass of wine improves concentration and retention of information! It’s actually helpful when studying, or doing any kind of brainwork. It has other health benefits, as well – relaxation being an essential one for me! Red wine is my favorite part of a healthy lifestyle. 🙂
Marissa November 18, 2009, 10:45 pm
Woah! Thanks for sharing the link! I had no idea!
Bridget November 18, 2009, 11:06 pm
When I couldn’t get myself to write papers in grad school, I would pour a glass of wine and knock it out…sometimes I think I make myself too tense and just need a little something extra to force relaxation!
Carolyn November 18, 2009, 11:07 pm
Congrats on finishing those chapters!
bec November 18, 2009, 11:09 pm
Glad you are getting lots of writing done today! That casserole looks so good, I WAS stuffed from dinner but now I am hungry again 🙂
Emily Eats November 19, 2009, 1:58 am
Your first line made me laugh – it’s just so true 🙂
sophia November 19, 2009, 2:24 am
Haha, too bad…

But to be honest: I really do not know how to appreciate wine…it just tastes like a richer vinegary drink to me = NOT good 🙁

A chef once told me that it is an age thing…that wine is something you grow to appreciate with age.

Hmm…I’m 22 now, but still don’t really like wine!
- caitlin November 19, 2009, 8:24 am
  you might like a really sweet white wine, like a Riesling?
Liz November 19, 2009, 2:28 am
Never knew that wine wasn’t vegan. Interesting. I’m not veggie or vegan, but it is just good to know.
Nicole November 19, 2009, 4:50 am
Wine seems to be the answer to many of life’s queries… at least the answer to many of my life’s queries…:)

WTF about the wine?!!! Why!!!
Runningwriter November 19, 2009, 6:24 am
Ha ha, I was just thinking wine was the devil when I clicked open your page. I don’t think I mastered moderation last night though 🙂 I’m glad it helped your writer’s block.
Ummm, that list of non vegan foods and drinks mentions SPERM OIL. How, why, where??? EWWWW! My mind just exploded!
- Runningwriter November 19, 2009, 7:20 am
  Oh, it comes from the head of a sperm whale. Now I feel sad 🙁
Susan November 19, 2009, 7:28 am
Ha, finding out my favourite beer is vegan is what convinced me to try out veganism for a whole month! (Keith’s Pale Ale, from Halifax, Canada).
Paige (Running Around Normal) November 19, 2009, 8:10 am
w00t! Two chapters is great! I had NO idea wine was made with bones. Blech!
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) November 19, 2009, 8:53 am
Congrats on the two completed chapters. I am so excited to buy and read the OB book next year 🙂
ari November 19, 2009, 8:57 am
what flavor hummus do you eat? i’ve always had sabra’s roasted red pepper, but i’m getting sick of it and for some reason i’m like afraid to try their original or garlic. i LOVE garlicy hummus but i’ve only ever had it at restaurants. do you know of any good garlicy hummus brands?
- caitlin November 19, 2009, 8:59 am
  all i ever have is the sabra brand (b/c we buy it in bulk from costco) but i’ve never had one of their flavors i dont like. the red pepper one is good, as is the garlic one!
Tina November 19, 2009, 9:08 am
Mmmm yogurt and granola. Never gets old!
susan November 19, 2009, 1:12 pm
most wine is not vegan? that sealed it! i’ll never be vegan!

bones and other nast aside… the vegan police will have to pry my wine bottle from my cold dead hand!
Jenna November 19, 2009, 1:21 pm
i am glad wine solved your writers block!
jenna
Robin Tierney September 1, 2013, 6:33 pm
Plenty of excellent properly produced wines ARE vegan. The fish bladders, egg whites, etc. are used to filter out matter that need not and shouldn’t even get in the wine in the first place. Are the winemaker about their practices, consult the listings on Barnivore.com and don’t assume that just b/c a wine is popular or has a cool bottle or is advertised that it is a good quality wine.

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