The one cliche writers can’t escape
Coffee. Read any book, watch any move that has writers as characters, and you’re sure to find them at some point guzzling a super-gulp sized cup of java (or vodka–but that’s another cliche altogether). Or, if they’re not drinking coffee, there are meta-jokes about coffee. For example, in season 2 of the TV show, “30 Rock” Kenneth the Page says:
Kenneth: [about coffee] I love how it makes me feel. It’s like my heart is trying to hug my brain!
And yet, the whole coffee thing is a cliche for a reason. It tastes great and it helps you keep your fanny in the chair, even after long hours of writing.
At any rate, I happened upon a short story contest accepting work that features coffee prominently. So I thought I’d give it a try. Write about what you know, right?