“Beware of advice—even this.”
—Carl Sandburg
I finished my first novel, a short story, and I’m halfway through book two of the same series. I self-published. I’m still not sure it was the right path for me. Self-publishing requires far more shameless self-promotion and personal effort than I’m entirely comfortable with. The shameless part isn’t my problem. The self-promotion and personal effort are just so much . . . effort!
Lacking a strong marketing plan and significant inroads to success, I am contemplating a second path. If someone . . . anyone . . . will cover my annual coffee budget, I can continue feeling successful as an author. Most of my writing is done while sitting in a coffee shop surrounded by the intoxicating aroma of coffee, the bright chatter of caffeine-addicted patrons, and the pleasant buzz of a bottomless mug of dark brew.
The steady flow of java has provided both inspiration and insight. After years of experience, I can now match the right coffee to the content of my writing. Here is my coffee advice for fellow writers:
Sumatra - As a dark roast, it pairs well with twisting fantasy plots, thrilling action scenes, and smoky hard-boiled detectives. As a full-city roast (Mmmmm) it is a fabulous all-purpose prose coffee - probably my favorite on the list!
Guatemala - This dark, smoky cup of joe will go down nicely while drafting passionate dialogue, romantic settings, and complex relationships. Writing about a jungle scene? This is the coffee for you.
Papua New Guinea - When you need a funky medium roast to pair with witty dialogue and humorous characters, this brew is the ticket. Satire and Papua New Guinea go together like corn chips and video games!
Kona - If your story involves an exotic setting, a gentle romance, or a sweetly innocent character, give this delicately balance bean juice a try. Be careful though, too much Kona and your sweet little romance can become a maudlin emo novel!
Brazil - This cup of coffee is the perfect complement to a melancholy story or scene. The bittersweet notes of the coffee impart a wonderful balance of sorrow and joy when writing about a tragic hero, lost love, or fallen champion.
Obviously, these are just a few single origin coffees. If you are looking at various roasts, blends, flavors, and processing styles - the possibilities are endless. The only way you can really know the best pairings is to try them all . . . so it's time for another cup!
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