Issue 69 / Winter 2019
69 / Intoxication
Writers drunk on lust, life, booze, beauty, words, and the Holy Spirit
In Creative Nonfiction #69: “Intoxication,” writers explore the heady thrills—and, sometimes, dangers—of mother-daughter day-drinking; the Nashville music scene of 1983; finding a new romance in midlife; and surrendering to the Holy Spirit.
Plus, Leslie Jamison de-mythologizes the myth of the Drunk Genius; an argument for more humor in addiction memoirs; a potted history of cocktail coverage; tiny truths; and more.
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What’s the Story #69
"The beer wasn't the main attraction. The real intoxicant was the opportunity to connect"Cocktails 101
What's deemed pertinent, polite, and otherwise up for discussion—and what isn't—in drinks writing todayDe-mythologizing the Drunk Genius
Leslie Jamison reflects on the messy realities of addiction and the differences between the narrative demands of a good story and the narrative demands of a good lifeThe Lesson
Mother-daughter day-drinkingThe Cherry Birds
There's a steep price for gluttonyBone Bread
In a warm kitchen, yeast froths and comes to lifeA Righteous Bender
Giving up control can be terrifying, and wonderfulThe Last Waylon Party
The Nashville music scene of 1983 was no place for a childStarbucks and Shipwrecks
Loving men who've had to learn how to love themselvesA Priest Walks Into A Bar
Seriously: addiction memoirs need more humorThe Boozy Muse
Sheila Regan conducts a not-very-scientific investigation into the effects of drugs on writing. Kira Compton learns how to write outside of a barYellow
Why do they call it "white" wine, anyway?Organic Whimsy
"Life is whimsical in the way that it’s always fluctuating and flowing, and this constant motion of molecules is one of the main ideas I’m trying to explore"Creativity on Tap
Sheila Regan conducts a not-very-scientific investigation into the effects of drugs on writingLast Call
Kira Compton learns how to write outside of a bar