You may have heard the old quote “write drunk, edit sober,” but it might actually be better to edit when you’re still hungover.
Knocking back a few beers can be good for your creativity, but you’ll usually pay for it the next morning. While you might feel like you’re dying, Frank Kelly Rich, the Editor of Modern Drunkard Magazine, explains that hangovers might be pretty useful after all:
…hangovers are, however, perfectly suited for making hard and cruel decisions, so they’re fantastic for editing. When you’re in that sort of mood, it’s easy—even enjoyable—to bayonet those ‘little darlings’ writers are always trying to sneak into their work.
It’s not always easy to tear apart your own work, but hangovers put you in the perfect state of mind for it. So the next time your head is pounding and you’re feeling a little nauseous, give your writing a once over. It’ll almost be like having a fresh pair of eyes to give you notes.
