Write Drunk, Edit Sober

I'm the creator of Drunk Writers, a free creative writing community where people write for five minutes at a time using fun, thought-provoking prompts. Despite the name, drinking is optional. It comes from the phrase, "Write drunk. Edit sober." It's about letting go of perfection, writing without censoring yourself, and worrying about editing later.

I started it about 15 years ago in Paris, and it grew almost all by word of mouth. It became the foundation for my therapeutic writing practice, Lerma Words of Healing, where I work one-on-one with clients using writing for self-discovery, healing, and creative growth. Clients have turned our work into books, businesses, video games, and for a lot of them, a whole new relationship with themselves.

Drunk Writers is how I give back. It's free because I believe everyone deserves a place to express themselves without judgment. We recently brought it to Las Vegas and it's already building a great community. Every Tuesday night at The Bonfire you'll find writers, musicians, comedians, singers, and people who just want to connect.

Living in Paris had been my dream since I was a teenager. I was in San Francisco working in banking as a vice president and branch manager, but I never let go of it.

Like a lot of big changes, it started after a heartbreak. I realized there would never be a perfect time, so I made one. I'd been hosting Couchsurfers, and my very first guest was a Parisian who said if I ever made it to Paris, I could stay with her. Four months later I called her, packed my bags, and moved to France.

I started Drunk Writers almost right away, and I watched amazing things happen. People who were too shy to read their work out loud went on to build blogs, publish books, work as ghostwriters, or just find the confidence to share their voice. People kept telling me how therapeutic it was, and I realized something bigger was going on. Eventually I took it across Europe, to London, Rome, Amsterdam, and Germany.

Even here in Las Vegas, after a short time, I've watched people become real friends. We've gone hiking, paddle boarding, to concerts, and supported each other's projects. That's what it's really about. Community.

There's something powerful about sitting down with strangers, having five minutes to write, and finding out you're not alone. We do plenty of funny prompts, but we go deeper too. One of my favorite games is Two Truths and a Lie, and the stories people share often become the prompts. Recently someone talked about spending twelve years in prison, so I gave two choices: write a letter to yourself after twelve years in prison, or write a letter to a pet you've lost. The room filled up with stories that were heartbreaking, funny, hopeful, and very human. Those moments remind me why I do this.

Public speaking is one of people's biggest fears, so "Write drunk. Edit sober" isn't really about alcohol. It's about giving yourself permission to create before you judge yourself. I don't think people need to become someone else. They already have great stories inside them. My job is to make a space where those stories can come out.

After Paris I moved to Maryland to be near my family, because my dad was sick. I stayed almost ten years.

Later, after a relationship that was headed toward marriage ended, I felt that pull to start over again. I packed everything I owned into my little gold convertible and drove across the country. The plan was to pass through Las Vegas on my way to California. Friends here talked me into staying a little longer, telling me it was the best city in the country. The longer I stayed, the more I knew they were right.

When I got here, I felt exactly the way I did when I landed in Paris. This is my city. Las Vegas gives artists permission to create. Writers, musicians, comedians, singers, there are chances to perform, collaborate, and meet people who support each other. That energy is why I relaunched Drunk Writers here, and things fell into place, including finding our home at The Bonfire.

About two to two and a half years.

Make recycling easier. In my apartment complex everything goes in one dumpster, so it's hard to recycle. I've been places where you return bottles for money or transit credit. Programs like that make it simple, and I'd love to see Las Vegas move that way.

I love Herbs & Rye. I'm a big steak fan, so Peter Luger is another favorite, especially for lunch. For something more casual, Tuscany has a great steak and eggs special, and Ellis Island has a good steak special for around $10.