Denise Jaden's Blog, page 17
July 9, 2013
Literature, Drink, Drugs: How Writing Can Help Fight Addiction
Melissa Hathaway is spreading the word about how the arts can help fight addiction. She has written the following guest blog article specifically on how writing can have healing and cathartic qualities. Since this is something I believe strongly in, I was happy to have her share on the blog today.
Literature, Drink, Drugs: How Writing Can Help Fight Addiction by Melissa Hathaway
People often talk about the cathartic, therapeutic effect of writing. If you're being bullied in school or are having problems in your relationships, you are encouraged to write your thoughts down in a diary. Cancer victims also write throughout their illness: letters to their loved ones, blogs and diaries about how they feel during their treatment, even novels that describe their journey and encourage other sufferers. But little is shared about the positive effect writing can have on those battling with addiction: whether that is an addiction to alcohol, drugs, sex, or even food. However the effects writing and literature can have on addicts can be incredible. One of the twelve steps to dealing with alcohol or drug addiction is to write a list of all the people you have hurt or harmed as a result of your addiction and attempt to make amends to these people wherever possible. This is a technique used across the country: from support groups in New York, all the way to rehab centres in Iowa. These are just a few examples of how literature (or writing in its most basic form) can be used to help overcome addiction, or form a kind of therapy for those that need it. But what about the other end of the spectrum? What of writing made better because it was written by an alcoholic or drug addiction that has enhanced writing?
A History of Literary AddictionIt isn't a new phenomenon that literature and addiction go hand in hand. Some of the most famous, lauded, and talented writers of the past 100 years have been addicted to either drugs, alcohol, or both. Perhaps the most famous literary alcoholic was Ernest Hemingway, who once said "a man does not exist until he is drunk." However despite rumors to the contrary, Hemingway once revealed in an interview that he never drank whilst he was writing: when he had a pen in his hand he was able to refrain from having a tipple. Maybe this is an early example of writing helping to overcome addiction! One man who certainly didn't stop drinking whilst he was writing was F. Scott Fitzgerald. The famous words of F. Scott Fitzgerald have applied to several authors, but they also applied to himself: "First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you." Despite his success in the 1920s, Fitzgerald spent much of the 1930s as a crumbling alcoholic, and died by the end of 1940 as a result of alcohol related illnesses. One of the most famous drug addicts and writers is Jack Kerouac. He often incorporated his addictive experiences into his works and they changed how he wrote (the spontaneous prose he was famous for was a drug-induced style of writing). There are many more examples of famous addicts, and even how their experience with addiction has enhanced their literary output. Are there examples of former addicts writing literary works (novels and poems, rather than lists and letters) that have helped overcome addiction?
Using Your Experiences To Influence Your WorkFormer opium addict Jeet Thayil was nominated for the 2012 Man Booker Prize for his debut novel, which is called Narcopolis. Thayil used his experiences of being an addict to inspire his novel, which is about addiction in the bleak underworld inhabited by drug addicts in 1980s Bombay (the time Thayil was in the city and an addict himself). In an interview, when asked how he felt about looking back on his addiction, Thayil responded "I look back at it with yearning. It's a bad thing!" He also surprised by saying that his experience of writing the novel was the opposite of cathartic: instead it filled him with bad, negative feelings, and left him missing the excitement of the addictive period of his life. So can writing help you overcome addiction? Can sitting down and pouring your soul into a novel help heal the gap left when you no longer have drugs in your life, or does it draw you back into a life you'd rather forget? In short, the answer is that it depends on your personality and whether you're ready to let go of your addiction. The only way you can save yourself from addiction is if you decide to help yourself: and what better way to do that than to pick up a pen and start writing?
Literature, Drink, Drugs: How Writing Can Help Fight Addiction by Melissa Hathaway
People often talk about the cathartic, therapeutic effect of writing. If you're being bullied in school or are having problems in your relationships, you are encouraged to write your thoughts down in a diary. Cancer victims also write throughout their illness: letters to their loved ones, blogs and diaries about how they feel during their treatment, even novels that describe their journey and encourage other sufferers. But little is shared about the positive effect writing can have on those battling with addiction: whether that is an addiction to alcohol, drugs, sex, or even food. However the effects writing and literature can have on addicts can be incredible. One of the twelve steps to dealing with alcohol or drug addiction is to write a list of all the people you have hurt or harmed as a result of your addiction and attempt to make amends to these people wherever possible. This is a technique used across the country: from support groups in New York, all the way to rehab centres in Iowa. These are just a few examples of how literature (or writing in its most basic form) can be used to help overcome addiction, or form a kind of therapy for those that need it. But what about the other end of the spectrum? What of writing made better because it was written by an alcoholic or drug addiction that has enhanced writing?
A History of Literary AddictionIt isn't a new phenomenon that literature and addiction go hand in hand. Some of the most famous, lauded, and talented writers of the past 100 years have been addicted to either drugs, alcohol, or both. Perhaps the most famous literary alcoholic was Ernest Hemingway, who once said "a man does not exist until he is drunk." However despite rumors to the contrary, Hemingway once revealed in an interview that he never drank whilst he was writing: when he had a pen in his hand he was able to refrain from having a tipple. Maybe this is an early example of writing helping to overcome addiction! One man who certainly didn't stop drinking whilst he was writing was F. Scott Fitzgerald. The famous words of F. Scott Fitzgerald have applied to several authors, but they also applied to himself: "First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you." Despite his success in the 1920s, Fitzgerald spent much of the 1930s as a crumbling alcoholic, and died by the end of 1940 as a result of alcohol related illnesses. One of the most famous drug addicts and writers is Jack Kerouac. He often incorporated his addictive experiences into his works and they changed how he wrote (the spontaneous prose he was famous for was a drug-induced style of writing). There are many more examples of famous addicts, and even how their experience with addiction has enhanced their literary output. Are there examples of former addicts writing literary works (novels and poems, rather than lists and letters) that have helped overcome addiction?
Using Your Experiences To Influence Your WorkFormer opium addict Jeet Thayil was nominated for the 2012 Man Booker Prize for his debut novel, which is called Narcopolis. Thayil used his experiences of being an addict to inspire his novel, which is about addiction in the bleak underworld inhabited by drug addicts in 1980s Bombay (the time Thayil was in the city and an addict himself). In an interview, when asked how he felt about looking back on his addiction, Thayil responded "I look back at it with yearning. It's a bad thing!" He also surprised by saying that his experience of writing the novel was the opposite of cathartic: instead it filled him with bad, negative feelings, and left him missing the excitement of the addictive period of his life. So can writing help you overcome addiction? Can sitting down and pouring your soul into a novel help heal the gap left when you no longer have drugs in your life, or does it draw you back into a life you'd rather forget? In short, the answer is that it depends on your personality and whether you're ready to let go of your addiction. The only way you can save yourself from addiction is if you decide to help yourself: and what better way to do that than to pick up a pen and start writing?
July 5, 2013
Friday Four!
Is it truly Friday? It feels like any other day than Friday.
1. I ventured down to the US for July 4th to go camping with my mom and my son, which is probably why my internal calendar is all out of whack. Had a great time at a smalltown parade and an awesome fireworks display that seemed to go on and on and on.
2. What am I reading? Still working my way through ALSO KNOWN AS by Robin Benway. I'm enjoying it, but have had some of my own writing/reading stuff to deal with.
3. What am I writing? I've been working on a read-through of FINDING HOPE just after finishing up a revision on it. It still needs a bit of work, but I was really happy with how it's turning out! Though part of me wonders if reading a book in an awesome location will make a book seem better than it actually is. Here's where I was reading the last few days:
La Conner, Washington
4. Also, this week I found my next release, another nonfiction book for writers called FAST FICTION, up on GoodReads. It still doesn't have a cover, though I have seen a few mock-ups of what it might look like. I should be able to reveal that soon. If you're interested in reading this, I hope you'll add it to your to-read list on GoodReads. (It also has a fancy little write-up on there.)
Hope you all have a great weekend! I'm off to a wedding and then getting my son ready for a week full of horse camp next week.
1. I ventured down to the US for July 4th to go camping with my mom and my son, which is probably why my internal calendar is all out of whack. Had a great time at a smalltown parade and an awesome fireworks display that seemed to go on and on and on.
2. What am I reading? Still working my way through ALSO KNOWN AS by Robin Benway. I'm enjoying it, but have had some of my own writing/reading stuff to deal with.
3. What am I writing? I've been working on a read-through of FINDING HOPE just after finishing up a revision on it. It still needs a bit of work, but I was really happy with how it's turning out! Though part of me wonders if reading a book in an awesome location will make a book seem better than it actually is. Here's where I was reading the last few days:
La Conner, Washington4. Also, this week I found my next release, another nonfiction book for writers called FAST FICTION, up on GoodReads. It still doesn't have a cover, though I have seen a few mock-ups of what it might look like. I should be able to reveal that soon. If you're interested in reading this, I hope you'll add it to your to-read list on GoodReads. (It also has a fancy little write-up on there.)
Hope you all have a great weekend! I'm off to a wedding and then getting my son ready for a week full of horse camp next week.
June 28, 2013
Friday Four!
1. I figure since I'm not blogging any other days lately, the least I can do is come up with four tiny things to talk about on a Friday. Oh, was that number one? Oops, I guess it was. LOL.
2. What am I reading? I started ALSO KNOWN AS by Robin Benway at least a month ago. I was really enjoying it, but then a bunch of library books came in for me, so I put it aside. Then my awesome friend Shana sent me a box of books from BEA, and I realized I could put this book on hold forever if I'm not careful. So I'm back to reading it, and laughing out loud here and there. It's kind of like Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series, except I'm finding it funnier.
3. What am I writing? Thanks again to Shana and her notes, I'm hard at work again on FINDING HOPE, the companion novel to LOSING FAITH in Tessa's point of view. Trying some fun timeline jumps to see if they work. I'm tempted to put the novel into Scrivener for this purpose, but Scrivener always seems to screw up some of my formatting, so I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle. I always seem to go back and forth on this one, between "I LOVVVVVEEEE Scrivener" and "Is it worth it?" What do you think? Love it or is it worth it?
4. I'm going to a formal eighteenth birthday party for one of the girls I dance with this weekend. It is so seldom that I get dressed up formally, I'm actually a little nervous about it. And I haven't even decided on what I will wear yet.
5. Number one was lame, so I'm adding a number five. But don't worry, it's just about the weather. Apparently it's supposed to "feel like" 104 degrees here next week. I live in a humid climate, so the thought of this seems unbearable to me (even though I usually love the heat). I guess we're moving into our basement.
2. What am I reading? I started ALSO KNOWN AS by Robin Benway at least a month ago. I was really enjoying it, but then a bunch of library books came in for me, so I put it aside. Then my awesome friend Shana sent me a box of books from BEA, and I realized I could put this book on hold forever if I'm not careful. So I'm back to reading it, and laughing out loud here and there. It's kind of like Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series, except I'm finding it funnier.
3. What am I writing? Thanks again to Shana and her notes, I'm hard at work again on FINDING HOPE, the companion novel to LOSING FAITH in Tessa's point of view. Trying some fun timeline jumps to see if they work. I'm tempted to put the novel into Scrivener for this purpose, but Scrivener always seems to screw up some of my formatting, so I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle. I always seem to go back and forth on this one, between "I LOVVVVVEEEE Scrivener" and "Is it worth it?" What do you think? Love it or is it worth it?
4. I'm going to a formal eighteenth birthday party for one of the girls I dance with this weekend. It is so seldom that I get dressed up formally, I'm actually a little nervous about it. And I haven't even decided on what I will wear yet.
5. Number one was lame, so I'm adding a number five. But don't worry, it's just about the weather. Apparently it's supposed to "feel like" 104 degrees here next week. I live in a humid climate, so the thought of this seems unbearable to me (even though I usually love the heat). I guess we're moving into our basement.
June 21, 2013
Friday Four!
1. What am I reading? You may notice I've added a new book (actually, I've added THREE new books) to my twelve awesome books read this year (right sidebar). I just whipped through the audio version of Jenny Han's summer trilogy this week. I actually read it out of order by accident. I read the second one first, but then I re-read the second one in order. Even though I LOVED it the first time, I thought it would be so much more powerful after I read THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY. I was right. I highly recommend these to anyone who loves YA contemporary. I'm taking suggestions for the remaining five slots on my awesome books list. Read anything really good lately?
2. What am I writing? I just finished up my revision of LIVING OUT LOUD. I received notes from my agent on the weekend on MAKING MIRACLES (she loves it, but suggested some further character development). So now I'm busy on that. My revising brain is having ups and downs these days, but I'm pushing through.
3. I sent in a few more proposals for different writing and book events for this fall and next spring. If you have a writing conference or book event held in your area that is particularly good, I'd love to hear about it. I hope to do a little more writing related traveling next year.
Happy first day of summer!
4. Well, it's the first day of summer. The rain has let up for the moment, but it's still pretty gloomy and wet here. (Still, nothing like Calgary, which I hear is buried in water! Hoping everyone is okay there). I hear next week is supposed to be sunny, so that will be nice. (I always wonder if people in Phoenix or Texas look at a pic like the one above and sigh, thinking it looks so nice. Probably not.)
Anyway, happy weekend, all! Don't get too wet. Or sunburned. And Calgarian friends...don't drown.
2. What am I writing? I just finished up my revision of LIVING OUT LOUD. I received notes from my agent on the weekend on MAKING MIRACLES (she loves it, but suggested some further character development). So now I'm busy on that. My revising brain is having ups and downs these days, but I'm pushing through.
3. I sent in a few more proposals for different writing and book events for this fall and next spring. If you have a writing conference or book event held in your area that is particularly good, I'd love to hear about it. I hope to do a little more writing related traveling next year.
Happy first day of summer!4. Well, it's the first day of summer. The rain has let up for the moment, but it's still pretty gloomy and wet here. (Still, nothing like Calgary, which I hear is buried in water! Hoping everyone is okay there). I hear next week is supposed to be sunny, so that will be nice. (I always wonder if people in Phoenix or Texas look at a pic like the one above and sigh, thinking it looks so nice. Probably not.)
Anyway, happy weekend, all! Don't get too wet. Or sunburned. And Calgarian friends...don't drown.
June 16, 2013
I Miss You, Dad
This is another bittersweet holiday for me. While I have been super-blessed--I have a great husband who is an awesome dad to my son, and I grew up with the best dad ever--I also really miss my dad this time of year. I lost him just over two years ago, and still have many moments when I wish he was around to ask a question of or talk something over with.
Whenever I picture my dad, I still picture him with a smile on his face and it reminds me to live my life with joy. I love this picture of my son with his grandpa.
Many kudos to those of you out there who are working hard at being a good male role model to some young person in your life, whether it is your own child or not, and many hugs to those for whom this is a difficult day. I wish you much joy.
Whenever I picture my dad, I still picture him with a smile on his face and it reminds me to live my life with joy. I love this picture of my son with his grandpa.
Many kudos to those of you out there who are working hard at being a good male role model to some young person in your life, whether it is your own child or not, and many hugs to those for whom this is a difficult day. I wish you much joy.
June 14, 2013
Friday Four!
1. What am I reading? I just finished up CRIMINAL by Terra Elan McVoy. If you're in the mood for a gritty and raw and honest read, this is the book. I read it in two days--it was gripping.
2. What else am I reading? I've had "The Summer" books by Jenny Han on my TBR pile forever. I never seem to get around to them, but the other day I found IT'S NOT SUMMER WITHOUT YOU on my library's audio site. So I'm listening to the audio version and wondering why on earth I didn't read these books sooner. I also didn't realize they were connected (all an actual series with the same characters) so I'm actually reading in the wrong order, but I don't care. I'm loving it anyway and can't wait to read the others.
3. What am I writing? Thanks to some awesomely-helpful feedback from a beta reader, I'm back at work on LIVING OUT LOUD. I love those revisions where you know exactly what to do and can envision how the changes will make the book SO MUCH BETTER.
4. My son and I are meeting with my homeschool support teacher today, so as of this afternoon, 4th grade is officially done! My son and I do school year round (lighter and more fun in the summer). I let him start on the next grade through summer so he's actually kind of excited about it.
We're supposed to get a weekend of sunshine and then rain rain rain next week. So I'll be outside for the next couple of days. How about you?
June 7, 2013
Friday Four!
1. What am I reading? I'm beta reading for a writer-friend this week. It's part of a series that I've beta read, so I'm enjoying being back with the characters. On deck, I have two books I'm excited for: CRIMINAL by Terra Elan McVoy and 17 AND GONE by Nova Ren Suma.
2. What am I writing? Nothing, and it's driving me crazy! I'm waiting on notes from my agent, and in the meantime I feel like I'm kind of in limbo. Hopefully the waiting won't go on much longer...have I mentioned how grumpy I get when I'm not writing?
3. A local restaurant (Earls) gifted my husband and I with what they call a "Chef's Table." This week, we were able to bring six of our friends in and they spoiled us with a sampling of appys and meals and drinks from their menu. I LOVE sampling, so this was such a fun thing to do, and the food was amazing! If you haven't been to Earls and tried their spinach/cheese dip, I wholeheartedly recommend it!
4. My husband is busy at a seminar this weekend, so it was supposed to be a writing weekend for me. But, alas, see number 3. I do have a lot of marketing stuff to catch up on, so I'll likely keep busy with that. Just a little afraid of falling out of my writing/revising rhythm.
What are you up to this weekend? The sun is shining here, so who knows, that could lure me away from my computer altogether!
2. What am I writing? Nothing, and it's driving me crazy! I'm waiting on notes from my agent, and in the meantime I feel like I'm kind of in limbo. Hopefully the waiting won't go on much longer...have I mentioned how grumpy I get when I'm not writing?
3. A local restaurant (Earls) gifted my husband and I with what they call a "Chef's Table." This week, we were able to bring six of our friends in and they spoiled us with a sampling of appys and meals and drinks from their menu. I LOVE sampling, so this was such a fun thing to do, and the food was amazing! If you haven't been to Earls and tried their spinach/cheese dip, I wholeheartedly recommend it!
4. My husband is busy at a seminar this weekend, so it was supposed to be a writing weekend for me. But, alas, see number 3. I do have a lot of marketing stuff to catch up on, so I'll likely keep busy with that. Just a little afraid of falling out of my writing/revising rhythm.
What are you up to this weekend? The sun is shining here, so who knows, that could lure me away from my computer altogether!
May 31, 2013
Friday Four!
1. What am I reading? I've been reading some really wonderful books lately! If you're looking for recommendations, I would recommend all of these wholeheartedly: PIECES by Chris Lynch, THE PROGRAM by Suzanne Young, ELEANOR AND PARK by Rainbow Rowell, and THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE by Jennifer E. Smith. Seriously, read these books. Especially ELEANOR AND PARK.
2. What am I writing? I just finished up a revision on LIVING OUT LOUD! I cut over 20,000 words during this revision. Phew! I still think this book needs a lot of work, but I plan to do a read-through to find the obvious errors and then find a beta reader to get some outside feedback before I go back in to do anymore. I'm thrilled to be on the other side of this revision, though. It was tough!
3. Lots going on this weekend for me. First of all, I'm off to a homeschool curriculum fair to purchase supplies for schooling my son for the next year. I find these fairs really fun--there are so many great and creative resources for teaching kids these days.
4. Many of you know I've been a professional Polynesian dancer for many years. I love it, and I've been asked to be a judge this weekend for a big international Polynesian dance competition. I recently had to write up a bio for this event, and it was funny because I write a lot of bios for different events, but this one is so...non-writing-focused. Since most of you only ever here about my writing adventures, here are a few highlights: Over thirty years of dance training, traveling internationally as dance captain and performer with Paul Latta Show Productions, owner and operator my own dance school for eight years, and co-promoter of Canada's largest natural bodybuilding competition (with my husband) for nine years.
This doesn't include my background as mushroom farmer, church secretary, or jewelry manager, among other things. I've had a very varied life (which I love!) It all gives me plenty of fodder for writing (though, I admit, I have not written about a Polynesian dancer yet).
Happy weekend to you all! Hope there is plenty of sunshine and happiness ahead for all of you :-)
2. What am I writing? I just finished up a revision on LIVING OUT LOUD! I cut over 20,000 words during this revision. Phew! I still think this book needs a lot of work, but I plan to do a read-through to find the obvious errors and then find a beta reader to get some outside feedback before I go back in to do anymore. I'm thrilled to be on the other side of this revision, though. It was tough!
3. Lots going on this weekend for me. First of all, I'm off to a homeschool curriculum fair to purchase supplies for schooling my son for the next year. I find these fairs really fun--there are so many great and creative resources for teaching kids these days.
4. Many of you know I've been a professional Polynesian dancer for many years. I love it, and I've been asked to be a judge this weekend for a big international Polynesian dance competition. I recently had to write up a bio for this event, and it was funny because I write a lot of bios for different events, but this one is so...non-writing-focused. Since most of you only ever here about my writing adventures, here are a few highlights: Over thirty years of dance training, traveling internationally as dance captain and performer with Paul Latta Show Productions, owner and operator my own dance school for eight years, and co-promoter of Canada's largest natural bodybuilding competition (with my husband) for nine years.
This doesn't include my background as mushroom farmer, church secretary, or jewelry manager, among other things. I've had a very varied life (which I love!) It all gives me plenty of fodder for writing (though, I admit, I have not written about a Polynesian dancer yet).
Happy weekend to you all! Hope there is plenty of sunshine and happiness ahead for all of you :-)
May 24, 2013
Friday Four!
1. What am I reading? I'm thoroughly enjoying THE PROGRAM by Suzanne Young. Funny, the love interest in this one has the same name (first and last) as an old friend of my husband's. But the characters are so well-drawn and captivating, I had no trouble getting over the name thing. Do names sometimes hinder you when you're reading, because of personal experience with a name or expectations of a name?
2. What am I writing? Still working on LIVING OUT LOUD. I've cut almost 15k from this manuscript in the last week and a half, so I'm really happy about that. My sentimental side has almost completely been shut off. (Hopefully temporarily!)
3. I'm planning a writing class for the fall, for homeschool kids around my son's age (nine), and it looks like we will have a houseful! Twelve kids want to take the class (or their parents want them to take it). We will meet once a week to learn about novel-writing through September and October, and then the kids will all be working on their own "NaNo" projects through the month of November.
4. Other than that, I don't have much planned for upcoming events. I will be signing books at the Surrey International Writers Conference (hopefully), and have submitted a few conference proposals. If you have a local writer's conference that brings in out of town authors, let me know. I'd love to travel a little in the next year teaching on FAST FICTION to coincide with my book by that name.
I'm off to my son's judo tournament this weekend, and then a birthday party with "The Reptile Guy." Maybe I'll let my husband take my son to that one! The sun is shining. Happy weekend!
May 17, 2013
Friday Four!
1. What am I reading? PIECES by Chris Lynch. This guy is a freaking phenomenal writer.
2. What am I writing? Same ol' same ol'. LIVING OUT LOUD. But I've finished up the tedious revisions and I'm now onto big picture stuff--deleting entire scenes or chapters, moving stuff around, creating new sub-plots, that sort of thing. Right now it's sitting at over 100k, and I hope to get it down to at least 80 in this revision.
3. I was recently asked to answer this incredibly difficult question:
"What do you think you'd do if someone you knew confessed to you that they'd committed a murder, and what do you think you'd actually do?
Terra Elan McVoy posted my answer, along with five other brilliant and varied answers from other authors on her blog this week, in celebration of her release of her latest YA novel, CRIMINAL. Here's the link! It's definitely worth checking out.
4. I'm off to the Cloverdale Rodeo this weekend! I recently read a friend's manuscript, which was set among the rodeo circuit. I've never been to a rodeo, but it really intrigued me. So when the secretary from my church asked me if I'd be willing to help at their Horse Camp booth at the rodeo, I said sure. I'm excited about it, though I don't know if I'll actually get to see any of the rodeo performances. Have you been to a rodeo? What do you like best about them?
I am getting caught up this week! Or at least I'm trying my best. If you're waiting for an email or interview or vlog or anything else from me, I'm hoping to get to it to you in the next week, and thank you thank you for being patient!
Happy weekend, everyone, and YEEEHAWWWW!
