Michael Potts's Blog: Bits and Pieces: Book Reviews and Articles on Writing, Horror Fiction, and Some Philosophy - Posts Tagged "alcoholism"
Writers and Alcohol
One stereotype about writers that, unfortunately, has some truth to it is that many writers abuse alcohol. O Henry, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Dylan Thomas, Truman Capote, Jack Kerouac, and many others had such struggles. Among horror writers, Stephen King struggled with alcohol and drugs, and has successfully overcome his addiction. Edgar Allen Poe had a drinking problem as did Shirley Jackson. Even writers who do not have problems with drinking too much often drink an alcoholic beverage as they write. Why is this the case? Is there a link between creativity and alcohol abuse?
To be fair, some writers with clinical depression may have drunk too much to avoid the pain. Others may have suffered pain from injuries and drunk to dull the physical pain. However, I do think there is a link between drinking alcoholic beverages and writing.
What people who do not write fail to understand is that writing is a gut-wrenching, emotional experience. In writing, the author bares him or herself, psychologically stripping away barriers that are normally kept closed. I remember my own experience writing my novels--it was similar to a fugue state in which the emotions and scenes were flowing too fast to write down, and in which my body was so tense it felt as if it were on a caffeine IV. My heart pounded, my body trembled--taking a walk every hour helped with the physical stress, but the mental stress only increased. I drank a little wine or Tennessee whisky, allowing a glass to last over several hours. It slowed my mind enough to write what was inside it, but not so much that it interfered with thinking. Yet even then there were times I would have two drinks in two hourse because it was the only thing that would calm me down. It was easier writing my second novel, and I was moderate the entire time, but the gut-wrenching baring of my soul was still present. Writing is a great catharsis and can function like therapy, and I enjoyed the process of writing, but my body and emotions were taut--it is difficult to desribe the experience. Now that I cannot drink any alcohol for medical reasons, I still write, but listen to music or relaxation CDs to help.
Other writers are not so moderate--perhaps they had negative experiences in their lives that writing brought back into their consciousness. Perhaps their bodies reacted more strongly to the emotion of writing than did mine. Perhaps they had a genetic propensity to alcoholism. Some writers could only write when drunk. How can writers deal with the baring of the soul that takes place in writing?
My suggestion would be to drink moderately if you drink--if there is any hint of lack of control, leave the room and take a walk. If you are still tempted, you do not need to drink--you are depending on it, and when that happens, alcohol will become your master and you will be its slave. For those who do not drink, listen to calming music or relaxation tracks--there is plenty of such on YouTube if you have Internet access where you are writing. If there is no Internet access, bring a personal CD player and headphones along with whatever music you enjoy. For writing, I prefer either Gregorian chant or one of the works of Arvo Part--slow, meditative, calming.
Exercise is a must--take walks, at least, and if you are a jogger, go for a run. Anything healthy way to relieve stress is good. For those tempted to drink too much, rememember that dead people cannot write anything. It is not worth losing your life to solve the emotional wrenching process of writing via too much alcohol or other drugs.
To be fair, some writers with clinical depression may have drunk too much to avoid the pain. Others may have suffered pain from injuries and drunk to dull the physical pain. However, I do think there is a link between drinking alcoholic beverages and writing.
What people who do not write fail to understand is that writing is a gut-wrenching, emotional experience. In writing, the author bares him or herself, psychologically stripping away barriers that are normally kept closed. I remember my own experience writing my novels--it was similar to a fugue state in which the emotions and scenes were flowing too fast to write down, and in which my body was so tense it felt as if it were on a caffeine IV. My heart pounded, my body trembled--taking a walk every hour helped with the physical stress, but the mental stress only increased. I drank a little wine or Tennessee whisky, allowing a glass to last over several hours. It slowed my mind enough to write what was inside it, but not so much that it interfered with thinking. Yet even then there were times I would have two drinks in two hourse because it was the only thing that would calm me down. It was easier writing my second novel, and I was moderate the entire time, but the gut-wrenching baring of my soul was still present. Writing is a great catharsis and can function like therapy, and I enjoyed the process of writing, but my body and emotions were taut--it is difficult to desribe the experience. Now that I cannot drink any alcohol for medical reasons, I still write, but listen to music or relaxation CDs to help.
Other writers are not so moderate--perhaps they had negative experiences in their lives that writing brought back into their consciousness. Perhaps their bodies reacted more strongly to the emotion of writing than did mine. Perhaps they had a genetic propensity to alcoholism. Some writers could only write when drunk. How can writers deal with the baring of the soul that takes place in writing?
My suggestion would be to drink moderately if you drink--if there is any hint of lack of control, leave the room and take a walk. If you are still tempted, you do not need to drink--you are depending on it, and when that happens, alcohol will become your master and you will be its slave. For those who do not drink, listen to calming music or relaxation tracks--there is plenty of such on YouTube if you have Internet access where you are writing. If there is no Internet access, bring a personal CD player and headphones along with whatever music you enjoy. For writing, I prefer either Gregorian chant or one of the works of Arvo Part--slow, meditative, calming.
Exercise is a must--take walks, at least, and if you are a jogger, go for a run. Anything healthy way to relieve stress is good. For those tempted to drink too much, rememember that dead people cannot write anything. It is not worth losing your life to solve the emotional wrenching process of writing via too much alcohol or other drugs.
Review of Francis Seeburger. Addiction and Responsibility
Addiction and Responsibility: An Inquiry into the Addictive Mind by Francis SeeburgerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Professor Seeburger's book is, by far, the best book on the phenomenon of addiction I have read. Seeburger is a philosopher working within the phenomenological tradition, and this approach helps him to "get inside" the addictive mind to explore the lure of addiction and its closeness to religious experience, albeit twisted in the case of addiction. His discussion of the levels of responsibility in addiction is nuanced but fair, allowing that there are times we do (and should) hold the addict responsible for his actions. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the exploding problem of addiction in American society.
View all my reviews
Bits and Pieces: Book Reviews and Articles on Writing, Horror Fiction, and Some Philosophy
The blog of Michael Potts, writer of Southern fiction, horror fiction, and poetry.
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