Writer Goes Straight Edge for About an Hour

Surprised He Went Even That Long

A writer starting work on the next "great American novel" tried to write without the help of his favorite co-writers—caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. His best intentions came up short after experiencing his first bought of block which resulted in pouring himself a few fingers of whiskey.

"Gave it the old college try," said the author in reference to going straight edge, however briefly."Realizing now that I only have good ideas when either hammered or completely stoned."

The author hoped to benefit from his newly sober lifestyle and possibly finish this novel without the old crutch of drugs and alcohol. He had heard of authors who dabbled in healthy coping mechanisms, self-care, and meditation, and thought he might give that a whirl.

It lasted about 48 minutes.

The author is among good company as a majority of his favorite authors—Hemingway, King, and Poe—were all raging alcoholics. Other authors he admires, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, William S. Burroughs, and Aldous Huxley, were drug abusers.

I wouldn't give this particular author that much credit, however, considering the novel he’s currently writing lands somewhere between John Grisham drivel and Friday Night Lights, along with the affected self-importance of Jonathan Franzen. No amount of alcohol can get him to explore a complex theme about the human condition.

"I'm fully aware that I am emulating the worst habits of the best writers," he added.

Yet why do authors still drink and drug so much? Some studies show that it might be neurologically based. Perhaps it's just the loneliness, bouts of depression, or need for an outlet after long writing sessions.

Writers, by the very nature of their craft, are often introspective and sensitive individuals. They delve into the depths of human emotion, exploring complex themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Perhaps in doing so, the author uses drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism?

The American writer and literary critic Alfred Kazin explored the relationship of writing and drinking in an article for Commentary magazine. “It was ‘the drive for success of every kind, the hunger for prestige, fame, and money’ in conjunction with ‘the burden put upon the creative self.”

However, Psychologists at Washington University argue that authors with a "manic-depressive nature" are most prone to alcohol and drug addiction. Perhaps the highs and lows of the literary lifestyle can trigger the manic depressive's mood, increasing their desire for impulsive behavior and self-destruction.

Phillip K. Dick was one such author, escaping into a world of amphetamines and LSD as his mental sickness increased. Dick finally succumbed to his addictions, however, a sad example of what can happen when authors begin to "self-medicate" in an attempt to support their bizarre and prolific writing habits.

Whatever medical reasons there might be for the relationship, there are some authors who use alcohol merely as a stimulant, enhancing their creativity and allowing them to tap into a deeper well of imagination. The disinhibiting effects of alcohol can loosen the constraints of self-censorship, leading to a more uninhibited and expressive writing style.

Additionally, alcohol can induce a state of altered consciousness, blurring the boundaries between reality and fantasy, a state that can be fertile ground for creative exploration.

A majority of Stephen King’s early novels benefitted from such dangerous innovation, but later in his memoir On Writing, he admitted he doesn’t even remember writing Cujo.

Sadly, most drinking writers are just drunks, laid to waste by the glorious myth of writing while inebriated. For these authors, it seems, alcoholism has had a detrimental impact on their productivity and quality of work.

Perhaps alcohol abuse has already impaired their cognitive function, memory, and judgment, leading to writer's block, poor decision-making, and a decline in the overall quality of writing.

At least now this author has an excuse for his shitty writing and lack of success.