« In the late 1970s, the psychiatrist Donald W Goodwin conducted a study of the big names in 20th century American letters, and found that 71% of them �drank to excess � a rate far higher than any other profession surveyed�. He concluded that writing requires a particular strain of exhibitionism, curiosity and self-confidence that can be enhanced with alcohol, the effect of which then eats into the discipline and concentration that are also essential to the process. »
From Booze & The Muse: a Heady Cocktail, in the Sunday Herald Online.
Some people love everybody when they drink. Other people love everything they write… until they wake up next to their words the morning after.
via Bookslut.
in this interview:
http://wiredforbooks.org/williamburroughs/
william s. burroughs explains that he can write on any drug, except alcohol. He also says that only one great writer ever wrote drunk, but he can’t remember his name (tho he remembered the book, Under the Volcano). He was thinking of Malcolm Lowry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Lowry
J’adore ce genre d’�tude dont on peu conclure tout et son contraire ! L’�quivalent est le constat que la proportion d’alcooliques parmi les Pulitzer est �norme : un de mes amis en avait conclu qu’il commencerait pas devenir alcoolique et ensuite, il se pr�occuperait d’�crire et de viser le Pulitzer.
« … until they wake up next to their words the morning after. »
If you’re only waking up next to your words then that’s not so bad. I can think of worse things.
(that’s the royal « you », not you in particular Martine *:))
I was always told architects were the most alcoholic profession. That may have to do with the fact that they are the third lowest paid professionals. Just ahead of nurses and teachers. Similar to writing, most architects do it for the passion for what they do and the creativity.
Garrett: What if the words you wake up next to are butt ugly? ;-)
Yves: Bonne id�e! J’ouvre tout de suite une bonne bouteille…
Write with a pencil! Easy to erase!
:-)
I actually find « a little pot, and soon hot » works for me, mainly to do revisions. The stoned me is somehow a much smarter editor than I am… though there is an ADD issue…
L’�tait-elle, bonne ?
(le mec qui se r�veille des mois plus tard ! …)