#writing Netflix exposed undertheinfluence

[itsladywritesalot-blog]

Do Writers Have to be on Crack?

I’ve been debating this entry for like an hour while eating a weird chili I made last night in my family-sized crockpot. I’m only feeding myself but go big or go home, right? I’m exposing myself, but I think this will be entertaining. The idea of writers, or artists in general, being on some sort of drug while they are doing their craft is quite common. Professors will joke that certain famous authors must have been on acid or something while writing and actually many well-known authors of today did have a drug addiction. Charles Dickens and Lewis Carroll from the Victorian Age and Stephen King in our present day. The novel IT was written on cocaine. As suggested by my professor, I started watching the Netflix series “You”. One of the main characters, Beck, is a young struggling writer who I can identify with very easily. I see myself there in approximately two years. She is in an MFA program focused on creative writing and often battles choosing between social interaction and her writing. I often have a hard time sitting down and opening my laptop to begin writing. It’s like this huge daunting thing to actually start that process, but once I’m writing and the creative juices are flowing- it’s great and I love it. I often regret when I have to go to bed and put my laptop away. Beck goes through her own complications and hesitancy to sit down and focus on her writing as well.

There is an episode where one of her rich friends sets her up with an agent to review her writing. I’ve been researching some of the logistics to publishing and getting an agent is key if you want to make it into a somewhat reputable publishing house. I’m trying not to get swept up in the dilemma of self-publishing or signing a contract right now, it’s WAY too early. The agent makes mention of the greatest literary minds being on drugs and if I remember correctly offers Beck some illicit powder in a stereotypical miniature ziplock. I won’t spoil what happens in that episode but I really started thinking about writers doing drugs to open their creative minds. Now, I will never partake in any type of substance like acid or heroin because I quite like how my brain cells are alive. But… I am currently guilty of trying something else.

I’m not fluent in alcohol in any way, but my roommate and I have casual movie nights with a glass of wine sometimes. Girls nights. I decided to try something new and got a bottle of pineapple schnapps which I mix with lemonade. I’m pretty much an expert bartender. Not. I decided that I would have a lot of that and try some writing. My experiment didn’t get too far because I wasn’t fond of the overpowering alcohol taste when I added a lot of the pineapple stuff. Wimp. I later did some research on drunk writing and it doesn’t seem so hot. My writing has been good all this time without an extra influence, so I think I’ll keep it that way.

I’d love to hear what you guys think of the show “You” or any other comments you’re thinking of! Even if you think I’m a loser for drinking schnapps… let me know.

Love,

ItsLadyWritesALot