There is perhaps no archetype more persistent throughout the history of art and literature than that of the tortured artist. From the tragically real cases (like Ernest Hemingway, Virginia Woolf, and David Foster Wallace), to self-conscious poseurs (who shall remain nameless), angst-filled writers in both fiction and real life are an enduring staple in culture.
Is there something to it? Is there a link between creativity and the darker sides of life? Does angst help you write?
For me, I can’t get a lick done when I’m feeling down. But then again, my books involve corn dogs and space monkeys.
What about you?
I'm with you there, for the most part. Having the energy of being in a good mood helps me get things done. But sometimes, when I'm angsty, I want to escape, deeper than reading something someone else has written, will allow. It's those moments that I NEED my writing, and can accomplish something, to boot.
No corn dogs in my novels, though. 🙂
Not a bit! lol. I'm with you, when I'm feeling down, I can't seem to get anything done at all. And I write stories that are pretty deep. I've wondered this about other writers though, often thinking I must be the odd one out. 🙂
No, angst never does it for me. I might write to escape my angst for awhile, but if I'm really wound up, I can't concentrate well enough to write.
If I get myself bummed out or I'm in a down mood, I fall into a funk and can't get anything done. So, no angst doesn't help me.
Interesting question to pose.
When I was in high school, I wrote almost exclusively tragic poetry. I've moved on and I like the stuff I wrote then.
But I can't write it any more. I'm not sad enough.
On the other hand, I have worked through bad things with fiction, but I don't really jump into the "zone" and write like mad unless I'm happy. Either that or I get happy while I'm there.
I think the memory of angst is much more powerful than being in the middle of it – when your mood turns upwards again, it can be useful to dip into that emotional reserve. But writing can help to purge yourself of that mood too, although it does tend to make me even more hyper-critical than usual!
I'm so thankful when my characters are angry because I love to write with anger as my fuel. I can see your dilemma regarding corn dogs and space monkey's. Who could ever be mad at those?
There's nothing like a bit of connection to the dark recesses of your emotional self to provide some real depth to what you put down on paper. It's no accident so many cool bands come out of Seattle and Manchester (uk). It's raining all the goddam time, if that doesn't generate some angst I don't know what will!
I tend to write best when I’m completely pissed off. It focuses my thoughts. It might be because I can cut out my inner ‘nice’ and be ruthless in my editing. Then again it might be that usually by that point I’ve had several glasses of wine and all my inhibitions are lowered.
But yes, angst is good for my writing.
When we write, our mood is often associated with that of our characters. It isn't always outside elements that make us angsty… If you write about a dark world, you must put yourself in that dark world. And that can be a rough place to exist, my friends. It's when you stay there for days that things can get ugly.
I can't write when I'm angry, but I can when I'm depressed. Some of my writing is on the darker side of things so I think that makes it easier. I do believe that the torturous times of life are what feed a lot of my creativity – not that I'm angsty now, but the past angst is reborn in my writing.
It worked when I was a teneager, but after awhile, that well dried.
I still write about the darker sides of life and the human psyche, and some people could say my some of my writing is a bummer, but I don't write it from a depressed state. To be creative and insightful enough to do what I do, I have to be able to look outwardly at the world and see it through more than a blue, washed-out filter. Depression or anger turns me inward, and I can no longer see what I need to see.
It depends: if I'm depressed, disappointed, or worn out, no. I need energy to write, and generally a lot of it.
But grief, frustration, anger, and general whiny angst (*cough* not, of course, that I am ever, EVER whiny *cough*) do give me some extra oomph most of the time. I don't know if it's escapism or what, but I've done what I consider to be some of my best work in one or more of these states.
That said – I do have to be able to focus; if it's something really painful, I'd need a few days to process before writing would be an option.
Well, for my poetry, the dark, celtic side of my soul definitely influences. Don't get me wrong- I like light and airy stuff (and definitely prefer comedy over tragedy), but I have written some dark, dark, stuff all the same. Many of my WIPs have elements of darkness in them, but typically, things turn out alright in the end.
Rhyme on!
Tim Keeton
(Undead)Poet / Wizard / Teller-of-tales
I've always found angst more helpful for songwriting than with novel writing. Angst does nothing but distract me when I'm trying to work on my book.
I think it's because writing a novel can be so much like working a puzzle, or a difficult logic problem (especially in the revision phase, which is where I am right now). Things like that, in my experience, require a clear head. The ability to empathize with other people, put yourself in their shoes. Angst just muddles my brain and makes me self-centered.
With songwriting, on the other hand, everything about it sort of hinges on emotion. Angst is good fuel for lyrics, chords, and everything else that makes up a song.