The Gloriously Dismal Art of Writing

Economics has been incorrectly labeled the dismal science. Even so, writing may be correctly considered the dismal art. Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis, Eugene O'Neil, and John Steinbeck were all legendary writers and legendary alcoholics. Many have met their ultimate fate while staring at a blank page. Writers struggle. Lucky for Shakespeare we don't know the depths of his depravity.

Kurt Vonnegut once said: "I am a monopolar depressive descended from monopolar depressives. That's how come I write so good."

Moreover, Douglas Adams stated: "First of all, realize that it's very hard, and that writing is a grueling and lonely business and, unless you are extremely lucky, badly paid as well. You had better really, really, really want to do it."

Writing demands mounds of motivation and determination, a way with words, an ounce or more of creativity, and a certain arrogance to get you through the moments of doubt and depression.

But, most of all, writers suffer. They must suffer in order to overcome. More often than not, your best writing will come when you just can't help but write something down. You need to be at the point where you have something worthwhile to say and you just can't help but let it out. This should be thought of, not as a detriment, but as a badge of honor. It is why it is more than appropriate that writing should be considered the dismal art. And, why it can be so satisfying.

This leads us to how to find the why in order to write.

Nature is often frequently cited as a source of inspiration. The Austrian poet Franz Grillparzer suggested that "art compares to nature as wine to a grape." Friedrich Von Schiller had a comparable perspective when he wrote:

"As noble art has survived noble nature, so too she marches ahead of it, fashioning and awakening by her inspiration. Before truth sends her triumphant light into the depths of the heart, imagination catches its rays, and the peaks of humanity will be glowing when humid night still lingers in the valleys."

Yet, inspiration can be found almost anywhere. A.A. Milne found it in his son's stuffed animals. One in particular is now known by the name of Winnie-the-Poo. Voltaire was inspired by the days he spent in exile in England encountering the novel ideas of one Isaac Newton. Ayn Rand found it in the New York skyline. The lovely but unattainable Beatrice was Dante's muse. In Greek mythology, Calliope is the muse of epic poetry. Best known as the source of inspiration for Homer's The Illiad and The Odyssey.

So look around, live a little, and write a lot.

But, stay off the sauce.