New
Just sharing my experience

You said
I instinctively rebel against medications that I think I can survive without.
and on the creativity point, well...alcohols not great for that either.
There came a time when alcohol sucked my creativity well bone dry - it took me a long time to get that back.
Not trying to offend here, friend - challenge a little maybe, but not offend

D

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For whatever reason I am dead tired today, but everyone's support and advice on this thread has given me some energy. So as to avoid completely cluttering things up I'll try to condense replies . . .
Shabby, funny stuff. Thank you.
Thanks to Shabby, Cissy, and Girlie for your thoughts and experiences with anti-depressants. I've gone into full research mode, including many other threads here, and I guess I'm willing to reconsider my reluctance to take them. Will schedule another doc appt.
Thomas and Cissy, thanks for telling me your experience with sleep medication.
Cissy, that's tough to hear about your parents, and I'm guessing it was tough on you, too. And still is. But you seem to have found a good balance. And, no, I don't think you are a zombie!
DWTBD, no I don't have a niece. Curious as to why you thought I might.
Boozer, yes I'm trying to be more open about myself this time. This is sort of contrary to my nature, but I figure it's the thing to do. Glad to hear you are feeling better today.
And thanks to Wolf, Saouthick, Jsbodhi, Olivia, Hevyn, and Dee (and anyone I missed!) for following this thread.
Shabby, funny stuff. Thank you.
Thanks to Shabby, Cissy, and Girlie for your thoughts and experiences with anti-depressants. I've gone into full research mode, including many other threads here, and I guess I'm willing to reconsider my reluctance to take them. Will schedule another doc appt.
Thomas and Cissy, thanks for telling me your experience with sleep medication.
Cissy, that's tough to hear about your parents, and I'm guessing it was tough on you, too. And still is. But you seem to have found a good balance. And, no, I don't think you are a zombie!
DWTBD, no I don't have a niece. Curious as to why you thought I might.
Boozer, yes I'm trying to be more open about myself this time. This is sort of contrary to my nature, but I figure it's the thing to do. Glad to hear you are feeling better today.
And thanks to Wolf, Saouthick, Jsbodhi, Olivia, Hevyn, and Dee (and anyone I missed!) for following this thread.


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Writing, actually. But haven't done any since I crawled into the bottle.
I always wondered about those photos of Ernest Hemingway sitting at his desk with his typewriter and a bottle of booze. Was that just the image he wanted to portray, or did he actually write while drunk?
I always wondered about those photos of Ernest Hemingway sitting at his desk with his typewriter and a bottle of booze. Was that just the image he wanted to portray, or did he actually write while drunk?

Ooooooo....now that makes sense.
Here's you answer:
"Hemingway was notoriously fond of drinking, but he refrained from indulging while writing. When asked in an interview if rumors of him taking a pitcher of martinis to work every morning were true, he answered, “Jeezus Christ! Have you ever heard of anyone who drank while he worked? You’re thinking of Faulkner. He does sometimes – and I can tell right in the middle of a page when he’s had his first one. Besides, who in hell would mix more than one martini at a time?”
Here's you answer:
"Hemingway was notoriously fond of drinking, but he refrained from indulging while writing. When asked in an interview if rumors of him taking a pitcher of martinis to work every morning were true, he answered, “Jeezus Christ! Have you ever heard of anyone who drank while he worked? You’re thinking of Faulkner. He does sometimes – and I can tell right in the middle of a page when he’s had his first one. Besides, who in hell would mix more than one martini at a time?”

Writing, actually. But haven't done any since I crawled into the bottle.
I always wondered about those photos of Ernest Hemingway sitting at his desk with his typewriter and a bottle of booze. Was that just the image he wanted to portray, or did he actually write while drunk?
I always wondered about those photos of Ernest Hemingway sitting at his desk with his typewriter and a bottle of booze. Was that just the image he wanted to portray, or did he actually write while drunk?
You only have to look at someone like Kerouac to chart the eventual and disastrous effect of drinking on an author.
D

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I have one completed novel which amuses me no end, but I've never tried tried to find a publisher for it. It's comic meta-fiction, and bookshelves ain't exactly bulging with comic meta-fiction. If anyone here would like to read it I might (maybe, dunno) send it.
I have another perpetually unfinished novel that is about as dark as you can get.
I have another perpetually unfinished novel that is about as dark as you can get.

Your post sent me to the "Articles" section of SR, where there once was an article about the mythology of writing and alcohol.
Couldn't find it so I did a search and instead came across this:
American Literature And The 'Mythos Of The Boozing Writer' : NPR
I'd like to get my hands on that book.
It also prompted recollections of a movie about F. Scott Fitzgerald I'd seen some years ago. He's the hometown hero in my neck of the woods, though he cared little for my neck of the woods. This flick takes a look at the last few years of his life. His story alone ought to put the final nail in the coffin of the "alcohol serves the literary genius" myth. Highly recommended.
TELEVISION REVIEW - The Downside of Paradise - Fitzgerald's Final Days - NYTimes.com
Couldn't find it so I did a search and instead came across this:
American Literature And The 'Mythos Of The Boozing Writer' : NPR
I'd like to get my hands on that book.
It also prompted recollections of a movie about F. Scott Fitzgerald I'd seen some years ago. He's the hometown hero in my neck of the woods, though he cared little for my neck of the woods. This flick takes a look at the last few years of his life. His story alone ought to put the final nail in the coffin of the "alcohol serves the literary genius" myth. Highly recommended.
TELEVISION REVIEW - The Downside of Paradise - Fitzgerald's Final Days - NYTimes.com

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Hey Frank
The quip about your niece was in reference to the pic on your avatar. Pretty sure that is the same actor from Lawnmower Man? He was on the last season of one of my favorite shows, Justified . Which was based on a short story by one of my favorite authors Elmore Leonard, rip .
What's comic meta fiction?, getting kind of a Vonnegut feel
The quip about your niece was in reference to the pic on your avatar. Pretty sure that is the same actor from Lawnmower Man? He was on the last season of one of my favorite shows, Justified . Which was based on a short story by one of my favorite authors Elmore Leonard, rip .
What's comic meta fiction?, getting kind of a Vonnegut feel

I for one would love to read it - dead serious. Send it out to some publishers.
The unfinished one sounds great.....'drenched in pain, per chance'? Love dark novels too.
Do not hideth thou light undereth thy bushel :-)
The unfinished one sounds great.....'drenched in pain, per chance'? Love dark novels too.
Do not hideth thou light undereth thy bushel :-)

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Your post sent me to the "Articles" section of SR, where there once was an article about the mythology of writing and alcohol.
Couldn't find it so I did a search and instead came across this:
American Literature And The 'Mythos Of The Boozing Writer' : NPR
I'd like to get my hands on that book.
It also prompted recollections of a movie about F. Scott Fitzgerald I'd seen some years ago. He's the hometown hero in my neck of the woods, though he cared little for my neck of the woods. This flick takes a look at the last few years of his life. His story alone ought to put the final nail in the coffin of the "alcohol serves the literary genius" myth. Highly recommended.
TELEVISION REVIEW - The Downside of Paradise - Fitzgerald's Final Days - NYTimes.com
Couldn't find it so I did a search and instead came across this:
American Literature And The 'Mythos Of The Boozing Writer' : NPR
I'd like to get my hands on that book.
It also prompted recollections of a movie about F. Scott Fitzgerald I'd seen some years ago. He's the hometown hero in my neck of the woods, though he cared little for my neck of the woods. This flick takes a look at the last few years of his life. His story alone ought to put the final nail in the coffin of the "alcohol serves the literary genius" myth. Highly recommended.
TELEVISION REVIEW - The Downside of Paradise - Fitzgerald's Final Days - NYTimes.com
It sounds like you have an interest in writing.

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Hey Frank
The quip about your niece was in reference to the pic on your avatar. Pretty sure that is the same actor from Lawnmower Man? He was on the last season of one of my favorite shows, Justified . Which was based on a short story by one of my favorite authors Elmore Leonard, rip .
What's comic meta fiction?, getting kind of a Vonnegut feel
The quip about your niece was in reference to the pic on your avatar. Pretty sure that is the same actor from Lawnmower Man? He was on the last season of one of my favorite shows, Justified . Which was based on a short story by one of my favorite authors Elmore Leonard, rip .
What's comic meta fiction?, getting kind of a Vonnegut feel
Yup, maybe a bit of a Vonnegut feel, but he was one of a kind. Maybe some Tom Robbins flavor.
Meta-fiction, at least by my definition, is fiction about the process of writing fiction.

Yes, I do.
I have a one-third written novel. Hit a roadblock with it in March and decided to revamp some -- need to get going on it again. Mystery, my favorite fictional genre. I've predicted it's likely to be a huge hit among best friends from high school and former college roommates who get the PDF.
Small town female cop in the Midwest. Recovering alcoholic. Kind of lonely. Online support group helps keep her sane. Trying to deal with life and solve two seemingly -- seemingly! -- unrelated murders.
No idea where I got the inspiration.
Upon edit: I should clarify something here. Yep, our heroine does turn to an online presence for support. But I would never, EVER, write anything that would betray SR. Whatever I've created is wholly a product of my imagination, not the people/personas who populate this place. And the realist in me knows my chances of being accepted by a publisher are thin.
I have a one-third written novel. Hit a roadblock with it in March and decided to revamp some -- need to get going on it again. Mystery, my favorite fictional genre. I've predicted it's likely to be a huge hit among best friends from high school and former college roommates who get the PDF.
Small town female cop in the Midwest. Recovering alcoholic. Kind of lonely. Online support group helps keep her sane. Trying to deal with life and solve two seemingly -- seemingly! -- unrelated murders.
No idea where I got the inspiration.
Upon edit: I should clarify something here. Yep, our heroine does turn to an online presence for support. But I would never, EVER, write anything that would betray SR. Whatever I've created is wholly a product of my imagination, not the people/personas who populate this place. And the realist in me knows my chances of being accepted by a publisher are thin.

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Only problem is that anyone reading both novels would want to commit me to the rubber room - they are so diametrically opposed in every way.

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