The Myths of Writers
Everyone writes these days, either they are writing a college essay, writing down notes, composing an email, or simply texting someone. Some people are even ambitious enough to draft short stories or poetry, but few would view themselves as writers. Why is that? What do you think when you hear the word writer? Do you imagine a man in a dress shirt and blazer sitting in his study like Tolkien writing masterpieces after masterpieces or do you imagine someone in a manic state scribbling down poem like a mad man while bottles of alcohol litter the floor like Egar Allen Poe. Why, why do we view writers like this as either brilliant geniuses or damaged alcoholics, and why do we view them as above us in terms of writing? Why do we put writers into these stereotypes and why do we put otherworldly expectations upon ourselves when we try to write.
“Day one of getting my life into gear” peoplesimage is free to use under the Unsplash license.
Authors, Teri Holbrook, and Melanie Hundley, address these issues as to why people view writers as not real people in the book Bad Ideas About Writing. In their article Writer are mythical, magical, and damaged, Both Holbrook and Hundley explain how there are at least four popular portraits of writers they are shown in modern media. They also explain how rather than telling the truth, the media loves to portray writers as other worldly figures because it gives them a delightful story to write about. Holbrook and Hundley use their article to combat these misconceptions and stereotypes that constantly surround the regulations of writers.
The first popular portrait of writers is that they have magical power. The authors, Holbrook and Hundley point out how writers are promoted as people who are above others in them of writing and poetry being able to effortlessly write a piece and be done. However, “these depictions are harmful and perpetuate the idea that writing isn’t just easy but it magical works” (Holbrook 54). Holbrook explains that writing takes dedication and determination and points out that anyone can write, and they do not have to have special abilities to do so.
Other medias have portrayed writers as reclused, damaged and are abusers of alcohol and drugs. As stated by Holbrook “these media represent writes as damaged or fragile people whose magical gifts allow them to share imaginative worlds with their readers even as they restrict their participation in the real world around them.” (Holbrook 54) These tropes are supported by some real-life examples like Edgar Allan Poe and Ernest Hemingway; however, most would agree substance abuse would not be an occupational hazard or a job requirement. As quoted by Alistar Cooke’s claim that “alcohol is has no more connection with writing than with plumbing” (Holbrook 54). The psychological portrait of writes the is prevalent in pop culture needs more nuance to it. Being a writer is a difficult job and can push people over with how demanding the pressures can be but most writers learn how to handle this stress without feeding into the cliché of a damaged author.
Jane Piirto, author of the article “Themes in the Lives of Successful Contemporary U.S. Women Creative Writers” explained that even though many writers do show forms of depression and substance abuse, most writes know how to handle the occupational necessity of rejection and other uncertainties, simply put it, writer have the necessary coping mechanism that doesn’t include substance abuse or agoraphobia” (Piirto 45)
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Why are Holbrook and Hundley discussing about this topic, why is it important to address the popular stereotypes and cliché that surround writers. Hundley simply puts it that while their stereotypes have a thread of truth to them, they don’t represent the whole of all writers. This view that writing is simple effortless and are done by those of extraordinary abilities simple “dismissed the real effort put in by writers and discouraging young writes who might dismiss their owned labored as evidence that the don’t have what it takes.” (Holbrook 55). Some young writers might strive to be this image of perfect that simply doesn’t exist and are discourage from writing as a profession because to them they haven’t reach the level of writer that they believed to be a “true writer”.
The reality is, while stories of writers who can whip up a New York best seller in hrs. or damaged, drunken hermit who can somehow write master screenplay are entertaining they do not represent the writing community as a whole. These popular myths of writers, if taken too seriously, can influence the general public as to how they view writers or the writing profession. It can also influence and discouraged aspiring writers as to what a “real writer” should be.
references
Holbrook, Teri and Hundley, Melanie “Writers are Mythical, Magical, and Damaged,” in bad ideas about writing. Edit by Cheryl E.Ball and Drew M.Loewe, 53-63 web
Piirto, Jane ” Themes in the lives of successful contemporary U.S. women creative writers” (1994).