Smoking. Have you ever smoked tobacco, by any chance? There are a lot of ways to enjoy tobacco. You can smoke it in a pipe or smoke some cigarettes, or a cigar if you’re feeling fancy. But hey! It leads to lung cancer anyway, so we don’t necessarily recommend it. However, authors and writers in history have a strong association with smoking. So, why does smoking burned tobacco become the choice to supplement writing a fiery story?
The thing that makes tobacco products like cigarettes addictive is the nicotine. This chemical substance gives a certain “kick” when consumed, similar to caffeine in coffee. However, cigarettes are way more dangerous because of the sheer concentration of carcinogens.
Not only that, inhaling cigarette smoke is equally deadly. Well, it turns out you don’t have to be a smoker to earn a free lung cancer. Just be near them when you see the cigarettes burn, inhale the byproduct, and chances are you’ll catch one sooner or later.
So, why did these authors decide to shorten their lives by smoking cigarettes? Endangering both themselves and the people around them. There’s a saying that goes, “Those with talent die young” but, surely, not intentionally.
Refueling The Creative Juice
Being creative is something we often underestimate. It’s an abstract thing to do and there’s no way of telling that we are doing it. Still, channeling the creative juice into an ongoing project requires significant energy. Some people resort to substances like nicotine.
Although for the most part nicotine is harmful, it is believed that smoking can enhance creativity. However, its effect is debatable and shows inconsistency. Pretty much, everyone’s experience with smoking tobacco varies widely. From visible disgust of the taste and smell, to seemingly unstoppable addiction. From getting lung cancer the next day, to living to the age of 100 without losing even the tiniest of breath.
In fact, this is the exact justification we typically hear from smokers. It’s the illusion of survivor bias that makes smokers stubbornly defend their habit until their last breath. The fact that it’s also widely accepted that tobacco enhances the creative process makes smoking a bit difficult to prevent in the creative industry.
The argument that creative writing needs some stimulant like tobacco leaves us with several questions. Think something like, what actually happens to our brain when we smoke?
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Creative Process And The Relaxation Of Smoking Cigarettes
Writing involves imagination, and it flips your brain upside down multiple times. Aside from giving stimuli to the brain, smoking also takes the edge off in the minds of many authors. It’s not magic by any means, it’s the nicotine slowly creeping into the blood flow and finally reaching the brain.
Many smokers light one up solely to chase this sensation. Whenever the world feels unbearable, light one up, and suddenly they think everything gonna be alright. However, what many don’t consider, especially new smokers, is the withdrawal and the association of writing and smoking.
If we make smoking and writing a co-existing habit, sooner or later the two will be codependent on each other. We won’t be able to write without smoking, and whenever we smoke, we’ll think about writing. Huh, as if with habit, comes conditioning.
But, what does drive authors and the like to, essentially, put lung cancer onto themselves? It couldn’t be the excruciating pain that comes with it, right? And, you’re insane if you think it’s the medical bills. Perhaps, there’s more to it, something more grim than we thought.
Creative Minds Comes From Suffering
Mental illness and the creative industry are like two sides of a coin. Well, although we can’t conclude that all book and novel authors are troubled on the inside, it’s prevalent enough that it becomes noticeable.
Writers are known to be prone to mental health issues. Some say, there is always a cost for brilliance in writing, and for some writers, it’s their own sanity. Our lives experience varies from one another. Alas, many writers lived through untreated trauma, horrible childhood, or both.
Believe it or not, several famous authors whose works are considered classics had some psychological issues. For example, Franz Kafka lived a depressive childhood, which later on influenced his works. The author of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, had a severe alcoholism issue. There is a chance your favorite author also lived/lives an unbearable life you might never know.
Furthermore, the writing process isn’t as gleeful as anyone would think. Being “nailed” to one spot for hours, pondering inspiration to write, which often comes from the trauma itself. People say they fear being left alone with their thoughts, and writers are doing exactly that for a living.
Substance use, including nicotine, is more prevalent among those with mental disorders. In addition to that, tobacco is among the most accessible substances out there. And, for the most parts of the world, the most tolerated. Given how stressful being an author can be, it makes sense why those in this profession are prone to smoking. So, if you think maybe you can make it as a writer, make sure you have the proper support to take care of your mental health and endure the journey.