Writers as Children: the psychological equivalent of scarlet fever

wildcatter67 · Jan 12, 2008

What do you all think of this? Rick DeMarinis in "The Art and Craft of the Short Story" says this:

Something happens to people destined for a life of writing that has nothing to do with literature. It happens early in life and is probably the psychological equivalent of scarlet fever. It has to do with pain. In answer to the question, "What is the best early training for a writer?" Hemingway said, "An unhappy childhood." Unhappy children (unhappy for whatever reasons-from physical abuse to psychological abandonment) grow up with the potentially destructive feelings that they have to seize the right to exist. They have been told in subtle and unsubtle ways that they have no rightful claim on life. These are the ones who get in trouble early and then go on to achieve impressive things, either good or bad-the criminals and artists, the psychopaths and the self-made millionaires. An unhappy childhood often hones a powerful sense of injustice, and that very often is the core motivation for reformers, overachievers, criminals and artists.

scarletpeaches · Jan 12, 2008

This bit resonated with me:

...Unhappy children (unhappy for whatever reasons-from physical abuse to psychological abandonment) grow up with the potentially destructive feelings that they have to seize the right to exist. They have been told in subtle and unsubtle ways that they have no rightful claim on life...

That's me all over.

Plus, I have the added headfuck of having had scarlet fever in my early teens.

HeronW · Jan 12, 2008

This builds into the myth BS that 'artists have to suffer'.

We all suffer, some more than others, some are writers, others painters, politicians, comedians, actors, musicians, parents, teachers or whatever combination.

Picasso was a genius as a painter but a sh*t with women. His attitude toward women was separate from his painting, he was a visionary and a bastard and more.

We have all been influenced but we can also choose to change.

Devil Ledbetter · Jan 12, 2008

I had a reasonably normal childhood (security, love, limits, etc.) so I was all set to disagree with the idea that an unhappy childhood is a requirement for writing. Mine wasn't perfect, but I wouldn't call it unhappy.

But this is me:

...grow up with the potentially destructive feelings that they have to seize the right to exist. They have been told in subtle and unsubtle ways that they have no rightful claim on life...

I'm the youngest of four and it's been clear for as long as I can remember that my parents intended to have only three children. I've always felt like I lucked into existence through some loophole. As long as I'm here, I'm going to make it count.

scarletpeaches · Jan 12, 2008

Here's one of my favourite quotations:

The urge to write is also the fear of death - the need to leave messages saying "I was here, I saw it too." -Laurie Lee

Bufty · Jan 12, 2008

'....destined for a life of writing'? Oh, woe is me - spare me!

shakeysix · Jan 12, 2008

i always felt like i was invisible so i could sponge up what the grownups were saying--s6

ChaosTitan · Jan 12, 2008

Nothing in that paragraph describes me. The closest I can come to "unhappy childhood" is being picked on in junior high.

KTC · Jan 12, 2008

wildcatter67 said:
What do you all think of this? Rick DeMarinis in "The Art and Craft of the Short Story" says this:

Something happens to people destined for a life of writing that has nothing to do with literature. It happens early in life and is probably the psychological equivalent of scarlet fever. It has to do with pain. In answer to the question, "What is the best early training for a writer?" Hemingway said, "An unhappy childhood." Unhappy children (unhappy for whatever reasons-from physical abuse to psychological abandonment) grow up with the potentially destructive feelings that they have to seize the right to exist. They have been told in subtle and unsubtle ways that they have no rightful claim on life. These are the ones who get in trouble early and then go on to achieve impressive things, either good or bad-the criminals and artists, the psychopaths and the self-made millionaires. An unhappy childhood often hones a powerful sense of injustice, and that very often is the core motivation for reformers, overachievers, criminals and artists.

This could have been written about me. I mean WORD FOR WORD. Eerie.

Serenity · Jan 12, 2008

I'd say I write from the inspirations in my life, not from the down side of it. Not that there were any horrible things that happened to me or my family. Things that threw obstacles in our paths, yes. My dad was a coal miner, got laid off my senior year in high school. He went back to college and is now a computer programmer for a major company in Pennsylvania. He pulled off straight A's his first two semesters to be able to transfer out of his original major (which he flunked out of) twenty-five years prior. It was the coolest thing I ever saw.

The only 'tragic' thing about my childhood according to my mother was my mood swings. And that was more tragic for her than me.

Can adversity or tragedy or past suffering help you as a writer? Yes. Can the opposite do the same? In my opinion, that answer is also yes.

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 12, 2008

That, as someone else said, is so much mythological bullshit it made me angry reading it.

I had a very happy childhood. Or I"m blocking. But the point is, I don't believe anyone ever told me I was worthless. Quite the opposite, I was told I was smart, talented, and encouraged every step of the way.

It also makes me angry because if it were true, then I've wasted my entire life in pursuit of something I can't do, that my dreams are unattainable.

Besides, I'm a firm believer that its never too late to have a happy childhood.

KTC · Jan 12, 2008

Shadow_Ferret said:
Besides, I'm a firm believer that its never too late to have a happy childhood.

I usually find myself agreeing with you, FerretFace, but not today. I feel that is spoken like someone who truly did have a happy childhood. That statement isn't even possible metaphorically. The ruin of my childhood could never be given a pretty spin. Never. It is definitely too late for me to have a happy childhood. I'm having a happy adulthood and providing my children with a happy childhood...but it's too late for me.

scarletpeaches · Jan 12, 2008

Shadow_Ferret said:
That, as someone else said, is so much mythological bullshit it made me angry reading it.

Maybe in your opinion.

Shadow_Ferret said:
I had a very happy childhood.

Good for you. Not everyone was so fortunate.

Shadow_Ferret said:
...I don't believe anyone ever told me I was worthless.

Maybe they didn't. Good. But the article isn't saying those who had a happy childhood would never be writers; just that those who had an unhappy one are likely to be driven to the creative arts, which I firmly believe.

Shadow_Ferret said:
...Besides, I'm a firm believer that its never too late to have a happy childhood.

Easy for you to say. You had one.

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 12, 2008

You're not dead yet are you? I don't mean deluding yourself that you once had a happy childhood, I mean having a happy childhood NOW.

Or you can just dwell in your self-pity and loathing. (The royal you, not you specifically KTC.)

And as you said, you're having a happy adulthood and providing your kids with a happy childhood. It's never too late.

ETA: Drat. Scarlet got in the way again. And YAY! We're disagreeing. The world has righted itself.

scarletpeaches · Jan 12, 2008

Facing up to the reality of an unhappy childhood does not mean wallowing in self-pity and self-loathing. It means looking at it and seeing it for what it really was.

Acknowledging one's past does not stop us from having a future.

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 12, 2008

scarletpeaches said:
Acknowledging one's past does not stop us from having a future.

And that is what I meant it never being too late to have a happy childhood.

I guess I'm speaking metaphorically. But it's pissing you off and that's making me happy.

scarletpeaches said:
But the article isn't saying those who had a happy childhood would never be writers; just that those who had an unhappy one are likely to be driven to the creative arts, which I firmly believe.

Actually, he did. He said, "Something happens to people destined for a life of writing..." He didn't say, something happens to SOME people or a FEW people. He said PEOPLE, as in everyone who is destined to be a writer.

KTC · Jan 12, 2008

I don't dwell on my childhood. I do not believe in self-pity. But it is there. It is a part of me. I don't deny my childhood...but it doesn't drag me down, either. To get to where I am now only makes me feel like I was victorious despite my childhood. But no...you can never go back. You can be childlike as an adult, but it is too late to have a happy childhood if you didn't have a happy childhood.

Shadow_Ferret · Jan 12, 2008

And just so you know, the person who originally said, "It's never too late to have a happy childhood," was Carrie Fisher.

I was just repeating it because I like it.

KTC · Jan 12, 2008

Well, consider the source. Barbiturate Princess could slip into any make believe world she wants to. She cannot go back. It's pretty to make these statements...but pretty isn't truthtown.

nerds · Jan 12, 2008

I concluded around age five that I'd been left in a basket on the doorstep; I wasn't like anyone else in the family. Plus I had untreated scarlet fever which became rheumatic fever which wrecked a heart valve or two. Very interesting little piece there, that o.p.

jenngreenleaf · Jan 12, 2008

It sounds like my childhood. I don't know if that's why I started writing, though . . . I'm sure if I gave this some heavier thought I would agree.

IceCreamEmpress · Jan 12, 2008

I think a lot of writers come from a childhood experience where they escaped into books, either because of illness or because of family stress or both.

A lot, but not all.

DarkKnightJRK · Jan 12, 2008

Eh...while I'm sure that a bad childhood inspired some people into the creative arts, it's definately not the only thing.

I wouldn't say I had a bad childhood. I mean, I got picked on a lot, didn't have reliable friends until two years ago, can't stand most of my family and had anger issues as a kid, but I wouldn't call it bad.

Really, I think the basic, essential tools you need to be a writer is a grasp on the language you're writing in, an active imagination, and some utensils and paper to write on. The rest can help, but it's not really necessary.

DarkKnightJRK · Jan 12, 2008

IceCreamEmpress said:
I think a lot of writers come from a childhood experience where they escaped into books, either because of illness or because of family stress or both.

A lot, but not all.

I can agree with that, too. Personally, I just liked books.

willfs · Jan 12, 2008

On one hand, I definitely think humans have a way of turning suffering into something very positive.

On the other hand, does that necessarily mean suffering produces great artists? Could someone become a great teacher because of how much they struggled to learn as a child? Could someone become a great attorney because of the injustice they suffered? And of course, does that mean that those who don't suffer, don't develop any talents?

Writers as Children: the psychological equivalent of scarlet fever

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