Posted by FP on May 9, 2000, at 11:23:08
In reply to Drugs for Creativity? , posted by DC on May 8, 2000, at 7:06:44
> Out of curiosity--has any one here experimented with higher doses of stimulants? I'm a creative writer and I'm wondering if taking a higher dose now and then might put me in a different, perhaps more creative, zone. What about other drugs? Is there any safe way to boost creativity?
> I came across a word recently on a website about career aptitude testing. The word was "ideaphoria", which, as I understand, is basically the ability to think of many, many ideas quickly. People who have this onrush of ideas tend to have a knack for creative writing. It's different than the "critical" thinking of academia. It sounds a bit like Mania--and it's no secret that many great artists were manic-depressives. So maybe my question is: how can I induce mania?DC:
Enough people have posted about the dangers of inducing mania, and other, safe methods that may enchance creativity.
Reading between the lines, I'd have to guess that you're "blocked." I mean, no one decides they want to be a creative writer unless they already ARE (or WERE) creative - do they?
I know that at the peak of my creative writing years, the ideas came so fast and thick I couldn't write them all down. The imaginary was real, and insistent that its stories be told.
Then, around the age of 23-24, it stopped. I could force it, to some extent, but it lacked the "'I MUST be written down' authority" of the old stuff.
Fortunately, by then I had discovered the photography of Lee Friedlander and William Eggleston, and discovered that creativity could also mean just looking at the things around you without judging "ugly" or "beautiful." I've been doing that, pretty much continuously, for the last 15 years. That period coincides with some of my heaviest drug use ever, and also with my sobriety - and you can't tell from the pictures which were taken when.
So, in conclusion:
1. The only thing that's every bought back my creative writing impulses (briefly) was binge drinking. Not reccomended.2. If you are, in fact, blocked at writing, try something else for awhile. Convince yourself it's only temporary - that you'll put down the camera / paintbrush / dance classes / saxophone lessons as soon as you feel the need to write again.
3. To deal with being blocked in you "back up" creative outlet, you should have other activities you enjoy. For the past couple of years I've been making and selling stereo loudspeakers, during my photgraphic down time.
4. I wish you well .... my feeling is that the kind of creativity needed for writing exists only under certan special conditions (lonely, miserable childhood, mild psychosis, ailienation, daily daytime drinking, etc.)
However, creativity will always find an outlet. Just don't worry and don't try to force it.
Straight from the horse's orifice to your ear:
FPPS: If you found this helpful in the slightest, you can always e-mail.
poster:FP
thread:32741
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000508/msgs/32886.html