Schizophrenia and the Writer’s Life
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
By Tim Anderson
“Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia.”
–E. L. Doctorow
Writers are an odd hybridization of participant, observer, and recorder.
What does this mean? Well, it may depend on where you place the emphasis. If on the “odd” aspect of a writer’s life, there will be a quick nodding of heads and rather universal agreement. Writers of every ilk feel a certain disconnect from the masses. This is a good thing. It opens the doors of exploration and discovery.
If, however, the emphasis is on the “hybridization,” the meaning becomes somewhat more complex. This speaks to the heart and soul of the writer’s existence. What writer, after all, can stroll through the park without losing her mind? Oh, sure, the first few minutes are fine - sheer bliss really. But, in an instant, her thoughts drift to the sky, donning the out-of-body role of a tenuously tethered observer of life.
The wafting aroma of the honeysuckle evaporates amidst myriad questions and contemplations. Did my mother like honeysuckle? I loved Saturday mornings as a kid. I wonder if squirrels stop and smell the honeysuckle when they’re collecting nuts? Hmm… What story can I write about this?
And so it goes. The never-ending cycle of multiple minds emanating from a single skull. It’s a revolving door of roles not chosen, but dutifully played out in a steady progression toward the page. Ah, yes - the page.
The recorder is perhaps the oddest of all personas. At times a dispassionate scribe, a narrator of simple historical detail. At others, a firebrand on a mission of great urgency. And, on occasion, a reveler in memories of early morning walks, honeysuckle, and the whimsical musings on the lives of squirrels.
Enjoy the journey.
***************************************
Tim Anderson specializes in writing health content and press releases. Check out his bio. and other samples of his work by clicking on his name above.
Topics: Uncategorized |