Are most writers/authors insane or crazy? Serious question.

I think to really pull people in as an artist you have to be a little off your rocker. Pull the average Joe out of their comfort zone, and introduce them to someplace new.

For example, I have a family member with bi-polar disorder, I feel they would make a great writer.

They get into such wild situations it would fill up a book.

yep, you gotta be a little crazy, or else your art will be boring.

No, they are simply more in tune with their subconscious mind and are more individualistic and creative because of it.

Of course, our country labels them crazy....they are not conformists.

I just think there is a high rate of suicide among them.

In general, the higher your imagination is, the more insane you could appear.

I'd assume through their daily life they would appear more normal than they would have if they didn't have an outlet to express themselves in.

Probably because our society does not value individualism and therefore constantly tells them they are worthless and crazy.

They know themselves and usually do what makes them truly happy.....that doesn't jive with 21st century society.

The goal of a true artist is to reach deeply within themselves and create something that reaches deeply within the audience -- a connection, of sorts, well beyond the surface.

It is the intense and prolonged introspection required in order to do this that destroys many of them. Deep inside each of us is that dark place where we hide those thoughts and emotions that we wouldn't dare expose. We each have that place within where the beast resides -- the one we dare not feed because it is never sated and works to draw us in deeper for its benefit.

I don't know if I have adequately described what happens, but that's been my experience as a song writer. Inside ourselves is a dangerous place to reside for long. It makes us want to escape, but how does one escape themselves? Most do it with alcohol and/or chemical substances.

batshit crazy? yeah, aren't we all?

:artcomfort:

Only one m in Hemingway. Six toes, one m.

Many of them just starve broke and poor with their dreams.

I do agree that within all of our subconscious lies both good and evil.

BUT, I don't agree that prolonged introspection destroys everybody. Some don't like what they see, yes, but some can find themselves and uncover the reasons for unhappiness in their life prior to looking inward.

I have seen men withdraw and come out as an almost totally different person, improved beyond belief. I have also seen some look inward and never be able to face life again.....some never come out, some turn to drugs, and some kill themselves.

Some Buddhist monks live solitary in caves and I consider them to be amongst the most enlightened people on the planet.

exactly, thanks for expounding on my poorly written or worded response.