Addicted Scribblers
Greetings Scribblers,
Let's talk about something heavy but highly relevant: addiction in Hollywood, and scribblers in particular. It's not a glitz-and-glam topic, but it's real and worthy of discussion.
Back in Hollywood's "Golden Age" - the 1920s and 30s - things looked shiny on the outside, but it was a different story behind the scenes. Many scribblers were battling substance abuse. The mix of fame, the pressure to churn out hit after hit, and a culture that embraced excess made it tough.
The old-timey legends like F. Scott Fitzgerald and William Faulkner were scribbling geniuses, but they walked a burning tightrope of brilliance and self-destruction. Their life struggles are stark reminders of how quickly we can find the gutter when addiction enters the picture.
Fast forward, and scribblers are still wrestling with similar demons of pharmaceutical and alcoholic origin. We’ve added some new ones, like social media, video gaming, and crypto trading. The pressure to be constantly creative can make finding escape or inspiration in harmful places tempting.
Aaron Sorkin spent his “West Wing” years addicted to cocaine. He’d drive around LA, ripping on Bolivian marching powder, dictating scripts for the show into a tape recorder. His arrest for possession put him on the road to recovery. His unique voice still works when he’s sober.
Stephen King treated his plague of personal demons with drugs and alcohol. At the urging of his wife, he pursued sobriety. Happiness and even greater productivity were the results.
During his years as one of TV’s most lauded voices, David Milch was addicted to heroin and gambling on the ponies. The consequences for his health and bank account were catastrophic. The intervention of family and friends pulled him out of a destructive spiral and on the path to wellness.
Doom and gloom aren’t inevitable. They can be the second act's low point. Where we recognize the signs of addiction, reach out for professional help, and lean on each other. The creative path is a grind; it’s vital that we build lives that are about more than just the scribbling – engage with exercise, hobbies, and mindfulness – the good stuff that keeps us grounded and connected.
The history of addiction among our fellow scribblers reminds us to be vigilant and to look after ourselves and each other. By learning from the challenges of the past and building support systems, we can avoid the shadow of addiction, whether it be booze, the herb, or Call of Duty.
Stay creative and inspired, but not at the expense of your health and relationships.
