Anti-Social or Just Artistic?

Artists in general – writers, musicians, what have you – have a reputation for being anything from eccentric to anti-social, or even quietly psychotic. (What I mean by “quietly psychotic” is, for one example, a horror writer who would never engage in the deeds he or she writes, yet nonetheless takes a private thrill from imagining it.) I’ve often wondered where Poe would’ve been without writing. At the end of his life, he was overcome with grief for his mother and for his wife (his mother died when he was younger, but he never got over it), he was penniless, and he was a drunkard. Well, more or less. And I feel the answer to my question is somewhere in that.

It’s no secret that writers can be weird people. Especially fiction writers. By definition (and, perhaps more so, by convention) sitting alone for hours scribbling or typing words with only your emotions, thoughts and maybe some music for company isn’t natural activity.

But it’s here that I challenge conventional wisdom and popular belief. I mean, how do you define what’s natural in the first place? What’s natural for one isn’t for another. And for the writer, sitting alone trying to form cohesion and sense out of the chaotic world of brain and heart is very natural.

I’ve been accused of being anti-social (among other things) because of the time I spend writing and reading and because of some of the things I write. But it’s not true. I may be a little nuts (and, going by conventional wisdom, most artists are), but I’m not anti-social. I have a need, as prevalent and as strong as my need to breathe, so isn’t it natural to satisfy that need? Or to at least try to come to terms with it?

A musician may spend time in a band. And it may be social and fun, considering they get along – too often, bands don’t; believe me. But still, that musician will spend hours alone with his or her instrument, if it’s really in their blood. If it’s not, we have someone who only picks it up for lessons, rehearsal, or a show.

Whether I succeed in publishing or not, I will always write. And though I’ve pretty much retired from the music business, I’ll always play, at least here and there. Because it’s in my blood to do so. This is true of any artist. Art happens between you and your creativity; the business side of it has little to do with the art itself.