On Writing Ch. 32 - 38

It is often thought that substance abuse is directly linked to creative endeavours. Among these creative endeavours is writing. This statement is a common misconception among the general public. Substance abuse is damaging to both a person's physical and mental state, and does not help in the creative process. Steven King argues that substance abuse has no place in writing. In his memoir On Writing, King tells the reader, "Substance abusing writers are just substance abusers-common garden variety drunks and druggies, in other words." One of the writers who is primarily responsible for this misconception is Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway was an alcoholic that defended his drinking habits by saying that he needed the alcohol because he was such a sensitive person, yet he could also handle it because he was a man. This became known, according to Steven King, as the Hemingway Defense. King also dispels this claim, saying, "Hemingway and Fitzgerald didn't drink because they were creative, alienated, or morally weak. They drank because it's what alkies are wired up to do"
King should know this. He himself had a problem with substance abuse during his writing career. This problem even went as far as King consuming Scope mouthwash in order to get drunk. King defended his substance abuse problems with all manner of crazy claims, until he finally came to his senses, thanks to his wife. According to King, "It doesn't matter if you're James Jones, John Cheever, or a stewbum snoozing in Penn Station; for an addict, the right to the drink or drug of choice must be preserved at all costs." King doesn't also doesn't like the claim that writers are a special kind of drug addict. He says, "Substance-abusing writers are just substance abusers - common garden-variety drunks and druggies, in other words. Any claims that the drugs and alcohol are necessary to dull a finer sensibility are just the usual self-serving bullshit." King addiction made him believe that he needed drugs and alcohol in order to write. In his own words, "I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to work anymore if I quit drinking and drugging." However, King's wife finally managed to persuade him to kick his habit. King made the decision that given the choice between writing and his family that he would pick his family. This decision to quit is very difficult for drug addicts, but it proves that substance abuse is not necessary for creative writing.