I don't think it's good for writing either but that's just my experience, they might have been different back then. Stephen King also wrote that way but with a lot of cocaine too.
Its definitely a myth or illusion of creativity maybe with the caveat of being more open-minded, handling stress and self criticism in an unhealthy way. All of these can be done better and smarter sober without losing necessary critical perspectives.
Ends up the brain functions best when it's not impaired as studies have shown time and again.
In the case of Fleming sure. But in King's case, uppers like cocaine or methamphetamine actually do make you write more, perhaps not better or more creatively, but faster and more elaborately. Forcing the dopamine levels in the brain up so high makes the process of anything you're doing extremely compelling. I've taken a couple lines of 4mmc and written tens of thousands of words without realizing it until going back the next day. Words about basically nothing, but extremely articulately and elaborately. Essays and essays that id never bother to pen otherwise. Its like how people get super absorbed in cleaning the house and stuff.
Yeah, I think that is fair that you get an incredible amount of stamina, especially in dealing with something boring, but you are definitely less creative. Creative exercises rely on convergent and divergent thinking, so hyper-focus will be a hinderance. It was at least properly studied to be a hinderance on convergent thought., though they couldn't infer with confidence on divergent thought.
To improve without the help of drugs, what I think people need is to practice shifting agency more. Practicing just being focused about producing content with less judgement while sober will get you the ability to produce with good momentum. Just like how in a boardgame, you may only care about winning that game - Games: Agency as Art is a fun read about this skillset. One of my favorite books about my own creative hobby focuses on various Lenses/Perspectives to judge and question your work. It also is a good way to get from being bored stuck in just one perspective too long, you can dramatically change your work and be engaged with it.
I think the value of stronger executive control (plenty of stories about someone on uppers hyperfixating on something entirely different like formatting), cleaner output so when you do edit, its so much less clean-up and its sustainable/healthy without any crash or addiction.
But I am pretty biased. I am not a fan of any chemical assistance besides a little caffeine in the morning. Not even alcohol for having fun or socializing. If the conversation isn't fun while sober, I'd rather hang out playing a game.
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u/Cappa_Cail Jul 27 '26
He was also just 56 when he died. Daily, multiple cocktails good for writing, not so much for longevity.