Crazy quote

[j_cheney]

"One absurdly precise study estimates that 28 percent of prominent scientists, 60 percent of composers, 73 percent of painters, 77 percent of novelists, and an astonishing 87 percent of poets have shown some degree of mental disturbance." 1

Yes, it seems to imply that poets are crazier than novelists.

 

I'm going to be working on the (revamped) outline for The White Queen for days. I wrote the rough draft using an outline done on index cards, when then had to be modified to add a POV character. Looking at it now, I'm probably going to cut 2 POV characters with the possible exception of a couple of random scenes where no one else is around. The flow isn't as smooth as I'd like, either, so I'll have to work on that.

I keep saying that I'm going to outline better before I start the first draft. Perhaps next novel....
______________
1) From The Agile Gene by Matt Ridley, relating the findings of DK Simonton in his article "The Origins of Genius" in the Oxford University Press, 2003. (Taken from his chapter on schizophrenia, wherein he hypothesizes reasons why the genetic tendency for that disorder doesn't die out of the species (thereby implying that it must be of benefit somehow). It's a very complicated argument.)

Comments

[tchernabyelo.livejournal.com]

I thought it was a fairly standard argument (well, within the canon of evolutionary science) that any gene which has apparently "negative" survival effects yet remains comparatively widespread must have "positive" surivival effects as well, even if they may not be obvious. There are certainly other examples of this (e.g. the link between sickle-cell anemia and increased resistance to malaria).

There's long been an empirical link between creativity and madness (hey, even the Greeks had spotted it). The intriguing thing is whether creativity is a survival trait at an individual level, if the "creation" can then be used by other members of society and they no longer need the creator. The society needs creativity, but if it doesn't benefit the individual, then it might die out. Arguably, this is why social structures have grown up which protect the creative - story-tellers and artists are as old as recorded history, after all (indeed, they ARE recorded history).

Hmmm

[namelessarchon.livejournal.com]

I love that argument!

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

More or less the argument he's making. The genes that predict schizophrenia run evenly across all cultures, making it a very old genetic tendency... It's an interesting read.

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

I was fascinated that creative thinkers tend to score between Normal and Pathological on the psychosis scale of the MMPI.

Makes sense. Creativity is basically controlled loosening of associations.

White Queen

[namelessarchon.livejournal.com]

As a huge fan of The White Queen, I look forward to seeing it sometime [maybe Baen's Bar again]. If you ever need an opinion or anything just give me shout, as you know I love to edit.

Re: White Queen

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I'm actually putting together a novel proposal for a workshop right now, which will include the first four chapters and the outline. I didn't think the workshop would accept a pile of index cards for that, hence the revamping. (Has to look nice enough to turn into the teacher.) ;o)

I'll have to get back the The King's Daughter first...after the outline...

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Since I'm a scientist AND and novelist, that makes 105% chance of mental disturbance . . .

Which explains alot actually.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Yes, I noted that despite Nash, mathematicians didn't make the list....

I think we're being discriminated against!

[dfable.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting. I just ordered the book.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

He's very readable. This is the third of his books I've read.

[kara-gnome.livejournal.com]

I would never have put the numbers so high for either novelists or for poets. In fact, some of the sanest, most well-balanced people I know are writers, as if they write the crazy out on the paper or something.

I wonder what comes first, the craziness or the writing?

That index card thing is genius. It sounds like you're doing well on your book.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Actually, I need to get more organized than the index card thing. I'm working on it, but so far, on the first 3 novels, I've had to re-do the outline for the revision, which means that I'm not doing it well enough in the first place.