Good piece, and a good question. I still smoke, though haven't indoors for decades. Don't think it affects my solitary writing. But those pub meetings to break story or hatch new plans? Definitely a depleted or at least changed experience. Not least because the smokers have to leave once in a while to go outside, which breaks the vibe and flow. THOUGH sometimes it's while standing outside having that smoke (or for the others, sitting at the table, a moment of quiet) that new ideas suddenly come.
A writers' culture of fag packets. I don't buy it. Surely writers who smoked in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s, were only following the general behaviour of society in those days. People smoked everywhere. I smoked tobacco from 1972 to 1997. Smoking never seemed to have any positive or negative impact upon my creativity. Campfire smoke though. Campfire smoke is different. Campfire smoke from nice wood is a bit magical and spiritual. The main difference with campfire smoke is that we are outside. That glorious feeling of being outside. Fresh air, weather --- Cold and rain meets warmth and fire. I love the campfire smoke and the crackling flames. Indoors is a bad place for smoke, creates permanent headaches, fug and gloom. Humans are the only animals in the world who are daft enough to stick something into their mouths and then set fire to it.
Good piece, and a good question. I still smoke, though haven't indoors for decades. Don't think it affects my solitary writing. But those pub meetings to break story or hatch new plans? Definitely a depleted or at least changed experience. Not least because the smokers have to leave once in a while to go outside, which breaks the vibe and flow. THOUGH sometimes it's while standing outside having that smoke (or for the others, sitting at the table, a moment of quiet) that new ideas suddenly come.
So I guess we adapt...
A writers' culture of fag packets. I don't buy it. Surely writers who smoked in the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s, were only following the general behaviour of society in those days. People smoked everywhere. I smoked tobacco from 1972 to 1997. Smoking never seemed to have any positive or negative impact upon my creativity. Campfire smoke though. Campfire smoke is different. Campfire smoke from nice wood is a bit magical and spiritual. The main difference with campfire smoke is that we are outside. That glorious feeling of being outside. Fresh air, weather --- Cold and rain meets warmth and fire. I love the campfire smoke and the crackling flames. Indoors is a bad place for smoke, creates permanent headaches, fug and gloom. Humans are the only animals in the world who are daft enough to stick something into their mouths and then set fire to it.