Category: Writing

WHY KILL A SAINT? MOTHERS AND AUTHORS, by Art Smukler MD

by artsmuklermd, posted in Psychiatry, Self Examination, Writing

The saint I’m referring to is Theresa Belmont, my main character’s mother (In Chasing Backwards). The anger towards “the saint” is one of the novel’s driving forces. Sometimes I feel a little guilty about that anger, but most of the time I just accept it — no problems. Sometimes I even enjoy it.

One of my favorite author’s, Pat Conroy, is a genius when it comes to mothers. In Prince of Tides, his opening lines in the first chapter are awesome.

“It’s your mother,” Sallie said, returning from the phone.

“Tell her I’m dead,” I pleaded. “please tell her I died last week, and you’ve been too busy to call.”

“Please speak to her, she says it’s urgent.”

“She always says it’s urgent. It’s never urgent when she says it’s urgent.”

How can there be such anger towards someone so important? She gave us life and had ultimate power over our ability to survive. We weren’t like little colts who stand immediately after birth. Without intense care, we wouldn’t make it. And it gets even more complicated. In this breast driven society, the image of suckling at your mother’s breast is horrifying to most men (I don’t think women see it exactly that way). Yet horrifying as it may be, from puberty on, our fantasies of breasts and all parts of female anatomy are common obsessions (very pleasant obsessions).

Ambivalence, a combination of love and hate, are common feelings towards dear old mom. There’s no way that anyone can be perfect, including mothers. It’s not possible.

For a writer, the essence of great fiction is conflict. Ambivalence is wonderful! Loving and hating the same person is what it’s all about. It happens in our fiction and it happens in our lives. Wiggling out of impossible, conflictual situations, makes great reading and gives us a chance to learn how we can deal with the difficult problems that present in our own lives.

Thanks, Mom.

MY MUSE DIDN’T BAKE GINGERBREAD CAKE FOR STEVE LOPEZ, by Art Smukler MD

by artsmuklermd, posted in Psychiatry, Self Examination, Writing

“So listen to my new post,” I say to my muse, who I’ve been married to for three hundred years.

She puts down her book, and waits patiently while I fiddle with the laptop.

“Okay, here goes,” I say, and begin my latest rendition of Inside the Mind of a Psychiatrist. When I’m done she says, not unkindly, “It’s boring.”

“Boring? How can you say that? Aren’t you interested in psychiatry or the homeless or heroes?”

“I am,” she says. “But I’d like a different slant, something that hasn’t been said hundreds of times by people who are experts.”

“Like who?”

“Like Steve Lopez who writes everyday for a living. He comes up with new ideas all the time.”

“I’m not Steve Lopez.”

“If you want people to love your work and buy your books, make it funny, interesting, different.”

“Jesus,” I say and sit stunned (For the ten-thousandth time in three hundred years). “You don’t take any prisoners.”

“You don’t agree?”

Moments pass. Finally I say, “You’re really annoying.”

“So you agree?”

“It is boring.”

“You want some freshly baked gingerbread cake?” she asks.

“I do. I need some gingerbread cake.”

That night as I drift off to sleep, I know for a fact that I’ll never think of anything new to write. How can anyone be as good as Steve Lopez?

The next morning my next post popped into my head. After my muse listened, she said, “I love it. It’s new, different and interesting.” (You’ll all have to wait to read it.)

“Really?”

“Really.”

“You have any gingerbread cake left?”