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Writing an alcoholic character

@childoftheuniverse forum 13 comments schedule
@childoftheuniverse

I need help

@Bliess

If you were writing an alcoholic character, than I would write them stumbling and not like themselves. Like if your character is usually a silent type, then you could write them flamboyant and loud or the opposite.

Louis

When writing an alcoholic, there are two situations:
a) They are always drunk
b) They eventually become alcoholic
In the case of a, make them feel unnatural. The character has to be unreliable, though that doesn't mean that they are necessarily mean or an antagonist. But alcoholics aren't exactly the most trustworthy.
In the case of b, if the narrator is a character who doesn't know until later, drop certain hints towards it. Let the character slowly drop into the darkness of alcohol. I recommend you do this even for a third person story. If you decide not to do it that way, show how different the character is with an alcoholic influence. That's it. Hope this helps.

@childoftheuniverse

Thank you

@the-lyme-light

I'm trying to do this too, although I'm not sure with how much success. I try to do as much research as physically possible. Google Chrome Incognito mode can be helpful with that depending. I find myself having to remember that your character was a person before alcohol, they have a personality outside of being an addict. Make sure to portray that. Also, Idk what role your character plays and how severe their problem is but there's a lot that goes into it beyond just slapping a drink in their hands and slurring their words. I'd love to talk about our characters though, we could figure it out together.
-M

@childoftheuniverse

Sure!

@the-lyme-light

James here's the link to my boi James, wanna send me a link to yours?

@the-lyme-light

@childoftheuniverse We could also do direct chat if that works better for you
-M

@childoftheuniverse

Yea that might work better

@the-lyme-light

@childoftheuniverse Ok cool, why don't you start one, I'm pretty new to this site.

@childoftheuniverse

i can try

@childoftheuniverse

idk how actually

@the-lyme-light

lol no problem I'll figure it out