Today I watched the 2005 movie Factotum while looking for inspiration to become a writer. The movie’s protagonist, Henry Chinaski, is American author’s Charles Bukowski’s alter ego played by Matt Dillon. Chinaski is always bouncing from job to job, getting fired really, for leaving his duties unattended in favor of drinking.
In the beginning, I thought the man who wants to become a writer takes on different menial jobs to get inspiration for characters in his stories, but in reality the man has an alcohol problem and is not really living a financially or otherwise stable life in pursuit of getting published. Drinking and writing are seemingly all he cares about, and of course he doesn’t mind having a lady around for companionship.
He lives a hard life I wouldn’t envy, but what’s great about the character is that he is absolutely determined in becoming a writer. Despite all his mishaps to the point of seeming sleezy and even criminal, he writes all the time and sends his work out to would-be publishers. The protagonist is not seen having writer’s block or struggling with any form of imposter syndrome. He seems to have come to terms with the fact that he´s a functional alcoholic, at least for writing’s sake, but not much when it comes to holding down a job in any other field, no matter how menial.
I liked a lot of aspects of Chinaski because I could relate, especially with the having multiple jobs and just not clicking with any of them bit. Plus, always gravitating back to writing really stuck with me; maybe because it’s a way of experiencing a life I wish I could have through the stories I create for my characters. Writing non-fiction can be fun too. A guy by the name Blundell says the elements of fiction make great non-fiction, and I believe him. So, I like writing both.
Anyway, I think I learned from the movie that I best not become an alcoholic or continue bouncing from job to job anymore, although I already knew that. It never hurts to be reminded though. It’s better to bring order into a chaotic life even if one is pursuing an ultimate dream or goal. It’s better to lead a healthier lifestyle than Henry’s too, but not too healthy that it becomes boring.
I still believe that different jobs can be good inspiration for different characters, so it should form part of my writer’s toolkit, without slipping into chaotic desperation like Henry. Success doesn’t have to be achieved the way he did, but a good struggle story can be very insightful and inspirational. So, I succeeded in my endeavor to find inspiration. Thank you, Charles Bukowski, Henry, and Matt Dillon.
Let’s keep on writing, dead or alive.