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The most common stereotype of an artist, writer, or other professional creative person is mainly related to some form of substance abuse.  The poets, writers, and journalists of the generation that came before me were likely the prime example of such, at least the few famous poets and writers I've met personally, frequently smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol on a regular basis. Most of todays most prolific writers rely on stimulants to get the creativity going; I prefer large amounts of dark roast coffee and chocolate.  I never saw any interest or necessity for alcohol or illegal drugs like...

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Form your own path, never follow in the footsteps of others, or allow others to follow in your footsteps.  Never allow anyone or anything, or anything, including religion or society to tell you how you should think, what you should believe, or how you should feel.  Never feel as if you are a failure, and never judge your success or accomplishments based against someone else; everybody is put here on Earth for a reason, but few, if any, know what that reason is.  Never allow yourself to succumb to greed; as long as you have the things you need, you have enough.  Don't waste your time, money,...