Writing an alcoholic character

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

January 16, 2018

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

January 16, 2018

Thank you

@the-lyme-light

January 23, 2018

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