Reality of a Prison Writer 9–Emmanuel Theus-Roberts

Reality of a Prison Writer 9—Emmanuel Theus-Roberts

                Ever walked into a room and felt a bad vibe?

                That is atmosphere.

                Atmosphere is important for writers finding space. In prison atmosphere is pervasive and ten times more consequential in the creative process.

                Person’s atmosphere is generally despondent with a palpable undercurrent of tension. Other times, such as during facility shake-downs (i.e., large-scale searches), despondency turns volatile undercurrents become raging tides. An atmosphere of restless energy, rebellious and oppositional, dominates during shakedowns. Prisoners grouse, speculate, worry themselves into a perfect agitation over what all could possibly go wrong or how badly their property will be mauled over. Guards complain about the tediousness of the endeavor and potential fallouts from mishandling prisoners’ property of finding contraband.

                Trust me. When you live in a 9 by 13 foot bathroom with only 5 cubic feet of personal belongings; all of this is of the utmost importance.

                For a prison writer with editorial deadlines, writing commitments and a schedule to maintain; atmospheric pressures can seriously screw the pooch.

                Whatever the reigning atmosphere may be, it’s a fact that prison writers cannot escape, literally. Passion and determination are all that make writing like this—drafted in the midst of a shakedown—possible.