It may seem strange at first, but the interplay between failure and hardship can be a catalyst for creativity. Very often, great writers and cartoonists find ways to transform their distress into an astonishing wealth of inspiration. Answer the following questions to find out how these creators make sense of their misery and persist in the face of adversity.
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He lost his job at an oil company during the Great Depression. To eke out a living, he wrote his first hard-boiled detective fiction at the age of 44, which turned out a huge success. Who is this American novelist? |
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While serving in prison, William Sydney Porter reinvented himself as a prolific short story writer renowned for ingenious plot twists. What is his most well-known pen name? |
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His cartoon sketches were turned down by editors of his high school’s yearbook, but he went on to create a comic strip featuring an anthropomorphic dog character, which ran in newspapers worldwide for nearly half a century before his retirement. Who is this cartoonist? |
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F. Scott Fitzgerald was rejected by the family of his first love due to his humble background, which inspired him to write a novel with themes of social class divide and the hollowness of materialism during the Jazz Age. What is the title of this profound piece? |
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During World War I, Ernest Hemingway sustained severe wounds alongside a romantic heartbreak. He channelled his sorrow and anguish into a critically acclaimed novel about war and love. What is the title of this work? |
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To improve her hand mobility after cancer surgery, this Hong Kong writer began crafting teddy bears, which became the subject of her book The Teddy Bear Chronicles. Who is she? |
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After his insect-themed comic strip met with a lukewarm reception, Jim Davis started a new comic series about an overweight orange tabby cat with a cynical demeanour, now an iconic character in pop culture. What is the name of this character? |
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Rejected at the age of 11 from an arts course for being too young, Scott Adams eventually created a successful comic strip from his own experience as a white-collar worker that was a biting satire on corporate absurdity. Who is the main character of this work? |
