In her book "Wild Nights!: Stories About the Last Days of Poe, Dickinson, Twain, James, and Hemingway," Joyce Carol Oates explores the profound struggles and existential crises faced by iconic authors. She delves into the dark aspects of the writing life, portraying it as a demanding pursuit that can lead to despair and contemplation of life's ultimate questions, including the idea of suicide.

Oates emphasizes that the only true incentive for enduring the hardships of writing is the raw, intense experience of creation, even if it sometimes feels burdensome. Through her stories, she captures the emotional turmoil and occasional hopelessness felt by these literary figures, highlighting the fine line between artistic expression and personal anguish.