Let’s face it—writers are known to be some of the more enigmatic individuals of society. With this in mind, it really shouldn’t come as a surprise that most of literature’s greatest minds have less than normal “rituals” to help them fuel their imagination.

Certain kinds of food are known to help stimulate creativity. Famous horror writer Stephen King would always have a slice of cheesecake before creating our worst nightmares. On a more disturbing note, crime and mystery author Agatha Christie had the habit of eating an apple in the bathtub while mulling over intricate murder strategies.

Comfort is always the key. Always.

Maya Angelou was rumored to constantly check in at a hotel rooms with a bottle of Sherry after having every possible stimuli that might disrupt her creative flow removed, leaving only the furniture. On the other hand, some well-known writers would take comfort to a whole new level. For example, Victor Hugo who would work completely in the nude, for reasons mostly unknown.

Strange as the above-mentioned examples may be, they seem to have worked; otherwise the current world would not have literary masterpieces such as Les Miserables or Carrie.

You know what they say: “There is a fine line between genius and madness”, and in most cases, crossing that line is worth the risk when creating something sublime.