Catherdral

Carver's years as a student and beginner writer were marked by economic difficulties followed by a shy success as a professional. His writing carrier began to take shape in 1958 when he enrolled the Chico State College as a part-time student. During the following year he joined John Gardner's class of Creative Writing 101, later on Gardner would become Carver's most important influence on his carrier. Aside from all of his influences academic and familiar, arguably the strongest and most negative influence on his work was his drinking (Phillip Carson's Paper. Raymond Carver. 8/3/2002. 3/9/2004. http://world.std.com/~ptc/). The decade that Carver almost died of alcoholism, ironically was the decade that he started getting books published at small and large presses. .
             Carver's work was determinate by two major periods than helped me to understand the differences and changes in terms of his work. The first period, "his first life" was composed of the period of time between his first steeps as writer, the beginning publication process of some of his literature work, and his alcohol vice. Even if there was not a related connection between his success and his vice, the alcoholism and publishing processes of his work apparently began at the same time. In one of his interviews he recognized his relationship to alcohol as only destructive, after being asked how alcohol worked against or in favour of his work. Obviously my drinking experiences helped me write several stories that have to do with alcoholism. But the fact that I went through that and was able to write those stories was nothing short of miracle. No, I don't see anything coming out of my drinking experiences except waste and pain and misery. (Gentry 115).
             Raymond Carver quit drinking in 1977, a period that marked by the beginning of his work's second period. This was a period characterized by sobriety and recognitions even if for about a year he didn't write at all.