Picking up my kid from pre-school today, teacher DJ explained to me how some of the kids formed their own little fight club, and my daughter took a size-2 boot to the face.
“Chuck Palahniuk’s Substack is a great read, by the way!” I said.
In jiujitsu, you are not just a black belt. You are a Rickson Gracie black belt or a Jean Jacques- Machado black belt. You are a black belt of your teacher. This feels akin.
Its this way with any craft. You do it the way youre taught, but then develop your own take on those lessons. No 2 carpenters frame a wall exactly the same way.
I won't bore with details, but since about my freshman year of college, I've been slowly reading his books in reverse-chronological order. Not in a "I can't be bothered to finish" kind of way, but more like the books call to me when I'm in a place where I can actually hear them. Whenever I'm in a big, new stage of life, or things get really hard, a Tom Spanbauer starts to glow.
To me, Tom gets younger and younger.
Some time last summer, I retyped The Man Who Fell in Love with the Moon word for word. Not that it's easy for me to demonstrate the way that Tom moves on the page, but it did gift me a sort of flow chart between recording angel, going on the body, unpacking, talking to God, and saddling your horse.
Steve A. was kind enough to gift me a signed copy of Far Away Places. I think I'll read that next when life gets a little more quiet.
Good luck on your tour! I'd come cheer you on at Powell's, but Chelsea needs her whipping boy at workshop.
This year I'd proposed a new model for the book events. They would be smaller, in-store meet-ups, followed by a limited book signing, but with a party at a near-by bar or cafe to follow. People with backlist collections of books, or those wanting selfies or more time can go to the follow-up party.
So far they've worked great. San Francisco didn't have a nearby bar so there was no party. Everyone seems pleasantly surprised by how the new model has worked.
1) my business trip to Tampa was hurricane cancelled for obvious reasons but now the event in NYC is sold out. Eventbrite won't let me buy a ticket. If you are able to give a nod and let me buy one it would be very appreciated but of course understand if not possible
2) does NYC get an after-party?
3) were substack folks supposed to wear a themed color?
Hearing him talk about his terrible childhood and upbringing in Idaho makes me more than cringe, but I also imagine he would not have been the fine writer he was without it...? Or maybe he would have been. Who knows. The imagination is a powerful thing.
Hey if anyone is going to see Chuck in NYC and ends up with an extra ticket, I’ll buy it off you. I’ve been on the waitlist for a while but so far nada!
Writing is both and everything in between.
Picking up my kid from pre-school today, teacher DJ explained to me how some of the kids formed their own little fight club, and my daughter took a size-2 boot to the face.
“Chuck Palahniuk’s Substack is a great read, by the way!” I said.
“Hmmm” she said.
“You know… the author of Fight Club?”
…
…
Guess what she said next.
In jiujitsu, you are not just a black belt. You are a Rickson Gracie black belt or a Jean Jacques- Machado black belt. You are a black belt of your teacher. This feels akin.
Its this way with any craft. You do it the way youre taught, but then develop your own take on those lessons. No 2 carpenters frame a wall exactly the same way.
Writers are complicated it seems.
Safe travels!
"nothing was settled, but everything was expressed. And that was good enough"
Might borrow that one for a poem, Chuck
Ugh. When dads find out. #sorespot
“There is no way to google what our soul has not yet uncovered.”
Please remember to bring us all back some souvenirs.
Relevant
https://youtu.be/aOTbg39-I5Q?si=1YL-7nKJ5rCv6EUf
There’s only one true way to write, and that’s in the manner which allows for
the highest volume of saucy-ass dick jokes, straight outta left field.
Probably.
Thanks for sharing these, Chuck.
I won't bore with details, but since about my freshman year of college, I've been slowly reading his books in reverse-chronological order. Not in a "I can't be bothered to finish" kind of way, but more like the books call to me when I'm in a place where I can actually hear them. Whenever I'm in a big, new stage of life, or things get really hard, a Tom Spanbauer starts to glow.
To me, Tom gets younger and younger.
Some time last summer, I retyped The Man Who Fell in Love with the Moon word for word. Not that it's easy for me to demonstrate the way that Tom moves on the page, but it did gift me a sort of flow chart between recording angel, going on the body, unpacking, talking to God, and saddling your horse.
Steve A. was kind enough to gift me a signed copy of Far Away Places. I think I'll read that next when life gets a little more quiet.
Good luck on your tour! I'd come cheer you on at Powell's, but Chelsea needs her whipping boy at workshop.
This year I'd proposed a new model for the book events. They would be smaller, in-store meet-ups, followed by a limited book signing, but with a party at a near-by bar or cafe to follow. People with backlist collections of books, or those wanting selfies or more time can go to the follow-up party.
So far they've worked great. San Francisco didn't have a nearby bar so there was no party. Everyone seems pleasantly surprised by how the new model has worked.
1) my business trip to Tampa was hurricane cancelled for obvious reasons but now the event in NYC is sold out. Eventbrite won't let me buy a ticket. If you are able to give a nod and let me buy one it would be very appreciated but of course understand if not possible
2) does NYC get an after-party?
3) were substack folks supposed to wear a themed color?
Thanks for sharing this too. That night at the cabin, the booze, the laughs and yells and everything. What a special day.
Have fun on the road, Chuck!
“And nothing was settled, but everything was expressed.”
I think you just described the process of writing pretty aptly.
Hearing him talk about his terrible childhood and upbringing in Idaho makes me more than cringe, but I also imagine he would not have been the fine writer he was without it...? Or maybe he would have been. Who knows. The imagination is a powerful thing.
Hey if anyone is going to see Chuck in NYC and ends up with an extra ticket, I’ll buy it off you. I’ve been on the waitlist for a while but so far nada!
Sneak in the exit. Make friends with an employee. Im going to Chi or Id help.
I’ve been trying to find a connection to the venue but for once I’m coming up empty. I wish I could go in Chicago. Love it there.
Is it at The Strand?
Yes. I’m going to call again tomorrow and see!
Fingers crossed
Tell them you're my sister. It worked for Trina in Portland.
Ok working on it.
You now have a sis named Alison.
Good luck tonight! I have a health issue anyway, so I cannot make it. Will catch you next time. :)
For the others who want more clarification on the coal miner black lung versus fancy american disco dance party approaches to writing: https://chuckpalahniuk.substack.com/p/try-this-beat-yourself-up-owrite
Shit. Above link got messed up. https://open.substack.com/pub/chuckpalahniuk/p/try-this-beat-yourself-up-or-write?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=sqz4x