This is the best content on the internet. And that's not a kiss-ass thing because it's C.P.'s page here, but with all the doom and gloom of Covid, politics, inflation, global warming, and abortions in Texas, it's refreshing to pull something up that isn't heralding the end of the world.
It's crazy. I was telling my wife that I wish I could learn writing. In everything I do, I've always wished that I had the gall to create more. I'm a musician, but not a songwriter, so I've always wished that I learned song craft. I had a few years where I did nothing but watch films and wanted to be a screenwriter. I'd go through all my favorite novels by Chuck, Hornby, Coupland, etc. and wish that I could write a novel. But here I am, almost 45 and said to my wife this weekend that I really want to learn to write and take it up as a hobby at least. Then on Monday, Chuck announces this. And everything posted so far is SO inspiring. Thank you, Chuck. For reading my mind across the country.
Chuck—Not totally off topic— I’ve read fiction (for example, crime/thriller genre—Robert Bloch’s PSYCHO, Jack Ketchum’s THE GIRL NEXT DOOR) that was clearly based on real people/cases/crimes, but names/places were changed. Other times I hear about “normal” people who become “flavor of the month celebrities” because of something that happened in their life who then sell the rights to their life stories. (Usually it’s some scandal they’re involved in or something extraordinary they did). What’s the difference for us as writers mining for material? Are there certain people/events we can’t touch because we don’t have the rights? (Excluding, of course, say fictional characters or IPs, or parody). Thanks boss—Josh J.
I make my living reading other people’s stories to children. Then I ask questions about the book, written by someone else. The method works. Plus, I get to teach kids to love reading. It’s a win-win.
Something that’s shifted in our culture, and I think an argument could be made that social media was a driving force behind it, is that for a lot of people they choose not to listen. They just wait for their turn to talk.
Essentially, your post is all about listening, whether or not you’re the target audience. Our lives are a lot more isolating than we realize, and the pandemic has certainly condensed them further. I can’t wait to feel comfortable again to sit at a coffee shop and take in my surroundings. I’ll find some diamonds.
Back when I was doing a lot of flying back and forth between the east and west coast, I loved getting to the airport early to people watch and make conversation with strangers I'd never see again. Once on a connecting flight between SC and NC in a tiny puddle jumper, a reporter and cameraman for Univision couldn't fit their gear under the seats, and the camera man handed me a very large very expensive camera to hold while he disassembled another, and didn't realize I wasn't the reporter until I handed it back. Haven't found a home for that in any stories yet, but someday.
After my first book had been published in Hungary, one of the biggest book resellers had to suspend the related comments on their website because many people found their embarrassing stories and they did not like that. They did not seem flattered (in spite of the fact that no real names were mentioned and the overall story was a fiction). Many comments started with the F word and even Adolf made a comment (yes, that one). So I am just saying be careful about how you preserve stories, especially in the corporate world. Especially in Eastern Europe.
I am inspired! It's time to hack together a bunch of words and phrases into something resembling a story and then try to sell it. I can probably do it. Sell something I got for free? How about something I didn't pay money for instead. Because no idea, no story is free. They all cost something. Every story has a price, and the only question is: are you willing to pay that price? After years of writing little-to-nothing, I think I'm once more ready to get back to it. Thank you for inspiring me to hack together words and phrases again.
I love that you are talking about this! I get asked all of the time how I came up with an idea or how I knew about something that goes into one of my stories, and it's really just the result of being inquisitive and paying attention to the world around us. Can't wait for your next post!
Chuck, your works created a fleury of thoughts and ideas that I leaned on to write a novel. It’s out there for free cause why not! Just wanted people to read and connect with an introverts existential tale about dying slowly at work.
Can read it free here. I mean chapter 1 starts of off with a bang, comparing small talk to masturbation.
I am so glad I am subscribed to this. Holy hell. Very inspired to start writing again.
This is the best content on the internet. And that's not a kiss-ass thing because it's C.P.'s page here, but with all the doom and gloom of Covid, politics, inflation, global warming, and abortions in Texas, it's refreshing to pull something up that isn't heralding the end of the world.
I have a literal litany of free trauma from deploying to Afghanistan, and having my first born taken from me because of said federal service.
Honestly this subscription could not have come at a better time
It's crazy. I was telling my wife that I wish I could learn writing. In everything I do, I've always wished that I had the gall to create more. I'm a musician, but not a songwriter, so I've always wished that I learned song craft. I had a few years where I did nothing but watch films and wanted to be a screenwriter. I'd go through all my favorite novels by Chuck, Hornby, Coupland, etc. and wish that I could write a novel. But here I am, almost 45 and said to my wife this weekend that I really want to learn to write and take it up as a hobby at least. Then on Monday, Chuck announces this. And everything posted so far is SO inspiring. Thank you, Chuck. For reading my mind across the country.
Chuck—Not totally off topic— I’ve read fiction (for example, crime/thriller genre—Robert Bloch’s PSYCHO, Jack Ketchum’s THE GIRL NEXT DOOR) that was clearly based on real people/cases/crimes, but names/places were changed. Other times I hear about “normal” people who become “flavor of the month celebrities” because of something that happened in their life who then sell the rights to their life stories. (Usually it’s some scandal they’re involved in or something extraordinary they did). What’s the difference for us as writers mining for material? Are there certain people/events we can’t touch because we don’t have the rights? (Excluding, of course, say fictional characters or IPs, or parody). Thanks boss—Josh J.
Hi there Chuck! Damn looooong time no meet you.
Love this new thing you created, thanx a bunch!
This post about “stealing” real-life-people’s speeches and put ‘em in fictional characters’ mouths is so cool, makes me think of Quentin Tarantino.
PS: hope to meet you again soon in Italy… or somewhere else. Much love.
I make my living reading other people’s stories to children. Then I ask questions about the book, written by someone else. The method works. Plus, I get to teach kids to love reading. It’s a win-win.
Something that’s shifted in our culture, and I think an argument could be made that social media was a driving force behind it, is that for a lot of people they choose not to listen. They just wait for their turn to talk.
Essentially, your post is all about listening, whether or not you’re the target audience. Our lives are a lot more isolating than we realize, and the pandemic has certainly condensed them further. I can’t wait to feel comfortable again to sit at a coffee shop and take in my surroundings. I’ll find some diamonds.
Back when I was doing a lot of flying back and forth between the east and west coast, I loved getting to the airport early to people watch and make conversation with strangers I'd never see again. Once on a connecting flight between SC and NC in a tiny puddle jumper, a reporter and cameraman for Univision couldn't fit their gear under the seats, and the camera man handed me a very large very expensive camera to hold while he disassembled another, and didn't realize I wasn't the reporter until I handed it back. Haven't found a home for that in any stories yet, but someday.
I really missed this kind of storytelling from you.Hello from Romania!Hope to see you sometime in a tour in Europe!
This is really really great. Feels like the good old days at CP.net with the essays. Thanks for this.
After my first book had been published in Hungary, one of the biggest book resellers had to suspend the related comments on their website because many people found their embarrassing stories and they did not like that. They did not seem flattered (in spite of the fact that no real names were mentioned and the overall story was a fiction). Many comments started with the F word and even Adolf made a comment (yes, that one). So I am just saying be careful about how you preserve stories, especially in the corporate world. Especially in Eastern Europe.
I am inspired! It's time to hack together a bunch of words and phrases into something resembling a story and then try to sell it. I can probably do it. Sell something I got for free? How about something I didn't pay money for instead. Because no idea, no story is free. They all cost something. Every story has a price, and the only question is: are you willing to pay that price? After years of writing little-to-nothing, I think I'm once more ready to get back to it. Thank you for inspiring me to hack together words and phrases again.
I love that you are talking about this! I get asked all of the time how I came up with an idea or how I knew about something that goes into one of my stories, and it's really just the result of being inquisitive and paying attention to the world around us. Can't wait for your next post!
Chuck, your works created a fleury of thoughts and ideas that I leaned on to write a novel. It’s out there for free cause why not! Just wanted people to read and connect with an introverts existential tale about dying slowly at work.
Can read it free here. I mean chapter 1 starts of off with a bang, comparing small talk to masturbation.
https://happinessisjustapillaway.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/happinessisjustapillaway.pdf