Can’t wait to listen. Every interview has tons of great information. Also, have a question... How can you figure out whether a detail/passage is relevant to the story? Is there a good question or test you can do? IE - the character bakes a pie. When should I explain the steps of baking a pie vs just saying they baked a pie?
Consider that every detail has to serve a purpose. If you're elapsing time -- creating a sense of time passing -- you might go into to the whole process. But if you're creating authority in that passage you might include oddball details about the process. Or of you're creating the lull before a big event -- or you're cutting away from something awful -- milk the process as long as you can. For instance, a father has just been told his daughter's class has been taken hostage. There's nothing he can do but wait. He's making a pie by rote because it's his kid's favorite food. He's staying busy.
So you must know the purpose of the passage before you know how to treat it. Okay?
Ok, thanks. That’s so damn helpful. Makes me think of Thom Jones ‘Break On Through’ where his team has been wiped out, it cuts back to a drawn out scene about his childhood at the grocery store ending with milk and crackers with grandma, then back to a present lull in combat with his “C-rats” that are better than milk and crackers. So much tension.
The “creating your own thing” segment is a great topic. Would it it be ripe for a future post? It harkens back to what you’ve spoken about before, that state of flow/focus where you feel at rest because you’re focused on a project.
Also: I’m waiting on my copy of ‘Et tu, Babe’ to arrive; looking forward to it. Thanks for the recommendation.
Also-also: Did you keep the scripts for the ‘Fight Club’ comics? I ask because I’m curious to see if you purged them like your notebooks.
There's a craziness to the Leyner books that's missing from the culture now. If you can find a copy, please look for "Confessions of a Pretty Lady" by Sandra Bernhard. Very short pieces that added up quickly.
I always found porn in abandoned houses, along the highway, and along the railroad tracks. The most interesting one was an English magazine called "Sneaky Peak". That trucker had refined tastes.
Decades ago Tom Spanbauer wrote a chapter about "the sexually haunted house" a derelict house where kids stashed porn and went to have sex and leave phone numbers. It was haunting and beautiful, and he never used it in a book.
That would make an interesting observation from a father disappointed about his son. "I found porn in abandoned houses, he found porn as soon as he could spell it on his ipad"
You live a sheltered life. I've talked to city kids and country kids, and almost everyone has found the box of porn. I found mine in the desert. A student of mine found hers in a duffel bag stuck up a tree.
Asked my husband, he never found a box of porn but knew a story about someone who did. I never found a box of porn either but did steal a Playgirl magazine from a store downtown when I was in elementary school. Looking back, I have no idea what I did with it once I was done. Maybe you either provide or find the porn, not both.
Bunch of us neighborhood kids found some burned and only partially burned. Turned out it was part of my uncle’s collection that his girlfriend at the time took out by the railroad tracks and burned. Kids were making a path to them for weeks—- taking them home under their shirts. Man, that was the Summer everyone came of age. Childhood was over.
Same here. Because I grew up on the internet ( thank god), no point in magazins but, one thing for sure is everyone has some 'Big box of porno' type story when growing up.
The beauty and peacefulness of the imagery mixed with sheer terror and realizing that she's actually describing them looking up from their graves is a fantastic idea.
8 people recommended Flannery to me in a 2 week span last June. Then I was given her complete works not long after. Such an incredible story. Good Country People was great too. Havent read everything yet.
There was also one about a little boy drowning himself in the river because he thought that was how you become baptized. Absolutely wicked. I believe it was "The River" or something like that.
You're preaching to the choir. My whole world has been shaped by the strange/crazy and I am the first to proudly admit I am one of that "tribe!"
Not sure about the "work" part but I can vouch for ideas, culture, worldview, passions, flakiness and eccentricity that opened my horizons and brought me infinite joy.
As the Balinese medium, whom I would later learn (through a translator) really did seem to contact my late sister and "read" my personality, said, I'm a good person but sometimes my big mouth gets me into trouble haha
It's all just a learning journey. My life would be barely bearable without all the characters and other strange people I have known and loved.
Fun fact: Are you aware of the Indonesian tradition of politely refusing any offer of gifts so as not to impose on the giver? ;) It takes a few offers for the beneficiary to finally relent.
Looking forward to discussing the story! I have, predictably, my own take on it, but it did not set off any internal cataclysms for me.
The first thing we learn in anthropology is that there is no strange/crazy. Our culture seems just as incomprehensible to people in other countries as theirs is to us.
I also dare say the pandemic has brought out the strange/crazy in lots of people.
An eccentric pal of mine had begun social distancing (e.g. avoiding unnecessary physical contact, not letting strangers in the car) years ago. Now I see he was just ahead of his time.
What a great conversation to overhear while making dinner. First time to listen to armchair expert, Dax has a great radio voice. By the way - People, Places, Things was a fantastic read, worth re-reading so I’m glad to have heard you questioned about it. Please do more longish essays so you can do more podcasts.
I went through a Dostoevsky phase after college. He was the author I “discovered” outside of any class, so of course read everything. It helped that new English translations were being released every year or so during that time. Then Chuck introduced me to minimalism (back in the chuckpalahniuk.net days) and my literary tastes were overhauled. Now I’m terrified that if I ever revisit Dostoevsky I’ll find him long-winded and unbearable.
The chuckpalahniuk.net active forum days. Which, oddly is where someone mentioned George Saunders, I think prob Richard Thomas, which led to George Saunders being the other author (besides Chuck) whose every book or tour tickets I would purchase when I could.
Chuck, I would love for you and George Saunders to do a story swap in the substack famous authors lounge. But I’m also terrified you’d each point out some flaw I could never unsee in each other’s work
My fear is deeper than finding him wordy, I guess. it’s knowing that 1) the second time is never good as the first and 2) I’ve changed so 3) I’ll read them differently but 4) they use to mean so much to me! [insert Munch scream emoji]
Not always, but sometimes books get better with second and third readings. Heart of Darkness, for example, in my case. I think it is because the reader, like the author and perhaps the narrator know its going to end badly.
My husband loves the Dead Russians. I get distracted by my inability to read the names. He's summarized for many plots for me though. A lot of good stories.
I imagine you saying this like Wayne in Wayne's World.
I thought it was Mr Burns in the Simpsons! I only watched Wayne's World for Aerosmith! ;)
Zang
Sorry, I have come to realize I don't speak American, or young person, or anything hip or interesting. ;) But thanks (?) :)
Anyway I'm happy because I may be back in the land of the living. Who can tell? haha
Its a quote from the film. Im old. It is Cantonese and translates to excellent. (According to Waynes World)
Get up. You're worthy get up. 😄
Can’t wait to listen. Every interview has tons of great information. Also, have a question... How can you figure out whether a detail/passage is relevant to the story? Is there a good question or test you can do? IE - the character bakes a pie. When should I explain the steps of baking a pie vs just saying they baked a pie?
Consider that every detail has to serve a purpose. If you're elapsing time -- creating a sense of time passing -- you might go into to the whole process. But if you're creating authority in that passage you might include oddball details about the process. Or of you're creating the lull before a big event -- or you're cutting away from something awful -- milk the process as long as you can. For instance, a father has just been told his daughter's class has been taken hostage. There's nothing he can do but wait. He's making a pie by rote because it's his kid's favorite food. He's staying busy.
So you must know the purpose of the passage before you know how to treat it. Okay?
Very considerate. Bahdumtsss
Ok, thanks. That’s so damn helpful. Makes me think of Thom Jones ‘Break On Through’ where his team has been wiped out, it cuts back to a drawn out scene about his childhood at the grocery store ending with milk and crackers with grandma, then back to a present lull in combat with his “C-rats” that are better than milk and crackers. So much tension.
Copying and pasting to my "Advice from Chuck" file...
I have one too.
Not sure how flattering a yellow wash would be to anyone. It makes me want to write a Dear Jaune letter (Jaune being the French word for yellow).
Let's see if anyone else will jaune in the fun.
The regular colour pix look great.
Thanks for sharing it.
PS Got my Through the Safety Net in the mail today! It has arrived on Planet Canada!
Im 70ish pages in, and its amazing.
You are aware that there's a particular short story by that name? I think that's what we're discussing. 😊
I did mean the title story, but the whole collection is worth having. It's a book you go back to to study Baxter's effects.
Basically the whole collection is thrown in for free once you buy that story! ;)
Hi BTW! :)
That one must be after 70ish
Second to last, or so. The TOC could be informative here.
Page 185. :)
But I like the other stories I read in the book too.
I'm grateful to Chuck for recommending it.
Awe man, did you get your Nickelback albums signed?
Wah?!
It's because Dax looks like the lead singer of Nickelback. Google it.
You look perfectly good in the photo imho.
The “creating your own thing” segment is a great topic. Would it it be ripe for a future post? It harkens back to what you’ve spoken about before, that state of flow/focus where you feel at rest because you’re focused on a project.
Also: I’m waiting on my copy of ‘Et tu, Babe’ to arrive; looking forward to it. Thanks for the recommendation.
Also-also: Did you keep the scripts for the ‘Fight Club’ comics? I ask because I’m curious to see if you purged them like your notebooks.
I also picked up a copy of “Et tu, Babe.” Thank you for bringing up the topic yesterday.
There's a craziness to the Leyner books that's missing from the culture now. If you can find a copy, please look for "Confessions of a Pretty Lady" by Sandra Bernhard. Very short pieces that added up quickly.
I found it! Thank you, Chuck!
Big box of porno in the woods!? Seriously? I lived in the country too. I do no know this experience.
I always found porn in abandoned houses, along the highway, and along the railroad tracks. The most interesting one was an English magazine called "Sneaky Peak". That trucker had refined tastes.
WTF! lol Well I guess ya learn something new every day.
Decades ago Tom Spanbauer wrote a chapter about "the sexually haunted house" a derelict house where kids stashed porn and went to have sex and leave phone numbers. It was haunting and beautiful, and he never used it in a book.
That would make an interesting observation from a father disappointed about his son. "I found porn in abandoned houses, he found porn as soon as he could spell it on his ipad"
Man. I’d love to read that.
You live a sheltered life. I've talked to city kids and country kids, and almost everyone has found the box of porn. I found mine in the desert. A student of mine found hers in a duffel bag stuck up a tree.
I wonder how the Internet is affecting that phenomenon. Maybe people will be finding thumb drives with porn on them these days.
I'm still blushing at happening on a couple in flagrant delicti behind my friend's country house (I was a pre-teen). That was enough porn for me!
Some of us only had the Sears catalogue to be mesmerized by.
The short-lived Penney's catalog was racier.
My ‘box of porn in the woods’ story has quite a twist and I hope to someday tell it to you in person.
That would make a good theme for The Moth.
Asked my husband, he never found a box of porn but knew a story about someone who did. I never found a box of porn either but did steal a Playgirl magazine from a store downtown when I was in elementary school. Looking back, I have no idea what I did with it once I was done. Maybe you either provide or find the porn, not both.
Bunch of us neighborhood kids found some burned and only partially burned. Turned out it was part of my uncle’s collection that his girlfriend at the time took out by the railroad tracks and burned. Kids were making a path to them for weeks—- taking them home under their shirts. Man, that was the Summer everyone came of age. Childhood was over.
lololol
Same here. Because I grew up on the internet ( thank god), no point in magazins but, one thing for sure is everyone has some 'Big box of porno' type story when growing up.
Did they make a video of the interview or is just audio? Either way, I'm looking forward to it!
Far as I know, that pod is audio only, but I havent looked to see if they post on Youtube.
Just audio.
Awesome. I can’t wait to listen.
Did you fight Dax? I hear he's quick to brawl.
I love "A Good Man Is Hard to Find." I was hoping that would be discussed further. I could talk about that book for days!
THAT is one of the most shocking short stories ever written. It makes Jackson's 'The Lottery' look tame.
The beauty and peacefulness of the imagery mixed with sheer terror and realizing that she's actually describing them looking up from their graves is a fantastic idea.
The realization by the grandmother was A+.
And the whole time I'm thinking "Shut up shut up shut up!" lol Characters need action not names.
Feel free to deep dive either Good Man Is Hard to Find or the Lottery here!
I would like that very much lol.
I havent read the Lottery, and 3rd this motion
A 4th. A whole indulgent post on A Good Man is Hard to Find by Mr. Palahniuk! How fantastic that would be! ...
8 people recommended Flannery to me in a 2 week span last June. Then I was given her complete works not long after. Such an incredible story. Good Country People was great too. Havent read everything yet.
There was also one about a little boy drowning himself in the river because he thought that was how you become baptized. Absolutely wicked. I believe it was "The River" or something like that.
You wanted to be a priest? I can see it. Confessions galore!
Story after story of things even the French don't talk about.
Wow, a book on scribd.com! I had better renew my subscription. :)
Not a book! It's only an essay, but for me it's a very long essay.
Also pretty much timeless because it struck chords with certain timely phenomena and fears.
It's time to take inventory of the strange people who still had a profound effect on our lives. Crazy? Maybe, but their work made us see a new path.
You're preaching to the choir. My whole world has been shaped by the strange/crazy and I am the first to proudly admit I am one of that "tribe!"
Not sure about the "work" part but I can vouch for ideas, culture, worldview, passions, flakiness and eccentricity that opened my horizons and brought me infinite joy.
As the Balinese medium, whom I would later learn (through a translator) really did seem to contact my late sister and "read" my personality, said, I'm a good person but sometimes my big mouth gets me into trouble haha
It's all just a learning journey. My life would be barely bearable without all the characters and other strange people I have known and loved.
Fun fact: Are you aware of the Indonesian tradition of politely refusing any offer of gifts so as not to impose on the giver? ;) It takes a few offers for the beneficiary to finally relent.
Looking forward to discussing the story! I have, predictably, my own take on it, but it did not set off any internal cataclysms for me.
The first thing we learn in anthropology is that there is no strange/crazy. Our culture seems just as incomprehensible to people in other countries as theirs is to us.
I also dare say the pandemic has brought out the strange/crazy in lots of people.
An eccentric pal of mine had begun social distancing (e.g. avoiding unnecessary physical contact, not letting strangers in the car) years ago. Now I see he was just ahead of his time.
What a great conversation to overhear while making dinner. First time to listen to armchair expert, Dax has a great radio voice. By the way - People, Places, Things was a fantastic read, worth re-reading so I’m glad to have heard you questioned about it. Please do more longish essays so you can do more podcasts.
I went through a Dostoevsky phase after college. He was the author I “discovered” outside of any class, so of course read everything. It helped that new English translations were being released every year or so during that time. Then Chuck introduced me to minimalism (back in the chuckpalahniuk.net days) and my literary tastes were overhauled. Now I’m terrified that if I ever revisit Dostoevsky I’ll find him long-winded and unbearable.
The chuckpalahniuk.net active forum days. Which, oddly is where someone mentioned George Saunders, I think prob Richard Thomas, which led to George Saunders being the other author (besides Chuck) whose every book or tour tickets I would purchase when I could.
Chuck, I would love for you and George Saunders to do a story swap in the substack famous authors lounge. But I’m also terrified you’d each point out some flaw I could never unsee in each other’s work
Wil, where do I begin with Saunders?
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1998/12/28/sea-oak
Loved it; thank you.
I go back to Notes from Underground pretty regularly.. I wouldn't consider him too long winded - it's part of his internal terror.
I like “part of his internal terror”
One of many. Legion, even.
My fear is deeper than finding him wordy, I guess. it’s knowing that 1) the second time is never good as the first and 2) I’ve changed so 3) I’ll read them differently but 4) they use to mean so much to me! [insert Munch scream emoji]
Not always, but sometimes books get better with second and third readings. Heart of Darkness, for example, in my case. I think it is because the reader, like the author and perhaps the narrator know its going to end badly.
My husband loves the Dead Russians. I get distracted by my inability to read the names. He's summarized for many plots for me though. A lot of good stories.
My friend Dimitar, that is, Dmitri, that is Mitko, says usually the English translations come with name charts!
Hey Chuck, would you still recommend Knockemstiff for people to read?
I read the first one or two stories and loved the brutality.
Very much so. It's my favorite book by Pollock.