Chuck, I'm near tears and my heart is warmed! I refrained from posting a comment, thinking it'd be redundant to say, "looking forward to this," when I just subscribed - and you greet me by name anyway. Glad you're doing this. I look forward to reading whatever you're working on and having some fun while gaining your latest craft insights.
Ha! That's not me. Oh wow, lol. Heart feeling less warmed, but incredibly amused. You made me a necklace with magic rocks to help me achieve my goals once, back when you were accepting fan mail, and the next time your fan mail window opened, I got my wife to write you and she told you she thought the necklace looked silly, so you sent her a brooch instead; we told you we were about to go to Peace Corps Bulgaria and you told us to ask about your friend, and we did, but he had already left the country and owed some money(?), and we had to explain we didn't really know the guy, but were only asking because a famous author (who we also didn't really know!) asked us to say hi.
Though, the real reason I thought you might remember me is I wrote the short story, Zombie Whorehouse, which got passed up to you when your craft essays on the old forums at chuckpalahniuk.net were your helpful critiques. That story made it into the Burnt Tongues collection - though, I chose to use a pen name when it was published, since at the time, I was working in residence life at a large public university and an unfortunate part of my job involved assisting victims of sexual assault.
So, while we've never actually met, you have typed my name a couple times before :)
You should reach out to that other Wil Dalton, though. Sounds like a cool guy.
I remember that story. It was in Richard Thomas and Chuck's anthology, right? I pounded that down from start to finish in one sittin'. Such outlandish content I couldn't stop. Well done, Wil!
Ha! Indeed, I get quite a few unexpected packages from various companies but that box didn't look like any of those. It came at the perfect time as well 🥳
Hey, Chuck! I'm thrilled to be a 😉 and 🤝 member of your secret substack society. Thank you for doing this. Very awesome! Question: What is Study Hall in the top-tier membership?
It's my vision of a clean, well-lighted place (and quiet) where writers can come and work in shared silence. The place and company validates the task, and we get a lot of the rough first-draft stuff done. And it's free to attend. And you don't have the at-home distractions to pull you away. And you can't go down a NSFW rabbit hole. I'll post more soon. Take your time.
HI Chuck! This blog is the best antidote to the pandemic so far! "If you try sometimes, you get what you need." :) It's me Karen from Mtl/Canada. 14 years married (with your blessing) and still within 5 lbs or so of my wedding weight (demise of travel and buffets helped with that). Excited for this adventure you're leading us on. Infinite thanks for everything!! Hugs.
I was sent looking for tartan paint on my first day as an office boy in a ship building factory, aged 17. Of course, I knew of the scam so just used it as an excuse to avoid work. Which I was very good at.
20 years ago you sent me a small framed promo picture that said "Yo Ian! Fuck u" with a CP in a hand drawn heart over your bicep LOL that box of goodies was the most incredible thing and it got me heavy into writing at the time. Glad you are well and keep it up! Enjoyed seeing several of your tours in NYC around that time at that massive B&N as well
Thank you Wil Dalton. Long time no see.
Chuck, I'm near tears and my heart is warmed! I refrained from posting a comment, thinking it'd be redundant to say, "looking forward to this," when I just subscribed - and you greet me by name anyway. Glad you're doing this. I look forward to reading whatever you're working on and having some fun while gaining your latest craft insights.
Hell, dude! You're in 'Diary' and the last time I saw you was at the restaurant on Sunset in L.A.. Of course I remember!
Ha! That's not me. Oh wow, lol. Heart feeling less warmed, but incredibly amused. You made me a necklace with magic rocks to help me achieve my goals once, back when you were accepting fan mail, and the next time your fan mail window opened, I got my wife to write you and she told you she thought the necklace looked silly, so you sent her a brooch instead; we told you we were about to go to Peace Corps Bulgaria and you told us to ask about your friend, and we did, but he had already left the country and owed some money(?), and we had to explain we didn't really know the guy, but were only asking because a famous author (who we also didn't really know!) asked us to say hi.
Though, the real reason I thought you might remember me is I wrote the short story, Zombie Whorehouse, which got passed up to you when your craft essays on the old forums at chuckpalahniuk.net were your helpful critiques. That story made it into the Burnt Tongues collection - though, I chose to use a pen name when it was published, since at the time, I was working in residence life at a large public university and an unfortunate part of my job involved assisting victims of sexual assault.
So, while we've never actually met, you have typed my name a couple times before :)
You should reach out to that other Wil Dalton, though. Sounds like a cool guy.
I do remember Zombie Whorehouse. My bad.
"Men, are you protecting your ladies from all the aftershocks of the zombie threat?" had me laughin'
Thanks Blake!
I remember that story. It was in Richard Thomas and Chuck's anthology, right? I pounded that down from start to finish in one sittin'. Such outlandish content I couldn't stop. Well done, Wil!
I remember you too, Wil!
Hi Dan!
Here we go again. ❤️❤️
(heart) back.
Are you on Buspirone still? Thank you for sharing with us like this.
Buspirone was a bust. And who can remember to take three pills a day?
I had my doubts about it's efficacy. People who don't think time is a construct.
No weird side effects, though. No effects whatsoever.
I think Psychopathy is a side effect of being a psychiatrist.
That has to be the best reason to stop taking something.
This is fun 🤩 Thanks for birthday box last summer Chuck! You are the best 🤘🏻
I hope the box showed up as an initially scary thing, then got wonderful. The shift from menacing to confusing to good is just good plotting.
Ha! Indeed, I get quite a few unexpected packages from various companies but that box didn't look like any of those. It came at the perfect time as well 🥳
Funny how that happens. Many folks say, "I was having the worst day ever..."
I really look forward to more of these. Thank you, Mr. Palahnjuk
That's Mr. Paalajdheitygndifksiuk to you.
The "g" is silent and the "z" is invisible?
Thanks for this, Chuck! Looking forward to more!
Some of my first days have involved being locked in a safe, locked in a freezer and almost killing a stranger. Looking forward to more posts!
I'm so excited to see where this substack adventure goes. Thanks for doing this, Chuck.
Zac!
This is great, Chuck! Love the baby ‘stache photo!
Trina! Don't tell Ina, but I write tons about her on this-ah here Substack machine. Mums the word...
Ina has also told me a few great tales from the old days! 🤐🤫
You just gave me a new thing to look forward to twice a week. Freakn' beautiful.
Hey, Chuck! I'm thrilled to be a 😉 and 🤝 member of your secret substack society. Thank you for doing this. Very awesome! Question: What is Study Hall in the top-tier membership?
I'm wondering about Study Hall myself while debating that level of membership.
More soon.
It's my vision of a clean, well-lighted place (and quiet) where writers can come and work in shared silence. The place and company validates the task, and we get a lot of the rough first-draft stuff done. And it's free to attend. And you don't have the at-home distractions to pull you away. And you can't go down a NSFW rabbit hole. I'll post more soon. Take your time.
Sounds like heaven. I do love a good rabbit hole, though. Lol
HI Chuck! This blog is the best antidote to the pandemic so far! "If you try sometimes, you get what you need." :) It's me Karen from Mtl/Canada. 14 years married (with your blessing) and still within 5 lbs or so of my wedding weight (demise of travel and buffets helped with that). Excited for this adventure you're leading us on. Infinite thanks for everything!! Hugs.
Hugs!
I do remember those days at the Plant.
So excited to be a part of this new adventure. Here for the inspiration and chaos!
I was sent looking for tartan paint on my first day as an office boy in a ship building factory, aged 17. Of course, I knew of the scam so just used it as an excuse to avoid work. Which I was very good at.
20 years ago you sent me a small framed promo picture that said "Yo Ian! Fuck u" with a CP in a hand drawn heart over your bicep LOL that box of goodies was the most incredible thing and it got me heavy into writing at the time. Glad you are well and keep it up! Enjoyed seeing several of your tours in NYC around that time at that massive B&N as well
Chuck is a major class act!
When I die that will be worth SO MUCH MONEY. Now you're betting against me.