I’ve learned tons by examining sentence structure, cadence, voice, and rhythm—the push and pull of tension. I learned how to utilize horses better as well.
In addition to the books Chuck suggested, I would also recommend Tom Spanbauer’s Faraway Places and Monica Drake’s Clown Girl. Those two books have taught me so much, and both improved my writing, I believe tenfold! Just in the first reading of them.
And of course Chuck’s book Consider this! Which is the foundation of everything he does with the house calls.
If you don’t have the liquid assets for these books right now I will be happy to amazon them to you. DM me, and we can chat specifics.
As Chuck once told me—it’s now written on a note card taped to my laptop, “Do your best.”
The best thing I have found is reading and writing a little every day. That’s how we gain traction—how I have at least. It’s rarely these huge, “Ah-Ha!” moments in my experience that push us forward. There’s nothing someone will say that will replace putting in the work. Sitting down and writing.
So I’ll repeat Chuck's advice to me, to you, Logan, DO YOUR BEST.
Came here to say the thing. Consider This has made such a difference in my writing. I keep it beside me and refer to it so often the pages are worn out. It's filled with practical advice that can be applied directly. I have learned more from that one book than a bookshelf filled with other writing advice books. Love it. Can't recommend it enough.
Are you trolling? You know both those boys polished work on chuck’s old site when it was a writer’s workshop and both got stories in the anthology, Burnt Tongues, that arose out of Chuck’s lessons
Hey, Chuck! I'm a big fan AND a PAID subscriber, so send me all your books, please. Take the time to package them up, take the time to drive them to the post office, take out YOUR bucks to pay shipping, and, meanwhile, I've got 28 questions I'd like you to answer... Some of you yahoos (not the wonderful people who post comments, but those who privately bother The Man) see where I'm going with this? Not that he needs a policeman, but please leave Chuck the time to write new books. Look for answers yourself before asking. And don't ask for *things* -that's beyond rude.
Btw, I AM a huge fan & have all your (signed 1st edition) books. Love them all, and thanks for all you do. Thanks, too, for the book recommendations. Except for the Wolff's (which I have & agree with you), I am hunting down the rest now...
i’m kind of impressed you read hundreds of emails a day. As for books, I just reread Jesus’Son and Slaves of New York and gave them to my son to read, all because of your posts. Do you have any thoughts on Tana French? I’m just curious where you would rank her writing.
Uhh that’s a very bold request. So sorry you have to deal with those kinds of messages. It’s not kind or respectful at all for folks to be doing that :(
I so greatly appreciate your book recommendations - it leads to fun book thrifting. I recently got a copy of Consider This for study after my house call. It’s also so helpful that you post accessible/free links to short stories.
Anyhow, I’m adding The Ice at the Bottom of the World to my thrifting list!!
I saw Nami Mun’s byline on atlantic article about cancer the other day, and down at the end, the mini bio at the bottom, it announced a new book coming next year
If I sent a sincere message to a literary hero of mine, got a reply, then discovered it had been handled by an AI and he never even looked at it, I’d be pretty disheartened. That’s all I have to add.
Can we implode substack and go back to your website?
Why do these people think you’d pay for their plane ticket? What other weird requests did you receive since having Substack?
How will the books you recommended improve our work? What should we look for while reading?
Just read and reread to study the clarity, the plotting, the fresh ways the authors vary the language. Or don't.
i feel like rewatching my fav comedians and reading norm macdonalds biography a gazillion times is making gains happen
I’ve learned tons by examining sentence structure, cadence, voice, and rhythm—the push and pull of tension. I learned how to utilize horses better as well.
In addition to the books Chuck suggested, I would also recommend Tom Spanbauer’s Faraway Places and Monica Drake’s Clown Girl. Those two books have taught me so much, and both improved my writing, I believe tenfold! Just in the first reading of them.
And of course Chuck’s book Consider this! Which is the foundation of everything he does with the house calls.
If you don’t have the liquid assets for these books right now I will be happy to amazon them to you. DM me, and we can chat specifics.
I have consider this and it makes a lot of sense while following along with house calls.
As Chuck once told me—it’s now written on a note card taped to my laptop, “Do your best.”
The best thing I have found is reading and writing a little every day. That’s how we gain traction—how I have at least. It’s rarely these huge, “Ah-Ha!” moments in my experience that push us forward. There’s nothing someone will say that will replace putting in the work. Sitting down and writing.
So I’ll repeat Chuck's advice to me, to you, Logan, DO YOUR BEST.
Will do. I’ve got a piece I’ve been tinkering with that needs work, but I think it could lead to a novel
if a substack that is linked to chuck has the typed out sound effects - consider this! reader detected
yeah consider this is dope. if i ever come across a dead horse i now know what to do with its head AND belly
Came here to say the thing. Consider This has made such a difference in my writing. I keep it beside me and refer to it so often the pages are worn out. It's filled with practical advice that can be applied directly. I have learned more from that one book than a bookshelf filled with other writing advice books. Love it. Can't recommend it enough.
Might I also recommend Tyler Jones’s Midas and Burn The Plans? Gus Moreno’s This Thing Between Us is also gold.
Are you trolling? You know both those boys polished work on chuck’s old site when it was a writer’s workshop and both got stories in the anthology, Burnt Tongues, that arose out of Chuck’s lessons
?
I agree! — Tyler Jones and Gus Moreno - they’re awesome. They deserve the accolades! I was just curious if you knew they got their start learning Chuck’s lessons: https://bookshop.org/p/books/burnt-tongues-anthology-chuck-palahniuk/996395fb88e6e3aa
Sure. Tyler said as much when I met him.
And of course Tyler was one of Tom Spanbauer’s later students along with Elle Nash
Hope these people take your advice. I for one have Richard's "On the Rope" branded into my frontal lobe now thanks to you.
A great story. Picture the tree filled with the jeweled eyes of snakes... horror!
Back in the day stalkers tried to stay under the radar… nowadays they expect you to pay their legal fees.
On a random note.. anyone here enjoying Widow’s Bay?
Both are in my Amazon cart for when I have some spare money.
Miles from nowhere can be purchased on eBay with free shipping for 4-5$.
❤️
Hey, Chuck! I'm a big fan AND a PAID subscriber, so send me all your books, please. Take the time to package them up, take the time to drive them to the post office, take out YOUR bucks to pay shipping, and, meanwhile, I've got 28 questions I'd like you to answer... Some of you yahoos (not the wonderful people who post comments, but those who privately bother The Man) see where I'm going with this? Not that he needs a policeman, but please leave Chuck the time to write new books. Look for answers yourself before asking. And don't ask for *things* -that's beyond rude.
Btw, I AM a huge fan & have all your (signed 1st edition) books. Love them all, and thanks for all you do. Thanks, too, for the book recommendations. Except for the Wolff's (which I have & agree with you), I am hunting down the rest now...
i’m kind of impressed you read hundreds of emails a day. As for books, I just reread Jesus’Son and Slaves of New York and gave them to my son to read, all because of your posts. Do you have any thoughts on Tana French? I’m just curious where you would rank her writing.
I'm wondering what will happen when the AI scammer bots start trying to scam the AI scammer bots. The snake eating it's own tail.
Now I want to respond to the one sitting in my inbox by cc'ing another one from my archive "let me introduce you to..."
Uhh that’s a very bold request. So sorry you have to deal with those kinds of messages. It’s not kind or respectful at all for folks to be doing that :(
I so greatly appreciate your book recommendations - it leads to fun book thrifting. I recently got a copy of Consider This for study after my house call. It’s also so helpful that you post accessible/free links to short stories.
Anyhow, I’m adding The Ice at the Bottom of the World to my thrifting list!!
i feel like those requests are a good laugh tho. people with no self awareness are always super funny.
I saw Nami Mun’s byline on atlantic article about cancer the other day, and down at the end, the mini bio at the bottom, it announced a new book coming next year
The Ice at the Bottom of the World changed my trajectory.
What are your thoughts on brother Geoffrey Wolff or with regard to short stories George Saunders?
If I sent a sincere message to a literary hero of mine, got a reply, then discovered it had been handled by an AI and he never even looked at it, I’d be pretty disheartened. That’s all I have to add.