I’m somewhat concerned that one day they’ll be a post on hypnotism on this SubStack that’ll plant a suggestion into the heads of all that view/read it, turning them into sleeper agents.
People read the word “Poodle” in a subsequent post and suddenly go into a trance and start assembling sniper rifles before marching towards Washington.
Mr. Palahniuk is going to open an acting school soon & I can't wait! So great! I want to play as many Harmony Korine characters as I can...all at once.
I try as often as possible to have the characters give objects emotions and flavors. The “Angry chair,” where the abusive father used to sit. That same abusive fathers burbon flavored presence. Etc.
I'm definitely identifying with Edward Hibbert in regards to my writing, I'm definitely a different person when writing as opposed to conversing as I am no where near as articulate verbally. Perhaps it's due to my lack of concern over being mistaken or misunderstood as a writer, whereas those concerns are definitely prevalent speaking to someone.
That was a devastating line from the Flannery O'Connor biopic. Here I'm paraphrasing, but it was something like, "I'm only myself when I'm making things up."
Consider that you're never making stuff up. You're digging it up.
Writing is kinda of archeology. Digging up memories. I heard the actor Nicholas Cage remembers stuff when he was still in his mothers womb. That guy is fascinating to me.
Thanks, Chuck! These tips are among the many reasons I love your Substack and this group. Thinking about the human connection and how what we do can and does affect the psyche gives me a deeper sense of meaning and purpose to the work. Did the used car dealers tell you what their strategy was for walk away customers? I will walk away even if I’ve driven four hours to look at a car. I’m that asshole. I never say yes on the first test drive.
I used to work in auto recycling and junk car auctions and used sales. The best salesman I ever met would practice that tactic on me all the time, just to stay sharp.
“Hey want to see something?” He’d say.
I was hip to what he was doing but he’d still get me. No matter how I protested he’d slip in a question to hook me.
Me, a guy in the sales office, got sucked into his practice sales demos all the time. The normies never stood a chance.
But I love this application to story telling. I’m excited to apply it.
When I started Rant, I was in sales. But I was selling truckloads of cars to car dealers, so there were not moral qualms. Naturally, I connected with the narrator teaching us about pacing. Its more often called mirroring, and something Ive always done a lot, long before I was talking shit to car dealers over the phone.
Is this why we start close to the end? We create an expectation for the reader, one that they want to fulfill, no matter how ridiculous the events are that get them there.
I like that acting is the topic this month. It feels like a synchronicity for me. I have been on a big Scorsese kick lately and his discussions on building character in a story. He mentioned character is so important, he places it above plot in interviews. I have been thinking of going to a local acting class that focuses on building character as some personal writing homework to see how actors view character building in a story. I will probably be the only writer there with the goal of writing better characters rather than of having acting aspirations. Are actors cool with writers going into those kinds of classes?
In the past I was looking into the history of magicians and the hypnotism reminds me of the mentalists. Mentalists were able to ask certain types of questions to get a specific answer from the guest. I have always been curious how they do it. All that stuff is really cool! Is there a lot of cross over between hypnotism and mentalists?
Going to give this a spin tomorrow to try and bridge a fantastical element I’ve been working at. The specific example you give with Rant and the money gave me that “ah ha” moment.
Does the structure of a post like this come naturally to you? Do you end up writing things separately, shuffling them around later? I’m just in awe of this post and how good it is.
So much of acting seems to be like writing. It's all storytelling. And in acting the teacher is always looking for a way "into" the character. That's the way I tackle an essay or a story: I'm looking for a simple avenue into the subject, beyond that I'm looking for smaller anecdotes or plot points that build on/escalate the idea. Beyond that I'm reorganizing for best effect. Adding only to improve the pace. Allowing the subject to reach its own conclusion.
I’m somewhat concerned that one day they’ll be a post on hypnotism on this SubStack that’ll plant a suggestion into the heads of all that view/read it, turning them into sleeper agents.
People read the word “Poodle” in a subsequent post and suddenly go into a trance and start assembling sniper rifles before marching towards Washington.
Already happened. lol
Mr. Palahniuk is going to open an acting school soon & I can't wait! So great! I want to play as many Harmony Korine characters as I can...all at once.
Oh man the spaghetti bathtub scene
With bacon taped to the wall! Fabulous! lolol I cant watch it all because it's actually too triggering. Living it the South was a lot lol
I don’t recall the bacon it’s been years since I’ve watched Gummo. I own it on DVD.
I try as often as possible to have the characters give objects emotions and flavors. The “Angry chair,” where the abusive father used to sit. That same abusive fathers burbon flavored presence. Etc.
"Abusive fathers burbon flavored presence." I love that!
"See how easy?" Yes.
This is a great post. I plan to try this with the everyday interactions (as well as in writing).
Fantastic post. Thanks, Chuck.
The fight club guy but can also perform hypnosis! Is there anything you can't do dear Chuck?
I'm definitely identifying with Edward Hibbert in regards to my writing, I'm definitely a different person when writing as opposed to conversing as I am no where near as articulate verbally. Perhaps it's due to my lack of concern over being mistaken or misunderstood as a writer, whereas those concerns are definitely prevalent speaking to someone.
That was a devastating line from the Flannery O'Connor biopic. Here I'm paraphrasing, but it was something like, "I'm only myself when I'm making things up."
Consider that you're never making stuff up. You're digging it up.
Writing is kinda of archeology. Digging up memories. I heard the actor Nicholas Cage remembers stuff when he was still in his mothers womb. That guy is fascinating to me.
I think that will have to be a new mantra for me. That simple phrase goes deep
Thanks, Chuck! These tips are among the many reasons I love your Substack and this group. Thinking about the human connection and how what we do can and does affect the psyche gives me a deeper sense of meaning and purpose to the work. Did the used car dealers tell you what their strategy was for walk away customers? I will walk away even if I’ve driven four hours to look at a car. I’m that asshole. I never say yes on the first test drive.
I used to work in auto recycling and junk car auctions and used sales. The best salesman I ever met would practice that tactic on me all the time, just to stay sharp.
“Hey want to see something?” He’d say.
I was hip to what he was doing but he’d still get me. No matter how I protested he’d slip in a question to hook me.
Me, a guy in the sales office, got sucked into his practice sales demos all the time. The normies never stood a chance.
But I love this application to story telling. I’m excited to apply it.
The open-ended question is a killer:
"What's your idea of a good time?"
The first open-ended hook to the start of a story I can think of is: “what’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you…”
I need to think of more open-ended adjectives to peak interest.
Scariest, weirdest, most surprising (surprisingest?)…
Best use of the word"Yes". Although very ineffective in this case.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i6bmWbmkRnA
When I started Rant, I was in sales. But I was selling truckloads of cars to car dealers, so there were not moral qualms. Naturally, I connected with the narrator teaching us about pacing. Its more often called mirroring, and something Ive always done a lot, long before I was talking shit to car dealers over the phone.
Is this why we start close to the end? We create an expectation for the reader, one that they want to fulfill, no matter how ridiculous the events are that get them there.
I like that acting is the topic this month. It feels like a synchronicity for me. I have been on a big Scorsese kick lately and his discussions on building character in a story. He mentioned character is so important, he places it above plot in interviews. I have been thinking of going to a local acting class that focuses on building character as some personal writing homework to see how actors view character building in a story. I will probably be the only writer there with the goal of writing better characters rather than of having acting aspirations. Are actors cool with writers going into those kinds of classes?
In the past I was looking into the history of magicians and the hypnotism reminds me of the mentalists. Mentalists were able to ask certain types of questions to get a specific answer from the guest. I have always been curious how they do it. All that stuff is really cool! Is there a lot of cross over between hypnotism and mentalists?
Going to give this a spin tomorrow to try and bridge a fantastical element I’ve been working at. The specific example you give with Rant and the money gave me that “ah ha” moment.
Does the structure of a post like this come naturally to you? Do you end up writing things separately, shuffling them around later? I’m just in awe of this post and how good it is.
So much of acting seems to be like writing. It's all storytelling. And in acting the teacher is always looking for a way "into" the character. That's the way I tackle an essay or a story: I'm looking for a simple avenue into the subject, beyond that I'm looking for smaller anecdotes or plot points that build on/escalate the idea. Beyond that I'm reorganizing for best effect. Adding only to improve the pace. Allowing the subject to reach its own conclusion.
Goodbye Chuck. You are funny :).