Long, long ago, as a kid, Poe was my fav. Then Bradbury. Then Stephen King. Some of Cormac I love, some not so much. You? Oh, and I somehow came to love reading Erma Bombeck and Fran Lebowitz in the 70s. Now I want absurd comedy that evolves into tragedy and a new source of happiness. And if I can't find those books I try to write them.
Cormac's The Road was stunning. What are your thoughts on "A Child of God?" I thought it was too nihilistic and I failed to see the point of that one in particular. I loved Michael Crichton (especially Travels), Stephen King, Poe (he literally died in a gutter), Capote. Stephen King always seems to be the guy who gets everyone's reading ball rolling.
"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars."
Yes it is. https://candice372.substack.com/p/uber-for-urns Please read it if you get a chance. I've never written fiction before and would love any feedback. It's an echo chamber for the most part over here. I only started writing stuff once I joined this writing group. After reading Mr. P's free tips I had such an epiphany I gladly paid for subscription to learn more. It's been insanely helpful during job interviews of all things. Get point, being clear, be.sincere, don't bore your audience, write about things that are clearly shared experiences.
I started out with the quote because I wanted to go from 0 to 100. I wanted to carefully set the tone so the reader would fully understand the business proposal. It really is the only place in the chaotic essay/thing where something is quietly laid out...I think.
And be brief. "I can name that tune in three notes..." Respect your reader's time. And that's why I worship short stories that have more power than many full novels.
*Whistling and minding my own business* Another reason I joined was for the possible viewing of a short story your described on Joe Rogan. The story was rather deflating with a tinge of romantic fatalism. Kind, nice, Christian women kicked you out of the group because of it. I've always wanted to see the notes on that Mr. P.
Hah! That story became the scene in 'Snuff' where a teenage boy is trying to complete sex with a slowly deflating blow-up doll. Getting asked to leave a writing group is a rite of passage. Amazing what you can live through.
There was a moment during your first Joe Rogan interview when Joe talked about the feeling of accomplishment of seeing your book in print and holding a physical copy for the first time. And I think you went beyond that and mentioned an even greater glory of having something you've written be echoed in the culture. Like the line "The first rule of fight club is..."
That moment deflated me. There's no hope for me to ever create a line that will be echoed like that. The best I have to hope for is the physical book haha
Well, reinflate yourself. You never know when an odd miss-phrasing will catch on. And nothing ever will if you're not producing. Of the 20-odd students I've seen for the past thirty weeks, one just created a super-sticky catch phrase. It feels great to see this guy break out of his bad-trad writing and blossom.
Easy question. I'd go with Amy's work, because she can be funny and make the jump to poignant. Her use of animals is always spot-on. And she creates sentences like tiny poems that stay in your head. "What dogs want is for no one to ever leave."
Sassy agrees. I’m not to leave— or she just goes with me. She goes. The “stay home” look is worse than having one lick of an ice cream cone and it falling to the ground.
Hey another impromptu "Praise Chuck": I love how, in Damned, Maddy says "I can recognize an erection" when she sees Archer's erection (because he sucked the giant clitoris of Psezpolnica) and in Doomed (the next book, but which takes place before Damned) Maddy tells she mistook her grandfather's erect penis for poop in the toilet's glory hole.
It's hard to sum up a Chuck book without sounding hilarious, and I usually don't like to do it, but this is amazing! This is like Chuck went in the past to put something in his book! He put something in the first book that you can only understand when you read the second book.
Later, Buzzfeed wanted me to promote a 'Fight Club' virtual reality headset. Wearing it, you'd do battle with an alter ego "Tyler" and look insane to anyone around who watched you fighting thin air. I declined. Demurely.
Long, long ago, as a kid, Poe was my fav. Then Bradbury. Then Stephen King. Some of Cormac I love, some not so much. You? Oh, and I somehow came to love reading Erma Bombeck and Fran Lebowitz in the 70s. Now I want absurd comedy that evolves into tragedy and a new source of happiness. And if I can't find those books I try to write them.
Have you ever read any of Haruki Murakami’s work? There’s quite the mix of absurdity, humour and loss in quite a few his books.
I always found that I need non-fiction with my absurdity. Example: The Anna Stubblefield case haunts me. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/05/magazine/the-strange-case-of-anna-stubblefield-revisited.html
Cormac's The Road was stunning. What are your thoughts on "A Child of God?" I thought it was too nihilistic and I failed to see the point of that one in particular. I loved Michael Crichton (especially Travels), Stephen King, Poe (he literally died in a gutter), Capote. Stephen King always seems to be the guy who gets everyone's reading ball rolling.
"The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars."
Yes it is. https://candice372.substack.com/p/uber-for-urns Please read it if you get a chance. I've never written fiction before and would love any feedback. It's an echo chamber for the most part over here. I only started writing stuff once I joined this writing group. After reading Mr. P's free tips I had such an epiphany I gladly paid for subscription to learn more. It's been insanely helpful during job interviews of all things. Get point, being clear, be.sincere, don't bore your audience, write about things that are clearly shared experiences.
I started out with the quote because I wanted to go from 0 to 100. I wanted to carefully set the tone so the reader would fully understand the business proposal. It really is the only place in the chaotic essay/thing where something is quietly laid out...I think.
Agreed.
And be brief. "I can name that tune in three notes..." Respect your reader's time. And that's why I worship short stories that have more power than many full novels.
*Whistling and minding my own business* Another reason I joined was for the possible viewing of a short story your described on Joe Rogan. The story was rather deflating with a tinge of romantic fatalism. Kind, nice, Christian women kicked you out of the group because of it. I've always wanted to see the notes on that Mr. P.
Hah! That story became the scene in 'Snuff' where a teenage boy is trying to complete sex with a slowly deflating blow-up doll. Getting asked to leave a writing group is a rite of passage. Amazing what you can live through.
There was a moment during your first Joe Rogan interview when Joe talked about the feeling of accomplishment of seeing your book in print and holding a physical copy for the first time. And I think you went beyond that and mentioned an even greater glory of having something you've written be echoed in the culture. Like the line "The first rule of fight club is..."
That moment deflated me. There's no hope for me to ever create a line that will be echoed like that. The best I have to hope for is the physical book haha
Well, reinflate yourself. You never know when an odd miss-phrasing will catch on. And nothing ever will if you're not producing. Of the 20-odd students I've seen for the past thirty weeks, one just created a super-sticky catch phrase. It feels great to see this guy break out of his bad-trad writing and blossom.
What's the super sticky catch phrase, Sir? I wanna be one of the cool kids with the inside joke...
Sorry, I can't steal his thunder. I'll let James finish his book and bring it all to market.
I had to try Sir. :p Thank you.
How could you tell I wasn't producing? Instead of writing, I spend my time asking questions on your Substack haha
Hey Chuck, if you were stuck on a deserted island and had to choose between the works of Ira Levin or Amy Hempel, who would you go with? (No pressure)
P.S. is the writing workshop/submission still going ahead on LitReactor at some point in the future?
Easy question. I'd go with Amy's work, because she can be funny and make the jump to poignant. Her use of animals is always spot-on. And she creates sentences like tiny poems that stay in your head. "What dogs want is for no one to ever leave."
The majority of Amy Hempel’s work does seem to serve as poignant ode to man’s best friend.
She sounds lovely. I will look her up. Thank you. Snickers and I will read together.
Be careful. If you read "A Full-Service Shelter" you will cry until you die from massive fluid loss. Have some Gatorade on hand.
Ooooh my. If Mr. Palahniuk has a preamble warning...
Sassy agrees. I’m not to leave— or she just goes with me. She goes. The “stay home” look is worse than having one lick of an ice cream cone and it falling to the ground.
Hey another impromptu "Praise Chuck": I love how, in Damned, Maddy says "I can recognize an erection" when she sees Archer's erection (because he sucked the giant clitoris of Psezpolnica) and in Doomed (the next book, but which takes place before Damned) Maddy tells she mistook her grandfather's erect penis for poop in the toilet's glory hole.
Context is everything. Especially where erections are concerned.
Of course, but this is like you went in the past to put something in your book! It's like you wrote both books before you published the first one.
I have no idea what you're talking about but I love it and it's hilarious.
It's hard to sum up a Chuck book without sounding hilarious, and I usually don't like to do it, but this is amazing! This is like Chuck went in the past to put something in his book! He put something in the first book that you can only understand when you read the second book.
Omg the Fight Club for Kids book
Later, Buzzfeed wanted me to promote a 'Fight Club' virtual reality headset. Wearing it, you'd do battle with an alter ego "Tyler" and look insane to anyone around who watched you fighting thin air. I declined. Demurely.
*Shakes head* I'd pay to put on a V.R. headset and battle it out insanely with Durden!! Fantastic! I'd take my mom's ashtray and go nuts! lolol
I wanna get a collection of short stories. Which one do you think I should get first?
1. Make Something Up
2. The Collected Stories of Amy Hempel
3. Jesus' Son: Stories
4. Miles from Nowhere
I just read the Amy Hempel collection. Yes. Absolutely, yes—- you need it.
You want easiest, first? Get the Nami Mun. Then Denis. Then Amy. For the most bang, get the Amy. My book has been widely banned. Oh, the shame.
The best. OMG.
I have to have a copy of this…
You're talking about MY movie, MY author!
Whatever, that's how I felt.