Hi Chuck. When you were first starting out — when you first wrote Fight Club (while still working full time), did you have plot holes to go back and fix in the story after your first draft was complete? For example, major character decisions that affected earlier writing. What process or advice can you offer on fixing a complex plot that has changed as you wrote it?
I have so many questions I’m going to be asking you over the coming months. Last year during COVID I locked myself in my house and was extremely depressed. I came across Fight Club and it changed everything for me. It made me realize that there was a different way I could write and that I actually could be a writer. Currently I write robotics equipment contracts for a living.
Not long after that I read Consider This. Now I’ve been hammering away at your recommended reading list. At this point I’ve read Denis Johnson, Nami Mun, Amy Hempel, Thom Jones, Douglas Copeland, and Lewis Hyde. I feel so far behind as my entire life (I’m 35) I’ve been reading mainstream grocery store authors (not that those aren’t talented folks in their own right). During all of this I’ve finished a 55k word manuscript of my first novel. It’s taken roughly a year to write and now I’m going through the first edits to fix plot holes, among many other things.
Anyway, just a heads up that you’re going to see me comment here a lot as I have a ton of questions (even though I have been listening to your interviews on writing incessantly). You have no idea how many times during my writing I’ve wished you were sitting here at my disposal so that I could run an idea by you or understand why I’m stuck or why something isn’t working. I’m determined to put in the work to make the story the best it can be. I want it to be good enough to get published. I really look forward to interacting with you and others on here and am so happy this exists now.
I believe in Chuck's Past-Hotness-to-Future-Batshit Ratio. My mother-in-law was a backcombed and winged eyeliner beauty. Now she sends me YouTube links about COVID-19 and reptilian politicians.
Hi Chuck! Thank you for the offer of an inscribed copy of “Beautiful You!” I’m beyond grateful! How do I give you my address? I truly did love it. The cave—- so much meaning there. I make jam— I’d totally send you some!
Hey Chuck, thanks for the always fascinating insights!
Would you consider more comic book work and how is it working with other people to get that vision onto the page compared with what I assume is the relative solitude of your regular writing?
Do you plan on releasing more custom bookmarks with the Pixie Project? I thought I saw something about more coming out in September, but I might’ve been dreaming.
I used to work out with some of the IM models at Gold's Gym in Venice, CA. Mostly shy sweet guys who trained themselves or others all day and ended up looking like human erections. Ironic given the side effects of steroid use. Dennis Hopper worked out there too at that time with his much much younger wife. Oh, Bruce Jenner too, back when he was Bruce.
I've been running a Dungeons and Dragons game for about six years with the same crew of people. It's a bit like serial storytelling in that I'm trying to weave a central narrative through all sorts of bizarre antics my players throw at me. I am definitely feeling the "Maybe this has gone on too long" vibe as I try to wrap up dangling threads and derelict plot points, but I'm doing my best. I'm looking forward to the serial!
Hi Chuck, you've always advocated for what you call transgressive or dangerous writing. I'm wondering if your definition of dangerous writing has evolved in recent years? The social mores of 2021 are definitely not the same as those of 2001. Adjustment Day stood out to me for this reason; thematically it's probably the most dangerous thing I've read in a long time, but then again that's not saying much since the collective consciousness seems to only produce things that are safe and boring.
Do you feel the changing times have impacted your style or subject matter w/r/t DW and are there any other writers out there nowadays producing what you'd consider DW?
Looking forward to all the content! Especially your musings on They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Watched it last night and it was so wonderfully weird and unexpected.
Have you still got copies of the emails?
I am OBSESSED with all of this!
Hi Chuck. When you were first starting out — when you first wrote Fight Club (while still working full time), did you have plot holes to go back and fix in the story after your first draft was complete? For example, major character decisions that affected earlier writing. What process or advice can you offer on fixing a complex plot that has changed as you wrote it?
I have so many questions I’m going to be asking you over the coming months. Last year during COVID I locked myself in my house and was extremely depressed. I came across Fight Club and it changed everything for me. It made me realize that there was a different way I could write and that I actually could be a writer. Currently I write robotics equipment contracts for a living.
Not long after that I read Consider This. Now I’ve been hammering away at your recommended reading list. At this point I’ve read Denis Johnson, Nami Mun, Amy Hempel, Thom Jones, Douglas Copeland, and Lewis Hyde. I feel so far behind as my entire life (I’m 35) I’ve been reading mainstream grocery store authors (not that those aren’t talented folks in their own right). During all of this I’ve finished a 55k word manuscript of my first novel. It’s taken roughly a year to write and now I’m going through the first edits to fix plot holes, among many other things.
Anyway, just a heads up that you’re going to see me comment here a lot as I have a ton of questions (even though I have been listening to your interviews on writing incessantly). You have no idea how many times during my writing I’ve wished you were sitting here at my disposal so that I could run an idea by you or understand why I’m stuck or why something isn’t working. I’m determined to put in the work to make the story the best it can be. I want it to be good enough to get published. I really look forward to interacting with you and others on here and am so happy this exists now.
Finding this after finishing Consider This is such a boon. I’ll support financially once I’m earning some money again. Much love from Portland.
I believe in Chuck's Past-Hotness-to-Future-Batshit Ratio. My mother-in-law was a backcombed and winged eyeliner beauty. Now she sends me YouTube links about COVID-19 and reptilian politicians.
Hi Chuck! Thank you for the offer of an inscribed copy of “Beautiful You!” I’m beyond grateful! How do I give you my address? I truly did love it. The cave—- so much meaning there. I make jam— I’d totally send you some!
Hey Chuck, thanks for the always fascinating insights!
Would you consider more comic book work and how is it working with other people to get that vision onto the page compared with what I assume is the relative solitude of your regular writing?
Can't wait to read the new novel on substack!!
Do you plan on releasing more custom bookmarks with the Pixie Project? I thought I saw something about more coming out in September, but I might’ve been dreaming.
Ничего не понял, но очень интересно
Russia love you!!!
I used to work out with some of the IM models at Gold's Gym in Venice, CA. Mostly shy sweet guys who trained themselves or others all day and ended up looking like human erections. Ironic given the side effects of steroid use. Dennis Hopper worked out there too at that time with his much much younger wife. Oh, Bruce Jenner too, back when he was Bruce.
I've been running a Dungeons and Dragons game for about six years with the same crew of people. It's a bit like serial storytelling in that I'm trying to weave a central narrative through all sorts of bizarre antics my players throw at me. I am definitely feeling the "Maybe this has gone on too long" vibe as I try to wrap up dangling threads and derelict plot points, but I'm doing my best. I'm looking forward to the serial!
Hi Chuck, you've always advocated for what you call transgressive or dangerous writing. I'm wondering if your definition of dangerous writing has evolved in recent years? The social mores of 2021 are definitely not the same as those of 2001. Adjustment Day stood out to me for this reason; thematically it's probably the most dangerous thing I've read in a long time, but then again that's not saying much since the collective consciousness seems to only produce things that are safe and boring.
Do you feel the changing times have impacted your style or subject matter w/r/t DW and are there any other writers out there nowadays producing what you'd consider DW?
Looking forward to all the content! Especially your musings on They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Watched it last night and it was so wonderfully weird and unexpected.
This is great Chuck, keep them comming! The darker the better 😏