Gatsby to The Shining

August 13, 2015 3:28 AM

William S. Burroughs Teaches a Free Course on Creative Reading and Writing
posted by fearfulsymmetry (10 comments total)

I think I stumbled on these somewhere before - I recall being particularly interested to hear him talk about Denton Welch, who I was reading at the time. It’s good to find them again—thanks, fearfulsymmetry. These lectures also appear to be on archive.org, among a good deal of other material.

Below the post I see a remarkably incongruous ad: James Patterson Teaches You Writing: apparently, for $90, “the author of 19 consecutive No. 1 New York Times Best Sellers, reveals his tricks of the trade for the very first time. In this course, he guides you through every part of the book writing process.”
posted by misteraitch at 4:30 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

(Isn't Paterson's secret basically the same as all the big name authors: hire a staff of ghostwriters? If you're reading this, please send me $90.)
posted by saulgoodman at 7:48 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

Sorry I didn't read it. So I can't in good conscience send you $90.
posted by Splunge at 8:12 AM on August 13, 2015 [2 favorites]

Then I don't appreciate your business and don't hope you have a nice day. /silliness

More seriously on the FPP: Thanks for posting this. I'm looking forward to digging into it tonight. Burroughs was a huge influence on me early on.
posted by saulgoodman at 8:25 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

What was it he influenced you to do?
posted by holborne at 9:11 AM on August 13, 2015

Take lots of drugs and then write about it. Same as pretty much everyone I hung with in high school and college. Nothing special.
posted by saulgoodman at 9:23 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

I hope you at least got some cats
posted by thelonius at 10:30 AM on August 13, 2015 [1 favorite]

Such an iconic reading voice. My old room mate used to play his spoken word albums often. Fun times.
posted by ovvl at 12:48 PM on August 13, 2015

saulgoodman: "Then I don't appreciate your business and don't hope you have a nice day. /silliness

More seriously on the FPP: Thanks for posting this. I'm looking forward to digging into it tonight. Burroughs was a huge influence on me early on."

Indeed. In the Kathy Acker post I believe I said that she changed the way I thought. Around the same time I read Naked Lunch and Junky. Pretty much head trip time for young Splunge.
posted by Splunge at 2:54 PM on August 13, 2015

Thanks for this, can't wait for a chance to listen.
posted by rifflesby at 8:44 PM on August 13, 2015