slyt
February 14, 2023 8:47 PM Subscribe
Thanks.
I hated it.
Because it's BULLSHIT of the HIGHEST order.
If you want to write, or become a writer - then do it.
Don't listen to anyone who says you don't have passion, who claims that you're not an anointed Angel who is chosen by the Gods to be their emissary via text, write what you want, when you want, how you want.
Just write.
posted by Faintdreams at 7:27 AM on February 15, 2023 [15 favorites]
I hated it.
Because it's BULLSHIT of the HIGHEST order.
If you want to write, or become a writer - then do it.
Don't listen to anyone who says you don't have passion, who claims that you're not an anointed Angel who is chosen by the Gods to be their emissary via text, write what you want, when you want, how you want.
Just write.
posted by Faintdreams at 7:27 AM on February 15, 2023 [15 favorites]
Yes, I want to be a writer, but not just any writer, I want to be a paperback writer.
posted by NoMich at 7:51 AM on February 15, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by NoMich at 7:51 AM on February 15, 2023 [5 favorites]
Old white dudes and creating artificial barriers to entry. Name a more iconic duo.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:34 AM on February 15, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by leotrotsky at 8:34 AM on February 15, 2023 [5 favorites]
Yes, I want to be a writer, but not just any writer, I want to be a paperback writer.
posted by NoMich at 7:51 AM on February 15
Then like the Beatles said, you should take the back right turn.
posted by Kibbutz at 8:58 AM on February 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by NoMich at 7:51 AM on February 15
Then like the Beatles said, you should take the back right turn.
posted by Kibbutz at 8:58 AM on February 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Sounds like gatekeeping to me - OTOH, if you are passionate about something - you will keep doing it, and eventually get better. Just do it. Many commercial, successful authors plan their novels in a very "work-like" manner, they have charts and bio's of characters and maps and histories - and they sell lots of books.
The end result is entirely subjective. What may be popular, may not be "well written" - but - I guarantee that there is an audience for nearly any subject, style or skill level.
posted by rozcakj at 10:21 AM on February 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
The end result is entirely subjective. What may be popular, may not be "well written" - but - I guarantee that there is an audience for nearly any subject, style or skill level.
posted by rozcakj at 10:21 AM on February 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
It's kinda funny that this appears to be one of Bukowski's most widely-read poems of this internet sharing age, cause it's pretty clear from the rest of his writing that he's the last person you should take advice from about... like anything really.
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 11:03 AM on February 15, 2023 [11 favorites]
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 11:03 AM on February 15, 2023 [11 favorites]
Yeah, no, I'm sticking to factotum work, thanks.
posted by k3ninho at 11:29 AM on February 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by k3ninho at 11:29 AM on February 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
As I mentioned in my previous comment (deleted by moderators since, with no explanation given), this piece is bad because it perpetuates a toxic notion of genius.
I want to add that it has also what I'd call toxic authenticity. It celebrates authenticity so much that it becomes intolerant of ambiguity, intolerant of other ways of creating, writing, functioning in the world. It is radical in a bad way.
posted by javanlight at 11:58 AM on February 15, 2023 [3 favorites]
I want to add that it has also what I'd call toxic authenticity. It celebrates authenticity so much that it becomes intolerant of ambiguity, intolerant of other ways of creating, writing, functioning in the world. It is radical in a bad way.
posted by javanlight at 11:58 AM on February 15, 2023 [3 favorites]
You know I personally think this is good advice for people who would listen to advice from Charles Bukowski.
posted by lumpenprole at 12:55 PM on February 15, 2023 [8 favorites]
posted by lumpenprole at 12:55 PM on February 15, 2023 [8 favorites]
Write when manic.
Edit when depressed.
posted by dancestoblue at 2:02 PM on February 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Edit when depressed.
posted by dancestoblue at 2:02 PM on February 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
Maybe I just love Bukowski. I liked that piece of writing, but projectile vomiting words upon impulse, may work for some, National Geographic would best cover that festival. If someone is gonna pay you to say something, and that work pays better than frothing lattes, do it, unless you really love being a barrista.
posted by Oyéah at 6:51 PM on February 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Oyéah at 6:51 PM on February 15, 2023 [1 favorite]
It helps if you imagine this is directed at the White Guy in your MFA.
posted by Reyturner at 9:51 PM on February 15, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Reyturner at 9:51 PM on February 15, 2023 [2 favorites]
He’s talking about a muse, isn’t he?
Here’s the real text:
So you want to be a writer?
It’s hard work doing it, especially when its feels like work, when you don’t really believe in it, or yourself, but somehow you’ve got to be doing it… but there’ll always be that little voice saying “don’t do it”. It’s about writing for the writing.
I mean, he also wrote this:
Bluebird
And I don’t think all of this has to do with gatekeeping or being white. Ffs.
posted by beesbees at 10:09 PM on February 15, 2023 [3 favorites]
Here’s the real text:
So you want to be a writer?
It’s hard work doing it, especially when its feels like work, when you don’t really believe in it, or yourself, but somehow you’ve got to be doing it… but there’ll always be that little voice saying “don’t do it”. It’s about writing for the writing.
I mean, he also wrote this:
Bluebird
And I don’t think all of this has to do with gatekeeping or being white. Ffs.
posted by beesbees at 10:09 PM on February 15, 2023 [3 favorites]
This is a poem by Charles Bukowski. It seems much more likely to me that it’s an excuse by Bukowski to put down the pen and get drunk than any form of advice for others, let alone an active attempt to prevent other folks from writing and publishing their own poetry.
posted by Foaf at 10:24 PM on February 15, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by Foaf at 10:24 PM on February 15, 2023 [4 favorites]
Was just browsing through “Essential Bukowski” and found this poem of his.
Bukowski was an asshole but he was also incredibly funny… and human.
Roll the Dice
if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
otherwise, don’t even start.
if you’re going to try, go all the
way. this could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives, jobs and
maybe your mind.
go all the way.
it could mean not eating for 3 or
4 days.
it could mean freezing on a
park bench.
it could mean jail,
it could mean derision,
mockery,
isolation.
isolation is the gift,
all the others are a test of your
endurance, of
how much you really want to
do it.
and you’ll do it
despite rejection and the
worst odds
and it will be better than
anything else
you can imagine.
if you’re going to try,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like
that.
you will be alone with the
gods
and the nights will flame with
fire.
do it, do it, do it.
do it.
all the way
all the way.
you will ride life straight to
perfect laughter,
it’s the only good fight
there is.
posted by beesbees at 7:19 AM on February 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
Bukowski was an asshole but he was also incredibly funny… and human.
Roll the Dice
if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
otherwise, don’t even start.
if you’re going to try, go all the
way. this could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives, jobs and
maybe your mind.
go all the way.
it could mean not eating for 3 or
4 days.
it could mean freezing on a
park bench.
it could mean jail,
it could mean derision,
mockery,
isolation.
isolation is the gift,
all the others are a test of your
endurance, of
how much you really want to
do it.
and you’ll do it
despite rejection and the
worst odds
and it will be better than
anything else
you can imagine.
if you’re going to try,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like
that.
you will be alone with the
gods
and the nights will flame with
fire.
do it, do it, do it.
do it.
all the way
all the way.
you will ride life straight to
perfect laughter,
it’s the only good fight
there is.
posted by beesbees at 7:19 AM on February 16, 2023 [2 favorites]
I went through a Bukowski phase in college and read a lot of his work and a little biographical context about him. I think the cries of "gatekeeping!" totally miss the mark. Bukowski was an asshole and all that, but a gatekeeper? I don't think so. Bukowski was not mainstream or someone taken seriously enough to block anybody else's success. It was really only towards the end of his life and then after that he was better known.[1]
For context, Bukowski used to get a lot of "how can I be a writer" type questions. I think this poem is by way of response to that. It's not gatekeeping, it's "stop fucking asking me how to be a writer. If you're meant to be a writer, you'll just do it."
And there's something to that. I used to make my living writing for tech publications as a freelancer and staffer. I got my share of those questions — though I assume far fewer than Bukowski. They get old, they really do.
Especially when you give some tips and advice and see people glaze over and lose interest because they don't like the answers. They want to hear a three- or five-step process that will let them whip out articles and make money. They don't want to hear the "eat your vegetables and exercise" answers of if you want to write, write. There's no mystery, it's something you have practice.
[1] I had never heard of Bukowski until I suggested to the head librarian that the community college I attended should stock copies of Henry Rollins' books. She skimmed some of Black Coffee Blues and handed me Post Office by Bukowski. I'd never heard of him, that was mid-1993 or so. He died in March 1994.
posted by jzb at 10:51 AM on February 16, 2023 [4 favorites]
For context, Bukowski used to get a lot of "how can I be a writer" type questions. I think this poem is by way of response to that. It's not gatekeeping, it's "stop fucking asking me how to be a writer. If you're meant to be a writer, you'll just do it."
And there's something to that. I used to make my living writing for tech publications as a freelancer and staffer. I got my share of those questions — though I assume far fewer than Bukowski. They get old, they really do.
Especially when you give some tips and advice and see people glaze over and lose interest because they don't like the answers. They want to hear a three- or five-step process that will let them whip out articles and make money. They don't want to hear the "eat your vegetables and exercise" answers of if you want to write, write. There's no mystery, it's something you have practice.
[1] I had never heard of Bukowski until I suggested to the head librarian that the community college I attended should stock copies of Henry Rollins' books. She skimmed some of Black Coffee Blues and handed me Post Office by Bukowski. I'd never heard of him, that was mid-1993 or so. He died in March 1994.
posted by jzb at 10:51 AM on February 16, 2023 [4 favorites]
“There is nothing to writing. You just sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” —Ernest Hemingway
posted by kinnakeet at 6:33 AM on February 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by kinnakeet at 6:33 AM on February 17, 2023 [1 favorite]
« Older Lies and the lying AIs who tell them | Solving Puzzles in the Dark Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
do it.
posted by Joan Rivers of Babylon at 5:16 AM on February 15, 2023 [4 favorites]