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On Writing
On Writing | Charles Bukowski
5 posts | 3 read | 2 reading | 4 to read
Sharp and moving reflections and ruminations on the artistry and craft of writing from one of our most iconoclastic, riveting, and celebrated masters. Charles Bukowskis stories, poems, and novels have left an enduring mark on our culture. In this collection of correspondenceletters to publishers, editors, friends, and fellow writersthe writer shares his insights on the art of creation. On Writing reveals an artist brutally frank about the drudgery of work and canny and uncompromising about the absurdities of lifeand of art. It illuminates the hard-edged, complex humanity of a true American legend and counterculture iconthe laureate of American lowlife (Time)who stoically recorded societys downtrodden and depraved. It exposes an artist grounded in the visceral, whose work reverberates with his central ideal: Don't try. Piercing, poignant, and often hilarious, On Writing is filled not only with memorable lines but also with Bukowskis trademark toughness, leavened with moments of grace, pathos, and intimacy.
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arkei
On Writing | Charles Bukowski

The world has had little Charles pretty much by the balls of late, and there isn‘t much writer left, Whit. So hearing from you was damned lovely.

- “[To Whit Burnett] April 27, 1947“

arkei 💔😢 3y
3 likes1 comment
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arkei
On Writing | Charles Bukowski

Picking this up, even though I have a lot of books opened already. 😅 I really need a nonfiction.

llcoolnate Interested to hear if it's a pick or not! 3y
arkei 👍🏽 3y
8 likes2 comments
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
On Writing | Charles Bukowski
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Hello Litsy hive mind. I‘m just finishing a short writing workshop, but I can‘t continue with the next session due to schedules. I‘d like to design a little class for myself instead. I have a ton of books already, but I‘m curious to hear *your* suggestions. Also looking for writing prompt sources.

Let‘s discuss! Thanks in advance ...

KathyWheeler Stephen King‘s On Writing is one of the best books on writing that I‘ve ever read. Anne Lamott‘s book is also excellent— it‘s (edited) 5y
See All 32 Comments
KathyWheeler Oh, and I second The Elements of Style — it‘s essential. 5y
Lindy Another vote for Elements of style, plus Ueland‘s If You Want to Write or 5y
Lindy You might also find Natalie Ginsberg inspiring: 5y
CarolynM You can't go past Q 5y
CarolynM And David Lodge's more modern take 5y
Hooked_on_books The Stephen King is great and so is 5y
twohectobooks Looove Stephen King‘s On Writing. Next up on my writing-related TBR is 5y
batsy I second Writing Down the Bones and Bird by Bird! This one is also really great, especially for writers who are struggling to get the words out, as she addresses personality/character issues 5y
chapter_fifty2017 Zen in the art of writing by Ray Bradbury is really good and yes Bird by Bird is one of the best !! 5y
TheLudicReader Part memoir, part guide. All excellent. (edited) 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @TheBookbabeblog84 Thanks—I read Elements many years ago. Found an ebook copy for cheap today. And, based on all the love, I think I‘ll start with On Writing. 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @KathyWheeler I LOVE Bird by Bird. Thinking the King book is up first, based on all the Litsy love. 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Lindy Thanks! My writing teacher has been talking about the Goldberg, but Ueland is new to me, which is awesome. 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @CarolynM Thanks so much—these are all new to my radar, which is wonderful! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Hooked_on_books Thrill Me sounds so interesting. Thanks! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @twohectobooks King is getting lots of love from commenters. It‘ll be my first read. But This Word Now sounds great! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @batsy Thank you! I‘m going to start with King but your suggestion looks terrific! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @chapter_fifty2017 I LOVE both of those—thanks for weighing in! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @mhillis Thanks—it‘s a favorite of my writing teacher. Been mentioned a few times here too. I‘ll track down a copy soon! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @TheLudicReader Thanks. This one got more “votes” than any other suggestion. It‘s up next! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @SW-T No, I haven‘t tried that one. Thanks—I‘ll add it to the list! 5y
Sunraven This is my absolute favorite writing book of all time and I think all creative people should read it. ☺️ 5y
Sunraven Also I just finished this book and found a lot of interesting ideas in it. 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Sunraven Thanks for both suggestions! 5y
Sunraven ☺️👍✨ 5y
68 likes32 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
On Writing | Charles Bukowski
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She had boobs like a plump melon and I needed to proposition her.
Had to. Also sorry not sorry. I find it humorous.
https://electricliterature.com/if-youre-not-sure-how-a-male-author-would-describ...

wanderinglynn 😂😂😂 6y
Jerdencon Haha! Mine was she had lips like a ripe ice cream cone and I wanted to grope her! 😂😂🤣 6y
LiteraryinLawrence Not sure mine makes sense... She had boobs like an expensive pony and I thirsted to ignore her. 🤷‍♀️ 6y
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Jen_Reads Mine is She had curves like a juicy bedsheet and I shuddered to correct her. 6y
Lcsmcat “She had legs like a luscious bedsheet and I wanted to ravish her.” I can‘t quite wrap my mind around this image. 6y
OrangeMooseReads @LiteraryinLititz that is odd, I‘m not sure 🤔 does that mean your boobs are thoroughbred? Lol 😂 6y
OrangeMooseReads @Jen_Reads trying to figure out a “juicy bedsheet” lol 6y
OrangeMooseReads @Lcsmcat soft silk smooth legs 6y
CoverToCoverGirl 😳😂😂🤣 6y
Lcsmcat @OrangeMooseReads I was thinking “flat?” “wrinkled?” 😂 6y
merelybookish This Twitter thread was hilarious! 6y
CoffeeNBooks She had eyes like a silken princess, and I hated to marry her. 😆 6y
OrangeMooseReads @Lcsmcat when I think luscious I think smooth, silky lol 6y
Centique 😂😂 She had calves like a silken mango and I deigned to ravish her. Wow. I‘m pretty impressed with my fruity calves 😜 6y
41 likes17 comments
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GoneFishing
On Writing | Charles Bukowski

Writing is something that you don't know how to do. You sit down and it's something that happens, or it may not happen. So how can you teach anybody how to write? It's beyond me, because you yourself don't even know if you're going to be able to. I'm always worried, well,you know,every time I go upstairs with my wine bottle. Sometimes I'll sit at that typewriter for fifteen minutes, you know. I don't go up there to write. The typewriter's up there

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