When writing, just assume you are talking to yourself, which you invariably are, then stick your message in a bottle, which may or may not be someday found on a distant shore by some rare person who gets just what you mean, no doubt because he's a member too of the relay team.
Hello Tom. That’s along the same lines as why I write. Write to please ourself and many times there will be someone who says, “That’s exactly what I needed to hear. You wrote your post to me today!”
The main usefulnesss of writing to me, is as a distraction--a recurring subject in many recent things I've written. It helps me forget time, circumstances, myself. Be less bored and less encumbered in general. Thus I'm happy taking my time with my writing, as doing so extends its usefulness to me. I think the more one's writing cuts against the grain, the more aware the writer is of having no outside audience. It's hard to find many likeminded people out on the outermost fringe. Original minds, being extremely rare, are extremely isolated--are rejected, because they reject received opinion. So stuff your words in that bottle and fling it into the ocean--it's not impossible they may reach a receptive ear, howevermuch the odds may seem against.
I agree with him in theory, C.J. I think we all get those writings that burst out of us on occasion. It's a wonderful feeling. A writer feels so fulfilled and on top of the world, then that piece goes out, and nary a soul gets it. The truth about being a writer is the truth about anything. The only way to improve is by doing it and studying it. When you are on that path, you're a writer. Thanks for sharing this!
CJ, I believe he was on to something. I truly believe that nothing should be forced, it should flow like water. I’ve always walked away from things, even if it’s a great idea, because if you don’t feel it, don’t do it. He was a cantankerous old man but I truly believe he was correct. It’s just my opinion. Maybe I’m a cantankerous old lady! 😂
A cantankerous old lady? I hardly think so, Jo-Ann. You can always say what’s on your mind with me. I just read his poem as being rude, but maybe that’s because I could never write anything like that (nor would I want to). That’s just me …
Anytime CJ, you’re very welcome. Rude, yeah you might say that but a realist is better. Some don’t know any other way but to be rude. I’m not a fan of rudeness but I understand what he was saying. I may not bean established writer and probably will never be but I truly get people!!!
Charles Bukowski is pretty close to being right. Rilke also suggested that only work that needed to be written could be any good. Necessity is the key to greatness.
Yes. I try to avoid that in my own work, and preserve a stance of creative ambivalence. Any negativity appears in the form of sideswipes.
But I find him a little less depressing than Ted Hughes, say; who seems to have turned nastiness into a religion.
I can't help liking the buggar though. At first I couldn't stand him. But, alas, the force of his personality quickly wins one over. Charm is such a potent force when it comes to art. Especially with song (carmen).
Yes! I like to be a writer! As an author just I am a learner. I should learn a lot in this journey. It needs effort, ability and skill to understand better and the best by reading and writing various topics and several articles in the form blogs gives lot of knowledge. Knowledge is powerful. Sharing is caring. I always share my views with others. As a result, I gain some knowledge through them by replying and interacting with them. I strongly believe the win-win strategy. It helps to coordinate and co-operate to thrive on our own in reality. Writing is nothing but expressing our own views willfully.
CJ I have felt the rush of words like Bukowski and I have also struggled with what to write next, as I am sure many of us have. Perhaps writing is like a baseball game, an endeavor with many moving parts, all of which is called baseball. D
I look at writing like I look at who I am. Sometimes I feel like being active and biking for miles. Other times, I’m more comfortable with a crossword puzzle and a glass of wine. Writing is a moody endeavor! Hahaha
My proudest moment? I posted something this morning called “Poem for McKenzieL: Her True Story”
He does look like a discouraged and cantankerous old fart, but looks can be deceiving. There's a fire burning in that old carcass. Fir that needs to be expressed in some way. When the majority of "readers" will spend their time reading formulaic genre fiction to fill the time before they die, then his kind of writing, his poems so filled with blazing truth about the human condition, is not going to find them. And they are not worthy of touching his hem. They don't want Truth. They want fantasy to hide the horror of their impending death and the disappointments of their lifelong dreams.
For the record, I don't have the energy to read Bukowski's stuff, but the formulaic stuff puts me to sleep also. I must write, though, maybe not as disciplined as to write a certain number of words per day, but the stories nag me and sometimes they actually do burst passionately from my heart. That's when writing is truly a delight. That's when it sings.
Whatever your formula is, Sue, it works. Don’t change a thing. I enjoy your writing.
As for our old fart, fires may burn in the old carcass, but it seems such a waste to write with such negativity. Why not write to make people feel, if not good, at least better, about their humanity —they wrestle with enough negativity in their lives 24/7 to rub their noses in even more.
I don’t know, maybe I’m full of you know what and I ought to just keep my thoughts to myself …
I've read just about everything Bukowski published. Initially, I didn't like his poems at all, but enjoyed his stories and novels, which were outrageous and hilarious. Later, I re-read his poems and began to enjoy his raw look at himself and the world around him. The photo, by the way, was taken in Hamburg, when his translator has invited him to visit Germany, where "Buk" had been born in 1920.
Occasionally, it comes out of my soul like a rocket. Most of the time, I sit there searching for words and it is hard work just thinking about it, but I mainly do it for fun, and as a type of stress reliever. Bukowski is an absolute trip. Love the quote from C.J. Heck, by the way. :)
There are some people that the world thinks of as misfits and in a way it is true but they are only misfits because "the world" (read humanity) has narrowed it's standards for acceptability to such a fine point that a lot of people with a lot to offer are left out, overlooked, dismissed, and cast as Misfits to be Ignored or Disdained. Charles Bukowski writes for all those misfits and also for those "socially acceptable ones" who have "sold out" their misfit-ness in order to gain recognition and acclaim. He is glad that the rest of "the world" doesn't understand or even like him. If he can succeed (as he most definitely has) without jumping onto the cookie-cutter assembly line, he will have accomplished all he ever cared to. Standing in support of Charles Bukowski and everything he stands for, I remain, Carol Cotton.
Aiden Dunkley, thank you so much for restacking this post.
When writing, just assume you are talking to yourself, which you invariably are, then stick your message in a bottle, which may or may not be someday found on a distant shore by some rare person who gets just what you mean, no doubt because he's a member too of the relay team.
Hello Tom. That’s along the same lines as why I write. Write to please ourself and many times there will be someone who says, “That’s exactly what I needed to hear. You wrote your post to me today!”
What more could any of us want?
Thank you, Tom.
The main usefulnesss of writing to me, is as a distraction--a recurring subject in many recent things I've written. It helps me forget time, circumstances, myself. Be less bored and less encumbered in general. Thus I'm happy taking my time with my writing, as doing so extends its usefulness to me. I think the more one's writing cuts against the grain, the more aware the writer is of having no outside audience. It's hard to find many likeminded people out on the outermost fringe. Original minds, being extremely rare, are extremely isolated--are rejected, because they reject received opinion. So stuff your words in that bottle and fling it into the ocean--it's not impossible they may reach a receptive ear, howevermuch the odds may seem against.
I agree with him in theory, C.J. I think we all get those writings that burst out of us on occasion. It's a wonderful feeling. A writer feels so fulfilled and on top of the world, then that piece goes out, and nary a soul gets it. The truth about being a writer is the truth about anything. The only way to improve is by doing it and studying it. When you are on that path, you're a writer. Thanks for sharing this!
I was happy to share it, Rod. Your description says so much more than his “Don’t do it!. Thank YOU for sharing your reasonable thoughts!
It’s my pleasure, C.J!
CJ, I believe he was on to something. I truly believe that nothing should be forced, it should flow like water. I’ve always walked away from things, even if it’s a great idea, because if you don’t feel it, don’t do it. He was a cantankerous old man but I truly believe he was correct. It’s just my opinion. Maybe I’m a cantankerous old lady! 😂
A cantankerous old lady? I hardly think so, Jo-Ann. You can always say what’s on your mind with me. I just read his poem as being rude, but maybe that’s because I could never write anything like that (nor would I want to). That’s just me …
Thank you for your thoughts!
Anytime CJ, you’re very welcome. Rude, yeah you might say that but a realist is better. Some don’t know any other way but to be rude. I’m not a fan of rudeness but I understand what he was saying. I may not bean established writer and probably will never be but I truly get people!!!
I think you do ‘get’ people, Jo-Ann. I find people interesting, but I respect those that share their heart, not their anger.
Just sayin’ …
I understand
Charles Bukowski is pretty close to being right. Rilke also suggested that only work that needed to be written could be any good. Necessity is the key to greatness.
Hello John. The poem is so negative though. It’s as though he purposely poured all of the harshly abusive criticism he could think of into writing it.
I would hate to be remembered for something like that —It’s only my opinion.
Thank you for your thoughts and your comments.
Yes. I try to avoid that in my own work, and preserve a stance of creative ambivalence. Any negativity appears in the form of sideswipes.
But I find him a little less depressing than Ted Hughes, say; who seems to have turned nastiness into a religion.
I can't help liking the buggar though. At first I couldn't stand him. But, alas, the force of his personality quickly wins one over. Charm is such a potent force when it comes to art. Especially with song (carmen).
Yes! I like to be a writer! As an author just I am a learner. I should learn a lot in this journey. It needs effort, ability and skill to understand better and the best by reading and writing various topics and several articles in the form blogs gives lot of knowledge. Knowledge is powerful. Sharing is caring. I always share my views with others. As a result, I gain some knowledge through them by replying and interacting with them. I strongly believe the win-win strategy. It helps to coordinate and co-operate to thrive on our own in reality. Writing is nothing but expressing our own views willfully.
That’s a very insightful comment, Bijibilla and I agree. There is much to be leaned here from each other —it’s a very caring community.
Take care!
Thank You C.J. Heck!
You’re welcome!
I know I am a writer. I just write! But is anyone reading my writing? And if they do, what do they think of it?
You have to write for yourself, Connie. The rest will follow.
CJ I have felt the rush of words like Bukowski and I have also struggled with what to write next, as I am sure many of us have. Perhaps writing is like a baseball game, an endeavor with many moving parts, all of which is called baseball. D
I look at writing like I look at who I am. Sometimes I feel like being active and biking for miles. Other times, I’m more comfortable with a crossword puzzle and a glass of wine. Writing is a moody endeavor! Hahaha
My proudest moment? I posted something this morning called “Poem for McKenzieL: Her True Story”
He does look like a discouraged and cantankerous old fart, but looks can be deceiving. There's a fire burning in that old carcass. Fir that needs to be expressed in some way. When the majority of "readers" will spend their time reading formulaic genre fiction to fill the time before they die, then his kind of writing, his poems so filled with blazing truth about the human condition, is not going to find them. And they are not worthy of touching his hem. They don't want Truth. They want fantasy to hide the horror of their impending death and the disappointments of their lifelong dreams.
For the record, I don't have the energy to read Bukowski's stuff, but the formulaic stuff puts me to sleep also. I must write, though, maybe not as disciplined as to write a certain number of words per day, but the stories nag me and sometimes they actually do burst passionately from my heart. That's when writing is truly a delight. That's when it sings.
Whatever your formula is, Sue, it works. Don’t change a thing. I enjoy your writing.
As for our old fart, fires may burn in the old carcass, but it seems such a waste to write with such negativity. Why not write to make people feel, if not good, at least better, about their humanity —they wrestle with enough negativity in their lives 24/7 to rub their noses in even more.
I don’t know, maybe I’m full of you know what and I ought to just keep my thoughts to myself …
Robert, thank you for the restack. 💋💋💋
I've read just about everything Bukowski published. Initially, I didn't like his poems at all, but enjoyed his stories and novels, which were outrageous and hilarious. Later, I re-read his poems and began to enjoy his raw look at himself and the world around him. The photo, by the way, was taken in Hamburg, when his translator has invited him to visit Germany, where "Buk" had been born in 1920.
If you experienced the life he led, you would be a cantankerous old fart, too.
Occasionally, it comes out of my soul like a rocket. Most of the time, I sit there searching for words and it is hard work just thinking about it, but I mainly do it for fun, and as a type of stress reliever. Bukowski is an absolute trip. Love the quote from C.J. Heck, by the way. :)
There are some people that the world thinks of as misfits and in a way it is true but they are only misfits because "the world" (read humanity) has narrowed it's standards for acceptability to such a fine point that a lot of people with a lot to offer are left out, overlooked, dismissed, and cast as Misfits to be Ignored or Disdained. Charles Bukowski writes for all those misfits and also for those "socially acceptable ones" who have "sold out" their misfit-ness in order to gain recognition and acclaim. He is glad that the rest of "the world" doesn't understand or even like him. If he can succeed (as he most definitely has) without jumping onto the cookie-cutter assembly line, he will have accomplished all he ever cared to. Standing in support of Charles Bukowski and everything he stands for, I remain, Carol Cotton.