"So You Want to Be a Writer?" by Charles Bukowski (poetry reading)

[paulpellicci]

...but in the end we do what me must....

[TheIceOfAlice]

Spanish poet Jaime Gil de Biedma said the art of writing is the fruit of "a lot of vocation and a little bit of work". This little bit of work- which is not so little, but is smaller than vocation- is to practice, rewrite, study, and it can take hours of frustration and wasted pages.

He is using the very romantic cliche of the inspired writer, but as you say, don't buy it. On the other hand, I may suggest an extra verse: "if you're going to write another poem about being drunk, dont do it".

[bryanonfilm]

Your delivery puts such an original spin on Hank's work. Gut wrenching. I think you're the only person I follow on Youtube.

[FleetingVoid]

Why can't I like this? I need to like it multiple times because something about it rings true.

[wideosvatcher]

makes sense to me

[clausvegas]

Good stuff

[ElizabethxPete]

beautiful

[datojana]

this guy inspires me...

[zubatosunce]

If you're trying to write like Charles Bukowski - don't do it. Write like yourself, it's the only true way there is, and it's the only way to write some good shit.

[jum401]

Bukowski he knows what he talks about.

[sijour]

lol i love your comments in the sidebar.

[nutherefurlong]

Thank you for those kind words in the notes. It's easy to be discouraged by the conviction in Bukowski's words. There's some truth in the whole of it, but in the specifics he makes nearly all of us guilty of some form of self-delusion.

[vreaulamatah]

@nutherefurlong He was discouraging no one. he was only telling those can't be artists how to identify themselves. I believe u should follow his advice.

[nutherefurlong]

@vreaulamatah Is Youtube where misanthropes go to escape themselves?

[PersephoneGoddess1]

You have a excellent voice for reading, thankyou for sharing it with us x

[BitolskiBosilok]

Again - an excellent choice!

And reading!

[glokkpod84]

Love your thoughts on this.

[Temorablue]

My fault is probably the writing for a wanting of women in bed one.

[Temorablue]

I think that is all good advice. I have known people who want to write in order to be pop stars, or write childrens books not for a love of writing childrens books but because they think it is easy and fame will soon follow. People who hate reading books and want to write books just to make them into movies. Don't do it.

[Whoreuk]

sorry, I do actually agree with you, but I pushed the wrong button, and the thumbs' down (in red) showed up, sorry mate.

[sweetzombielover]

Excellent reading. I love that you recognize the value of the pause.

[withoutasong]

sad but perhaps true :(  5 stars1