As much as I like charles Bukowski's writing. This poem is complete bollocks. He only wrote himself because he was a selfish, good-for-nothing lazy slob that could not be assed to do anything else. Theres many successful writers that have 'writers block', that find writing frustrating when it doesn't come 'unasked out of the heart, and your mind and your mouth and your gut'. What a bunch of pretentious shite. His writings best when talking about how shit and low his life is!
then I think you took the poem to hard to the heart... I think more than anything else, he tries to paint a picture of how writing comes out of HIM...
I say write to your hearts content. My thing is why can't you want money, fame and the occasional groupie while being a writer. Lol shit I'd love to be like Hank Moody. Haha but some of my favorite writers were great at what they did and were and still are super famous.
I massively disagree with this. People HAVE to work on their passions, sometimes they HAVE to re-write a million times and sometimes words don't come at all. That's no reason to not do something you love! Bully for him if he never has to work on it, but that's not the case for 90% of writers!
You're a damn fool if you never re-write your drafts! A damn fool!
@keilxkey2255 My favourite book is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. It was written to himself and for himself. That is what makes it so beautiful. I agree with Bukowski. There is a lot of well written stuff out there that has been slaved over, but just because it is well written doesn't make it worth reading.
@Lewis1985 Then, by that exact measure, why bother reading at all? If all writers just wrote for themselves, think of how selfish writing would become. If good writing is not a reason for reading, then tell me, what is? In this video, he says not to be pretentious, but he's setting pretty pretentious standards if you ask me. I'm all for raw passion, making it mean something, writing with your heart, but people have to be allowed to learn the game, or we'll never get new players.
I see your point, but personally, all the authors I enjoy didn't write for applause. They wrote for the soul enjoyment of writing. Like Edmond Rostand. And good writing is one reason for reading, but it needs to be more than just well written. It needs to be honest. Something can be well written but soulless. I just think bukowskis point is,if no one else on the planet could read, would you still write? If not, don't bother at all. And I agree. That's in regard to poetry and such only tho.
@Lewis1985 Ah. I interpreted it in a different way. I agree with your statement, fully. Writing does need to be honest and have soul--then it wouldn't matter if it was well written or not. I interpreted this to mean that you should write FOR yourself, TO yourself, ABOUT yourself, and that seems a little too selfish to me. I don't write for applause, or even to be published (my stuff has a way of circulating itself) but I do NOT write for "myself." That's what I thought he meant.
@keilxkey2255 Well I guess that's the beauty of sharing your writing, everyone interprets it in their own way, and it takes on a new and individual meaning every time.
If you want to write, write. If it is hard at first, but you still feel like it is worth it, write. If someone tells you why your shouldn't do it, write. If it makes you mad you can't seem to write right now, write about it. Do what you want, fuck what anyone else has to say to you.
If it doesn't seem as if it will bleed out of all your pores if you don't write it down, you aren't a writer. That doesn't mean you are unable to write academic papers and the sort.
@ImTestingSleeping, He's speaking of the initial spark and the drive to write, not the effort of revision when a problem is noticed.
Read anything by Bukowski and then tell me that these words don't make perfect sense.....Bukowski was talking about HIMSELF. He was never a writer. Just a drunk old hack who wrote about the most disgusting parts of being human. And for some reason, certain people started calling him a genius and it rolled like a snowball. Even he used to laugh about that.
I love Bukowski, but this is a pretentious pile of shit. I understand that you shouldn't force the words onto the page, but there is much to be said on the subject of revision.
Just because the speaker is using an inflective tone of voice and just because there's calming background music doesn't make the message profound or true.
"the libraries of the world have yawned themselves to sleep over your kind"
YES! truer words never spoken. i don't however agree with Bu that those who rewrite and rewrite are not true writers, because, well, that's how i write for one. it's painstaking, but doesn't make it any less from the heart or mean my emotion flows through it any less, it just takes longer for some to properly express what they're trying to get across. "the first draft of anything is shit", hemingway once said.
this is not Buk's voice or his preference of music, that's for sure. this should have been made clear in the video as when i first heard his voice it was kind of a shock.
but regardless, i appreciate this post as his words came at the right time for me.
yes this is one of his poems no this isn't him reading. It makes perfect sense and if you've been in the poetry writing/reading scene for very long you can tell who writes with heart because they have too to keep from going nuts or those who just write because they have some schooling and want to be a famous writer. The truth is in the feelings the works give.
@jac0803 For the record he does say to wait patiently. Intelligent young writers will understand what he is saying. He is saying that your heart must be in the right place, otherwise it's over.
What a perfect statement. It has to come unasked, from deep within your soul. It has to come from your passion and from your pain. I agree with Bukowski, you cannot force it...either you can write or you can't. No amount of education, even the best Universities will ever change that.
Bukowski is right---he's implying that people like the "idea" of being a writer when in fact being a writer involves something that is natural and sincere. Honest. That doesn't necessarily make writing less difficult to get right.
My ego is my only fault. Otherwise I am perfect. (Just kidding of course; my faults are numerous. For one thing, I am too honest. And too humble. And don't hate me cuz I'm so good looking... : )
Its TRUE. A small amount of alcohol actually quickens the mind. But beyond that magic point -- which differs from person to person, depending on one's unique metabolism -- just the opposite occurs.
shit year - if only all those shitty writers would listen to this - problem is, theyre too deluded to listen... only the good ones doubt themselves...
Your kind words make me very happy. 99.9 per cent of the credit goes to Bukowski, of course.
This is one of my FEW "normal videos." Most of my other videos are "hit pieces," smear jobs and/or creepy propaganda which I can not recommend to nice people. (Its an election year. Beware.)
I "heard" this "in my soul" too. This has guided my "efforts" on YouTube since the day I first understood what Bukowski was saying. Thanks. Are you still thinking of moving to Texas, by the way?
Hello opchidexio: Bukowski's message, met me at my writers, core. I am still tossing the idea over in my head. I kinda' like where I am but, looking at the possibilities of at least, vacationing there soon.
I watched this 3 consecutive times!.It's the epiphany for me that is de ja vu,and yet as a reminder it dwells on a numinous cusp of the metaphysical;a mnemonic shot of thorazine.His third point---the being hunched over a typewriter for hours---was the defining manque of Samuel Beckett{'Waiting For Godot'}.
Glad you like Bukowski... but you are speaking way over my head. I confess. I am not trained to write or to think or to do much at all. I WILL check out Samuel Beckett, though. That's the least I can do. Thanks!
Excellent!I feel I have nearly lived up to my Promethean initiative for the week.---It is one of the most philosophically-controversial reads of the 20th Century;a literary tour de force,and....never put yourself down.There are diamonds composing your soul which brilliance has gone ignored,that's all...
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. : ) I use the same m. o. when making videos. They come bursting out of my soul like a rocket ...and then often sputter out! (duds.) lol!
You're words mean a lot to me. Thank you, clayLavi. Of course, this was written by Charles Bukowski, just an ordinary man but a man with his own unique insight regarding the human condition. I tend to agree with him.
This is what goes through my mind when I try to do ANYTHING, especially anything creative. Thev problem is laying down the roar on to paper or into musical form or in photographic form. This theory or guideline you've providided seems to be easier to apply to through photography with me. So maybe I am indeed an awful writer of poems but I still wake up some days after vomiting something and look at it and it file it.
I hope you realize that I often have great respect for those with whom I disagree on political matters. For example, I had a DEAR FRIEND who was a LIBERAL. She moved away after Katrina and I will not likely see her again. : (
To both my two friends: Today, June 3, 2007, I uploaded two videos that are somewhat "political" in nature. And guess what? It took the PAID haters less than one hour to show up. The first word uttered was "Idiot." I blocked him. Then a genius showed up and admitted he was paid to post comments!
The only time I recall enjoying life -- even while taking a dump -- was one night while camping outdoors I gazed up at a black sky filled with billions of stars. I had the strange feeling that I was glimpsing reality for the first time and wasn't quite sure if I was meant to see it!
Where did Bukowski write this...?
filthysock 2 months ago
What's the name of the piano piece?
simbanobel 3 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Totally agree. Until you know it, you are not a writer.
Robert27962 4 months ago
As much as I like charles Bukowski's writing. This poem is complete bollocks. He only wrote himself because he was a selfish, good-for-nothing lazy slob that could not be assed to do anything else. Theres many successful writers that have 'writers block', that find writing frustrating when it doesn't come 'unasked out of the heart, and your mind and your mouth and your gut'. What a bunch of pretentious shite. His writings best when talking about how shit and low his life is!
coops903 6 months ago
Comment removed
coops903 6 months ago
ex fan of Bukowski. This poem just made that decision final.
brianthelion79 8 months ago
@brianthelion79
then I think you took the poem to hard to the heart... I think more than anything else, he tries to paint a picture of how writing comes out of HIM...
filthysock 2 months ago
@filthysock Yeah, I think you’re right, actually. Weird. And thanks for not calling me an asshole...or something like that.
brianthelion79 1 month ago
@AdmiralPooarms And the fact that you need proove to recognize a genius shows that you have exactly no Idea of what a genius really is
benbirdy 8 months ago
Check out all the great writers, just added by moriarty99 - a must see for any Bukowski fan!
RJMCcreedy 1 year ago
I say write to your hearts content. My thing is why can't you want money, fame and the occasional groupie while being a writer. Lol shit I'd love to be like Hank Moody. Haha but some of my favorite writers were great at what they did and were and still are super famous.
metalfan8989 1 year ago
the power of positive drinking as they say
pornswordtobacco 1 year ago
I massively disagree with this. People HAVE to work on their passions, sometimes they HAVE to re-write a million times and sometimes words don't come at all. That's no reason to not do something you love! Bully for him if he never has to work on it, but that's not the case for 90% of writers!
You're a damn fool if you never re-write your drafts! A damn fool!
keilxkey2255 1 year ago
@keilxkey2255 My favourite book is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. It was written to himself and for himself. That is what makes it so beautiful. I agree with Bukowski. There is a lot of well written stuff out there that has been slaved over, but just because it is well written doesn't make it worth reading.
Lewis1985 1 year ago
@Lewis1985 Then, by that exact measure, why bother reading at all? If all writers just wrote for themselves, think of how selfish writing would become. If good writing is not a reason for reading, then tell me, what is? In this video, he says not to be pretentious, but he's setting pretty pretentious standards if you ask me. I'm all for raw passion, making it mean something, writing with your heart, but people have to be allowed to learn the game, or we'll never get new players.
keilxkey2255 1 year ago
I see your point, but personally, all the authors I enjoy didn't write for applause. They wrote for the soul enjoyment of writing. Like Edmond Rostand. And good writing is one reason for reading, but it needs to be more than just well written. It needs to be honest. Something can be well written but soulless. I just think bukowskis point is,if no one else on the planet could read, would you still write? If not, don't bother at all. And I agree. That's in regard to poetry and such only tho.
Lewis1985 1 year ago
@Lewis1985 Ah. I interpreted it in a different way. I agree with your statement, fully. Writing does need to be honest and have soul--then it wouldn't matter if it was well written or not. I interpreted this to mean that you should write FOR yourself, TO yourself, ABOUT yourself, and that seems a little too selfish to me. I don't write for applause, or even to be published (my stuff has a way of circulating itself) but I do NOT write for "myself." That's what I thought he meant.
keilxkey2255 1 year ago
@keilxkey2255 Well I guess that's the beauty of sharing your writing, everyone interprets it in their own way, and it takes on a new and individual meaning every time.
Lewis1985 1 year ago
@keilxkey2255 In all fairness he did say "rewrite it again and again", I'm sure Bukowski did rewrites all the time.
Snootwaller 1 year ago
Ugh, I fucking hate Bukowski. I even hate people who praise him even more.
goldenresidueofbliss 1 year ago
Bukowski = win
Everything said in this video = garbage
If you want to write, write. If it is hard at first, but you still feel like it is worth it, write. If someone tells you why your shouldn't do it, write. If it makes you mad you can't seem to write right now, write about it. Do what you want, fuck what anyone else has to say to you.
ZeTaters 1 year ago
@carlhobs it's a "poem", but most of his poems are done in this style.
Vrbaski 1 year ago
If it doesn't seem as if it will bleed out of all your pores if you don't write it down, you aren't a writer. That doesn't mean you are unable to write academic papers and the sort.
@ImTestingSleeping, He's speaking of the initial spark and the drive to write, not the effort of revision when a problem is noticed.
szrgirl 1 year ago
bukowski on writing as a profession
Idolcruisefix 1 year ago
Read anything by Bukowski and then tell me that these words don't make perfect sense.....Bukowski was talking about HIMSELF. He was never a writer. Just a drunk old hack who wrote about the most disgusting parts of being human. And for some reason, certain people started calling him a genius and it rolled like a snowball. Even he used to laugh about that.
velveetaslingshot 1 year ago
Exactly.
tripfunkmonster 1 year ago
I love Bukowski, but this is a pretentious pile of shit. I understand that you shouldn't force the words onto the page, but there is much to be said on the subject of revision.
Just because the speaker is using an inflective tone of voice and just because there's calming background music doesn't make the message profound or true.
ImTestingSleeping 1 year ago
what are you, a calvinist? are we all predestined as if by god to write or not?
phombuspucker 1 year ago
Unless you can slam dunk don't take a shot huh?
Hate on hater-
maloufish 1 year ago
"the libraries of the world have yawned themselves to sleep over your kind"
YES! truer words never spoken. i don't however agree with Bu that those who rewrite and rewrite are not true writers, because, well, that's how i write for one. it's painstaking, but doesn't make it any less from the heart or mean my emotion flows through it any less, it just takes longer for some to properly express what they're trying to get across. "the first draft of anything is shit", hemingway once said.
vinoberg 1 year ago
the man spoke poetry.
McFearless92 1 year ago
this is not Buk's voice or his preference of music, that's for sure. this should have been made clear in the video as when i first heard his voice it was kind of a shock.
but regardless, i appreciate this post as his words came at the right time for me.
thank you all.
ken2tao 1 year ago
yes this is one of his poems no this isn't him reading. It makes perfect sense and if you've been in the poetry writing/reading scene for very long you can tell who writes with heart because they have too to keep from going nuts or those who just write because they have some schooling and want to be a famous writer. The truth is in the feelings the works give.
jmufkinc 1 year ago
@jac0803 For the record he does say to wait patiently. Intelligent young writers will understand what he is saying. He is saying that your heart must be in the right place, otherwise it's over.
zoobly3 1 year ago
you dont choose it, it chooses you, but remember even writing is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
Just only start perspiring once you're inspired.
Padwandaman 1 year ago
you dont choose it, it chooses you, but remember even writing is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
Just only start perspiring once you're inspired.
Padwandaman 1 year ago
i'm afraid to write. i don't know what sense that makes.
josefabdon 2 years ago
Deep
kingmomo010 2 years ago
i write
Marcoditria 2 years ago
Its just Bukowski talking. But it is great advice to anyone who would seek to communicate.
opchidexio 2 years ago
@opchidexio
I don't know if it's been pointed out by now, but this is an actual poem...
waltzesstatueschess 8 months ago
What a perfect statement. It has to come unasked, from deep within your soul. It has to come from your passion and from your pain. I agree with Bukowski, you cannot force it...either you can write or you can't. No amount of education, even the best Universities will ever change that.
madmethod21 2 years ago 15
Yep. You're right. It must come from the heart and "you cannot force it."
opchidexio 2 years ago 3
@madmethod21 Completely agreed.
thismonicker 1 year ago
I agree with you completely but I just don't like you.
lastlivingsoul09 2 years ago 3
That's perfectly alright. You are not alone.
opchidexio 2 years ago 2
Sorry, I meant to say:
I agree with you, but don't like that I do.
lastlivingsoul09 2 years ago
thanks Hank
QWERTYXXX25 2 years ago
way to miss the point beichola
nightbreedx1 2 years ago
If you DON´T wanna girls on your bed, don´t write...
Girls love to make sex with writers... and I think they are realy smart.
beichola 2 years ago
You like writers? Um, how about a guy who WISHES he was a writer? Does that count? lol : P
opchidexio 2 years ago
Bukowski is right---he's implying that people like the "idea" of being a writer when in fact being a writer involves something that is natural and sincere. Honest. That doesn't necessarily make writing less difficult to get right.
holden1787 2 years ago
Like so many other human endeavors, writing is a gift. And that gift is only the starting place?
opchidexio 2 years ago
If you need Bukowski to inflate your ego by pointing out how much better you are than everyone else who wants to write. Don't do it.
RandyPrincePhilip 2 years ago
My ego is my only fault. Otherwise I am perfect. (Just kidding of course; my faults are numerous. For one thing, I am too honest. And too humble. And don't hate me cuz I'm so good looking... : )
opchidexio 2 years ago
i agree with him really. I was just being difficult.
RandyPrincePhilip 2 years ago
Its TRUE. A small amount of alcohol actually quickens the mind. But beyond that magic point -- which differs from person to person, depending on one's unique metabolism -- just the opposite occurs.
opchidexio 3 years ago
dont do it... dont die it... don done it... dont doodle... dont dye it... dont drool it... dont share it!!!
specialist1970 3 years ago
To SonicSilverAngel: You wrote,"Turning 40 tonight, my stuff is better now, don't think I'll make it though. Mum, bridges burned, please send more!"
Please explain. Did you -- or "it" -- (your heart) compose these words? I MUST know.
opchidexio 3 years ago
shit year - if only all those shitty writers would listen to this - problem is, theyre too deluded to listen... only the good ones doubt themselves...
TheRimRider 3 years ago
beatiful, just plaine and simply beatiful. Thank you.
ughaghugh 3 years ago
: )
Thank you!!
opchidexio 3 years ago
very very very very awesome
love it
thanks for posting
pleasemallorie 3 years ago
Your kind words make me very happy. 99.9 per cent of the credit goes to Bukowski, of course.
This is one of my FEW "normal videos." Most of my other videos are "hit pieces," smear jobs and/or creepy propaganda which I can not recommend to nice people. (Its an election year. Beware.)
opchidexio 3 years ago
Hello opchidexio, it's been a while. Hit me by private message. Grace and Peace to you.
valambiguous 3 years ago
Sure. : )
opchidexio 3 years ago
YESSSS!!!!! I soooo hear this in my soul. O' my goodness, thank you, for posting this one. Love it!
valambiguous 3 years ago
I "heard" this "in my soul" too. This has guided my "efforts" on YouTube since the day I first understood what Bukowski was saying. Thanks. Are you still thinking of moving to Texas, by the way?
opchidexio 3 years ago
Hello opchidexio: Bukowski's message, met me at my writers, core. I am still tossing the idea over in my head. I kinda' like where I am but, looking at the possibilities of at least, vacationing there soon.
valambiguous 3 years ago
I watched this 3 consecutive times!.It's the epiphany for me that is de ja vu,and yet as a reminder it dwells on a numinous cusp of the metaphysical;a mnemonic shot of thorazine.His third point---the being hunched over a typewriter for hours---was the defining manque of Samuel Beckett{'Waiting For Godot'}.
djnross 3 years ago
Glad you like Bukowski... but you are speaking way over my head. I confess. I am not trained to write or to think or to do much at all. I WILL check out Samuel Beckett, though. That's the least I can do. Thanks!
opchidexio 3 years ago
Checked out Godot. I LOVE IT!
opchidexio 3 years ago
Excellent!I feel I have nearly lived up to my Promethean initiative for the week.---It is one of the most philosophically-controversial reads of the 20th Century;a literary tour de force,and....never put yourself down.There are diamonds composing your soul which brilliance has gone ignored,that's all...
djnross 3 years ago
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. : ) I use the same m. o. when making videos. They come bursting out of my soul like a rocket ...and then often sputter out! (duds.) lol!
opchidexio 3 years ago
yes! This is one of the most honest vids I've ever seen.
clayLavl 3 years ago
You're words mean a lot to me. Thank you, clayLavi. Of course, this was written by Charles Bukowski, just an ordinary man but a man with his own unique insight regarding the human condition. I tend to agree with him.
opchidexio 3 years ago
This is what goes through my mind when I try to do ANYTHING, especially anything creative. Thev problem is laying down the roar on to paper or into musical form or in photographic form. This theory or guideline you've providided seems to be easier to apply to through photography with me. So maybe I am indeed an awful writer of poems but I still wake up some days after vomiting something and look at it and it file it.
alkalein 4 years ago
You read this very well. This is the first of your videos I can rate 5 stars.
deernardz 4 years ago
I hope you realize that I often have great respect for those with whom I disagree on political matters. For example, I had a DEAR FRIEND who was a LIBERAL. She moved away after Katrina and I will not likely see her again. : (
opchidexio 3 years ago
You know me too well. Hasta mannana.
opchidexio 4 years ago
Thanks for the star. Don't you realize that I am trying to expose you?
opchidexio 4 years ago
To both my two friends: Today, June 3, 2007, I uploaded two videos that are somewhat "political" in nature. And guess what? It took the PAID haters less than one hour to show up. The first word uttered was "Idiot." I blocked him. Then a genius showed up and admitted he was paid to post comments!
opchidexio 4 years ago
Hello, old friend. Nice to hear from you.
opchidexio 4 years ago
Thank you!
opchidexio 4 years ago
To those who rated my tribute to Bukowski: Thank You!
opchidexio 4 years ago
Thank god for the invention of toilets,
and just like good ol Bukowski remarked:
when it is flushed away, the feeling of sadness overcomes you...or he said something simular.
But it was so true and so right.
MarkBellinghaus 4 years ago
That's a very poetic share.
I felt the unity that you must have felt--
the unity with the universe,
yet I admit that when I took a dump outside,
as boyscout in Germany,
I was always afraid that "something" would creep up to me,
and bite me...you know what those crazy horror movies
can do to kids...
MarkBellinghaus 4 years ago
This is so true...thanks for your nice and supportive words.
Why are we always looking for the best party,
when this moment,
we are having the time of our life.
And what does it really mean,
to have the time of your life?
Taking a dump, that can be the time of someone's life,
indeed.
Mark
MarkBellinghaus 4 years ago
The only time I recall enjoying life -- even while taking a dump -- was one night while camping outdoors I gazed up at a black sky filled with billions of stars. I had the strange feeling that I was glimpsing reality for the first time and wasn't quite sure if I was meant to see it!
opchidexio 4 years ago