Jack Kerouac: Writing Lesson

Kerouac's "Belief & Technique for Modern Prose." I keep coming back to Jack Kerouac for inspiration. He was kind of a Buddha for the Beat Generation (except that he, uh, drank himself to death at an early age... oops). He cultivated both spontaneity and craft. He became an icon to thousands of young people with road fever but could have equally been a role model for the serious pursuit of any skill (pile of notebooks, endless revisions -- except for the, uh, methamphetamine part). Very Zen.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Kerouac
• Writing
• Tips
• Dharma
• Buddhist
• Meditation
• Zen
• Writers
• Beat
• Generation
• Beats

[drunkmommy93]

you wrote these words? they are very Kerouac-esque and creative! i'm writing a huge essay for him in my English class and I thought these were actual quotes from him :D

[madinpursuit]

@drunkmommy93 These are the words of Jack Kerouac. They are not mine.

[cft08]

YO'RE A GENIUS ALL THE TIME!

[madinpursuit]

@cft08 Thanks! You too. :)

[arkyopshop]

bloody fantastic

[madinpursuit]

Thanks!

[yogeesunshine]

This, this, this right here......yes, yes......this right here..... it's the GAME...it's the formula...roll this up and smoke it!!!!!

[Ashiman12]

If you ask me, these aren't just rules for writing, but rules for living.

[jasonaugustmusic]

Kerouac wouldn't have said Craziness.... He would have said "crazy and craft" Kerouac rejected the modification of adjectives....not, well maybe. I reject this comment~

[dirtynuke]

Amen Amen Amen

[vinnynumbnuts]

oh beauty, you like to dance on waters where people drown...and sometimes i will look on with 'interest' as ignorance, your debt collector, shows up at your door.

[doobie99]

Awful music and narration, kills the inspiration and sanctity of the words. Best watched with the sound off.

[Mattarfakkar]

Fuck yes! Great advice from a fantastic novelist. And on your behalf: very well read. Thank you.

[stratdoc]

Hypo mania journals.. He typed "On the Road" onto a roll of paper so he wouldn't need to stop.. The Beats started the revolution we are fighting today. I would have put some Coltrain or Bird as the saxaphone was the muse of the Beats!