Henry Charles Bukowski, Jr. was arguably the greatest American fiction writer of the last half of the 20th century.
Fortunately for his book sales, most think of him as the archetypal drunk, misanthropic male pig.
Don’t let the hype fool you, though. Bukowski possessed the secret to something nearly every blogger wants: what makes truly immortal writing.
As I’ve only spent a few minutes with his now 16-year-old corpse lying in San Pedro (see photo above), I can’t speak to his personal life. But the words, the lines, the books, they are evidence of a generous, staggeringly imperfect, stoic genius and lover of life. Sure, a stack of tangled contradictions, who isn’t?
Before (and after) his relatively minor fame hit, Bukowski spent decades mailing his poems and stories to small press magazines, mimeographed booklet makers and the like. Thousands of pages, hundreds of thousands of words. Usually these would go out as originals, no carbon copies.
He once estimated that he’d lost hundreds of poems this way, the publisher usually wouldn’t return the rejected work, and it was gone forever.
It forced him to move on, to work deliberately, to punch through again and again and again without sentiment.
The poetry business, in my opinion, is largely an inbred, favor-driven, audience-less racket. Most folks don’t think about poetry until Terry Gross drags some poor, expressive soul into her studio for a literary interview. And when he or she begins to talk, most folks switch the channel.
Bukowski eventually acquired a raving audience despite this reality. An audience that continues to grow exponentially 16 years after his death. An audience that begs, borrows and steals to get his stuff. An audience that he famously never chased down. An audience that he, in fact, largely pushed away.
How did he do it? How did he go on to sell endless books of poetry and finally lay down in the dirt making an almost six-figure literary income? Several reasons of course, but try this one on for size …
The secret is in the line. ~ Charles Bukowski
Yeah, I know. Don’t dismiss that. Read it again.
The secret is in the line. ~ Charles Bukowski
No 10 point PR plan.
No elaborate structure.
No budget.
No reader polls.
No blog.
The secret is in the line. ~ Charles Bukowski
Sure, Twitter wasn’t around in 1980. And he eventually had John Martin at Black Sparrow Press backing him. But Bukowski himself attributed so much weight to the single line that it eclipsed all else in his philosophy of writing. If the single line was magnificent, the rest would take care of itself.
In a 60,000 word novel, the working focus was on the single line.
In the dirty stories sold to skin mags for money, the working focus was on the single line.
In a small poem that maybe 50 people would read, the working focus was on the single line.
Not easy. Not fast. But this must certainly be the path to immortal (and powerfully influential) writing.
If you can stomach it.
If not, there’s always a place for you in the pedestrian lane.
About the Author: Robert Bruce is an American writer and amateur recluse.
Robert that REALLY caught me thank you Mr Kern raves about CB all the time.
Powerful stuff. Clearly he focused on quality but also kept on producing content… a great mantra for any blogger I’d say.
Simple but difficult advice. Thanks very much for this, Robert.
just read post office for the first time. certainly right about the single line. Bukowski was the master of such simple, yet profound prose.
The secret is in the line…and those who’ve already lived it!
To the greats! Thank you!
I had to re-read this three times. It’s a little obtuse and I’m not a young squirt anymore.
The first time through, I thought maybe Robert had been gargling with beer instead of Listerine. Then, the second time around, I thought maybe a little medicinal toke was the inspiration…but it rains all the time in Portland and who wants to try to smoke a soggy joint?
The third time, I think I got it. Each line you write is “the single line”. There is no line that is more important than another.
If you work at breathing life into each line of your work, the sum is equal to the total of it’s parts.
If I’m wrong, please don’t disillusion me. My world already went upside down in 1962, when I found out that “A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys”. I don’t need any more baggage to pack around.
What a great post this was for me. Write it “one sentence at a time”.
Thanks, Robert
Steve Benedict
Darren, thanks man, didn’t know that about Kern (Frank Kern right?). He just went up a few notches on my wall.
@Robert, yep, Frank Kern credits Bukowski as the person who taught him how to write worth a damn. Pretty cool.
Thanks for the reference to Bukowski. If one reads just one of his published works you will realize how true “The secret is in the line.” is.
Steve,
Listerine is for losers
Of course, I won’t claim a perfect interpretation of what he meant by it, but I’d say your take is good. At least from my experience…
Damn, and I thought Darren was saying Kern raves about the other CB (Copyblogger). But of course he’s secretly jealous of our skills. He just won’t admit it.
Sonia,
Thanks for having me, it’s been great working with you.
Great information. “Single line” concept can be applied to blogging also.
Frank Kern actually introduce this in his Mass Control and he even said that’s where he learn how to write email that really punch in the mind of the reader… well probably it’s true but I just can’t get it although I had read a book of Bukowski.
I love stories about rejection. What? This wasn’t a story about rejection? It was about success? Yes, you’re right, it was. But it was first about rejection. And struggle. And perseverance. And not in just selling the “single line,” but about how each of has our “thing,” and if we can be true to ourselves and to what’s been instilled into each of us as writers, then maybe, just maybe, someone else will hear and agree. And that gives me hope.
> If the single line was magnificent, the rest would take care of itself.
True that. A lot of things come down to the one-line, like the kernel you build your life around.
This reminds me why the “elevator pitch” for a blog (even a post) is so stinkin important. It seems like “smart” people refuse to boil down their jazz into a “single line” – as if our IQ is measured by the word.
I’m taking up the challenge to boil all the stuff I write about, care about, laugh about, and cry about into one line. I’m sure my blog would be much better because of it
@Dorci, rejection, but even more than that, about giving a damn about the words more than about anything else.
@Sonia, yes, yes. Maybe the reason why the single line idea works is that not only does it help the reader to focus on the subject, but it first helps the author to focus on exactly what he or she is really trying to say.
The rejection message was just a personal one for myself. Something that was good for me to read right now.
I am a big fan of copyblogger but this is the first post that has inspired me to comment. Yes! Your post is just another way of saying it’s all about STAYING PRESENT AND IN THE MOMENT. The line you are on right now is always where it’s at.
A little bonus illumination, in his own words:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1e5Jeh2Fk0
“Henry Charles Bukowski, Jr. was arguably the greatest American fiction writer of the last half of the 20th century. ”
Yes! I wholeheartedly agree.
I have read most of his fiction and some of his poetry. Recently saw the documentary, Born Into This.
He is and was a wealth of wisdom.
Trust Bruce to bring it right to your face, like a fingerprint smudged shot glass being held up to the barkeep. Hit me with your good stuff.
(Thank you for the invite Sonia, wouldn’t have missed this for the world. xo)
Robert, muscular man. Muscular.
Brian, he’s always been potent hasn’t he? Just challenged everyone to up their game ten fold. Verra nice.
…and how appropriate good old Chuck’s quote is to copywriting. For without the headline, the rest of the sales letter is lost.
The secret is in the attention that you can grab, the customer that you literally have to grab by the throat, using your own words, and NEVER let go until they make a buying decision.
-Joshua Black
The Underdog Millionaire
Terrific post Bruce. Sorry to say I knew nothing of CB.
That video clip was awesome. That guy was a profound realist. He could hit you with hard truths like a “diamond bullet through the forehead” (stealing a line from Apocalypse Now)
My wife hated that video clip by the way – making it all the better.
Joe
Wow, I guess I better pay closer attention to each line…
Thanks for sharing this – great to learn more about Charles Bukowski!
Great post. Thanks for sharing this
We’ve talked about niches before, but this is a great example.
There are the typical, lovelorn poets & then there’s Bukowski.
Great topic & analogy.
your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness. – Charles Bukowski
I’d contend with your argument that Bukowski was one of the greatest fiction writers of our last half (besides big guns like Faulkner, Hemingway, Steinbeck and Fitzgerald, there are underrated scribes like Flannery O’Connor, Paul Bowles, Cormac McCarthy and Toni Morrison, just to name a few). But he was certainly one of the most original writers we’ve had, and a big personality.
I saw him read at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach many years ago, where he brought his little cooler of Michelobs onstage. He said the reading was over when he finished his beer, and indeed, about 14 beers later it was. He was profane, powerful and soulful, and even his lesser stuff is a good read.
Any time someone writes a tribute to Bukowski, my mood immediately goes up a notch. So does my urge to get wasted and do things I might regret tomorrow. Like sending originals to publishers. That takes some serious ballage to do and from that alone, most of us “creative types” could learn a thing or two.
I love Bukowski. Thank you for reminding me of that.
I must admit, I don’t get what your man means by “The secret is in the line.” …cheers Charles.
@ Charles – The line is the basic unit of composition for poets. Chopping writing up into lines is the main distinction between verse and prose.
Poets think in lines more than sentences – even when we’re writing prose. It makes you really focus on the quality of the writing, making it imperative to find exactly the right words. As Robert points out, it’s a valuable discipline for writers of all kinds.
@ Robert – Awesome stuff (as usual). Next time someone asks me what a poet’s doing writing about internet marketing, I’ll point them to this piece and say “Well if Bukowski could write for skin mags…”.
the interesting things is writing, follow the word, you can own the world.
Great post! Cheers for the inspiration!
Stout post. Sometimes I get a little worn out with Copyblogger because it focuses so much on monetizing the word, but this post was a reminder that the word itself is not to be forgotten in the equation. Write for money, sure, but always write well.
And of course all those interested in Bukowski should read his words before anything, but the films Barfly (my all-time favorite) and Factotum also provide a great insight into the flavor of his work.
SD, we’ve always advocated writing well. But at the end of the day, this is a marketing blog, so that’s our focus. Unlike other publications, however, we also advocate putting some art in your marketing. I hope that sets us apart.
Thanks Brian. No intent to disparage. I like what you guys do, which is why I read everything. Sometimes it just runs a little together on me, so this post in particular got me going a bit (probably because I’m a big Bukowski fan).
I conduct occasional writing workshops for those thinking about writing – and yes, getting published. And the very first thing I tell them is that “only the writing is constant” – not publishing. It’s in the work, commitment, the routine of writing. There is absolutely no other way. Write, write, write. Love the process, the craft, the art. Make it a habit. CB’s philosophy holds true for all of us who try to put words to paper.
I couldn’t agree more. All you have to do is dig a little deeper and find CB’s “Bluebird” to realize the grace and brevity he offered. And we could all aim for more of that.
Robert,
Henry Charles Bukowski Jr…isn’t a name that is familiar to me, until now. It seems he has a profound wisdom. I am fascinated by all that I see. Thanks for opening my eyes to something new, I will check out his work.
Thanks,
Brian Meeks
@ExtremelyAvg
wise words.
i would love to find this secret in the line not only in writing,
but also in the words i chose to say.
thank you for this robert!
I must say I could not agree more with this statement. While it is easier said than followed I think that ultimately that is what makes the best writing. That single brilliant flash that we all chase like an addict looking for the next fix.
Thanks to Mr. Bukowski for breathing life into poetry and, thank you Mr. Bruce, for sharing his wisdom with the rest of us.
I love Charles Bukowski and never really tied him into the whole blogging thing but it just seems so damn obvious now. Great article.
Here is my favourite quote, from Bukowski himself:
For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can’t readily accept the God formula, the big answers don’t remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command or faith a dictum. I am my own God. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.” – Charles Bukowski