Style is the answer to everything
A fresh way to approach a dull or dangerous
thing
To do a dull thing with style is preferable
to doing a dangerous thing without it
To do a dangerous thing with style, is what
I call art
Bullfighting can be an art
Boxing can be an art
Loving can be an art
Opening a can of sardines can be an art
Not many have style
Not many can keep style
I have seen dogs with more style than men
Although not many dogs have style
Cats have it with abundance
When Hemingway put his brains
to the wall with a shotgun, that was style
For sometimes people give you style
Joan of Arc had style
John the Baptist
Christ
Socrates
Caesar
García Lorca
I have met men in jail with style
I have met more men in jail with style
than men out of jail
Style is a difference, a way of doing,
a way of being done
Six herons standing quietly in a pool of water,
or you, walking out of the bathroom naked without seeing me
“Style” by Charles Bukowski
The truth?
His message is gold.
His oration is unbearable.
It’s kind of like squid ink ice cream, at first you can’t stand it and then it really starts to grow on you.
You ate squid ink ice cream?
I knew something was a little crazy over there, but that takes the cake
Not meaning to offend anyone who doesn’t share my tastes in poetry, Derek, I couldn’t agree more. I swear, I am the poetry goddess, you see, so I get to make these judgments: This is not a good poem. In fact, it reads more like a superficial treatise than a poem. But then, I’ve never been a big Bukowski fan — his life as a colorful character was more interesting than his poetry, and I always had the feeling he was laughing his ass off at the people who fawned over his work. He makes me smile, though.
Hrm.
I have nothing against his poem. I actually like it.
I just find his oration monotonous and boring.
OK by me, but…hrmmm…not sure I follow — have you heard him recite?
Did you watch the video at the bottom of this blog post?
Ah! Never mind. I didn’t see the video.
And there is a huge lesson right there. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how banal what you say is, if the person saying it is interesting you may have spun some gold.
This is something very good and interesting point made by Robert. Anything you do but an unique style is always remembered. Like Michael Jackson, that great personality and his will remain forever.
People love to read something unique and even if you able to put the old things in new way, people will love it.
Robert Pinsky’s “The Shirt” – that’s unforgettable writing: transforming the mundane process of buying clothes into a compelling social history narrative.
The seamless way that Pinsky moves from concrete to abstract, from noun to verb and back again, from object to organic process…
“Style” feels frayed and disjointed to me by comparison, doilies papering over the beautiful antique table underneath (the message – I’m with you Derek).
Thank you Carol Frome, oh yes, I so agree with you. He is the worst and I know he’s laughing his ass off at the people that are reading things into his writings that aren’t there. Reminds me of the English classes that tried to read deep meanings into Led Zep song lyrics.
. . . preceded by Procul Harum’s Whiter Shade of Pale.
And let us not forget the cake that someone left out in the rain — it took so long to bake it, and thankfully the recipe is lost in the great vacuum of idiotic song lyrics.
Wow, man. That’s deep.
This is interesting, because it seems to me all this judging ‘good’ and judging ‘bad’ could be better directed energy.
Meaning is assigned by the individual, subjectively. Period.
For some people, soul-wrenching revelations are induced by Zep songs, for others, it’s shallow drivel. Suffice to say, each human assigns and perceives their own meaning.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, for realz, y0.
For the record, I adore the poem, and the poet, and what better way to make his point than to deliver ‘bad poetry’ with so much *style* and *interesting personality* that it becomes riveting / discussable?
Absolutely. Not a great poem. Thank you for being brave enough to point this out. The message is clear somewhat–do what ever it is you do with a certain style or finesse, unique to you. I am not a fan of Charles Bukowski’s work either. I think he is right up there with Billy Collins. It is my opinion, I am not an expert
Couldn’t agree with you more Derek. The message is great. The delivery is disconnected, and frustrating.
His own style is a detriment to his words.
Charles Bukowski has style….
Best way to become an unforgettable writer is to read unforgettable writing. We become what we immerse ourselves in. Read too much trash and we start to walk it and talk it. I find Tim Ferris to be boring, Seth Godin to be fascinating. Gah, I could go on. I think this post almost begs for a favorite books list, you think?
We have a few of those, I’ll find ‘em for you.
Yes. I like to read as a writer — with an eye to style and technique. Most people who are mediocre writers fail to press the language in the way that a really good writer does. One of these days, I’ll get around to writing an article or essay about it. Dull as it may seem to others, the subject fascinates me.
You are so right. It fascinates me, too. I once spent hours (hours!) making a list to compare the average grade comprehension level of some of my favorite writers. Does that make me a word nerd? lol
Poetry is not my think, I like Spike Milligan , Roald Dahl and Dr Seuss for their linguistics and fun. What I got from this poem was I have to die brutally (Caesar, Joan d’Arc etc) to have a style… errr, no thanks I’d rather do the deadly dull thing you mention in the first part.
After Derek’s critique I dare not press play on the video
Right there with you, Sarah! I can certainly appreciate poetry, but I’ve always preferred essays and prose. This is an interesting poem; however, I’d also rather avoid pressing that “play” button. Not sure it would be an enjoyable experience!
P.S. Dr. Seuss is one of my favorites as well. Sure, his works are kind of silly when compared to some of the classics, but they never fail to boost my mood!
“Oh! The places you’ll go” has to be the most inspiring thing you can ever read to your kids. I cried whe I first read it to them. Such love in those words.
Indeed they are a terrific mood booster
My favorite Dr. Seuss copy is from The Sneetches.
(Seuss was an ad man, in fact.)
So true. Many writers can tell an amazing stories, but very few can deliver it with a style that’s going to stick with you. Finding your unique angle on language is a make or break for a writer.
Hmmm. I know you’ve got a point. Like, it left a mark.
Bukowski is either loved or hated it seems. But not forgotten or ignored.
So true.
Poets have their audience. I love Emily Dickinson. My students thinks she is boring.
Thinkers have their audience too. I like Seth Godin more than Tim Ferris.
I like Leo Babauta more than Steve Favlina. But Steve has more followers than Leo.
Poetry debate? Not quite Brian. But interesting nonetheless.
Bukowski was a real bum trip with a lot of color. My younger days had me eating breakfast half the week in the booth next to Ginsberg and Corso’s. Corso was incredible. He was also a lousy poker player.
Regarding the thread of the conversation and the content of Bukowski’s message, one of my mentors, Nick Venet, known for his work as a producer for early Linda Ronstadt and John Stewart among many others, had a very simple clear statement to describe dressing things up to make them more acceptable.
“Do you know what happens when you shine up a piece of shit?”
“You get a shiny piece of shit”
Better to work on the core message. I know it doesn’t sell in today’s overly produced, decorated, processed, regurgitated, content-marketing, word-spinner marketplace. But, I’d strongly suggest having something worth saying as the starting point. Get your grammar, punctuation and spelling right unless you are using it for effect. Let the craft take care of itself. If you have great things to say, any way you say it will be great.
@Mark Saxe “If you have great things to say, any way you say it will be great.”
Welllll… perhaps.
And yet, I would listen to Maya Angelou read a random restaurant menu rather than hear Bukowski orate any poetry you care to choose.
Many authors and poets are poor vehicles for the delivery of their own works.
I agree about Maya Angelou, but be careful what you wish for. I repeatedly said I could listen to James Earl Jones read the phone book. Poof, he became a spokesman for the phone company!
And yes, the poem is banal, and his delivery is soporific.
Message and delivery are inseparable, as far as I can tell. So if either is weak, the entire package suffers.
Yes, have something worth saying. But how you say it can make all the difference. If that wasn’t true, every great product would be successful and every shit product would fail.
The smartest bet is to start with a great product, then tell your story with style.
Poetry aside, I’m not sure I see the relevance.
In marketing, what you say is much more important than how you say it.
Styling is nice, but content is king.
And you say that on a copywriting-focused site, which is about how you say it? Interesting.
Bob, take a look at my comment just above.
Wikipedia is very useful, but it makes for lousy marketing copy.
I have never been a fan of poetry, but learning to write poetry may be one of the best things a copywriter can learn to do. Nothing flexes your writing muscles like metered writing.
I think about this quite often. My bent towards poetry informs all my writing — strong verbs, active voice, musicality, alliteration, assonance, imagery, show-don’t-tell, the so-what factor, even the use of white space — it all plays a role in compelling writing, whether you’re a blogger or copywriter, or writing an essay or an article. There’s a lot to said for studying poetics.
Absolutely, Carol. Great point.
Derek
Great piece of writing advice right there – there’s a great section in TALENT IS OVERRATED by Geoff Colvin about how Benjamin Franklin made himself a better writer. Rewriting ‘great essays’ of the time as poetry was one of those ways….hmmm,. who is gonna be the first to rewrite a Copyblogger post as a poem??? (LOL)
Paul
Oh oh. I might have to take this challenge.
Yes, I’ve read Talent is Overrated, and I remember that. That was a great book for anyone looking to read something fantastic too
Definitely a must read! Gives the ‘code’ for how you can get better at just about anything!
It’s ALL about how you say it! If you give style to your words you draw the reader in. Don’t and it’s like dumping ink across the page. It’s not going to get read.
I have enjoyed reading these comments more than the poem. Food for thought as I hone my style. Thank you all!
Agree — often the most interesting part is unpacking the message.
Sometimes style is substance. The degree to which this is true depends on the industry. In lifestyle industries, in fashion, in entertainment, in the arts – style can really take you a long way.
Many times the strength of a message is more in how you say it than in what you are saying.
“To do a dull thing with style is preferable
to doing a dangerous thing without it”
Yep. Copywriting with flair can really sell a dull product. And poorly crafted copy can do a disservice to a great product.
True, you’re so much better off with a strong core message. But I wouldn’t discount the ability of style to compensate for this when due to an error of your own or a serious lacking in the product, there is no solid core.
(As an aside – big applause for working Bukowski into a copywriting post. I’m a fan. He’s overrated. But I’m still a fan. Even though I don’t think this poem here is particularly good as a work of art and he’s written much better, it does possess relevance to copywriting. More than the sleazy sex poems. Well … arguably.)
Not a bad poem…kind of dig his staccato style and I’m glad I read it.
That said, I got here by clicking a Twitter link: “How to Become an Unforgettable Writer.” Not exactly the correct headline is it? How about the truth: “What Bukowski Said About Style” or something? I’m all for punchy headlines, but when they don’t deliver the promise, they set the content up for failure.
It’s not easy (at all) to apply, but the answer to the headline is in that first paragraph.
The middle of that first paragaph is what really stood out to me. So true – we can take a product’s success to new heights or slam it into the rocks with our copywriting (a good reason for companies to invest wisely when it comes to copywriting).
It’s a cliche, but the pen IS mightier than the sword. We wield so much power in the way we wield a pen for our clients.
Sounds really weird but I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. Although, I don’t really understand how this applies to my writing, but from the comments made by all, I’m inspired to write with style.
As a writer friend of mine asked, “We should take advice from a stumbling drunk?”
In this case, yes.
That would be an attack on his character and not his content. In other words, irrelevant.
My comment was to Mr. Cohen, by the way, not you Robert. It just appears that way.
Sonia –
Good marketing copywriting is about persuasion. (Wikipedia is not in the persuasion business.)
For persuasion, you need substance – emotional benefits, supporting features and credibility enhancers.
Style is largely window dressing. And too often, it can become a distraction.
Substance gets people to talk about your product. Style gets people to talk about your writing.
You definitely need all of those things. Writing that’s all style and no substance is tricky to pull off. But I don’t think style is window dressing. Style is a huge part of what makes Apple successful (and profitable). Style was what made Levi’s something other than work pants for French miners.
When it’s just a layer of varnish, it’s unsatisfying — it would be like thinking that an aluminum case would turn a Dell laptop into a Macbook.
When it gets to the level of design and the core of the message, it becomes a true differentiator. And in content marketing, putting remarkable style (not necessarily polish, but a strong clear voice) is often what gets one writer’s content shared and another’s ignored.
If you don’t capture attention, you don’t deliver your message. As markets mature, style matters more and more.
With all due respect, I think you might be confusing purple prose and decoration with good style. Decoration is a distraction, for example, but it’s not good style. Lots of adjectives and adverbs when the right noun or verb would have done the job more elegantly is decoration. But persuasive writing is persuasive because it compels the reader to think or do something. That is far more likely to be accomplished with attention to good style than it is if the text reads like a phone book.
Well put, Carol, thanks.
Boring never killed anyone, but it kills sales everyday.
Robert–thanks so much for your provocative poetry post! (Alliteration, there, Bob.) I love discussing poetry, and this thread is really interesting. Poetry, style, and plain (or not so plain) blogging do indeed intersect.
Now, I’m off to write about: mattresses. Hmm, the poetics of mattresses. Where will this take me?
To sleep, to sleep perchance to dream….
(now that’s poetry)
I just submitted it and came back here. Guess what I started with? Then I took it on a humorous spin.
Charles Bukowski is genius…thx for video.
Genius is probably a stretch, but good nonetheless.
I want to write with style – positive style. This poem is just negative. I think it could be truly beautiful and therefore stylish, if written in a positive vein.
But I wonder Louise, do you think there is a secret message if we play the video backwards?
I’m calling out Prince’s song, “Style.” Same message, funkified:
Style is not biting style when you can’t find the funk
Style is the face you make on a Michael Jordan dunk
Style ain’t the jeep you bought when you know your broke ass got bills
Style is letting your lover drive while you talk on the phone and chill
Style is hailing a cab–then, you know, givin’ them the finger when they pass your ass…
Stumbling-drunk style, funkified style, in-the-joint style, Jesus style… it ain’t what you do, it’s the way you do it. It isn’t what you write. It’s the way you write it.
I get it. Thanks.
Applause.
Robert – I noticed the audio contains the word ‘naked’ that is not represented in the text (the last line)
Good catch Jeff, thanks.
Woohoo! Copyblogger just earned huge points from me (not that it needed them) by posting a poem, and a good one at that.
I like that the video was included in the end. And I, personally, didn’t think his oration was boring. Monotony suits this man.
It was disappointing that Robert Bruce did not write his own poem, but I applaud Copyblogger for doing something different. I agree with the oration opinion.. Dreadful and unstylish.
As far as the topic, yes we need a style and voice of our own to become unforgettable. I love good poetry. This one is okay, but poetry speaks to everyone on a different level.
Yup. Beat me to it.
That, er, strips much of the “style” from the poem, don’t it?
Bukowski makes me remember when I was sixteen and it was hip to read and like him.
I hated him because he was an alcohol addict and because many others admired him.
But thank you for the photo in this post: it is in my hometown Hamburg (Germany).
A poem on Copyblogger, a bit surprising but should be thankful to the team. Something different in the field and yet a brave and successful one. Congrats man, you’ve proved that you are the man in the house.
Thank you for sharing the video.
Good thought provoker!
So what makes style?
Is it dress, what you own, who you know, etc.?
Or…..is it all based in attitude and perception?
Make your own style, don’t be a cow.
Be awesome,
AJ
I enjoyed the audio. Relentless in his dry, dispassionate delivery. As it should be. Otherwise, he’s an actor playing a role.
Exactly.
Style is a weapon and protection layer.
Dogs and Cats need more protection comparing to the men so they are more stylish
Men in jail need more protection than men sitting at computer so their are more stylish
Steve Jobs has power so no need to be stylish
I think you are treading on dangerous waters with “style.” I may be wrong or probably not in the same wave length as you, but it seems that “style” is very personal. you either have it or you don’t. It’s like being graceful in the field of dancing or being photogenic in photography.
It cannot be learned, it just grows into you if you still don’t have it or it shows naturally if it is already there.
Bottom line for writers? Just get in front of the computer and hammer away with what you think and let your gut feel decide whether it is good enough or not. Like I said, style will grow into you if you do it often enough.
Not to be argumentative, here, but I don’t think that a discussion about style is dangerous waters. The discussion doesn’t threaten anyone. Nor does it rob participants of their unique voice. And while it’s true that no one can “learn” talent, one can learn craft, which contributes directly to style, and ultimately to voice. The discussion will, most likely, only heighten awareness and pique curiosity. No harm, no foul.
To have style is to be yourself, but on purpose (as Quentin Crisp neatly described it).
To get there, it helps to have a realistic insight into your personality, accept your limitations, and know who you are.
‘Style is self-plagiarism’ (Alfred Hitchcock)
I too arrived here for the first time via Twitter.
Loved Bukowski when I was a nineteen year-old drug addict. Now, I call BS. Clunky BS. Which is its own style,dig?
Thank you Carol Frome for your lovely post , I am agree with you…………
So what the heck is style anyway? A flair, a je ne sais quoi? Is he saying that style is anything that is different, marching to your own drummer? I wasn’t there when Hemingway blew his brains out or when Jesus healed the lepers or raised Lazuras and neither was he so how can he assume to know what their style was.
I would assume that having style as a writer means either “writing in a certain style” or just a particular way of writing that sets you apart. Something that speaks with your own voice, that makes you you and that way of writing is recognizable and makes you unique.
Anyway, I think this poem is a little silly and just a bit pretentious.
Hi Robert,
Be your voice.
Do you. Write with flair by being present. We have our own style, then our thinking mind speeds us too quickly, causing us to forget our style, in the name of sanitizing, or simple because we fear criticism.
As for the style points, agreed on all of them, except Hemmingway. Anybody taking their life is not looking for style points, or making them…..he was looking for a quick escape…no statement here, just utter despair.
The more voice, the more style, the more unforgettable, the more people will like or hate you, which means you’re simply being you. The person you were meant to be. Observe the comments above and below. Some react. Some respond. Some act first, think later. Some think first, act later. Some take a high energy approach, looking for the benefit of this post. Some take a low energy approach, criticizing of making a silly comment. Some take time in crafting an impactful comment. Some are in too much of a rush to get the next backlink, or feel their comment is insignificant. All styles. All our own.
Thanks for sharing the poem!
RB
Brilliant.
I am a poet, entering the world of copy-writing, and so i understand the determined approach to this particular poem-the reason for it. it can be quite frustrating as a creative to be surrounded by and read the repetitive style-less writing of new media marketing, which is why this is an amazing breath of fresh air, and, well, i respect poetry in all of its forms. Although I prefer to pull a difficult poem apart and read between the lines, not all are like this to the extent of confusion, and I’m my eyes, Charles has written a simple statement in the creative form of poetical writing.
If you are a marketer who has studied the craft of manipulation (in a good way) than it may be quite hard to interpret Bukowski’s “style” as the average audience enjoys easy to read-to the point copy that tells them EXACTLY what they want and how.
What I got from this is culture, and being cultured leads to an effortless style. Effortless style is a hard thing to find, and with the magnitude of personalities on the planet the diction of “effortless style” is warped by the individuals judging the “style” in question. Having style gives writing an edge, a kind of savvy, swarve coolness that portrays a knowledge of profession to those reading.
Mr Robert Bruce has defiantly caused some rather great traffic and conversation with this poetry post, and I am very impressed. Good call Bruce.
The message here is ok, but Hemmingway blowing his brains out is “style” ???? That’s just sick. Maybe I’m missing the so-called art here, but that just ruined it for me.
I agree.
Suicide is not stylish; and romanticizing and dramatizing it is a crime against humanity.
And, as for the other examples of people who died horribly for what they believe. It requires much more courage and style to Live for what one believes in everyday than to die for it. Dying takes only an instant, living takes a lifetime.
That’s style …
>Suicide is not stylish;
You should understand that killing himself or others in many cases just easier with style.
Professional killer doesn’t need to use style to kill people.
Amateur will use style to kill because it’s just easier for him to do this way.
In some cases you will need more style and in others you should decrease it.
Here are some ideas:
Decreasing style:
1) don’t polish shoes
2) don’t wash car if you have rain once in a while
3) don’t put pictures on body
4) don’t use fancy cloth
5) don’t use jewelry beside marriage ring
Increasing style:
1) in writing
2) body building
3) working space
4) people communications
5) in products
He’s not saying suicide is right. But if you have to choose between opening veins, taking pills or blowing your head? Which one has style?
None of the above.
This reminded me of a Boston Globe columnist named George Frazier http://tinyurl.com/3svgrd5
who was known for using the word “duende,” In Spanish it means something like “spirit.”
To Frazier it meant much more. “So difficult to define, “ he wrote, “but when it is there it is unmistakable, inspiring our awe, quickening our memory. To observe someone who has it is to feel icy fingers running up and down our spine.’’
Jory Sherman has a new memoir out called The Beast and the Bastard about his relationship with Bukowski.
This was absolutely awesome. It’s all about “style.” You either have it or you don’t. Good thing about “style” is that if you don’t have it you can create it. So those without any style? Address it appropriately. It can be added to your lifestyle in whatever you do.
~AL
I love the comments more that anything else in this post. Haha. I just can’t help but to say that.
Charles Bukowski Rocks. And so relevant. Copywriting – hell, any writing is about communicating first. And Budowski communicates like flashing a knife communicates “Get the *** away from me” much better than a few words will. Let it come out of you like a rocket! Amazing. And I agree with several otehrs: the debate in this thread is awesome. Enjoyed you all.
This one is a little weird, because of the style he used. It seems like hes trying to make a statement about style and is gonna tell you how to add style, but instead he does it while writing with style, by having it be different. Style is a difference
Thanks for this post. I agree with Derek’s comment above, “… but learning to write poetry may be one of the best things a copywriter can learn to do. Nothing flexes your writing muscles like metered writing.”