Favorite literary advice?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

Mark Twain advising one to "lie low and keep dark." I love that line!

[DarkTirade]

1. Mark Twain's full of good advice. :)

And such a smartass too. Gotta love him.

[Droopy]

2. When you submit a work for publication

make sure the grammar and spelling are flawless. I learned that from a creative writing professor in college who also publishes a small time, short story magazine. He says that some editors will shit-can a story if the grammar is not perfect no matter how good the story is.

[Haole Girl]

3. José Ortega y Gasset

From On Love

...ordinarily, one has the impression of living amid somnambulists who advance through life buried in a hermetic sleep from which it is impossible to stir them in order make them aware of their surroundings. Probably, humanity has almost always lived in this somnambulistic state in which ideas are not a wide-awake, conscious reaction to things, but a blind, automatic habit, drawn from a repertory of formula which the atmosphere infuses into the individual.

[enigmatic]

4. Bukowski

Many times in letters and direct questions to Bukowski some novice poet/writer who ask him something along the lines of, "I'm trying to become a writer/poet etc; do you have any advice for me?". Bukowski would always answer the same way:

"Don't Try".

[Droopy]

5. That's classic

I love Bukowski. He is one of my favorite writers and I usually don't take to poets. If there ever was a working man's poet, Bukowski is it. RIP Bukowski.

[enigmatic]

6. ha!

Bukowski was my only "hero" for a long time until I discovered Tommy Douglas; Bukowski's words helped keep me alive for many, many years. Have you heard any of his poetry readings? I've got a few on mp3; I'll send them to you if you haven't..

[Droopy]

7. I've never heard his voice

Please send them to me. It would be greatly appreciated.

[enigmatic]

8. I've got your E

Expect something in about 24 hours:thumbsup:

[Droopy]

9. Fuck, man

That's what you told me about the Tommy Douglas info and all I got was his famous cat speech. That was a damn good speech, but it wasn't exactly a whole lot of information.

Come clean with the goods or the puppy gets it!

[A-Schwarzenegger]

10. Rent the engrossing Buk documentary "BORN INTO THIS"...

[Droopy]

11. I don't think they have that at my local video store

Their idea of a documentary is wrestling videos. But I will see if I can find it on the web. Thanks for the tip.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

12. It's fascinating, tragic, hilarious, etc.

In one scene he returns to the very house where he lived as a boy, where his father beat him repeatedly & severely for such transgressions as mowing the lawn and leaving a blade of grass sticking up. Buk was beaten so often that he began to close down and cry less and less. Finally he didnt cry at all one beating, and his father never beat him again. He enters the very room where those beatings took place. There is a suggestion that his terrible acne condition was caused by the beatings and his response/nonresponse to those beatings.

[yellowdogintexas]

13. Dude, How's Oscar doing? Can we draft him for president? nt

[A-Schwarzenegger]

14. Around here he's already Emperor in his own mind.

Although at the Presidential nomination he would certainly raise his amiable eyebrows in a unbridled demonstration of joy.

[Dora]

15. Good poets borrow. Great poets steal. - Eliot (nt)

[Phillycat]

16. "Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much." Oscar Wilde.

And the one in my sig line.

[sarge43]

17. Princess Bride

Never get involved in a land war in Asia. (Oooops)

Anyone who tells you life isn't pain is try to sell you something.