Chapter 23 - All writers are assholes but not all assholes are writers
Great writing advice from a non-writing writer
“A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity.” — Franz Kafka
Kafka one said that “A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity.” I say that all writers are assholes but not all assholes are writers. So it’s better to be an asshole who writes than an asshole who doesn’t.
In my own life I often veer dangerously close to just being an asshole. So in the interests of, you know, actually writing — here’s some hard-won writing advice to help keep both of us on the right track.
You can’t be taught how to write
Irvine Welsh once told me how to write.
He said that there are three ways to learn how to write — read a lot, write a lot, and when all else fails get other writers drunk.
When I say Irvine Welsh told me how to write all I really mean is that I heard him say it at a book reading.
You can’t be taught how to write.
But you can learn how to write.
You learn to write by writing.
You learn to write as much by writing well as you do by writing badly.
Every piece of crap you push out gets…
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