by charles bukowski if it doesn’t come bursting out of you in spite of everything
don’t do it
unless it comes unasked out of your heart and mind and your mouth and your gut
don’t do it
if you have to sit for hours staring at your computer screen
or hunched over your typewriter
searching for words
don’t do it
if you’re doing it for money
or fame
don’t do it
if you’re doing it because you want women in your bed
don’t do it
if you have to sit there and rewrite it again and again
don’t do it
if it’s hard work just thinking about doing it
don’t do it
if you’re trying to write like somebody else
forget about it
if you have to wait for it to roar out of you then wait
patiently
if it never does roar out of you do something else
if you first have to read it to your wife or your girlfriend or your boyfriend or your parents or to anybody at all
your not ready
don’t be like so many writers
don’t be like so many thousands of people who call themselves writers
don’t be dull and boring and pretentious
don’t be consumed with self-love
the libraries of the world have yawned themselves to sleep over your kind
don’t add to that
don’t do it
unless it comes out of your soul like a rocket
unless being still would drive you to madness or suicide or murder
don’t do it
unless the sun inside you is burning your gut
don’t do it
when it is truly time
if you have been chosen
it will do it by itself
and then it will keep on doing it
until you die
or it dies in you
there is no other way
and there never was
About Klark Brown
I spend a larger amount of my time than I should doing my small part improving this industry. I give people ideas and inspiration. Why? Because the momentum of 12,000 people working towards one thing is stronger than 1 person.
In exchange I ask that if you would like to get experienced and successful help from people who have DONE it, you reach out to us. We love what we do, and you will to.
If you are a Restoprenuer™️ and want a guide (think Yoda to Skywalker) to help, thats what we do. www.restorationadvisers.com or simply reply to this email.
