On Writing

Sharpandmovingreflectionsandruminationsontheartistryandcraftofwritingfromoneofourmosticonoclastic,riveting,andcelebratedmasters.CharlesBukowski’sstories,poems,andnovelshaveleftanenduringmarkonourculture.Inthiscollectionofcorrespondence—letterstopublishers,editors,friends,andfellowwriters—thewritershareshisinsightsontheartofcreation.OnWritingrevealsanartistbrutallyfrankaboutthedrudgeryofworkandcannyanduncompromisingabouttheabsurditiesoflife—andofart.Itilluminatesthehard-edged,complexhumanityofatrueAmericanlegendandcountercultureicon—the“laureateofAmericanlowlife”(Time)—whostoicallyrecordedsociety’sdowntroddenanddepraved.Itexposesanartistgroundedinthevisceral,whoseworkreverberateswithhiscentralideal:“Don'ttry.”Piercing,poignant,andoftenhilarious,OnWritingisfillednotonlywithmemorablelinesbutalsowithBukowski’strademarktoughness,leavenedwithmomentsofgrace,pathos,andintimacy.