Creative Writing Blog

Chuck Palahniuk’s “Snuff” Available for Preorder on Amazon

“Six hundred dudes. One porn queen. A world record for the ages. A must-have movie for every discerning collector of things erotic.”

Cassie Wright, porn priestess, intends to cap her legendary career by breaking the world record for serial fornication. On camera. With six hundred men. SNUFF unfolds from the perspectives of Mr. 72, Mr. 137, and Mr. 600, who await their turn on camera in a very crowded green room. This wild, lethally funny, and thoroughly researched novel brings the huge yet underacknowledged presence of pornography in contemporary life into the realm of literary fiction at last. Who else but Chuck Palahniuk would dare do such a thing? Who else could do it so well, so unflinchingly, and with such an incendiary (you might say) climax? - Random House.

Well, I can’t say I’m surprised. Chuck Palahniuk has been hailed as an author who’s not afraid to write about the vile, the graphic, or the offensive. I applaud him for that; however, I’m a bit skeptical about how good such a piece of writing would actually be. I suppose I’ll have to find out. Basically in this book 100 guys have sex with a porn star - and we get to read from the perspective of three of these men.

This book is set for a May 20th release date.

You can view more information and preorder the book on the Product Page.

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Good Grammar is Essential

Good spelling, punctuation and grammar are essential to writing a quality piece of writing, regardless of the type. I would much rather read a horribly boring essay that is near-perfect in grammar then a uniquely interesting novel that’s loaded with errors.

Errors are okay in only a select amount of circumstances, namely when it’s intentional. However, one would argue that if an error is intentional, it’s no longer and error. Errors are also acceptable if you’re intend to go back and correct them after proofreading later, so long as the writing piece is accessibly by your eyes exclusively.

Errors of all kinds can ruin otherwise good writing. If your writing is going to be on display, be it published, self-published, or for critique or review, it’s your responsibility to make it error free. Proofread everything twice if you can.

(Spelling, punctuation and grammar are the essential foundations to creating a quality piece of writing of any kind. If you have any questions about SPAG (Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar) then you can find help in this forum.

To Many Ideas, Not Enough Time

A problem I often face myself is being unable to find time to write. Some days I’ll write several thousand words, other days I’ll struggle to write any at all. Sometimes I’ll have a breakthrough, other times I’ll be unable to write for a week. Unforunately, oftentimes it turns out to be the latter.

I don’t mean to be harsh with this post, but the only reason you might not be able to find time to write is because you’re not motivated. Don’t worry, I have the same problem, and now I realize why; I’ve not been motivated enough. Good writing does take time, and if you don’t have time, you have to make time. Make time to write. If you’re a student, write during classes if you can. If you usually spend time watching Seinfeld or a favorite TV show, turn it off and write instead. Oftentimes we don’t want to give up something to make time for something we claim we love. If we really love writing, we’ll find time to write. If we can’t find time, we’ll make time, or we really don’t love the craft.

I suggest you make it part of your daily schedule. You should make a habit of writing. Don’t make excuses either. I suggest doing it in the morning or evening. Wake up early and write for half an hour in the morning, every morning. Alternatively, you could do it in the evening. Stay up an hour later or skip watching television and write, and do it daily.

If you want to be a successful writer, make it a part of a schedule. That’s some of the best advice you’ll ever receive if you’re having trouble making progress and getting the words on the paper.

Survivor by Chuck Palhinuik

About a week ago I finished reading Survivor by Chuck Palahniuk. I had previously read a few books by the author, including Rant and Lullaby. While unique, Survivor lacked the technique of Rant yet, in my opinion, was an improvement on Lullaby. If you’ve read anything by Chuck Palhinuik before, this book also has his unique and distinct style.

Plot (possibly spoilers)

In Survivor, Tender Branson, the product of the Creedish Cult District, must find a way to truly live. Since childhood he was brought up to serve the church district, only to have them all kill themselves in The Deliverance. He is [nearly] the last remaining member of the cult, and as a result he is thrust into stardom. He, using his friends ability, predicts the future periodically to the world. The entire story is recounted by Tender Branson as he is 20,000 feet in the air in a hijacked airplane.

Response

In general, I liked Survivor, though it wasn’t as fast-paced as I would have liked. However, rarely are Palhinuik’s books fast-paced. He instead focuses on technique, which he does quite well. I would recommend this book to anyone if you’re looking for something new or something unique.

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