Chuck Palahniuk on Life
“If you knew that your life was merely a phase or short, short segment of your entire existence, how would you live? Knowing nothing ‘real’ was at risk, what would you do? You’d live a gigantic, bold, fun, dazzling life. You know you would.”
— Chuck Palahniuk, The AV Club
Chuck Palahniuk had a birthday this week and he’s the author of one of my favorite bits of writing advice — so I thought I’d start tonight’s rabbit hole with him.
I wrote the other day about how no one really knows anything when it comes to bringing a story into the world, whatever the format. Palahniuk’s book Fight Club is an excellent example of that.
He wrote it in an effort to further disturb editors who were disturbed by an earlier book that he couldn’t get published. He didn’t have a literary agent until after the book was published and producers were talking about making it into a movie.
Without further ado — this essay by Chuck Palahniuk may be my favorite. Ever. There are some books I like more, but for short pieces that have just one focus, this one is spectacular.
