7 Practical Pieces of Writing Advice From Chuck Palahniuk

Fight Club Author’s Tips for Aspiring Writers

American writer Chuck Palahniuk’s style of transgressive fiction has captivated and shocked audiences for three decades. He’s written 15 novels, dozens of short stories, and two graphic novels. His work has sold millions of copies, been translated into 35 languages, and spawned countless adaptations — most notably the 1999 cult film Fight Club.

In 2019, Chuck shared thoughts on his life and craft in Consider This — a writer’s memoir bound to stand aside Steven King’s On Writing as one of the classics in the genre. The book contains a treasure trove of wisdom on style, publishing, and storytelling.

This article will focus on the nuts and bolts advice in the book — practical tips that should help writers of all types. Below are seven pieces of advice from Bestseller Chuck Palahniuk.

Tip 1: Move Beyond Description

Palahniuk cites three forms of written communication.

Description: “A man walks into a bar”

Instruction: “Walk into the bar”

Exclamation: “Boom! He walked in the bar”