出版与作家生涯2022poets.org编辑精选
所以你想成为作家？
So you want to be a writer?
导读
这是 Bukowski 的诗《so you want to be a writer?》，评论区围绕“写作靠天赋灵感还是苦功”展开：有人引用他的另一首诗《Roll the Dice》说明“要么全力以赴，要么别开始”，也有人指出道格拉斯·亚当斯写作极其痛苦却仍写出杰作，反驳“写不出来就该放弃”的浪漫论调。对写作者来说，这组讨论值得一读，因为它逼你直面一个问题：你是想要写作的光环，还是愿意承受写作本身的枯燥与孤独。
可以直接用的写作要点
- 01
不要用“有没有灵感”来判断自己该不该写：Bukowski 式的浪漫天才观只是一种叙事，很多人是在痛苦和反复修改中完成作品的。
- 02
要么认真投入，要么干脆不开始——半心半意的写作既得不到乐趣，也换不来进步。
- 03
把“作家”当成一个动作而不是身份：随身带小本子记录生活里的怪事和细节，练的是把脑中的话变成纸上文字的能力。
- 04
写作在外人看来像发呆，实则是高强度的脑力劳动，要接受这种“看不见的努力”。
HN 评论精选
写作要全力以赴，接受它带来的代价与孤立。
Bukowski 是个矛盾的人，他的墓志铭只有两个字“Don't try”。但在另一首诗《Roll the Dice》里他说的完全相反：如果你要尝试，就全力以赴，否则别开始——这可能意味着失去女友、妻子、亲人、工作甚至理智，可能意味着三四天吃不上饭、在公园长椅上冻着、进监狱、被嘲笑和孤立。而孤立是礼物，其他都只是对你忍耐力的测试。
ai_ia查看英文原文
Bukowski was an eccentric guy and often he used to contradict himself. This poem seems to encompass his life philosophy and which also happens to be written on his tombstone in just two words: "Don't try" However, in his another poem, Roll the Dice, he presents something entirely different outlook on the subject of trying. And this is a poem I really admire. ROLL THE DICE ------------- If you’re going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don’t even start. If you’re going to try, go all the way. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision, mockery, isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you’ll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you’re going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. DO IT. DO IT. DO IT. All the way You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It’s the only good fight there is.
写作困难不等于没有天赋，别把“写得痛苦”当成放弃的理由。
道格拉斯·亚当斯写作极其困难，据 Neil Gaiman 的传记说，每一本书对他都像苦役。幸好他没有听 Bukowski 的话直接放弃。Bukowski 的诗代表一种浪漫观念：艺术是神启，艺术家只是容器；但对很多人来说写作就是艰苦的劳动。有趣的是，文风顽皮的亚当斯写得痛苦，而更自命不凡的 Bukowski 反而写得轻松。
goto11查看英文原文
Apparently Douglas Adams found it very difficult to write. According to the biography by Neil Gaiman it was almost painful for him, every book or manuscript a chore. I'm happy he didn't follow the advice from Bukowski to just give up! Bukowskis poem seem to represent the romantic idea that art is divinely inspired and the artist is just a vessel. Maybe it really felt like that for Bokowski, while for others writing is just hard work. It is funny that Adams who have such a playful style of prose found writing torture, while the much more self-important and edgy Bukowski find it easy. (Assuming the poem represent his own experience.)
随身小本子+随手记录，是训练用词和表达的具体方法。
给想写作的人一个实用建议：买一本 3x5 英寸以下、能插笔的螺旋小本子，随身带着。排队时看到好玩或独特的事就记下来。慢慢地，你会越来越擅长当场选词，把脑中的想法转化成纸面文字、再传达给读者。这是无害的练习，有时你会让自己惊讶。作家就是写。
6stringmerc查看英文原文
For a more mainstream yet unapologetically artistic intro to Bukowski, check out “Factotum” starring Matt Dillon. It’s not perfect and still rather polished, but the tone and darkness and context of his life and writings basically both being the dregs of humanity, well, that’s art being able to share it like he did. Definitely not my taste - give me surrealist James Tate any day… Also, handy tip for those who want to write: get a 3x5” or smaller spiral notebook and a pen with a clip that can fit in the spiral. Put it in your pocket and take it everywhere. See something funny or unique standing in line? Scribble it down. Eventually you’ll get better and better at picking your words on the spot, of translating from your head to the page and then to a reader. It’s harmless practice and sometimes you can surprise yourself. Writers write. Then people accuse us of being lazy because when we’re working the hardest the most anybody sees is somebody glaring at a screen or piece of paper in a typewriter.
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