Ray Bradbury - Zen in Art of Writing Essays on Creativity 3rd Edition Expanded 1877741094

8/12/2019 Ray Bradbury - Zen in Art of Writing Essays on Creativity 3rd Edition Expanded 1877741094

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Zen in the Art of Writing,

Essays on Creativity

3rd Edition / Expanded

by

Ray Bradbury


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Copyright 1! Ray Bradbury Enterprises"

A## rights reserved under $nternationa# and %an&A'eri(an Copyright

Conventions" )*ing to #i'itations of spa(e, a(+no*#edg'ents to reprint

'ay be found on page 1-"

%ub#ished by .oshua )de## Editions

%ost )ffi(e Box 1-0, anta Barbara, CA 312

ibrary of Congress Cata#oging&in&%ub#i(ation 4ata

Bradbury, Ray, 125

Zen in the art of *riting"

1" Bradbury, Ray, 12& 5Authorship"

" Creative abi#ity"3" Authorship" !" Zen Buddhis'"

$" 6it#e"

%3-23" 17!70 10 0208"os 0&-301

$B9 1&0777!1&2&!

%rinted in the :nited tates of A'eri(a"

4esigned by 6he arabande %ress


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6) =@


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CONTENTS

%RE


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o'eti'es $ a' stunned at 'y (apa(ity as a nine&year&o#d, to understand

'y entrap'ent and es(ape it"

;o* is it that the boy $ *as in )(tober, 1, (ou#d, be(ause of

the (riti(is' of his fourth grade s(hoo#'ates, tear up his Bu(+

Rogers (o'i( strips and a 'onth #ater Dudge a## of his friends

idiots and rush ba(+ to (o##e(ting

Where did that Dudg'ent and strength (o'e fro' What sort

of pro(ess did $ experien(e to enab#e 'e to say $ a' as good as

dead" Who is +i##ing 'e What do $ suffer fro' What8s the (ure

$ *as ab#e, obvious#y, to ans*er a## of the above" $ na'ed the

si(+ness 'y tearing up the strips" $ found the (ure go ba(+ to

(o##e(ting, no 'atter *hat"

$ did" And *as 'ade *e##"

But sti##" At that age When *e are a((usto'ed to responding

to peer pressure


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Where did $ find the (ourage to rebe#, (hange 'y #ife, #ive

a#one

$ don8t *ant to over&esti'ate a## this, but da'n it, $ #ove that

nine&year&o#d, *hoever in he## he *as" Without hi', $ (ou#d not

have survived to introdu(e these essays"


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as you are ab#e to eat, drin+, and digest *ithout hyperventi#ating

and f#opping #i+e a dead fish in your bed"

$ have #earned, on 'y Dourneys, that if $ #et a day go by *ithout

*riting, $ gro* uneasy" 6*o days and $ a' in tre'or" 6hree and $

suspe(t #una(y"


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Wor+ in the 'idst of #ife is that dosage" 6o 'anipu#ate #ife, toss

the bright&(o#ored orbs up to 'ix *ith the dar+ ones, b#ending a

variation of truths" We use the grand and beautifu# fa(ts of

existen(e in order to put up *ith the horrors that aff#i(t us

dire(t#y in our fa'i#ies and friends, or through the ne*spapers

and 6""

6he horrors are not to be denied" Who a'ongst us has not had

a (an(er&dead friend Whi(h fa'i#y exists *here so'e re#ative

has not been +i##ed or 'ai'ed by the auto'obi#e $ +no* of none"

$n 'y o*n (ir(#e, an aunt, and un(#e, and a (ousin, as *e## as six

friends, have been destroyed by the (ar" 6he #ist is end#ess and

(rushing if *e do not (reative#y oppose it"

Whi(h 'eans *riting as (ure" 9ot (o'p#ete#y, of (ourse" @ou

never get over your parents in the hospita# or your best #ove in the

grave"

$ *on8t use the *ord ?therapy,? it8s too (#ean, too steri#e a

*ord" $ on#y say *hen death s#o*s others, you 'ust #eap to set up


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your diving board and dive head first into your type*riter"

6he poets and artists of other years, #ong past, +ne* a## and

everything $ have said here, or put in the fo##o*ing essays" Aristot#e

said it for the ages" ;ave you #istened to hi' #ate#y

6hese essays *ere *ritten at various ti'es over a thirty&year

period, to express spe(ia# dis(overies, to serve spe(ia# needs" But

they a## e(ho the sa'e truths of exp#osive se#f&reve#ation and

(ontinuous astonish'ent at *hat your deep *e## (ontains if you

Dust hau# off and shout do*n it"

H$


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6;E .)@ )< WR$6$9

Zest" usto" ;o* rare#y one

hears these *ords used" ;o* rare#y do *e see peop#e #iving, or for

that 'atter, (reating by the'" @et if $ *ere as+ed to na'e the

'ost i'portant ite's in a *riter8s 'a+e&up, the things that shape

his 'ateria# and rush hi' a#ong the road to *here he *ants to go,

$ (ou#d on#y *arn hi' to #oo+ to his Fest, see to his gusto"

@ou have your #ist of favorite *ritersI $ have 'ine" 4i(+ens,

6*ain, Wo#fe, %ea(o(+, ha*, =o#iJre, .onson, Wy(her#y, a'

.ohnson" %oets erard =an#ey ;op+ins, 4y#an 6ho'as, %ope"

%ainters E# re(o, 6intoretto" =usi(ians =oFart, ;aydn,

Rave#, .ohann trauss KGL" 6hin+ of a## these na'es and you thin+

of big or #itt#e, but nonethe#ess i'portant, Fests, appetites, hungers"

6hin+ of ha+espeare and =e#vi##e and you thin+ of

thunder, #ightning, *ind" 6hey a## +ne* the Doy of (reating in

#arge or s'a## for's, on un#i'ited or restri(ted (anvasses" 6hese

are the (hi#dren of the gods" 6hey +ne* fun in their *or+" 9o

'atter if (reation (a'e hard here and there a#ong the *ay, or


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*hat i##nesses and tragedies tou(hed their 'ost private #ives" 6he

i'portant things are those passed do*n to us fro' their hands

and 'inds and these are fu## to bursting *ith ani'a# vigor and

3


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

inte##e(tua# vita#ity" 6heir hatreds and despairs *ere reported

*ith a +ind of #ove"

oo+ at E# re(o8s e#ongation and te## 'e, if you (an, that he

had no Doy in his *or+ Can you rea##y pretend that 6intoretto8s

od Creating the Ani'a#s of the :niverse is a *or+ founded on

anything #ess than ?fun? in its *idest and 'ost (o'p#ete#y invo#ved

sense 6he best DaFF says, ?onna #ive foreverI don8t

be#ieve in death"? 6he best s(u#pture, #i+e the head of 9efertiti,

says again and again, ?6he Beautifu# )ne *as here, is here, and

*i## be here, forever"? Ea(h of the 'en $ have #isted seiFed a bit of

the Mui(+si#ver of #ife, froFe it for a## ti'e and turned, in the b#aFe

of their (reativity, to point at it and (ry, ?$sn8t this goodG? And it

*as good"

What has a## this to do *ith *riting the short story in our

ti'es


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)n#y this if you are *riting *ithout Fest, *ithout gusto,

*ithout #ove, *ithout fun, you are on#y ha#f a *riter" $t 'eans you

are so busy +eeping one eye on the (o''er(ia# 'ar+et, or one ear

pee#ed for the avant&garde (oterie, that you are not being yourse#f"

@ou don8t even +no* yourse#f"


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6;E .)@ )< WR$6$9

s#a''ed the page #i+e a #ightning bo#t What are the best things

and the *orst things in your #ife, and *hen are you going to get

around to *hispering or shouting the'

Wou#dn8t it be *onderfu#, for instan(e, to thro* do*n a (opy of

;arper8s BaFaar you happened to be #eafing through at the dentist8s,

and #eap to your type*riter and ride off *ith hi#arious

anger, atta(+ing their si##y and so'eti'es sho(+ing snobbishness

@ears ago $ did Dust that" $ (a'e a(ross an issue *here the

BaFaar photographers, *ith their perverted sense of eMua#ity,

on(e again uti#iFed natives in a %uerto Ri(an ba(+street as props

in front of *hi(h their starvedoo+ing 'anni+ins postured for

the benefit of yet 'ore e'a(iated ha#f&*o'en in the best sa#ons in

the (ountry" 6he photographs so enraged 'e $ ran, did not *a#+,

to 'y 'a(hine and *rote ?un and hado*,? the story of an o#d

%uerto Ri(an *ho ruins the BaFaar photographer8s afternoon by

snea+ing into ea(h pi(ture and dropping his pants"


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$ dare say there are a fe* of you *ho *ou#d #i+e to have done

this Dob" $ had the fun of doing itI the (#eansing after effe(ts of the

hoot, the ho##er, and the great horse#augh" %robab#y the editors at

the BaFaar never heard" But a #ot of readers did and (ried, ?o it,

BaFaar, go it, BradburyG? $ (#ai' no vi(tory" But there *as b#ood

on 'y g#oves *hen $ hung the' up"

When *as the #ast ti'e you did a story #i+e that, out of pure

indignation

When *as the #ast ti'e you *ere stopped by the po#i(e in your

neighborhood be(ause you #i+e to *a#+, and perhaps thin+, at

-


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

night $t happened to 'e Dust often enough that, irritated, $

*rote ?6he %edestrian,? a story of a ti'e, fifty years fro' no*,

*hen a 'an is arrested and ta+en off for (#ini(a# study be(ause he

insists on #oo+ing at un&te#evised rea#ity, and breathing un&air(onditioned

air"

$rritations and angers aside, *hat about #oves What do you

#ove 'ost in the *or#d 6he big and #itt#e things, $ 'ean" A

tro##ey (ar, a pair of tennis shoes 6hese, at one ti'e *hen *e

*ere (hi#dren, *ere invested *ith 'agi( for us" 4uring the past

year $8ve pub#ished one story about a boy8s #ast ride in a tro##ey

that s'e##s of a## the thunderstor's in ti'e, fu## of (oo#5green

'oss&ve#vet seats and b#ue e#e(tri(ity, but doo'ed to be rep#a(ed

by the 'ore prosai(, 'ore pra(ti(a#&s'e##ing bus" Another story

(on(erned a boy *ho *anted to o*n a pair of ne* tennis shoes for

the po*er they gave hi' to #eap rivers and houses and streets, and

even bushes, side*a#+s, and dogs" 6he shoes *ere to hi', the


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surge of ante#ope and gaFe##e on Afri(an su''er ve#dt" 6he

energy of un#eashed rivers and su''er stor's #ay in the shoesI he

had to have the' 'ore than anything e#se in the *or#d"

o, si'p#y then, here is 'y for'u#a"

What do you *ant 'ore than anything e#se in the *or#d What

do you #ove, or *hat do you hate


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6;E .)@ )< WR$6$9

story" 6he Fest and gusto of his need, and there is Fest in hate as

*e## as in #ove, *i## fire the #ands(ape and raise the te'perature of

your type*riter thirty degrees"

A## of this is pri'ari#y dire(ted to the *riter *ho has a#ready

#earned his tradeI that is, has put into hi'se#f enough gra''ati(a#

too#s and #iterary +no*#edge so he *on8t trip hi'se#f up *hen

he *ants to run" 6he advi(e ho#ds good for the beginner, too,

ho*ever, even though his steps 'ay fa#ter for pure#y te(hni(a#

reasons" Even here, passion often saves the day"

6he history of ea(h story, then, shou#d read a#'ost #i+e a

*eather report ;ot today, (oo# to'orro*" 6his afternoon, burn

do*n the house" 6o'orro*, pour (o#d (riti(a# *ater upon the

si''ering (oa#s" 6i'e enough to thin+ and (ut and re*rite

to'orro*" But today5exp#ode5f#y apart5disintegrateG 6he

other six or seven drafts are going to be pure torture" o *hy not


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enDoy the first draft, in the hope that your Doy *i## see+ and find

others in the *or#d *ho, reading your story, *i## (at(h fire, too

$t doesn8t have to be a big fire" A s'a## b#aFe, (and#e#ight

perhapsI a #onging for a 'e(hani(a# *onder #i+e a tro##ey or an

ani'a# *onder #i+e a pair of snea+ers rabbiting the #a*ns of ear#y

'orning" oo+ for the #itt#e #oves, find and shape the #itt#e bitternesses"

avor the' in your 'outh, try the' on your type*riter"

When did you #ast read a boo+ of poetry or ta+e ti'e, of an

afternoon, for an essay or t*o ;ave you ever read a sing#e issue of

eriatri(s, the )ffi(ia# .ourna# of the A'eri(an eriatri(s o(iety,

a 'agaFine devoted to ?resear(h and (#ini(a# study of the

7


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diseases and pro(esses of the aged and aging? )r read, or even

seen, a (opy of What8s 9e*, a 'agaFine pub#ished by the Abbott

aboratories in 9orth Chi(ago, (ontaining arti(#es su(h as

?6ubo(urarene for Cesarean e(tion? or ?%henurone in Epi#epsy,?

but a#so uti#iFing poe's by Wi##ia' Car#os Wi##ia's,

Ar(hiba#d =a(#eish, stories by C#ifton


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6;E .)@ )< WR$6$9

6ho'as Wo#fe ate the *or#d and vo'ited #ava" 4i(+ens dined

at a different tab#e every hour of his #ife" =o#iJre, tasting so(iety,

turned to pi(+ up his s(a#pe#, as did %ope and ha*" Every*here

you #oo+ in the #iterary (os'os, the great ones are busy #oving and

hating" ;ave you given up this pri'ary business as obso#ete in

your o*n *riting What fun you are 'issing, then" 6he fun of

anger and disi##usion, the fun of #oving and being #oved, of 'oving

and being 'oved by this 'as+ed ba## *hi(h dan(es us fro' (rad#e

to (hur(hyard" ife is short, 'isery sure, 'orta#ity (ertain" But

on the *ay, in your *or+, *hy not (arry those t*o inf#ated pig&

b#adders #abe#ed Zest and usto" With the', trave#ing to the

grave, $ intend to s#ap so'e du''ox8s behind, pat a pretty gir#8s

(oiffure, *ave to a tad up a persi''on tree"

Anyone *ants to Doin 'e, there8s p#enty of roo' in Coxie8s

Ar'y"


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173


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Run fast, stand sti##" 6his, the

#esson fro' #iFards"


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the drainspout outside your grandparents8 *indo* #ong ago" Be

dande#ion *ine in the +et(hup bott#e (apped and p#a(ed *ith an

in+ed ins(ription .une 'orn, first day of u''er, 13" u'

13


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boo+s and 'agaFines"

$ gre* up reading and #oving the traditiona# ghost stories of

4i(+ens, ove(raft, %oe, and #ater, >uttner, B#o(h, and C#ar+

Ashton 'ith" $ tried to *rite stories heavi#y inf#uen(ed by

various of these *riters, and su((eeded in 'a+ing Muadrup#e&

#ayered 'udpies, a## #anguage and sty#e, that *ou#d not f#oat, and

san+ *ithout a tra(e" $ *as too young to identify 'y prob#e', $

*as so busy i'itating"

$ a#'ost b#undered into 'y (reative se#f in 'y #ast year in high

s(hoo#, *hen $ *rote a +ind of #ong re'e'bran(e of the deep

ravine in 'y ho'e to*n, and 'y fear of it at night" But $ had no

story to go *ith the ravine, so 'y dis(overing the true sour(e of

'y future *riting *as put off for so'e fe* years"

1!


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around su''er noons and )(tober 'idnights, sensing that there

so'e*here in the bright and dar+ seasons 'ust be so'ething

that *as rea##y 'e"

$ fina##y found it one afternoon *hen $ *as t*enty&t*o years

o#d" $ *rote the tit#e ?6he a+e? on the first page of a story that

finished itse#f t*o hours #ater" 6*o hours after that $ *as sitting at

'y type*riter out on a por(h in the sun, *ith tears running off

the tip of 'y nose, and the hair on 'y ne(+ standing up"

Why the arousa# of hair and the dripping nose

$ rea#iFed $ had at #ast *ritten a rea##y fine story" 6he first, in

ten years of *riting" And not on#y *as it a fine story, but it *as

so'e sort of hybrid, so'ething verging on the ne*" 9ot a tradi

1-


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

tiona# ghost story at a##, but a story about #ove, ti'e, re'e'bran(e,

and dro*ning"

$ sent it off to .u#ie (h*artF, 'y pu#p agent, *ho #i+ed it, but

said it *as not a traditiona# ta#e and 'ight be hard to se##" Weird

6a#es *a#+ed around it, tou(hed it *ith a ten&foot po#e, and fina##y

de(ided, *hat the hey, to pub#ish it, even though it didn8t fit their

'agaFine" But $ 'ust pro'ise, next ti'e, to *rite a good o#d&

fashioned ghost storyG $ pro'ised" 6hey gave 'e t*enty do##ars,

and everyone *as happy"

We##, so'e of you +no* the rest" ?6he a+e? has been reprinted

doFens of ti'es in the forty&four years sin(e" And it *as

the story that first got various editors of other 'agaFines to sit up

and noti(e the guy *ith the aroused hair and the *et nose"

4id $ #earn a hard, fast, or even an easy #esson fro' ?6he


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a+e? $ did not" $ *ent ba(+ to *riting the o#d&fashioned ghost

story"


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give bread, as it *ere, to the birds"

#an(ing over the #ist, $ dis(overed 'y o#d #ove and fright

having to do *ith (ir(uses and (arniva#s" $ re'e'bered, and then

forgot, and then re'e'bered again, ho* terrified $ had been

*hen 'y 'other too+ 'e for 'y first ride on a 'erry&go&round"

With the (a##iope s(rea'ing and the *or#d spinning and the

terrib#e horses #eaping, $ added 'y shrie+s to the din" $ did not go

near the (arouse# again for years" When $ rea##y did, de(ades #ater,

it rode 'e into the 'idst of o'ething Wi(+ed 6his Way Co'es"

But #ong before that, $ *ent on 'a+ing the #ists" 6;E

=EA4)W" 6;E 6)@ C;E6" 6;E =)96ER" 6@RA99)A:R:

REH" 6;E 6)W9 C)C>" 6;E )4

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=A9" 6;E )4 W)=A9" 6;E 6EE%;)9E" 6;E

$4EWA>" 6;E C)


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?peop#e? *riter, and to he## *ith thatG

$ *ent on 'a+ing #ists, having to do not on#y *ith night,

night'ares, dar+ness, and obDe(ts in atti(s, but the toys that 'en

p#ay *ith in spa(e, and the ideas $ found in dete(tive 'agaFines"

=ost of the dete(tive 'ateria# $ pub#ished in 'y t*enty&fourth

year in 4ete(tive 6a#es and 4i'e 4ete(tive is not *orth rereading"

;ere and there, $ fe## over 'y o*n shoe#a(es and did a near#y good

Dob of re'e'bering =exi(o, *hi(h s(ared 'e, or do*nto*n os

Ange#es during the %a(hu(ho riots" But it *ou#d ta+e 'e the

better part of forty years to assi'i#ate the dete(tive/'ystery/

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$t began to be obvious that $ *as #earning fro' 'y #ists of

nouns, and that $ *as further #earning that 'y (hara(ters *ou#d

do 'y *or+ for 'e, if $ #et the' a#one, if $ gave the' their heads,

*hi(h is to say, their fantasies, their frights"

$ #oo+ed at 'y #ist, sa* >EE6)9, and re'e'bered the

first art*or+s of 'y (hi#dhood" $ dre* s+e#etons to s(are 'y gir#

(ousins" $ *as fas(inated *ith those un(#othed 'edi(a# disp#ays

of s+u##s and ribs and pe#vi( s(u#ptures" =y favorite tune *as

?86ain8t 9o in, 6o 6a+e )ff @our +in, and 4an(e Around in

@our Bones"?

Re'e'bering 'y ear#y art*or+ and 'y favorite tune, $ a'b#ed

into 'y do(tor8s offi(e one day *ith a sore throat" $ tou(hed 'y

1


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

Ada'8s app#e, and the tendons on ea(h side of 'y ne(+, and as+ed

for his 'edi(a# advi(e"

?>no* *hat you8re suffering fro'? as+ed the do("

?What?

?4is(overy of the #arynxG? he (ro*ed" ?6a+e so'e aspirin"

6*o do##ars, p#easeG?

4is(overy of the #arynxG =y od, ho* beautifu#G $ trotted

ho'e, fee#ing 'y throat, and then 'y ribs, and then 'y 'edu##a

ob#ongata, and 'y +nee(aps" ;o#y =osesG Why not *rite a story

about a 'an *ho is terrified to dis(over that under his s+in, inside

his f#esh, hidden, is a sy'bo# of a## the othi( horrors in history5

a s+e#etonG


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6he story *rote itse#f in a fe* hours"

A perfe(t#y obvious (on(ept, yet no one e#se in the history of

*riting *eird ta#es had ever s(ribb#ed it do*n" $ fe## into 'y

type*riter *ith it and (a'e up *ith a brand&ne*, abso#ute#y

origina# ta#e, *hi(h had been #ur+ing under 'y s+in sin(e $ first

dre* a s+u## and (rossbones, aged six"

$ began to gain stea'" 6he ideas (a'e faster no*, and a## of

the' fro' 'y #ists" $ pro*#ed up in 'y grandparents8 atti(s and

do*n in their base'ents" $ #istened to the 'idd#e&of&the&night

#o(o'otives *ai#ing a(ross the northern $##inois #ands(ape, and

that *as death, a funera# train, ta+ing 'y #oved ones a*ay to so'e

far graveyard" $ re'e'bered five o8(#o(+ in the 'orning, preda*n

arriva#s of Ring#ing Brothers, Barnu' and Bai#ey, and a##

the ani'a#s parading by before sunrise, heading for the e'pty

2


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brings ?(o'pany? *ith hi'"

=y #isted tit#e 6;E )4 W)=A9 be(a'e t*o stories, one

?6here Was an )#d Wo'an,? about a #ady *ho refuses to die and

de'ands her body ba(+ fro' the underta+ers, defying 4eath,

and a se(ond ta#e, ?eason of 4isbe#ief,? about so'e (hi#dren

*ho refuse to be#ieve that a very o#d *o'an *as ever young, *as

ever a gir#, a (hi#d" 6he first story appeared in 'y first (o##e(tion,

4ar+ Carniva#" 6he se(ond be(a'e part of a further *ord&

asso(iation test $ gave 'yse#f, (a##ed 4ande#ion Wine"

We (an sure#y see no*, (an8t *e, that it is the persona# observa

1


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

tion, the odd fan(y, the strange (on(eit, that pays off" $ *as

fas(inated by o#d peop#e" $ tried to so#ve their 'ystery *ith 'y

eyes and young 'ind but *as (ontinua##y astounded to rea#iFe

that on(e upon a ti'e they had been 'e, and so'e day up ahead $

*ou#d be the'" Abso#ute#y i'possib#eG @et there the boys and

gir#s *ere, #o(+ed in o#d bodies, a dreadfu# situation, a terrib#e

tri(+, right before 'y gaFe"

%i#fering fro' 'y #ist, again, $ seiFed out the tit#e 6; E .AR,

the resu#t of 'y being stunned at an en(ounter *ith a series of

e'bryos on disp#ay in a (arniva# *hen $ *as t*e#ve and again

*hen $ *as fourteen" $n those #ong&gone days of 13 and 13!,

*e (hi#dren +ne* nothing, of (ourse, abso#ute#y nothing about

sex and pro(reation" o you (an i'agine ho* astounded $ *as

*hen $ pro*#ed through a free (arniva# exhibit and sa* a## those

fetuses of hu'ans and (ats and dogs, disp#ayed in #abe#ed Dars" $

*as sho(+ed by the #oo+ of the unborn dead, and the ne* 'ysteries


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of #ife they (aused to rise up in 'y head #ater that night and a##

through the years" $ never 'entioned the Dars and the for'a#dehyde

fetuses to 'y parents" $ +ne* $ had stu'b#ed on so'e

truths *hi(h *ere better not dis(ussed"

A## of this surfa(ed, of (ourse, *hen $ *rote ?6he .ar,? and the

(arniva# and the feta# disp#ays and a## the o#d terrors poured out of

'y fingertips into 'y type*riter" 6he o#d 'ystery had fina##y

found a resting p#a(e, in a story"

$ found another tit#e in 'y #ist, 6; E CR)W4" And, typing

furious#y, $ re(a##ed a terrib#e (on(ussion *hen $ *as fifteen and


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had they a## (o'e fro' ater on in ti'e, $ (ou#d on#y i'agine

that so'e (a'e, in so'e strange fashion, out of the e'pty fa(tories,

or even 'ore strange#y, out of the graveyard" After typing

for on#y a fe* 'inutes, it (a'e to 'e that, yes, this (ro*d *as

a#*ays the sa'e (ro*d, that it gathered at a## a((idents" 6hese

*ere vi(ti's fro' a((idents years ago, doo'ed to (o'e ba(+ and

haunt the s(ene of ne* a((idents as they o((urred"

)n(e $ hit on this idea, the story finished itse#f in a sing#e

afternoon"

=ean*hi#e, the (arniva# artifa(ts *ere gathering (#oser, their

great bones starting to thrust up through 'y s+in" $ *as 'a+ing

3


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#onger and #onger prose poe' ex(ursions about (ir(uses that

arrived #ong after 'idnight" 4uring those years, in 'y ear#y

t*enties, pro*#ing a =irror =aFe on the o#d eni(e %ier *ith 'y

friends eigh Bra(+ett and Ed'ond ;a'i#ton, Ed sudden#y

(ried, ?et8s get out of here, before Ray *rites a story about a

d*arf *ho pays his *ay in here every night so he (an stand and

'a+e hi'se#f ta## in the big stret(h 'irrorG? ?6hat8s itG? $

shouted, and ran ho'e to *rite ?6he 4*arf"? ?6hat8## tea(h 'e

to shoot off 'y 'outh,? said Ed, *hen he read the story the next

*ee+"

6; E BAB@ on that #ist *as, of (ourse, 'e"

$ re'e'bered an o#d night'are" $t *as about being born" $

re'e'bered #ying in 'y (rib, three days o#d, *ai#ing *ith the

+no*#edge of being thrust out into the *or#dI the pressure, the

(o#d, the shrie+ing into #ife" $ re'e'bered 'y 'other8s breast" $


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re'e'bered the do(tor, on the fourth day of 'y #ife, bending over

'e *ith a s(a#pe# to perfor' (ir(u'(ision" $ re'e'bered, $

re'e'bered"

$ (hanged the tit#e fro' 6;E BAB@ to ?6he 'a## Assassin"?

6hat story has been antho#ogiFed doFens of ti'es" And $ had

#ived the story, or part of it, fro' 'y first hour of #ife on*ard,

and on#y tru#y re'e'bered and nai#ed it do*n in 'y t*enties"

4id $ *rite stories based on every sing#e noun in 'y pages and

pages of #ists

9ot a##" But 'ost" 6;E 6RA% 4))R, #isted *ay ba(+ in

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R:9 atherine Anne %orter, .ohn

Co##ier, Eudora We#ty5and boo+s56he ost Wee+end, )ne

=an8s =eat, Rain in the 4oor*ay5to be read and #earned fro'"


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A#ong the *ay, he gave 'e a (opy of Winesburg, )hio, by her*ood

Anderson"


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adDe(tives, *hi(h des(ribed a territory un+no*n, an undis(overed

(ountry, part of it 4eath, the rest ife" $f $ had not

'ade up these pres(riptions for 4is(overy $ *ou#d never have

be(o'e the Da(+da* ar(haeo#ogist or anthropo#ogist that $ a'"

6hat Da(+da* *ho see+s bright obDe(ts, odd (arapa(es and 'isshapen

fe'urs fro' the boneheaps of Dun+ inside 'y head, *here

#ay stre*n the re'nants of (o##isions *ith #ife as *e## as Bu(+

Rogers, 6arFan, .ohn Carter, Ouasi'odo, and a## the other (reatures

*ho 'ade 'e *ant to #ive forever"

$n the *ords of the o#d =i+ado song, $ had a #itt#e #ist, save it

*as a #ong one, *hi(h #ed 'e into 4ande#ion Wine (ountry and

he#ped 'e 'ove the 4ande#ion Wine (ountry up to =ars, and

ri(o(heted 'e ba(+ into dar+ *ine territory as =r" 4ar+8s night

train arrived #ong before da*n" But the first and 'ost i'portant

pi#eup of nouns *as the one fi##ed *ith #eaves *hispering a#ong

the side*a#+s at 322 A"=" and funera#s *hee#ing by on e'pty


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rai#tra(+s, fo##o*ing, and (ri(+ets that sudden#y, for no reason,

shut up, so you (ou#d hear your o*n heart, and *ish you (ou#dn8t"

Whi(h #eads us to a fina# reve#ation 5

)ne of the nouns on 'y #ist in high s(hoo# *as 6he 6hing, or,

better yet, 6he 6hing at 6he 6op of 6he tairs"

When $ *as gro*ing up in Wau+egan, $##inois, there *as on#y

one bathroo'I upstairs" @ou had to (#i'b an un#it ha## ha#f*ay

before you (ou#d find and turn on a #ight" $ tried to get 'y dad to

+eep the #ight on a## night" But that *as expensive stuff" 6he #ight

stayed off"


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(o'e ba(+ do*n to have 'y tearstained fa(e +issed and 'y

terrified body tu(+ed in bed"

6he next night and the next night and the night after that, the

sa'e thing happened" 4riven 'ad by 'y hysteria, 4ad got out

the o#d (ha'ber pot and shoved it under 'y bed"

But $ *as never (ured" 6he 6hing re'ained there forever"

)n#y 'oving West *hen $ *as thirteen got 'e a*ay fro' that

terror"

What have $ done, re(ent#y, about that night'are We##" " "

9o*, very #ate in ti'e, 6he 6hing is standing up at the top of

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the stairs, sti## *aiting"


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" " " 'ay *e## (o'e do*n"

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$t isn8t easy" 9obody has ever

done it (onsistent#y" 6hose *ho try hardest, s(are it off into the

*oods" 6hose *ho turn their ba(+s and saunter a#ong, *hist#ing

soft#y bet*een their teeth, hear it treading Muiet#y behind the',

#ured by a (arefu##y a(Muired disdain"

We are of (ourse spea+ing of 6he =use"

6he ter' has fa##en out of the #anguage in our ti'e" =ore often

than not *hen *e hear it no* *e s'i#e and su''on up i'ages of

so'e fragi#e ree+ goddess, dressed in ferns, harp in hand,

stro+ing the bro* of your perspiring (ribe"

6he =use, then, is that 'ost terrified of a## the virgins" he

starts if she hears a sound, pa#es if you as+ her Muestions, spins and

vanishes if you disturb her dress"

What ai#s her you as+" Why does she f#in(h at the stare

Where does she (o'e fro' and *here go ;o* (an *e get her to


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visit for #onger periods of ti'e What te'perature p#easures her

4oes she #i+e #oud voi(es, or soft Where do you buy food for her,

and of *hat Mua#ity and Muantity, and *hat hours for dining

We 'ight start off by paraphrasing )s(ar Wi#de8s poe', substituting

the *ord ?Art? for ?ove"?

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Art *i## f#y if he#d too #ight#y,

Art *i## die if he#d too tight#y,

ight#y, tight#y, ho* do $ +no*

Whether $8' ho#ding or #etting Art go


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ruptures in one8s attention at a## hours of the day" 6hey spoi# *hat

you are #oo+ing at, by getting in the *ay" %eop#e have gone to

psy(hiatrists *ith the prob#e' of ?spe(+s"? 6he inevitab#e advi(e

ignore the', and they8## go a*ay" 6he fa(t is, they don8t go

a*ayI they re'ain, but *e fo(us out beyond the', on the *or#d

and the *or#d8s ever&(hanging obDe(ts, as *e shou#d"

o, too, *ith our =use" $f *e fo(us beyond her, she regains her

poise, and stands out of the *ay"

$t is 'y (ontention that in order to >eep a =use, you 'ust first

offer food" ;o* you (an feed so'ething that isn8t yet there is a

#itt#e hard to exp#ain" But *e #ive surrounded by paradoxes" )ne

'ore shou#dn8t hurt us"

6he fa(t is si'p#e enough" 6hrough a #ifeti'e, by ingesting

food and *ater, *e bui#d (e##s, *e gro*, *e be(o'e #arger and

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What is 6he ub(ons(ious to every other 'an, in its (reative

aspe(t be(o'es, for *riters, 6he =use" 6hey are t*o na'es for

one thing" But no 'atter *hat *e (a## it, here is the (ore of the

individua# *e pretend to exto#, to *ho' *e bui#d shrines and

ho#d #ip servi(es in our de'o(rati( so(iety" ;ere is the stuff of

origina#ity"


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+no*, seeing the sa'e a((ident, fi#e it *ith different (ross&

referen(es, in another part of their o*n a#ien a#phabet" 6here are

not one&hundred e#e'ents, but t*o bi##ion e#e'ents in the *or#d"

A## *ou#d assay different#y in the spe(tros(opes and s(a#es"

We +no* ho* fresh and origina# is ea(h 'an, even the s#o*est

and du##est" $f *e (o'e at hi' right, ta#+ hi' a#ong, and give hi'

his head, and at #ast say, What do you *ant K)r if the 'an is very

o#d, What did you *antL every 'an *i## spea+ his drea'" And

*hen a 'an ta#+s fro' his heart, in his 'o'ent of truth, he

spea+s poetry"

$ have had this happen not on(e but a thousand ti'es in 'y #ife"

=y father and $ *ere rea##y not great friends, unti# very #ate" ;is

#anguage, his thought, fro' day to day, *as not re'ar+ab#e, but

*henever $ said, ?4ad, te## 'e about 6o'bstone *hen you *ere

seventeen,? or ?the *heatfie#ds, =innesota, *hen you *ere


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t*enty,? 4ad *ou#d begin to spea+ about running a*ay fro'

ho'e *hen he *as sixteen, heading *est in the ear#y part of this

(entury, before the #ast boundaries *ere fixed5*hen there *ere

no high*ays, on#y horse paths, and train tra(+s, and the o#d

Rush *as on in 9evada"

9ot in the first 'inute, or the se(ond, or the third 'inute, no,

did the thing happen to 4ad8s voi(e, did the right (aden(e (o'e,

or the right *ords" But after he had ta#+ed five or six 'inutes and

got his pipe going, Muite sudden#y the o#d passion *as ba(+, the

o#d days, the o#d tunes, the *eather, the #oo+ of the sun, the sound

of the voi(es, the box(ars trave#ing #ate at night, the Dai#s, the

3!


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)h, it8s #i'ping (rude hard *or+ for 'any, *ith #anguage in

their *ay" But $ have heard far'ers te## about their very first

*heat (rop on their first far' after 'oving fro' another state,

and if it *asn8t Robert


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$f it see's $8ve (o'e the #ong *ay around, perhaps $ have" But

$ *anted to sho* *hat *e a## have in us, that it has a#*ays been

there, and so fe* of us bother to noti(e" When peop#e as+ 'e

*here $ get 'y ideas, $ #augh" ;o* strange5*e8re so busy

#oo+ing out, to find *ays and 'eans, *e forget to #oo+ in"

6he =use, to be#abor the point then, is there, a fantasti(

storehouse, our (o'p#ete being" A## that is 'ost origina# #ies

*aiting for us to su''on it forth" And yet *e +no* it is not as

easy as that" We +no* ho* fragi#e is the pattern *oven by our

fathers or un(#es or friends, *ho (an have their 'o'ent destroyed

by a *rong *ord, a s#a''ed door, or a passing fire&*agon" o,

too, e'barrass'ent, se#f&(ons(iousness, re'e'bered (riti(is's,

(an stif#e the average person so that #ess and #ess in his #ifeti'e

(an he open hi'se#f out"

et8s say that ea(h of us has fed hi'se#f on #ife, first, and #ater,


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on boo+s and 'agaFines" 6he differen(e is that one set of events

happened to us, and the other *as for(ed feeding"

$f *e are going to diet our sub(ons(ious, ho* prepare the

'enu

We##, *e 'ight start our #ist #i+e this

Read poetry every day of your #ife" %oetry is good be(ause it

f#exes 'us(#es you don8t use often enough" %oetry expands the

senses and +eeps the' in pri'e (ondition" $t +eeps you a*are of

your nose, your eye, your ear, your tongue, your hand" And,

above a##, poetry is (o'pa(ted 'etaphor or si'i#e" u(h 'etaphors,

#i+e .apanese paper f#o*ers, 'ay expand out*ard into

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years you 'ay (at(h up to, 'ove even *ith, and pass 6" " E#iot

on your *ay to other pastures" @ou say you don8t understand

4y#an 6ho'as @es, but your gang#ion does, and your se(ret

*its, and a## your unborn (hi#dren" Read hi', as you (an read a

horse *ith your eyes, set free and (harging over an end#ess green

'eado* on a *indy day"

What e#se fits in our diet

Boo+s of essays" ;ere again, pi(+ and (hoose, a'b#e a#ong the

(enturies" @ou8## have 'u(h to pi(+ over fro' the days before the

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essay be(a'e #ess popu#ar" @ou (an never te## *hen you 'ight

*ant to +no* the finer points of being a pedestrian, +eeping bees,

(arving headstones, or ro##ing hoops" ;ere is *here you p#ay the

di#ettante, and *here it pays to do so" @ou are, in effe(t, dropping

stones do*n a *e##" Every ti'e you hear an e(ho fro' your

ub(ons(ious, you +no* yourse#f a #itt#e better" A s'a## e(ho 'ay

start an idea" A big e(ho 'ay resu#t in a story"

$n your reading, find boo+s to i'prove your (o#or sense, your

sense of shape and siFe in the *or#d" Why not #earn about the

senses of s'e## and hearing @our (hara(ters 'ust so'eti'es use

their noses and ears or they 'ay 'iss ha#f the s'e##s and sounds of

the (ity, and a## of the sounds of the *i#derness sti## #oose in the

trees and on the #a*ns of the (ity"

Why a## this insisten(e on the senses Be(ause in order to

(onvin(e your reader that he is there, you 'ust assau#t ea(h of his


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senses, in turn, *ith (o#or, sound, taste, and texture" $f your

reader fee#s the sun on his f#esh, the *ind f#uttering his shirt

s#eeves, ha#f your fight is *on" 6he 'ost i'probab#e ta#es (an be

'ade be#ievab#e, if your reader, through his senses, fee#s (ertain

that he stands at the 'idd#e of events" ;e (annot refuse, then, to

parti(ipate" 6he #ogi( of events a#*ays gives *ay to the #ogi( of

the senses" :n#ess, of (ourse, you do so'ething rea##y unforgivab#e

to *ren(h the reader out of (ontext, su(h as having the

A'eri(an Revo#ution *on *ith 'a(hine guns, or introdu(ing

dinosaurs and (ave 'en into the sa'e s(ene Kthey #ived 'i##ions

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'agaFines, ne*spapers, p#ays, and fi#'s, *e shou#d not fear to be

seen in strange (o'panies" $ have a#*ays fe#t on good ter's *ith

A# Capp8s ?8i# Abner"? $ thin+ there is 'u(h to be #earned about

(hi#d psy(ho#ogy fro' ?%eanuts"? A *ho#e *or#d of ro'anti(

adventure has existed, beautifu##y dra*n by ;a#


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A'eri(a has been in 'y ti'e" $ had enough sense to +eep

'oving, #earning, gro*ing" And $ have never revi#ed or turned

'y ba(+ on the things $ gre* out of" $ #earned fro' 6o' *ift,

and $ #earned fro' eorge )r*e##" $ de#ighted in Edgar Ri(e

Burroughs8s 6arFan Kand sti## respe(t that o#d de#ight and *i## not

be brain*ashed fro' itL as today $ de#ight in C" " e*is8s

(re*tape etters" $ have +no*n Bertrand Russe## and $ have

+no*n 6o' =ix, and 'y =use has gro*n out of the 'u#(h of

good, bad, and indifferent" $ a' su(h a (reature as (an re'e'ber

*ith #ove not on#y =i(he#ange#o8s ati(an (ei#ings but the #ong&

gone sounds of the radio sho*, ?i( and ade"?

What is the pattern that ho#ds a## this together $f $ have fed 'y

=use on eMua# parts of trash and treasure, ho* have $ (o'e out at

the farther end of #ife *ith *hat so'e peop#e ta+e to be a((eptab#e

stories


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$ be#ieve one thing ho#ds it a## together" Everything $8ve ever

done *as done *ith ex(ite'ent, be(ause $ *anted to do it,

be(ause $ #oved doing it" 6he greatest 'an in the *or#d for 'e,

one day, *as on Chaney, *as )rson We##es in CitiFen >ane, *as

auren(e )#ivier in Ri(hard $$$" 6he 'en (hange, but one thing

re'ains a#*ays the sa'e the fever, the ardor, the de#ight" Be(ause

$ *anted to do, $ did" Where $ *anted to feed, $ fed" $

re'e'ber *andering, stunned, off a stage in 'y ho'e to*n,

ho#ding a #ive rabbit given to 'e by B#a(+stone the =agi(ian in

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pa(+age of


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territories and dared to #ove si##y things, you *i## have #earned

even fro' the 'ost pri'itive ite's (o##e(ted and put aside in your

#ife" af+a8s Cast#e, there is basi( ex(e##en(e to be *inno*ed

out, truths found, +ept, savored, and used on so'e #ater

day" 6o be a (hi#d of one8s ti'e is to do a## these things"

4o not, for 'oney, turn a*ay fro' a## the stuff you have

(o##e(ted in a #ifeti'e"

4o not, for the vanity of inte##e(tua# pub#i(ations, turn a*ay

fro' *hat you are5the 'ateria# *ithin you *hi(h 'a+es you

individua#, and therefore indispensab#e to others"

6o feed your =use, then, you shou#d a#*ays have been hungry

about #ife sin(e you *ere a (hi#d" $f not, it is a #itt#e #ate to start"


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Better #ate than never, of (ourse" 4o you fee# up to it

$t 'eans you 'ust sti## ta+e #ong *a#+s at night around your

(ity or to*n, or *a#+s in the (ountry by day" And #ong *a#+s, at

any ti'e, through boo+stores and #ibraries"

And *hi#e feeding, ;o* to >eep @our =use is our fina#

prob#e'"

6he =use 'ust have shape" @ou *i## *rite a thousand *ords a

day for ten or t*enty years in order to try to give it shape, to #earn

enough about gra''ar and story (onstru(tion so that these

be(o'e part of the ub(ons(ious, *ithout restraining or distorting

the =use"

By #iving *e##, by observing as you #ive, by reading *e## and

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de(ision, de(#arationI anyone #oud#y for, anyone #oud#y against"

6his is not to say the Muiet story is ex(#uded" )ne (an be as

ex(ited and passionate about a Muiet story as any" 6here is ex(ite'ent

in the (a#' sti## beauty of a enus de =i#o" 6he spe(tator,

here, be(o'es as i'portant as the thing vie*ed"

Be (ertain of this When honest #ove spea+s, *hen true ad'iration

begins, *hen ex(ite'ent rises, *hen hate (ur#s #i+e s'o+e,

you need never doubt that (reativity *i## stay *ith you for a

#ifeti'e" 6he (ore of your (reativity shou#d be the sa'e as the (ore

of your story and of the 'ain (hara(ter in your story" What does

your (hara(ter *ant, *hat is his drea', *hat shape has it, and

!3


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ho* expressed iven expression, this is the dyna'o of his #ife,

and your #ife, then, as Creator" At the exa(t 'o'ent *hen truth

erupts, the sub(ons(ious (hanges fro' *astebas+et fi#e to ange#

*riting in a boo+ of go#d"

oo+ at yourse#f then" Consider everything you have fed yourse#f

over the years" Was it a banMuet or a starvation diet

Who are your friends 4o they be#ieve in you )r do they stunt

your gro*th *ith ridi(u#e and disbe#ief $f the #atter, you haven8t

friends" o find so'e"

And fina##y, have you trained *e## enough so you (an say *hat

you *ant to say *ithout getting ha'strung ;ave you *ritten

enough so that you are re#axed and (an a##o* the truth to get out

*ithout being ruined by se#f&(ons(ious posturings or (hanged by

a desire to be(o'e ri(h


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6o feed *e## is to gro*" 6o *or+ *e## and (onstant#y is to +eep

*hat you have #earned and +no* in pri'e (ondition" Experien(e"

abor" 6hese are the t*in sides of the (oin *hi(h *hen spun is

neither experien(e nor #abor, but the 'o'ent of reve#ation" 6he

(oin, by opti(a# i##usion, be(o'es a round, bright, *hir#ing g#obe

of #ife" $t is the 'o'ent *hen the por(h s*ing (rea+s gent#e and a

voi(e spea+s" A## ho#d their breath" 6he voi(e rises and fa##s" 4ad

te##s of other years" A ghost rises off his #ips" 6he sub(ons(ious

stirs and rubs its eyes" 6he =use ventures in the ferns be#o* the

por(h, *here the su''er boys, stre*n on the #a*n, #isten" 6he

*ords be(o'e poetry that no one 'inds, be(ause no one has

thought to (a## it that" 6i'e is there" ove is there" tory is there"

!!


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@or+ and see the Wor#d of the


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

in(e then $ have so#d -2 stories to a#'ost every 'agaFine in

the :"", p#us *riting the s(reenp#ay of =oby 4i(+ for .ohn

;uston"

$ have *ritten about the on Chaney&and&the&s+e#eton&peop#e

for Weird 6a#es"

$ have *ritten about $##inois and its *i#derness in 'y 4ande#ion

Wine nove#"

$ have *ritten about those stars over $##inois, to *hi(h a ne*

generation is going"

$ have 'ade *or#ds of the future on paper, 'u(h #i+e that *or#d

$ sa* in 9e* @or+ at the


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an o#d theatre, $ *ou#d #i+e to thin+ K'y 'idd#e na'e is 4oug#asI


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4R:9>, A94 $9

C;ARE )< A B$C@CE


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$n 1-3 $ *rote an arti(#e for

6he 9ation defending 'y *or+ as a s(ien(e&fi(tion *riter, even

though that #abe# on#y app#ied to perhaps one third of 'y output

ea(h year"

A fe* *ee+s #ater, in #ate =ay, a #etter arrived fro' $ta#y" )n

the ba(+ of the enve#ope, in a spidery hand, $ read these *ords

B" Berenson

$ 6atti, ettignano


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$n 0 years of #ife, this is the first fan #etter $ have *ritten"

$t is to te## you that $ have Dust read your arti(#e in 6he

9ation 5 ?4ay After 6o'orro*"? $t is the first ti'e $ have

en(ountered the state'ent by an artist in any fie#d, that to

!


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

*or+ (reative#y he 'ust put f#esh into it, and enDoy it as a

#ar+, or as a fas(inating adventure"

;o* different fro' the *or+ers in the heavy industry that

professiona# *riting has be(o'eG

$f you ever tou(h


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and they 'a+e you b#ush *ith gui#t" Writing is supposed to be

diffi(u#t, agoniFing, a dreadfu# exer(ise, a terrib#e o((upation"

But, you see, 'y stories have #ed 'e through 'y #ife" 6hey

shout, $ fo##o*" 6hey run up and bite 'e on the #eg5$ respond by

*riting do*n everything that goes on during the bite" When $

finish, the idea #ets go, and runs off"

6hat is the +ind of #ife $8ve had" 4run+, and in (harge of a

bi(y(#e, as an $rish po#i(e report on(e put it" 4run+ *ith #ife, that

is, and not +no*ing *here off to next" But you8re on your *ay

before da*n" And the trip Exa(t#y one ha#f terror, exa(t#y one

ha#f exhi#aration"

-2


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4R:9>, A94 $9 C;ARE )< A B$C@CE

When $ *as three 'y 'other snu(+ 'e in and out of 'ovies t*o

or three ti'es a *ee+" =y first fi#' *as on Chaney in 6he

;un(hba(+ of 9otre 4a'e" $ suffered per'anent (urvature of the

spine and of 'y i'agination that day a #ong ti'e ago in 13"


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things in 'y existen(e have (o'e about"

$n other *ords, $ *as not e'barrassed at (ir(uses" o'e

peop#e are" Cir(uses are #oud, vu#gar, and s'e## in the sun" By the

ti'e 'any peop#e are fourteen or fifteen, they have been divested

of their #oves, their an(ient and intuitive tastes, one by one, unti#

*hen they rea(h 'aturity there is no fun #eft, no Fest, no gusto,

no f#avor" )thers have (riti(iFed, and they have (riti(iFed the'se#ves,

into e'barrass'ent" When the (ir(us pu##s in at five of a

dar+ (o#d su''er 'orn, and the (a##iope sounds, they do not rise

and run, they turn in their s#eep, and #ife passes by"

-1


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

$ did rise and run" $ #earned that $ *as right and everyone e#se

*rong *hen $ *as nine" Bu(+ Rogers arrived on s(ene that year,

and it *as instant #ove" $ (o##e(ted the dai#y strips, and *as

'adness 'addened by the'"


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4R:9>, A94 $9 C;ARE )< A B$C@CE

u(h a %#ayroo' 'ust have te#evision 'onitors #ining ea(h *a##,

and the (ei#ing" Wa#+ing into su(h an environ'ent, a (hi#d (ou#d

shout River 9i#eG phinxG %yra'idsG and they *ou#d appear,

surrounding hi', in fu## (o#or, fu## sound, and, *hy not #orious

*ar' s(ents and s'e##s and odors, pi(+ one, for the noseG

A## this (a'e to 'e in a fe* se(onds of fast typing" $ +ne*

the roo', no* $ 'ust put (hara(ters in the roo'" $ typed out a

(hara(ter na'ed eorge, brought hi' into a future&ti'e

+it(hen, *here his *ife turned and said

?eorge, $ *ish you8d #oo+ at the %#ayroo'" $ thin+ it8s

bro+en5?

eorge and his *ife go do*n the ha##" $ fo##o* the', typing

'ad#y, not +no*ing *hat *i## happen next" 6hey open the door

of the %#ayroo' and step in"


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Afri(a" ;ot sun" u#tures" 4ead 'eat" ions"

6*o hours #ater the #ions #eaped out of the *a##s of the %#ayroo'

and devoured eorge and his *ife, *hi#e their 6&

do'inated (hi#dren sat by and sipped tea"

End of *ord&asso(iation" End of story" 6he *ho#e thing (o'p#ete

and a#'ost ready to send out, an exp#osion of idea, in

so'ething #i+e 12 'inutes"

6he #ions in that roo', *here did they (o'e fro'


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

$n 1!G you say, *ith i''ense doubt" @es, 1!" $ didn8t see

the Chaney fi#' again unti# a year ago" As soon as it f#ashed on the

s(reen $ +ne* that that *as *here 'y #ions in ?6he e#dt? (a'e

fro'" 6hey had been hiding out, *aiting, given she#ter by 'y

intuitive se#f, a## these years"


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$ *rote the story ?6he 'a## Assassin? t*enty&six years #ater"

$t te##s of a baby born *ith a## its senses operative, fi##ed *ith

terror at being thrust out into a (o#d *or#d, and ta+ing revenge on

its parents by (ra*#ing se(ret#y about at night and at #ast destroying

the'"

When did it a## rea##y begin 6he *riting, that is" Everything

(a'e together in the su''er and fa## and ear#y *inter of 13"

By that ti'e $ *as stuffed fu## of Bu(+ Rogers, the nove#s of Edgar

Ri(e Burroughs, and the night&ti'e radio seria# ?Chandu the

=agi(ian"? Chandu said 'agi( and the psy(hi( su''ons and the

-!


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4R:9>, A94 $9 C;ARE )< A B$C@CE


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$ de(ided that *as the greatest idea $ had ever heard" $ *ent to

see =r" E#e(tri(o the next day, *ith the ex(use that a ni(+e#

'agi( tri(+ $ had pur(hased fro' hi' *asn8t in *or+ing order"

;e fixed it, and toured 'e around the tents, shouting at ea(h,

?C#ean up your #anguage,? before *e entered to 'eet the d*arfs,

a(robats, fat *o'en, and $##ustrated =en *aiting there"

We *a#+ed do*n to sit by a+e =i(higan *here =r" E#e(tri(o

spo+e his s'a## phi#osophies and $ ta#+ed 'y big ones" Why he

put up *ith 'e, $8## never +no*" But he #istened, or it see'ed he

#istened, 'aybe be(ause he *as far fro' ho'e, 'aybe be(ause he

--


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

had a son so'e*here in the *or#d, or had no son at a## and *anted

one" Any*ay he *as a defro(+ed %resbyterian 'inister, he said,

and #ived do*n in Cairo, $##inois, and $ (ou#d *rite hi' there, any

ti'e $ *ished"


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grandparents8 house to dip out a## the 'e'ories, the 'yths, the

*ord&asso(iations of other years"

A#ong the *ay, $ a#so re&(reated 'y re#atives as va'pires *ho

inhabited a to*n si'i#ar to the one in 4ande#ion Wine, dar+ first

(ousin to the to*n on =ars *here the 6hird Expedition expired"

o, $ had 'y #ife three *ays, as to*n exp#orer, spa(e trave#er, and

*anderer *ith Count 4ra(u#a8s A'eri(an (ousins"

$ rea#iFe $ haven8t ta#+ed ha#f enough, as yet, about one variety

of (reature you *i## find sta#+ing this (o##e(tion, rising here in

-7


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

night'ares to founder there in #one#iness and despair dinosaurs"


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again"

)f (ourseG $ thought" 6he dinosaur heard that #ighthouse fog

horn b#o*ing, thought it *as another dinosaur arisen fro' the

deep past, (a'e s*i''ing in for a #oving (onfrontation, dis(overed

it *as on#y a fog horn, and died of a bro+en heart there on

the shore"

$ #eaped fro' bed, *rote the story, and sent it to the aturday

Evening %ost that *ee+, *here it appeared soon after under the

tit#e ?6he Beast fro' 2,222


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4R:9>, A94 $9 C;ARE )< A B$C@CE

Be(ause of =oby 4i(+, $ reexa'ined the #ife of =e#vi##e and

.u#es erne, (o'pared their 'ad (aptains in an essay *ritten to

reintrodu(e a ne* trans#ation of 2,222 eagues Beneath the ea,

*hi(h, read by the 1! 9e* @or+ Wor#d8s


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ne* #oves, (aused and (reated by that origina# pri'itive #ove of

the beasts $ sa* *hen $ *as five and dear#y (herished *hen $ *as

t*enty and t*enty&nine and thirty"

oo+ around a'ong 'y stories and you *i## probab#y find on#y

one or t*o that a(tua##y happened to 'e" $ have resisted, 'ost of

'y #ife, being given assign'ents to go so'e*here and ?sponge

up? the #o(a# (o#or, the natives, the #oo+ and fee# of the #and" $

#earned #ong ago that $ a' not seeing dire(t#y, that 'y sub(ons(ious

is doing 'ost of the ?sponging? and it *i## be years before

any usab#e i'pressions surfa(e"

As a young 'an $ #ived in a tene'ent in the Chi(ano se(tion of

os Ange#es" =ost of 'y atino stories *ere *ritten years after $

-


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

had 'oved fro' the tene'ent, *ith one terrifying, on&the&spot,

ex(eption" $n #ate 1!-, *ith Wor#d War $$ fresh#y over, a friend

of 'ine as+ed 'e to a((o'pany hi' to =exi(o City in an o#d

beat&up


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August , 'y t*enty&fifth birthday, $ so#d a story to Co##ier8s"

6he tota# 'onies a'ounted to N1,222, *hi(h *ou#d be #i+e

having N12,222 arrive in the 'ai# today"

$ *as ri(h" )r so (#ose to it $ *as du'bfounded" $t *as a

turning point in 'y #ife, of (ourse, and $ hastened to *rite to the

editors of those three 'agaFines (onfessing 'y true na'e"

A## three stories *ere #isted in 6he Best A'eri(an hort tories

of 1! by =artha


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4R:9>, A94 $9 C;ARE )< A B$C@CE

6hat 'oney too+ 'e to =exi(o, to uanaDuato, and the 'u''ies

in the (ata(o'bs" 6he experien(e so *ounded and terrified

'e, $ (ou#d hard#y *ait to f#ee =exi(o" $ had night'ares about

dying and having to re'ain in the ha##s of the dead *ith those

propped and *ired bodies" $n order to purge 'y terror, instant#y,

$ *rote ?6he 9ext in ine"? )ne of the fe* ti'es that an

experien(e yie#ded resu#ts a#'ost on the spot"

Enough of =exi(o" What about $re#and

6here is every +ind of $rish story a'ong 'y *or+ be(ause

after #iving in 4ub#in for six 'onths $ sa* that 'ost of the $rish $

'et had a variety of *ays of 'a+ing do *ith that dreadfu# beast

Rea#ity" @ou (an run into it head&on, *hi(h is a dire business, or

you (an s+irt around it, give it a po+e, dan(e for it, 'a+e up a

song, *rite you a ta#e, pro#ong the gab, fi## up the f#as+" Ea(h

parta+es of $rish (#i(hQ, but ea(h, in the fou# *eather and the


125/331

foundering po#iti(s, is true"

$ got to +no* every beggar in the streets of 4ub#in, the ones

near )8Conne##8s bridge *ith 'ania( piano#as grinding 'ore

(offee than tunes and the ones *ho #oaned out a sing#e baby

a'ong a *ho#e tribe of rainsoa+ed 'endi(ants, so you sa* the

babe one hour at the top of rafton treet and the next by the

Roya# ;ibernian ;ote#, and at 'idnight do*n by the river, but $

never thought $ *ou#d *rite of the'" 6hen, the need to ho*# and

give an angry *eep 'ade 'e rear up one night and *rite

?=(i##ahee8s Brat? out of terrib#e suspi(ions and the begging of

a rain*a#+ing ghost that had to be #aid" $ visited so'e of the o#d

1


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

burnt&out estates of the great $rish #ando*ners, and heard ta#es of

one ?burning?? that had not Muite (o'e off, and so *rote ?6he

6errib#e Conf#agration up at the %#a(e"?

?6he Anthe' printers,? another $rish en(ounter, *rote itse#f

do*n years #ater *hen, one rainy night, $ re(a##ed the (ount#ess

ti'es 'y *ife and $ had sprinted out of 4ub#in (ine'as, dashing

for the exit, +no(+ing (hi#dren and o#d fo#+s to #eft and right, in

order to 'a+e it to the exit before the 9ationa# Anthe' *as

p#ayed"

But ho* did $ begin tarting in =r" E#e(tri(o8s year, $ *rote a

thousand *ords a day"


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doing everything *rong sudden#y be(a'e the right idea, the

right s(ene, the right (hara(ters, the right day, the right (reative

ti'e" $ *rote the story sitting outside, *ith 'y type*riter,

on the #a*n" At the end of an hour the story *as finished, the hair

on the ba(+ of 'y ne(+ *as standing up, and $ *as in tears" $

+ne* $ had *ritten the first rea##y good story of 'y #ife"

A## during 'y ear#y t*enties $ had the fo##o*ing s(hedu#e" )n

=onday 'orning $ *rote the first draft of a ne* story" )n

6uesday $ did a se(ond draft" )n Wednesday a third" )n 6hursday

a fourth" )n


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4R:9>, A94 $9 C;ARE )< A B$C@CE

under the atti( #id, (onfident at #ast that, be(ause of ?6he a+e,? $

*ou#d soon #et the' out"

$f this a## sounds 'e(hani(a#, it *asn8t" =y ideas drove 'e to it,

you see" 6he 'ore $ did, the 'ore $ *anted to do" @ou gro*

ravenous" @ou run fevers" @ou +no* exhi#arations" @ou (an8t s#eep

at night, be(ause your beast&(reature ideas *ant out and turn you

in your bed" $t is a grand *ay to #ive"

6here *as another reason to *rite so 'u(h $ *as being paid

t*enty to forty do##ars a story, by the pu#p 'agaFines" ;igh on

the hog *as hard#y 'y *ay of #ife" $ had to se## at #east one story,

or better t*o, ea(h 'onth in order to survive 'y hot&dog, ha'burger,

tro##ey&(ar&fare #ife"

$n 1!! $ so#d so'e forty stories, but 'y tota# in(o'e for the

year *as on#y N022"


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$t sudden#y stri+es 'e that there is 'u(h to (o''ent on in 'y

(o##e(ted stories" ?6he B#a(+


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

?Ca##ing =exi(o? sprang into being be(ause $ visited a friend

of 'ine one afternoon in the su''er of 1! and, as $ entered the

roo', he handed 'e the te#ephone and said, ?isten"? $ #istened

and heard the sounds of =exi(o City (o'ing fro' t*o thousand

'i#es a*ay" $ *ent ho'e and *rote about 'y te#ephone experien(e

to a friend in %aris" ;a#f*ay through 'y #etter, the #etter

turned into the story, *hi(h *ent off in the 'ai# that day"

?6he %i(asso u''er? *as the resu#t of 'y *a#+ing on the

shore#ine *ith friends and 'y *ife one #ate afternoon" $ pi(+ed up

a %opsi(#e sti(+, dre* pi(tures in the sand and said ?Wou#dn8t it

be a*fu#, if you8d *anted to o*n a %i(asso a## your #ife, and

sudden#y bu'ped into hi' here, dra*ing 'ytho#ogi(a# beasts in

the sand " " " your very o*n %i(asso 8et(hing8 right in front of

you" " " "?

$ finished the story, about %i(asso on the bea(h, at t*o in the


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'orning"

;e'ing*ay" ?6he %arrot Who =et %apa"? )ne night in 1-

$ drove a(ross os Ange#es *ith friends to invade the printing

p#ant *here ife *as pub#ishing their issue *ith ;e'ing*ay8s

)#d =an and the ea in it" We grabbed (opies, hot off the press, sat

in the nearest bar, and ta#+ed about %apa,


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4R:9>, A94 $9 C;ARE )< A B$C@CE

=y od, $ thought, %apa8s been dead eight years" $f that parrot

is sti## around, re'e'bers ;e'ing*ay, (an spea+ *ith his voi(e,

he8s *orth 'i##ions" And *hat if so'eone +idnapped the parrot,

he#d it for ranso'

?6he ;aunting of the 9e*? happened be(ause .ohn od#ey,

ord >i#bra(+en, *rote 'e fro' $re#and des(ribing his visit to a

house that had burned and been rep#a(ed, stone by stone, bri(+

by bri(+, in i'itation of the origina#" Within ha#f a day of reading

>i#bra(+en8s post(ard, $ had first&drafted the ta#e"

Enough no*" 6here you have it" 6here are one hundred stories

fro' a#'ost forty years of 'y #ife (ontained in 'y (o##e(ted

stories" 6hey (ontain ha#f the da'ning truths $ suspe(ted at

'idnight, and ha#f of the saving truths $ re&found next noon" $f

anything is taught here, it is si'p#y the (harting of the #ife of

so'eone *ho started out to so'e*here5and *ent" $ have not so


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'u(h thought 'y *ay through #ife as done things and found *hat

it *as and *ho $ *as after the doing" Ea(h ta#e *as a *ay of

finding se#ves" Ea(h se#f found ea(h day s#ight#y different fro' the

one found t*enty&four hours ear#ier"

$t a## started that autu'n day in 13 *hen =r" E#e(tri(o gave

'e the t*o gifts" $ don8t +no* if $ be#ieve in previous #ives, $8' not

sure $ (an #ive forever" But that young boy be#ieved in both and $

have #et hi' have his head" ;e has *ritten 'y stories and boo+s

for 'e" ;e runs the )uiDa Board and says Aye or 9ay to sub'erged

truths or ha#f&truths" ;e is the s+in through *hi(h, by

os'osis, a## the stuffs pass and put the'se#ves on paper" $ have

-


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

trusted his passions, his fears, and his Doys" ;e has, as a resu#t,

rare#y fai#ed 'e" When it is a #ong da'p 9ove'ber in 'y sou#,

and $ thin+ too 'u(h and per(eive too #itt#e, $ +no* it is high ti'e

to get ba(+ to that boy *ith the tennis shoes, the high fevers, the

'u#titudinous Doys, and the terrib#e night'ares" $8' not sure

*here he #eaves off and $ start" But $8' proud of the tande' tea'"

What e#se (an $ do but *ish hi' *e##, and at the sa'e ti'e

a(+no*#edge and *ish t*o other peop#e *e## $n the sa'e 'onth

that $ 'arried 'y *ife =arguerite, $ be(a'e affi#iated *ith 'y

#iterary representative and (#osest friend, 4on Congdon" =aggie

typed and (riti(iFed 'y stories, 4on (riti(iFed and so#d the

resu#ts" With the t*o of the' as tea''ates these past thirty&

three years, ho* (ou#d $ have fai#ed We are the Conne'ara

ightfoots, the Oueen8s )*n Evaders" And *e8re sti## sprinting

for that exit"

102


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$9E6$9 4$=E


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$ didn8t +no* it, but $ *as #itera##y

*riting a di'e nove#" $n the spring of 1-2 it (ost 'e nine

do##ars and eighty (ents in di'es to *rite and finish the first draft

of 6he


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:nder*ood type*riters *hi(h rented out at a di'e a ha#f hour"

@ou thrust your di'e in, the (#o(+ ti(+ed 'ad#y, and you typed

*i#d#y, to finish before the ha#f hour ran out" 6hus $ *as t*i(e

drivenI by (hi#dren to #eave ho'e, and by a type*riter ti'ing


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

devi(e to be a 'ania( at the +eys" 6i'e *as indeed 'oney" $

finished the first draft in rough#y nine days" At -,222 *ords, it

*as ha#f the nove# it eventua##y *ou#d be(o'e"

Bet*een investing di'es and going insane *hen the type*riter

Da''ed Kfor there *ent your pre(ious ti'eGL and *hipping

pages in and out of the devi(e, $ *andered upstairs" 6here $

stro##ed, #ost in #ove, do*n the (orridors, and through the sta(+s,

tou(hing boo+s, pu##ing vo#u'es out, turning pages, thrusting

vo#u'es ba(+, dro*ning in a## the good stuffs that are the essen(e

of #ibraries" What a p#a(e, don8t you agree, to *rite a nove# about

burning boo+s in the


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yes that ri(o(hets off the sta(+s and dusts ta#(u' off the #ibrarian8s

(hee+" in(e *riting this boo+, $ have spun 'ore stories, nove#s,

essays, and poe's about *riters than any other *riter in history

that $ (an thin+ of" $ have *ritten poe's about =e#vi##e, =e#vi##e

and E'i#y 4i(+inson, E'i#y 4i(+inson and Char#es 4i(+ens,

;a*thorne, %oe, Edgar Ri(e Burroughs, and a#ong the *ay $

(o'pared .u#es erne and his =ad Captain to =e#vi##e and his

eMua##y obsessed 'ariner" $ have s(ribb#ed poe's about #ibrarians,

ta+en night trains *ith 'y favorite authors a(ross the

(ontinenta# *i#derness, staying up a## night gabb#ing and drin+ing,

drin+ing and (hatting" $ *arned =e#vi##e, in one poe', to

72


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$9E6$9 4$=E


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6hey *rote ne* s(enes, revea#ed odd parts of their as yet

undis(overed sou#s and drea's" 6he resu#t *as a t*o&a(t dra'a,

staged *ith good resu#ts, and in the 'ain, fine revie*s"

Beatty (a'e farthest out of the *ings in ans*er to 'y Muestion

;o* did it start Why did you 'a+e the de(ision to be(o'e


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

6o *hi(h the Chief, *ith a dry #ight s'i#e, rep#ies

?$t8s not o*ning boo+s that8s a (ri'e, =ontag, it8s reading

the'G @es, that8s right" $ o*n boo+s, but don8t read the'G?

=ontag, in sho(+, a*aits Beatty8s exp#anation"

?4on8t you see the beauty, =ontag $ never read the'" 9ot one

boo+, not one (hapter, not one page, not one paragraph" $ do p#ay

*ith ironies, don8t $ 6o have thousands of boo+s and never (ra(+

one, to turn your ba(+ on the #ot and say 9o" $t8s #i+e having a

house fu## of beautifu# *o'en and, s'i#ing, not tou(hing" " " one"

o, you see, $8' not a (ri'ina# at a##" $f you ever (at(h 'e reading

one, yes, then turn 'e inG But this p#a(e is as pure as a t*e#veyear&

o#d virgin gir#8s (rea'&*hite su''er night bedroo'"

6hese boo+s die on the she#ves" Why Be(ause $ say so" $ do not

give the' sustenan(e, no hope *ith hand or eye or tongue" 6hey

are no better than dust"?


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=ontag protests, ?$ don8t see ho* you (an8t be5?

?6e'pted? (ries the


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$9E6$9 4$=E


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an ons#aught of disease" And no*here, no*here the right

boo+ for the right ti'e to stuff in the (ru'b#ing *a## of the

brea+ing da' to ho#d ba(+ the de#uge, give or ta+e a 'etaphor,

#ose or find a si'i#e" And by the far edge of thirty, and the near ri'

of thirty&one, $ pi(+ed 'yse#f up, every bone bro+en, every

(enti'eter of f#esh abraded, bruised, or s(arred" $ #oo+ed in the

'irror and found an o#d 'an #ost behind the frightened fa(e of a

young 'an, sa* a hatred there for everything and anything, you

na'e it, $8d da'n it, and opened the pages of 'y fine #ibrary

boo+s and found *hat, *hat, *hatG?

=ontag guesses" ?6he pages *ere e'pty?

73


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*e## on his *ay to be(o'ing an out(ast, soon to be pursued and

a#'ost destroyed by the =e(hani(a# ;ound, 'y robot (#one of

A" Conan 4oy#e8s great Bas+ervi##e beast"

$n 'y p#ay, o#d 'an


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$9E6$9 4$=E


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a ha#f hour, in the base'ent of the :CA #ibrary" $ have (hanged

not one thought or *ord"

A #ast dis(overy" $ *rite a## of 'y nove#s and stories, as you

have seen, in a great surge of de#ightfu# passion" )n#y re(ent#y,

g#an(ing at the nove#, $ rea#iFed that =ontag is na'ed after a

paper 'anufa(turing (o'pany" And


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.:6 6;$ $4E )atie *ou#d be there to #ead and prote(t 'e in and around

the Big 6o*n" Be(ause of his persuasion, $ trave#ed a(ross the

(ountry, four #ong days and nights on a reyhound Bus, fer'enting

into a #arge ba## of fungus, *ith a pregnant *ife #eft behind in

os Ange#es *ith N!2 in the ban+, and the @=CA KN- a *ee+L

*aiting for 'e on


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Whi(h brings 'e to 'y fina#, 'ost i'portant What $f"

What if $ had never dined *ith the #ast editor $ 'et, Wa#ter $"

Bradbury fro' 4oub#eday, *ho as+ed the o#d depressing

Muestion5?$s there a nove# in you so'e*here?5on#y to hear

'e des(ribe the four&'inute 'i#e $ pa(ed ea(h day, stepping on a

#and 'ine idea at brea+fast, pi(+ing up the pie(es, and fusing

the' to (oo# by #un(h"

Wa#ter Bradbury shoo+ his head, finished his desert, 'used,

and then said

?$ thin+ you8ve a#ready *ritten a nove#"?

?What? $ said, ?and *hen?

?What about a## those =artian stories you8ve pub#ished in the


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6;E )9 R)A4 6) =AR

past four years? Brad rep#ied" ?$sn8t there a (o''on thread

buried there Cou#dn8t you se* the' together, 'a+e so'e sort of

tapestry, ha#f&(ousin to a nove#?

?=y godG? $ said"

?@es?

?=y god,? $ said" ?Ba(+ in 1!!, $ *as so i'pressed by

her*ood Anderson8s Winesburg, )hio, that $ to#d 'yse#f $ 'ust

try to *rite so'ething ha#f as good, and set it on =ars" $ s+et(hed

out an out#ine of (hara(ters and events on the Red %#anet, but

soon #ost it in 'y fi#esG?

?oo+s as if *e8ve found it,? said Brad"

?;ave *e?


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?We have,? said Brad" ?o ba(+ to the @=CA and type 'e an

out#ine of those t*o or three doFen =artian stories" Bring it in

to'orro*" $f $ #i+e *hat $ see, $8## give you a (ontra(t and an

advan(e"?

4on Congdon, 'y best friend and #iterary agent, seated a(ross

the tab#e, nodded"

?$8## be at your offi(e by noonG? $ said to Brad"

6o (e#ebrate $ ordered a se(ond desert" Brad and 4on ea(h had

a beer"

$t *as a typi(a# hot .une night in 9e* @or+" Air (onditioning

*as sti## a #uxury of so'e future year" $ typed unti# 3 A"=",

perspiring in 'y under*ear as $ *eighted and ba#an(ed 'y

=artians in their strange (ities in the #ast hours before arriva#s

and departures of 'y astronauts"


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ZE9 $9 6;E AR6 )< WR$6$9

At noon, exhausted but e#ated, $ de#ivered the out#ine to Wa#ter

$" Bradbury"

?@ou8ve done itG? he said" ?@ou8## get a (ontra(t and a (he(+

to'orro*"?

$ 'ust have 'ade a #ot of noise" When $ (a#'ed do*n, $ as+ed

hi' about 'y other stories"

?9o* that *e8re pub#ishing your first 8nove#,8? Brad said, ?*e

(an ta+e a (han(e on your stories, even though su(h (o##e(tions

rare#y se##" Can you thin+ of a tit#e that *ou#d sort of put a s+in

around t*o doFen different ta#es5?

?+in? $ said" ?Why not 6he $##ustrated =an, 'y story about

a (arniva# bar+er *hose tattoos s*eat the'se#ves a#ive, one by

one, and a(t out their futures on his (hest and #egs and ar's?


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?oo+s as if $8## have to 'a+e out t*o advan(e (he(+s,? said

Wa#ter $" Bradbury"

$ #eft 9e* @or+ three days #ater *ith t*o (ontra(ts and t*o

(he(+s tota#ing N1,-22" Enough 'oney to pay our N32&a&'onth

rent for a year, finan(e our baby, and he#p *ith the do*n pay'ent

on a s'a## tra(t house in#and fro' eni(e, Ca#ifornia" By the ti'e

our first daughter *as born in the autu'n of 1!, $ had fitted

and fused a## of 'y #ost but no* found =artian obDe(ts" $t turned

out to be not a boo+ of e((entri( (hara(ters as in Wines burg, )hio,

but a series of strange ideas, notions, fan(ies, and drea's that $

had begun to s#eep on and *a+en to *hen $ *as t*e#ve"

6he =artian Chroni(#es *as pub#ished the next year, in the #ate

spring of 1-2"

!


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6;E )9 R)A4 6) =AR

6rave#ing east that spring, $ did not +no* *hat $ had done"

Bet*een trains in Chi(ago, $ *a#+ed to the Art $nstitute to

have #un(h *ith a friend" $ sa* a (ro*d at the top of the $nstitute

Ray Bradbury - Zen in Art of Writing Essays on Creativity 3rd Edition Expanded 1877741094

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Transcript of Ray Bradbury - Zen in Art of Writing Essays on Creativity 3rd Edition Expanded 1877741094