Writing by Charles Bukowski (read by Tom O'Bedlam)

To read my notes click SHOW MORE below.

See how little equipment and space you need to be a writer! The outlay is trivial. Some writers prefer to work in sparse surroundings with no distractions - often they prefer to treat it as a job and have a place of work, like a shed at the bottom the the garden. Other writers are the very opposite and have to be surrounded by familiar things, such as reference books and the literature they love.

If you become fully engaged in any pursuit that takes all your concentration, then it will switch off your emotions, even pain. This can be either a good thing or a bad thing. If you want to forget painful realities of life then it's a good thing. If you are in a loving relationship then it can make you distant and lacking in empathy which might be a bad thing.

It doesn't have to be writing: anything that engages you completely will have the same effect. It might be any artform or design process, or even a pastime like chess or making model airplanes. It's some consolation to the "writing widow" that while her man is devoting his energy to writing he's unlikely to be unfaithful.

There's an experiment where people are given puzzles to solve and then an accident is staged in plain view.. The puzzle-solvers don't react as promptly or sympathetically as they should.

I was at a critical stage in a complex design when my daughter arrived home from college and came into my office. It took me a couple of minutes to change modes - by which time she was offended because I hadn't leapt to my feet to greet her.

The pictures come from this site which has a list of famous writers and the typewriters they used:

often it is the only
thing
between you and
impossibility.
no drink,
no woman’s love,
no wealth
can
match it.
nothing can save
you
except
writing.
it keeps the walls
from
failing.
the hordes from
closing in.
it blasts the
darkness.
writing is the
ultimate
psychiatrist,
the kindliest
god of all the
gods.
writing stalks
death.
it knows no
quit.
and writing
laughs
at itself,
at pain.
it is the last
expectation,
the last
explanation.
that’s
what it
is.

[shatrujeet]

Charles Bukowski + Tom O'Bedlam & Then I See Tom Waits Here.
What A Perfect Combination.

[rami_ungar_writer]

It's been a while! Good to hear your hypnotic readings again.

[agrlfmtx]

Thanks for putting the link to the writer's spaces. I think writing is a form of insanity for some people, a form of therapy for others. To write is to breath air...even if the writing is bad, it is still writing. But the desire to be better at it NEVER ceases for me....there is always a better way to express depth from and in the soul. It is frustrating to have internal words get stuck in the soul shafts down under. Curses to the cave ins that keep the gold from being excavated!

[SpokenVerse]

There's an interesting article at "Lost at E Minor" showing 15 authors writing in their rooms: Stephen King, Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Arthur Miller, C.S. Lewis, Edith Wharton, Ernest Hemingway, George Bernard Shaw, George Orwell, Gertrude Stein, Ian Fleming, Mark Twain,  Ray Bradbury, Roald Dahl, Scott Fitzgerald

[lansingstlady]

Welcome back. You've been missed. Thanks for what you do here.

[prnkjwail]

Nice to hear you again! Thank you so much for reading!

[mojorare]

Greetings from Córdoba Capital, Argentina. Thank you Tom; your ever well wisher Gerard.

[erniebuchinski]

It was a nice touch to end on Tom Waits!

[irisgonzalezcaulder]

precise description
and the poem is true

[johniron]

thank you, your videos opened my mind, and sparked the fire, for my interest in poetry.
your voice is just amazingly calm and helps me to relax after a stressful day.
greetings from a german student

[Caligula]

It's very interesting to see the environment that such great writers worked in... Bradbury's space was impressive then you see the bleakness of William S. Burroughs. Brilliant.

[ArshitectSSQ]

Such a lovely reading!
I'm a french director. I'm working with my partner on a short movie based on a poem of Aldous Huxley.
From the beginning we want a strong voice as a narrater, reading the poem. We found your channel, and now it is clear in our mind that this movie couldn't be the same without you. I would really like to present you this beautiful project and hope that you will love the idea to collaborate with us.
Best,
William

[vuduball]

"Because nothing is as surprising as life.  Except for writing...the only consolation."
Orhan Pamuck
The Black Book

:)