How to Write Like Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski is an American fiction writer. His imaginative style of writing is raw and unpolished. Although many writers attempt to emulate Bukowski's style of writing, very few succeed. In order to write like Charles Bukowski, it's important to develop your own unique style of writing. Once you've found and mastered your literary "voice," you can add Bukowski-like qualities to your fiction.

Use the following steps to transform your writing into an obscenely hilarious work of fiction.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Understand Charles Bukowski's volatile relationships with women. Draw inspiration from the novels "Post Office," "Ham on Rye" and "Women."

2. Examine the characters in Charles Bukowski's novels. Bukowski's characters tend to be impaired in some way--some mentally and others physically.

3. Write greatly exaggerated fiction. Create characters with exaggerated opinions of themselves. Bukowski's characters are often delusional drunkards.

4. Use capital letters to grab the reader's attention. Charles Bukowski uses capital letters to portray anger. Bukowski's characters shout often; thus, the capital letters are used to express that shouting.

5. Create a balance of tragedy and humor. Physical abuse, substance abuse and self-destructive lifestyles are serious matters that often result in tragedy. Nevertheless, Bukowski uses exaggeration and foul language to insert humor into a seemingly tragic story.

Resources

• Amazon: Charles Bukowski Books