Writing in the Minimalist style

Some writing tips gleaned from Chuck Palahniuk’s talk.

1. Read your work aloud
2. Don’t give it up – make the emotion happen in the readers mind

Devices to use:
- Gesture
- Dialogue
- Running narrative of factual stuff
All of these are effective at conveying the characters state of mind and convey the authority of your character.

If you can get your reader to believe the little factual things, you will get then to believe a big lie.

3. Keep things unresolved
4. Ask more questions than you give answers
5. Rope other people into your writing and your projects – they can help you stick to it
6. Start with stories no more than 6-7 pages. Be concise.
7. Use your writing as an excuse to do reach and be with people and collect their stories
8. Have a great life through writing – make every story a scrapbook
9. Give up on the goal of being liked – instead strive for making and impression and being memorable
10. Portray a state of mind – don’t be explicit in state of mind
11. Don’t use “is” or “has” – its too passive – write aggressive
12. Use your short stories as figure studies for larger stories