So You Want to Be a Writer?

"so you want to be a writer?” is a lyric poem and an epistolatory poem. It’s a lyric poem because it’s personal and somewhat short. It expresses Charles Bukowski's thoughts on what qualifies someone to be a writer. The work is epistolatory since it reads like a letter. Epistolatory comes from the Latin word epistula, which translates to "letter” in English. Bukowski replies to the question as if he’s composing a letter. As with a letter, there is a specific addressee—the person who posed the question about wanting to be a writer.

Bukowski's response features repetitive negative language. The phrase "don’t do it” is repeated 10 times and drives the poem’s bleak and weary tone. Writing is not an inherently positive or celebratory vocation. For the true writer, writing is a violent, explosive act that has little to do with a person’s wellbeing or society at large. It’s a burdensome destiny. The feisty, dreary tone highlights the tempestuous fate of the true writer.

Bukowski establishes the negative tone and the theme of violence in Line 1 of Stanza 1. The third word of the poem is "doesn’t” and the fifth word is "bursting.” He pairs a negative contraction (“doesn’t”) with a bellicose—signifying aggression—verb ("bursting"). The next lines add to the hostile nature of writing. It "comes unasked” (Line 4) from a person’s heart, mind, mouth, and gut. Using imagery, Bukowski depicts writing as an internal, nonconsensual upheaval.

By Line 8, Bukowski switches focus to someone who shouldn’t be a writer; the tone remains negative. Bukowski continues repeating "don’t do it.” However, now the imagery is staid and superficial. The juxtaposition between this imagery and the prior imagery sharpens the belief that a deep, active frenzy propels the authentic writer. Meanwhile, a false writer can’t write at all or is motivated by vain rewards. The speaker describes a fake writer "staring” at their computer (Line 9) or “hunched over” (Line 10) the typewriter. They further offer an image of the fraudulent writer chasing money, fame, sex, or trying to impersonate someone else.

In Stanza 2, Bukowski briefly cools his negative tone. Lines 28-32 are free of negative words. Here, Bukowski introduces the theme of patience. Like the false writer, the genuine writer might have to tolerate a period of inactivity. They might have to "wait for it to roar out” (Line 28). Briefly pausing his explosive diction, Bukowski advises the prospective writer to "wait patiently” (Line 30). If the need to write "never does roar out” (Line 31), Bukowski recommends they seek another vocation.

For Stanza 3, Bukowski utilizes symbols. The wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, and parents represent common tropes. If a person has to read their work to these ordinary types, they're "not ready” (Line 36) for the unconventional life of a writer.

In Stanza 4, Bukowski heightens and expands his negative tone. Of the 21 lines in Stanza 4, seven begin with the word "don’t.” The previous stanzas focused on what did and didn’t make a good writer. Now, Bukowski targets people who "call themselves writers” (Line 39). The word choice reveals that Bukowski doesn’t think these writers are real writers. They "call” (Line 39) themselves writers but he does not share this sentiment. As in the first stanza, Bukowski links these false writers to bland diction and imagery. These “writers” are "dull and boring” (Line 40). In Lines 42-45, Bukowski crafts an image of libraries yawning and falling asleep since the books they house are overwhelmingly dim.

As Stanza 4 ends, Bukowski returns to the theme of violence and force. Using a simile, he says writing should come out of a soul "like a rocket” (Line 50). A person knows that they have to write because, if they don’t, they may commit violence against others or themselves. A person can also tell that they’re meant to write due to the "burning” in their "gut” (Line 56).

Stanza 5 expands on themes mentioned in Stanza 2. In both stanzas, Bukowski preaches patience. In Stanza 5, the poem embodies a religious mood. In Line 59, Bukowski uses the word "chosen,” as if he’s discussing predestination. The true writer is singled out for some kind of divine mission: “[I]t will do it by / itself” (Lines 60-61). Religious people are at the mercy of god and the hypothetical writer is at the mercy of writing. Both are independent, all-consuming forces. When they disappear, it’s because they chose to withdraw their favors or because the person has passed away.

The last two stanzas are each comprised of a single line and both feature a negative. Stanza 6 has a "no” (Line 63), and Stanza 7 possesses a "never” (Line 64). The brevity of the last stanzas supports the authoritative, righteous, and severe mood of the poem. As with god, there is no arguing with Bukowski. Bukowski has the final word on what constitutes a legitimate writer.

As the poem proposes that a true writer is the product of an intimate, deeply personal process, it’s safe to assume that Bukowski is the speaker of this poem. These are Bukowski's thoughts and feelings. Heed them because Bukowski is, at least in his own mind, a true writer. His prolific output and his volatile nature indicate that he was chosen.