36 writing craft essays by chuck palahniuk

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Establishing Your Authority

3

Developing a Theme

10

Using “On-the-Body” Physical Sensation

20

Submerging the “I”

28

Nuts and Bolts: Hiding a Gun

41

Beware the “Thesis Statement”

45

Reading Out Loud – Part One

49

Reading Out Loud – Part Two

54

Nuts and Bolts: Punctuation with Gesture and Attribution

59

When You Can’t Find a Writing Workshop

62

Learning from the Cliches... Then Leaving Them Behind

66

Talking Shapes: The Quilt Versus the Big O

70

Textures of Information

75

Effective Similes

79

Talking Shapes: The Thumbnail

82

Talking Shapes: The Cycle

85

Talking Shapes: The Rebel, the Follower and the Witness

91

Nuts and Bolts: Using Your Objects

98

Thirteen Writing Tips

102

Killing Time – Part One

108

Discon nected Dialogue – Part One

113

Body Language – Part One

116

Objects

120

Required Reading: Absurdity

124

Utility Phrases: When All Words Fail

127

Names Versus Pronouns

130

Nuts and Bolts: Plot Points

134

Tell a Lie, Bury a Gun

137

A Story from Scratch, Act One

140

A Story from Scratch, Act Two

147

A Story from Scratch, Act Three

154

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