Chuck Palahniuk creates fearlessly. A few years after he’d invited me to join his masterful writing group we called Workshop, Chuck told me his secret to writing.
Chuck told me that he’d learned the secret from Brad Pitt. The actor had appeared in Fight Club, the movie based on Chuck’s New York Times bestselling novel.
Brad, he said, would choose his acting roles based on his previous movie – and then twist them 180 degrees, so that none of Brad’s roles were anything like the previous acting job. Chuck chose to do the same, flipping his work. His ideas for his books, then, are sparked by taking the end of his last work and flipping it 180-degrees. Then, he begins his new story at that point.
Chuck even recreated his persona along the way. I observed that he showed up differently the first few interviews we did together. But I didn’t catch on right away.
We did many of our book interviews at the venerable Heathman Hotel in Portland, Oregon. One time, early on in our friendship, Chuck showed up wearing jeans and a tight white T-shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal studly biceps, looking very James Dean.
A year or so later, I walked through the Heathman’s coffee shop on my way to our next interview – right past him. I heard a familiar voice call out, “Diana, don’t you recognize me,” that voice sounding vaguely pained.
It took a moment to recognize Chuck, this time dressed like a 1950’s salesman – the hat, the trench coat, the briefcase, each piece impeccably chosen. I startled, then laughed at myself. We went upstairs to the interview together.
I got it. Just like in his writing, Chuck uses all his senses to create his own character.
Chuck told me that decades earlier, when Workshop began, that they called what he does Dangerous Writing. It originated with the wisdom of the professor he loves and honors, Tom Spanbauer.
Chuck carries that danger with him even on book tours. He is not afraid to risk life and limb for his writing. Imagine signing more than ten-thousand books in a dimly-lit warehouse where the only inhabitants – usually – are robots! Can you imagine the writer’s cramp? Add on long flights, like the one from Spain, that arrived in time for him to be on my show. Then, there’s the leaping on and off stages, and the rock-star injuries that occur.
Speaking of rock-star, I asked Chuck, in one of those interviews, if he ever dreamed of this life he’s been living – international travel promoting his books, on TV and radio, for starters. He says no, he didn’t. But, wait a minute. He told me once that earlier on, he did wish for the life of a Rock Star, entertaining crowds of thousands.
Chuck showed me how our brilliantly dangerous dreams can come true.
Chuck Palahniuk’s startling and outrageous debut novel was the basis of the hit movie starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton.
THE FIRST RULE about fight club is you don’t talk about fight club.