On Writing

by Charles Bukowski

I guess we all go crazy now and then. Anyhow, the 2nd printing will read better. I guess when people compare the 2 editions they’ll never know the real story. They will be more apt to think that I went addled with senility and somebody else went ahead and made the changes for me. It’s pretty tough to take because I don’t mind being criticized for my own writing but to be laid open for somebody else’s isn’t so good. Anyhow, I will have to keep a closer watch on John in future work of mine. I doubt that he will fuck me up again. Sometimes I get rather sickened by some of Martin’s acts and methods. I wish you were my god damned editor, but thank the gods at least that I have you for a translator, agent, and friend. (oh yeah, John actually said, “Sometimes the typist gets bored and throws in something.” Wonder if Faulkner and J. Joyce were bothered with that?) [ . . . ]