bospress.net
www.bospress.net
maybe!
Bill
Bill
WRITE magazine
- Thread starter nymark
- Start date
mjp
Founding member
A Place to Sleep the Night - I would think if it still existed cirerita would have seen it in the Santa Barbara or USC collections. But who knows. Maybe Linda has it. John Dullaghan archived all of Bukowski's papers in San Pedro, he would know if it was there.bospress.net said:
I know of one other mention of WRITE. In an unpublished letter that I have (a copy, unfortunately) dated November 13, 1956 to C.E. Harper, Bukowski wrote:
I am 36 years old (8-16-20) and was first published (a short story) in Whit Burnett's STORY mag back in 1944. Then a few stories and poems in 3 or 4 issues of MATRIX around about that same time, and a story in Portfolio. As you know, these mags are now deceased. And, oh yes, a story and a couple of poems in something called WRITE that came out once or twice and then gave it up.
Bukowski was meticulous about where his work was published and if he took the time to mention WRITE on at least two occasions that we know of, then I believe his work was printed and there. Also of interest in this letter was the following:
I am taking a course in Commercial Art for the next couple of years, if I last (this is the night school deal), and besides this, I have just started my first novel, A PLACE TO SLEEP THE NIGHT. I am being very profuse in telling you all this, so if I don't send you a couple of one-minute plays, you'll know why. However, if I know myself, you will get some attempts from me. I don't think, though, that the play-form stirs me as it should. We'll see.
Charles Bukowski
580 N. Kingsley Drive
Los Angeles, 4, Calif.
What would you give to read some one-minute plays written by Bukowski, as was suggested to him? We'll never know but it sounds like a great premise.
I am 36 years old (8-16-20) and was first published (a short story) in Whit Burnett's STORY mag back in 1944. Then a few stories and poems in 3 or 4 issues of MATRIX around about that same time, and a story in Portfolio. As you know, these mags are now deceased. And, oh yes, a story and a couple of poems in something called WRITE that came out once or twice and then gave it up.
Bukowski was meticulous about where his work was published and if he took the time to mention WRITE on at least two occasions that we know of, then I believe his work was printed and there. Also of interest in this letter was the following:
I am taking a course in Commercial Art for the next couple of years, if I last (this is the night school deal), and besides this, I have just started my first novel, A PLACE TO SLEEP THE NIGHT. I am being very profuse in telling you all this, so if I don't send you a couple of one-minute plays, you'll know why. However, if I know myself, you will get some attempts from me. I don't think, though, that the play-form stirs me as it should. We'll see.
Charles Bukowski
580 N. Kingsley Drive
Los Angeles, 4, Calif.
What would you give to read some one-minute plays written by Bukowski, as was suggested to him? We'll never know but it sounds like a great premise.
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cirerita
Founding member
I agree with you, nymark. As I said before, B remembered the things he published in the "littles" with astounding accuracy, even some 20-30 years later. In S. Dorbin's bibliography there's an entry Dorbin doesn't know the date of, and he states B told him in 1969 that the mag was published circa 1956, that is, 13 years later.
So I'm convinced that the story and poems were published in Write. It's interesting to note that the mag folded after one or two issues. So I'm wondering whether Write is the same mag as Write: The Monthly... or not.
So I'm convinced that the story and poems were published in Write. It's interesting to note that the mag folded after one or two issues. So I'm wondering whether Write is the same mag as Write: The Monthly... or not.
zoom man
Founding member
nymark said:
I'm on the case nymark....
Sans the big bag of money ;)
Got a one-way ticket to Atlanta, Flying out Tuesday...
Jesus, Atlanta in August, Hell tho, it's hot in NY too, the whole damned world is coming to an end?!) :( , So we have to find this now!!
(No, I'm not flying out and dropping everything for this hunt alone, but why not set my scope eh?!)
Wish me luck
zoom man
Founding member
I've got so much shit to do...So if anyone has the time to send me (by tomorrow ~10 am eastern time) A list of Atlanta used bookshops, That would be Awesome.
I've done a little googling, But haven't come across anything timely and comprehensive.
I really believe that if this Write copy exists, That it's downstairs somewhere in an Atlanta bookshop In a neglected stack.
Anyway, I could use the yellow pages when I get there, But I'd love an attack plan/map with a strategy before I get there.
If anybody has the inclination and good luck to come across a great list of such shops,
Please e-mail it to me.
raceristhebest@aol.com
(No, I'm no NASCAR fan, Racer is my dogs' name)
I've done a little googling, But haven't come across anything timely and comprehensive.
I really believe that if this Write copy exists, That it's downstairs somewhere in an Atlanta bookshop In a neglected stack.
Anyway, I could use the yellow pages when I get there, But I'd love an attack plan/map with a strategy before I get there.
If anybody has the inclination and good luck to come across a great list of such shops,
Please e-mail it to me.
raceristhebest@aol.com
(No, I'm no NASCAR fan, Racer is my dogs' name)
Rekrab
Usually wrong.
Maybe if we all think positive thoughts, you'll go there with some powerful finding vibe and hone in on that stack of moldering WRITE magazines in the dank basement where a waterpipe has been dripping on it for a few years but the inside pages will still be readable and we'll get some great lost Bukowski story and poems. Have fun in Atlanta, and don't come back unless you've got the Holy Grail with you.
the only good poet
One retreat after another without peace.
bospress.net
www.bospress.net
Hi,
I once saw a photo of Montfort holding that bottle of beer. I beloieve that mjp was maybe in the photo also?
If I remember, the poem was "Cows in Art Class" from 8 Story Window?
If you have that photo, could you post it?
Bill
I once saw a photo of Montfort holding that bottle of beer. I beloieve that mjp was maybe in the photo also?
If I remember, the poem was "Cows in Art Class" from 8 Story Window?
If you have that photo, could you post it?
Bill
the only good poet
One retreat after another without peace.
i know that poem from MADRIGALS. must have been a tight fit! on a personal level (yawn now), that collection kept me afloat unlike anything else since MEXICO CITY BLUES...consensus be damned: tyros are intrinsic.
mjp
Founding member
It was an excerpt from cows in art class. I letterpressed it on acetate using the completely wrong kind of ink, so it didn't want to dry, but it worked out somehow.
I don't remember how Montfort found out about it, but he emailed me a few days before the show and said he was coming by and asked if I would hold one for him. He was the first one there, so holding one wasn't really necessary.
He convinced me to number and sign them on the bottom, then took #1/24 (of course ;)). I think I ended up giving him #2 as well, and a week or so later he unexpectedly sent me a print of one of his Bukowski photos, so I considered it a good trade. Ha.
The bottles were free for the taking anyway, for anyone who came to the art show. All the artists made inedible "food" items that people could take home.
Yes, it's really beer. I think it was Natural Light or something. The cheapest 12 pack I could find.
I don't remember how Montfort found out about it, but he emailed me a few days before the show and said he was coming by and asked if I would hold one for him. He was the first one there, so holding one wasn't really necessary.
He convinced me to number and sign them on the bottom, then took #1/24 (of course ;)). I think I ended up giving him #2 as well, and a week or so later he unexpectedly sent me a print of one of his Bukowski photos, so I considered it a good trade. Ha.
The bottles were free for the taking anyway, for anyone who came to the art show. All the artists made inedible "food" items that people could take home.
Yes, it's really beer. I think it was Natural Light or something. The cheapest 12 pack I could find.
the only good poet
One retreat after another without peace.
thanks, mjp - those "food" items almost make me heave.
Yeah, WRITE Magazine: the magazine for amateurs by amateurs is someday going to turn up, the Bukowski issue, and the story could be god-awful. Just trying to keep things lively on a slow Sunday night in Sedona! ;-) Okay okay... it would turn out to be a major find. But so far my Ouija board says...
"Yours truly, Cathleen Wheeler and Helen E. Cook, from the Bukowski Home for Retired Editors"
"Yours truly, Cathleen Wheeler and Helen E. Cook, from the Bukowski Home for Retired Editors"
That is a good point... that is, if Bukowski was indeed published in the mid-'40s, unless the magazine was more about pushing its commercial ads for services than for its amateur but good writing... But if the writing was poor and people subscribed to it more for the ads it contained, why would anyone keep any of the monthly issues? So far, it looks like hardly anyone did.
HenryChinaski
Founding member
surly a few survived? thats a damn shame.
zoom man
Founding member
I'm sure of it, Tho I'm no longer on the case (as of about a month + ago).
I checked all of one Atlanta bookstores when I was there....
Yeah, find me a new assignment.
Got the big L on my forehead, Just didn't have the time (Chattanooga was too much fun).
Now I'm in a San Mateo Fairgrounds parking lot (my 4 year University loan co-signees would be so proud)....
But I'm determined.
It's good to have direction, HA :)
(it's either this or prison)
Perhaps a backward check of the companies/services that advertised in the magazine my turn up older issues if not the issue in question.
Perhaps some of the companies advertising still exist and have their own archives-closet with a lot of old shit in it.
Poetry and marketing who would think they had so much in common.
well, if someone has this write mag I'm sure that we never can see this!
excuse moi ce inglish bad
excuse moi ce inglish bad
HenryChinaski
Founding member
those are the coolest beers ever.
cirerita
Founding member
If -a quite unlikely if- a copy of Write would surface now, which price would it fetch, roughly? Yeah, I know, whatever collectors would be willing to pay... but are we talking about a few grand? Maybe 10 grand? More? I think A Signature #1 is valued 10 grand or so, and there are six copies available, which is six times the number of available issues of Write right now.
bospress.net
www.bospress.net
There were only 6 copies of Signature made. There would have been more or Write made, and are probably in some attic in the house of the former editor. When it is found, I would guess a value on it of about $3000-$4000 (assuming that only one copy is found. If the entire print run was boxed and never sold, we will all be able to afford a copy), but there are really only a handfull of people that would pay that. I would not pay it. As much as I would love to have one, If I found one in a thrift shop, I would almost certainly sell it. I can think of only maybe 5 or 6 people that are obsessive enough to HAVE to have that and have the means to pay for it.
I would rather have Signature, any day...
Best,Bill
p.s. To make my point above; Anyone remember when "Peace Amongst The Ants" sold for $300 a copy on abe and there was only one copy available? Fogel valued it at $175.00. That was before a massive cache of mint copies showed up in Anaheim, CA. I assume that they were from the publishers stash and that very few copies ever made it out at the time of publication. They probably sat in a box for almost 40 years and then the publisher decided to unload them. I have 10-15 copies of that here and know others that bought 20 or more at $24.95 each.
I would rather have Signature, any day...
Best,Bill
p.s. To make my point above; Anyone remember when "Peace Amongst The Ants" sold for $300 a copy on abe and there was only one copy available? Fogel valued it at $175.00. That was before a massive cache of mint copies showed up in Anaheim, CA. I assume that they were from the publishers stash and that very few copies ever made it out at the time of publication. They probably sat in a box for almost 40 years and then the publisher decided to unload them. I have 10-15 copies of that here and know others that bought 20 or more at $24.95 each.
mjp
Founding member
Well that goes back to the issue of rarity, and as Bill pointed out in the case of Ants, that rarity status changes (as does the value) dramatically when a number of copies are found and distributed.
I think Write will eventually be found. I don't think it would go for $10k+ though - it's very early, yes, but it's not the "first" anything. It is notorious only because it's never been seen by collectors.
I wouldn't buy it myself, but I would hound the buyer endlessly to copy or transcribe the poem and story. ;)
I think Write will eventually be found. I don't think it would go for $10k+ though - it's very early, yes, but it's not the "first" anything. It is notorious only because it's never been seen by collectors.
I wouldn't buy it myself, but I would hound the buyer endlessly to copy or transcribe the poem and story. ;)