I grew up in Richmond, KY, and because of that thin sliver of a connection, I have the right to write about the writer, Hunter S. Thompson, who was born in Louisville, KY.
The rest is all fiction.
In his 1975 article, "How to Be a Good Writer," Hunter S. Thompson wrote that the following things are crucial to being a good writer:
1) Be curious about everything
And be consistently curious about very few things.
2) Read as much as possible
Take a selfie in the library.
3) Write for yourself and not anybody else
Get to know the depths of the person for whom you're writing.
4) Don't try too hard
Amen. We're all gonna die from climate change.
5) Stay out of school
Depends on the country and state.
6) Love what you do
Even when you're cleaning the toilet.
7) Believe in what you say
Even when you're off Instagram.
8) Keep your distance from those who don't share your love of writing
And everyone else.
9) Watch movies
Especially Christmas movies, like Die Hard.
10) Eat red meat
As I said, we're all gonna die from climate change. Even if we all stop eating meat, the top polluters will make our efforts null and void. Still, vote with your dollars. Eat red meat less.
11) Own guns
Yes. Own them. Register them. Insure them. If you're for gun ownership, fight to keep them out of schools. Don't be the NRA's bitch. Prove you're worthy of the responsibility or STFU.
12) Live with intensity
Fuck. I need to drink more chamomile tea. Don't mistake intensity with anger (or ADHD). Live with mindfulness.
13) Get angry
Only when absolutely necessary. Like when we’re all gonna die from climate change, but we’re still talking about her emails.
14) Play sports
Sure. Athletics are good. Pay teachers as much as athletes, and the athletes will be even better, you thick-skulled dimwitted nincompoop.
15) Have sex
Duh. Like we need more reminders. Also, grow up and fuck people your own age, pervert. It's gross that most men need that reminder.
16) Live with no fear
Ah, fear. Read something by Chögyam Trungpa or Thich Nhat Hanh. These souls know fear (no fear?) like you and I never will.
17) Make friends
Make friends with your family. Your dumbass trump supporting cousin might be a better ally than your liberal aunt. If not, you can piss off that dumbass until climate change ends us all.
18) Quit while you're ahead
We're so far behind that ahead is a memory.
19) Stay free
"The Myth of Freedom" by Chögyam Trungpa is a great book. If you're a writer, read it slowly. If you're not a writer, Control-Option-Command-Eject/Power (Alt-F4).
20) 🖕
I didn't know they had emojis in the beforetimes. I conclude my reactions.
