Denver Writers Forum: Michael Chabon's Rules of Writing

Michael Chabon has spent decades crafting literary marvels that gleefully dismantle the walls between highbrow prose and genre pulp—from the Pulitzer-winning comic book epic The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay to the alternate-history noir of The Yiddish Policemen’s Union. Behind the lyrical sentences and sweeping narratives, however, is a disciplined working craftsman who treats storytelling with equal parts reverence, blue-collar grit, and boundless creative joy.

Chabon’s advice on the writing life is sharp, funny, and deeply liberating. He rejects the tortured-artist myth in favor of showing up, protecting your focus, and writing the stories you actually love rather than what you think the gatekeepers demand. Whether you’re writing literary fiction, hard-boiled crime, high fantasy, or metaphysical sci-fi, Chabon’s insights offer both a masterclass in craft and a vital jolt of creative courage.

Join us for an interactive discussion as we break down Chabon’s core rules of writing—and discover how to bring discipline, joy, and stylistic muscle to your own work.

The Lessons We’ll Explore

Discipline Over Inspiration: Chabon famously observes that novel-writing requires three things: talent, luck, and discipline—and discipline is the only one you can control. We’ll look at the power of setting a routine, showing up consistently, and building momentum through habits rather than fleeting bursts of muse.
The Death of the "Guilty Pleasure": Chabon fiercely champions genre—detective stories, comic books, horror, and adventure tales. We’ll discuss why apologizing for what you love to read and write weakens your work, and how embracing your primal storytelling passions can transform your drafts.
Style as Substance: To Chabon, an adventurous vocabulary and sentence-level musicality aren't decorative—they are the heartbeat of the world you construct. We’ll explore how rhythm, bold metaphor, and dynamic phrasing elevate character and atmosphere.
Structure and Architecture: The blueprint of a story must be sound. We’ll discuss Chabon’s techniques for building layered plots with clear stakes, hidden rails, and satisfying thematic payoffs.
Protecting the Sanctum: Chabon writes late at night in a backyard shed, cutting himself off from the chatter of the world. We’ll talk about managing distractions, carving out sacred writing time, and protecting the mental space required to create.
Write What Entertains You: If a scene doesn't move you, make you laugh, or quicken your pulse, it won't do it for a reader. Chabon reminds us that literature at its finest is entertainment infused with soul.

What to Expect at the Forum

Deep-Dive Discussion: We’ll break down each of Chabon’s principles using examples from his writing life and examine how they apply to our own works-in-progress.
Peer Brainstorming: An open floor to discuss current hurdles in your projects and gather craft-focused feedback from fellow writers.

A Note on Preparation

You don’t need to be intimately familiar with Michael Chabon’s novels to attend. Whether you are outlining a first draft, polishing a short story, or wrestling with how to sustain a daily writing habit, this forum is designed to give you practical, actionable fuel for your craft.

RSVP today and bring some craft and joy back to your desk.

Location & Logistics

We meet on Thursday, October 29 at RiNo Beer Garden, 3800 Walnut Street, Denver, Colorado. (The establishment has free adjacent parking.) We gather in the separate room.

We also host the Denver Writers Book Club, which discusses the works of authors from a "workshop" perspective:

BOOK CLUB

10/15 The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon

And don’t forget to join the Denver Writers Workshop, our ancillary group. It’s a peer critique group where writers share drafts to receive friendly and constructive feedback. Its upcoming schedule is:

WORKSHOP

10/8 Alan
10/22 Jeff

Find us on Facebook for more information on upcoming activities.