The 60-Second Novelist: What 22,613 People Taught Me about Life

by Dan Hurley

On Sunday, April 24, 1983, at about 2 p.m., I carried my 28 -pound 1953 Royal typewriter and a folding chair through the stiff wind of Chicago's Michigan Avenue, In front of the Old Water, Tower, I opened the folding chair, sat down with the typewriter in my lap and taped a sign to the back of it "60-Second Novels, Written While you Wait."

So begins the most original book in a generation--Dan Hurley's inspiring true tale of how he escaped...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558746927
• ISBN13: 9781558746923
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Hci
• Length: 207 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Sneakily inspiring book for writers and others

I'll be honest: I gave this book 5 stars not for its deathless prose or vast literary quality, but because it does exactly and charmingly what it sets out to do. Author Hurley shares many dozens of very short tales he wrote on the spot in only a minute for people who were waiting right in front of him. Talk about pressure! But Hurley proves that writer's block can be conquered, sometimes, by giving yourself a deadline. And he does a lovely job of capturing some essence, some droll humor, some cosmic message in each of these vignettes. I'd say he was able to force himself into a state of flow (which I know a lot about from writing my own bestseller, WRITING IN FLOW)and let the words come without having the time to think about them too much. He seems to have a way of connecting with people quickly and he certainly has the ability of turning that connection into something quirky, fun, and surprisingly enjoyable to read. The next time you say you don't have time to write, you should be ashamed of yourself.

Perfect slices of our imperfect lives.

This book confirms something that I have always believed. Every life, every person, every face IS a story. My family originates in Appalachia. Many times at old churchyard funerals, I have seen mountain folk sadly shake their heads and repeat a bit of common wisdom. "When a man dies, it's like a library just burned down to the ground." In his book, Dan Hurley runs from the fire, saving as many pages as he can.Jennifer King Moody, Contributing Author: State Lines, Texas A. and M. University Press

I had trouble reading this book...

...because frankly, I couldn't get the darned thing out of my husband's hands. "Almost done, hon? I'm dying to read it." "Give me a break. I just got started." This went on all day. Finally, right after supper he gave up first dibs on the book (which he'd gotten by virtue of being first to pick up the mail.) At last, I had an opportunity to sit down and read "Sixty Second Novelist." It rates an A--a gold star in the middle of Dan's forehead. It's easy to read, it's written in everyday people-talk. The intro's to each 60-second novel were as interesting as the novels themselves. Can you imagine any author who would sit atop a tall building just to talk to the people on the street? Now, that's different. That's gutsy. And so like Dan! The stories were captivating. I was disconcerted at first with the ex'd out mistakes or changes of mind. "Oooh, I'm surprised he didn't edit them out." Foolish thoughts. That wouldn't be true to what Dan was doing: spur of the moment typing - warts and all - real life mini-novels of real life people. Not simply celebrities, although he's written for them, too - but mostly for plain folks, like you and me. It is filled, from cover to cover, with photos, interviews with potential customers, and an eclectic collection of some of the best, original 'sixty second novels' as written by Dan. The book is ingenuous. The man's a genius! If you haven't bought it yet--DO IT!

Dan Hurley's story is as delightful as the ones he writes.

It took amazing self-motivation and determination for Dan Hurley to keep writing his 60 second novels, and his belief in himself is inspiring. This book is a delightful vision of the evolution of the 60 Second Novelist, and a portrait of a cross-section of America. The book is heartwarming and upliting, and full of amusing photographs and anecdotes, and I highly recommend it. Thanks, Dan Hurley, for reminding me how wonderful it is to believe in yourself.

Inspiring in a sneaky & humorous way

I'll be honest: I gave this book 5 stars not for its deathless prose or vast literary quality, but because it does exactly and charmingly what it sets out to do. Author Hurley shares many dozens of very short tales he wrote on the spot in only a minute for people who were waiting right in front of him. Talk about pressure! But Hurley proves that writer's block can be conquered, sometimes, by giving yourself a deadline. And he does a lovely job of capturing some essence, some droll humor, some cosmic message in each of these vignettes. I'd say he was able to force himself into a state of flow and let the words come without having the time to think about them too much. He seems to have a way of connecting with people quickly and he certainly has the ability of turning that connection into something quirky, fun, and surprisingly enjoyable to read. The next time you say you don't have time to write, you should be ashamed of yourself.