In 1994, I read a book by Rick Bass titled, "Platte River". I was so consumed with this book that I immediately sought out anything else written by this guy and spent money I really didn't have to buy them all. I devoured these books. I read them multiple times, underlining sentences, writing down quotes, disecting it, savoring the words as well as trying to figure out the details of why it was so good. I eventually broke the spine of, "Platte River" having read it so many times. I was so taken that I decided to write him a letter. I wanted to know what made him tick, and I thought maybe he'd be willing to read something I had written to give me a critique. I didn't know his address, so I called the closest Post Office I could find to Yaak Valley Montana. The lady that answered the phone said, "Oh, he comes in here a few times a week. Just send us the letter and we'll give it to him."
So I did.
About four days later I received a hand written letter scribbled onto torn notebook paper. He said he'd be happy to look at a story of mine, though he was very busy and it might take a while. Then came the golden nugget:
"The only advice I have on writing is short and simple: write stories so good that nobody can't publish them. That's the only way, the good editors will find them. Make the stories better".
I was disappointed at first. I was 23 years old and was expecting some juicy nugget that would ensure my success. But no. There is no juicy nugget. I now know that.
Today that is the premise for all things done KBC: Make it better. Do work so good that people must, "publish" it.
The flagship piece of the KBC is the Barrel Back Box. It is inspired in design. I will tell its story next.
-Steve
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