How to Write Like Hunter S. Thompson

In this video essay, learn how famous American author, Hunter S. Thompson, honed his Gonzo writing style and what made it so unique by examining his work, including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved.
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Twitter - @EntertainTheElk
Website - www.entertaintheelk.com
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[@EntertainTheElk]

Which author should I explore next?

[@Raithwall95]

Arthur C. Clarke Philip K. Dick Michail Bulgakov Great video! And fantastic topic... keep it up

[@sergiorobles1885]

Entertain The Elk Burroughs or Kerouac, please

[@MadPumpkinGuy]

George orwell

[@Portmilieu]

Breat Easton Ellis

[@patrickmchugh4616]

Donald Barthelme, the greatest American short story writer of the 20th century.

[@Skydrag.V60]

Your voice is almost perfect to portray Thompson

[@jayt7178]

I thought the same thing.

[@EnSokkROFL]

Reads it too quickly tho.

[@dylanmcdermott5564]

@@EnSokkROFL that's my thoughts exactly too fast but if he slowed down a bit it'd be pretty close

[@NukeCaulfield]

No, it isn't. His voice is nothing like Thompson's.

[@kaninma7237]

@@NukeCaulfield We had to count them all, but, in a far away village, some yawning young women is milking cows and getting ready to churn better butter. What she wrote, without scrawling a word, remains holy and highly regarded to this day, in her native village, population 27, est. 537 AD.

[@juderobson9224]

"There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die" One of my favorite authors, a true American Journalist.

[@corycole3474]

Mine too

[@paulshepherd5649]

Don't mind me...just admiring the shape of your skull

[@sunnyalexanderr]

my senior quote

[@Ok_Boomer_]

A doctor of journalism

[@TheMetalAllfather]

"Don't draw Ralph. It's a filthy habit." - Hunter Stockron Thompson to friend Ralph Steadman, illustrator

[@dylanmcdermott5564]

*****Stockton****** not Stockron

[@richardfilanderer]

Hunter S. Thompson was my first literary inspiration. He got me hooked on writing based purely on originality and the profound sense of revelry you get in his work.

[@junkiejackflash]

Same here. As a young pill-popping druggie in high school, I was co-editor in chief of my high school paper, and I never would've considered writing outside of school if it weren't for him.

[@jamesrynott3742]

Ivan Morales performance poetry

[@jayt7178]

@@junkiejackflash You just summarized my life entirely. That's crazy.

[@jayt7178]

@@jamesrynott3742 ?

[@grababookfromthelibrary8374]

First? I'm curious as to know who are the others?

[@christopheboucher3737]

I love how, purposefully or not, your voice ressembles Hunter’s in that video

[@alissonoliveira4777]

Firstly, I'm Brazilian, and here Hunter Thompson is almost never mentioned. The way you summarized the relevant points about Hunter Thompson and his gonzo journalism is very good. Brings inspiration to keep writing.

[@lukeh2556]

So basically the perfect material for Terry Gilliam to work with

[@TheGeorgeD13]

Yeah Terry was pretty much Hunter’s cinematic equivalent in many ways.

[@jayt7178]

I'll never understand people who like the book but not the movie. It's almost entirely identical save for the drive thru dictation reenactment being left on the cutting room floor, and the "they chopped her head off right there in the parking lot," which is still in the film, they just mention it at a different point in time from the book. My film teacher loved Thompson, loved Fear and Loathing, but hated the movie. Said it was too overblown, to over exaggerative. I can't for the life of me imagine what he envisioned when reading the book, because to me, it’s one of the best adaptations in the history of cinema, if not THE BEST. The film depicts what I imagined the book to be to a T.

[@TheGeorgeD13]

@@jayt7178 Exactly! I remember hearing that they were going to adapt the book for the screen and I couldn't imagine how they'll do it well because the book is so out there. But they did it! They went as extreme and batshit as the book and succeeded. I suppose some things are more palatable to some members of the audience when it is read as opposed to actually seeing it. Nothing will top people's imaginations, anyway, and some people have quite dull imaginations.

[@thejackal9834]

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Absolutely loved the book and movie when I was in secondary school and it had an impact on how I’d write things in class, this would garner praise or scorn depending on the teachers.

[@UltimateKyuubiFox]

I’m reminded of Gonzo from The Muppets dressing up like Hunter S. Thompson. I understand the joke now.

[@spacealienjesus709]

"We had came there to watch the true beast perform " No one will ever write like Hunter.

[@gia8214]

This was one of my favorite episodes. There's something to be said about a video essayist covering Gonzo journalism.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks so much. This is the most fun I’ve had making a video in months.

[@nikshmenga]

Ralph Steadman, an artist from Wales 4:41 or a Welsh artist (it's okay.)

[@junkiejackflash]

I make mistakes like this occasionally. I've accidentally said Canadia before.

[@eddyw282]

Was about to comment this, thanks for doing it for me

[@paulcolbourne9112]

Whoops I pointed this out too. I won't delete it though, it needs repeating until he deletes the video and redoes it.

[@assassin1478]

Not even Wales really, it’s Wallasey in the Wirral merseyside. My town.

[@jacksonwilliams8971]

Also “hometown of Kentucky” made me chuckle

[@shampoosipper4782]

So that's why the tab of acid I may or may not have had in my possession was called a ''Gonzo tab'' and the blotter art may or may not have been one of his caricatures. Very interesting to know the backstory...

[@danielguaracha7531]

Hunter wasn't just a journalist, he had the mind of a philosopher

[@everydayfreakshow4455]

He is a journalist you fool

[@keskesay7466]

Totally agree actually made a video about that

[@eddyg7025]

@@everydayfreakshow4455 Do you understand basic logic?

[@RhodokTribesman]

Great take. I've always thought he had strong echoes to beatnik writers like Kerouac or Bukowski

[@geordiejones5618]

To me he's proof that punk isn't just music. This man was a punk artist. One of the only shameless punk writers. Even if you don't like his style, it's just as important to me in American lit as Mark Twain or Edgar Allen Poe.

[@AlmightyNata]

This was my favorite video by you by far. The editing/visuals really worked to tell the story, and your research was spot on.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you so much! This is the most fun I’ve had making a video in awhile. Just a shame that the views don’t always correlate. But I’m glad you enjoyed it. :)

[@AlmightyNata]

@@EntertainTheElk I think this one will slowly creep up and get popular over time. Don't let that discourage you on making these "deeper dives". I'll be recommending this video to my friends anyways.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks! That means a lot.

[@pussywran]

love the little touch with the cigarette burn

[@davelavish8580]

Hunter is very entertaining and amusing writer and definitely a big influence on me

[@arcr1790]

The journalist who made a history out of news. Now that's impressive

[@nicktosti7487]

This is so fantastic. Watched it tons. Love it.

[@Jdw-xc2ey]

I loved this and I am really excited to read some of his works. Your in depth detail, analysis and research is impressive and masterful. Thank you so much

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you Joel!! :)

[@joeychill4364]

So glad I found this channel. Great stuff.

[@TheCharlesAtoz]

Spun my head around this morning!

[@adrianclup4993]

youre legit one of the best if not the best youtuber i have ever seen keep it up

[@EntertainTheElk]

Wow thank you so much!

[@hankgroat7716]

This was very interesting, I'd like to see similar stuff in the future!

[@movedmindpoRUSZonyUMYS]

This is highest quality video essaying. More!

[@thisisridiculous47]

6:05 The idea of Thompson as a Virgil of American culture is excellent

[@hishamhilal8332]

I have been trying so hard to explain this style to my family and friends and this video does it perfectly.

[@mckenziegillespie3044]

This needed to be soooooo much longer

[@boutzee]

This was so interesting! Thank you! x

[@alainpiera7139]

Thank you Elk.

[@MrPolkaParty]

great piece ... keep up the great work

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@liqsor]

Great job, man

[@nighteyes5683]

Has anyone else ever even done gonzo journalism? I mean, I realize there have probably been a few imitators, but anyone remotely successful (i.e. published consistently by major publications)? It seems to me Thompson is pretty much the be all, end all of the genre he himself invented. Anyway, I've always thought he'd had a completely inimitable style. So much so that gonzo might as well be called Thompsonian journalism and have a wiki entry of one.

[@EdDunkle]

Tom Wolfe's "New Journalism" is a cousin of gonzo. Here's the beginning of his first collection of essays: "Hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, HERNia; hernia, HERNia; hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, eight is the point, the point is eight, hernia, hernia, HERNia; hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, all right, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hard eight, hernia, hernia, hernia, HERNia, hernia,, hernia, hernia, HERNia, hernia, hernia, hernia, HERNia, hernia, hernia, hernia, hernia..."

[@patricioperez8267]

i didnt knew i needed this video until i saw it

[@EntertainTheElk]

:)

[@PKMNAlert]

This was awesome!!

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks!!

[@aggression77]

Great video!!

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you! :)

[@harmonicafish7661]

Loved this! Hope to see lots more of these literature videos on your channel, this is really well done.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks a lot! Check out my Hemingway video if you haven’t already.

[@kubadzi2902]

You're the best mate. I just started getting into Hunter's work and he instantly became one of my favourites author ever. Thank you for that video!

[@EntertainTheElk]

That's awesome! Which of his books did you start with?

[@kubadzi2902]

@@EntertainTheElk Quite recently I've watched "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". That's how I found out about Hunter and decided to start with "Hell's Angels". I haven't finished it yet, but I'm loving it and already thinking which one to try next.

[@EntertainTheElk]

That's awesome. Well you should definitely read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The next one of his that I want to read is Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail.

[@kubadzi2902]

@@EntertainTheElk Yea, I will read "F&L in Las Vegas" for sure. The movie was crazy and awesome. I'm also very curious about "F&L on the Campaign Trail", will have to check it out as well.

[@bobtaylor170]

@@kubadzi2902 , F&L on the Campaign Trail is wonderful.

[@l.farmer1268]

I love this video. Hunter s Thompson is a hero

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thanks!

[@rylanrumbaugh1013]

nice editing

[@miranda8636]

Hey maybe I could invent a new age of book summaries if I hand in mine unorganized, vulgar and with sexy drawings of horses. I should try it some time. Thank you Thompson!

[@lukeh2556]

Not sure that was the point the video was trying to make, but hey who am I to stop you from fulfilling you're dreams

[@UltimateKyuubiFox]

Lucas Harris Yeah, that’s gonna be the point of the Ralph Steadman video.

[@jayt7178]

​@@UltimateKyuubiFox I could imagine Ralph Steadman beating his floppy meat to some tantalizing illustrations of equine beasts.

[@jayt7178]

@@UltimateKyuubiFox Though I'm going to try not to.

[@girlspooptoo8567]

I like this Thanks

[@SamBallantyne]

Do Bukowski next!

[@samjudge1240]

Engaging and insightful.

[@harrisonhunter9433]

Incredible.

[@Sorenbaa]

This was great

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you!

[@jackcruz7857]

Thank you

[@EntertainTheElk]

You’re welcome. :)

[@nietzscheshorse8566]

Nice one!

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you!

[@mathieuleader8601]

he was one of a kind

[@matty6878]

thumbs up for the voice impersonation!

[@KyleHarrisonRedacted]

Beautiful episode dude, well done 👏 Id love a deep dive on Tom Clancy if you're looking for authors to do at some point

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@keatonskradel4837]

The lack of a new when __ died really made look all of your other fantastic video essays. There really isn’t any video that I haven’t enjoyed viewing. I hope you become a big success in the future my friend

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you so much!! :)

[@paulogranja1544]

2:04 bruh that's Sergio Ramos

[@thebarwell1985]

I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the Ford Fairlane stories by Rex Weiner.

[@freval2493]

I can’t help but say “Kentucky Fried Derby”

[@torinthunder3039]

Lol MOOD

[@gobsauce84]

This video changed everything for me. Hopefully it could change others. Perhaps the wave may never roll back this time...

[@carolinerozali8030]

I came for the literature dissecting. :)

[@garmind4868]

Nice. I like it

[@ginuman1600]

underrated video

[@adamzitsch9027]

Did a kinda decent impression of hunter thats cool for sure

[@honklerfinkelstein2113]

I thought of it and you made it damn

[@EntertainTheElk]

:)

[@EthanTAllison]

My favorite author, love all his books. As good as Fear and Loathing is, also check out Curse of Lono, Rum Diary and Songs of the Doomed.

[@EntertainTheElk]

I've read Curse of the Lono and enjoyed it. The next one I want to read is F&L on the Campaign Trail.

[@EthanTAllison]

@@EntertainTheElk Heavy on politics, like a lot of Hunters work, but one of his staples for sure.

[@bobtaylor170]

@@EntertainTheElk , it's great, believe me, it's great. Indispensable, I'd say.

[@jonzu4]

If you did an audio book of Fear and Loathing I'd buy it.

[@emiliozavalaart]

I fucking loved this thankyou do much for this

[@sirlordhenrymortimer6620]

This video is breathe of fresh air. You should explore paintings , especially the works of rambrandt, valazakez, Goya

[@EntertainTheElk]

Would love to! It’s just that those videos never get the views I think they deserve. I did one on Monet’s paintings that is one of my fav videos that no one watched. I’ll keep striking a balance!

[@sirlordhenrymortimer6620]

@@EntertainTheElk hey, man I saw that video atleast 11 times and revisit that video from time to time. Nerdwriter made video's on rakbrandt , Goya, valazauez he got the views . So, don't worry about the views just do what your heart says to you .

[@EntertainTheElk]

@@sirlordhenrymortimer6620 Thanks I appreciate that. Yeah, Nerdwriter has definitely built the fanbase that will devour whatever he puts out. I built a Day __ Died fanbase that doesn't always like branching out to other topics. But I'll continue to slowly cultivate that audience. And yeah, this video was definitely one for me, so I'm glad you also dug it. :)

[@sirlordhenrymortimer6620]

@@EntertainTheElk nerdwriter , with all due respect , after hitting the popularity jackpot get's away with surface level analysis and his loyal followers lap it up as if he's made a profound statement . As a consumer of cultural content I have witnessed a lot of burnouts, people who started with film analysis channel or cultural commentary channel after 4-5 years are getting direction less. One thing I have noticed is that QUALITY and UNIQUENESS wins ,for eg . I had discovered an interesting channel called *is this fantasy* while trying to find out about the film review of psycho , most of the channels has similar things to say about it but her whole video was completely different and gave me a totally a different perspective ( you should check that too). Now, there are lot of channels who covered Goya or valazauez but if you could add something new or maybe you should try with someone like Francis beacon or William turner I haven't seen enough of there works represented in you tube . You will quickly gain new audiences and if your video is impressive enough it will have snow ball effect and you will gain new followers so, don't play safe always be imaginative .

[@EntertainTheElk]

@@sirlordhenrymortimer6620 This is great advice!

[@denverjohnson8853]

Need this for Irvine Welsh

[@ashleyfarrow3633]

The opening lines sound like something I’d find on Botnik lol.

[@patrickhobbs8201]

I'd love to see your commentary on podcasts -- especially along the lines of truecrime podcasts like Serial.

[@EntertainTheElk]

Interesting. Hadn't thought about discussing this medium, but that's a good idea.

[@Craw1011]

I know I'm late to sing my praise for this, but goddamn was this great. Would love to see you tackle Pynchon or Denis Johnson just because both their writing styles are wonderfully evocative and playful, not unlike Thompson's

[@polpot6]

Good video

[@EntertainTheElk]

Thank you!

[@KittyKittyBoomBoom]

Greatest literary opening in history .

[@woganjones2012]

Ralph Steadman from Welsh? Or did you mean from Wales? Love your vids. Da iawn 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@ten_sleso]

Those books (at least one) you should be read at Quiet the Elk channel. Definetly would be fun mental transformation from sureal literature slowly to sureal dreaming.

[@EntertainTheElk]

That's a great idea! :)

[@Jabberwockybird]

The description of the Kentucky Derby sounds like stadium games today.

[@jlovebirch]

At 4:40 that should be "Ralph Steadman, an artist from Wales" not "from Welsh".

[@charlesliang4118]

What movie is it??? Shown in the back ground

[@kathrynmcelroy5658]

I am a Hunter Thompson worshiper! Thanks for the vid! If I could snort HST....I WOULD!

[@EntertainTheElk]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@CommunistCentral]

do William Burroughs next

[@sifatshams1113]

Next year on April 1st, do a video on the Day Breaking Bad Died.

[@EntertainTheElk]

:)

[@JacobHarvietheSinger]

home town of kentucky artist from welsh

[@Listenman33]

How does one start learning to write this way?

[@ianw884]

4:35 england is my city

[@junkiejackflash]

I got a Hunter S Thompson tattoo, coked up on my 18th birthday. He was why I went to school to be a writer, before I dropped out after a semester. Still love the guy.

[@EntertainTheElk]

So so awesome.

[@willtheangrydudeist9120]

❤❤❤❤

[@EntertainTheElk]

:)

[@Nantosuelta]

How to write like Hunter S. Thompson: Don't. Hunter S. Thompson was one of god's own prototypes and his work can never be duplicated.

[@Tadicuslegion78]

If someone was to ask me to describe the active voice in writing, I'd hold up Hunter S. Thompson.

[@wrightspostexperience2517]

First thing I thought when I saw the title was “just do lots of drugs”

[@EntertainTheElk]

Ha. That's one of the steps.

[@OsKarMike1306]

@@EntertainTheElk According to his daily routine, it's most of the steps

[@peekfinder]

Freedom

[@Obama_OReilly]

If he began gonzo journalism did anyone else become gonzo journalists?

[@EntertainTheElk]

Totally! It definitely permeates news today, which can be dangerous when people are desperate for dry facts as opposed to opinions and perspectives.

[@markcharron]

Yes, every news outlet these days.

[@jeepstermario9912]

Is it me you did I mis the part of how to write like HST all i got out of that was your description of him and your opinion

[@EntertainTheElk]

I talked about his writing style and Gonzo journalism.

[@jeepstermario9912]

@@EntertainTheElk No I believed you missed your point. Imagine you made a video called how to drive and all you talked about was where you drove and what you drove and ignored the mechanics of actually driving .Thompson had a rhythm a cadence amongst other quirks you missed.

[@EntertainTheElk]

@@jeepstermario9912 Thanks for the thoughts. I'll keep that in mind for future vids.

[@RSSP2000]

How to write like Thompson: Don't try to and find your own style

[@micaylab1]

I don't know how to describe it, but I feel like Hunter S Thompson writes everything in Quote format.

[@kevinbrown3723]

Good damn her...

[@paulcolbourne9112]

4:40 "an artist from Welsh...".

[@Optics21]

I feel like benico was very underrated

[@EntertainTheElk]

As your attorney, I very much approve this comment.

[@Optics21]

@@EntertainTheElk glad to know your not prejudice

[@tadwarren166]

You've basically described and conveyed to unfamiliar ears a Thompson the rest of us are aware of but not HOW TO WRITE LIKE OR SIMILAR TO

[@alohacowboy1]

Nathaniel West

[@wyattrussell7496]

Be yourself. Period

[@QuestionmarkTimes2]

Your pronunciation reminds me of depp imitating thompson. Is it on purpose ?

[@EntertainTheElk]

Ha. I know what you mean. It wasn’t my intention, but it was really hard not to slip into that every now and then. Especially when I said “the poor bastard will see them soon enough.”

[@QuestionmarkTimes2]

​@@EntertainTheElk I can relate, lol. Great video brother.