372 Pages
We'll Never Get Back

In 2017, Michael J. Nelson (of "Mystery Science Theater 3000") and one of his "Rifftrax" co-writer/producers Conor Lastowka announced on Twitter that they were doing a podcast, a book club kind of thing where they would read and discuss a bestselling novel.

I remember reading the post, and I don't recall whether they said they didn't expect to like the book, but when episode 0 was launched on the 25th of August, I have often said it was the most world-shattering event of the year.

And while I (mostly) mean it tongue-in-cheek, the fact is I expected to like the book. I enjoy pulp and trashy '80's horror novels, and the era covered by RP1 is one I know well. I knew people I respect and liked who loved it.

I'm sure I didn't and don't know what to do with descriptions of broad famine and disease followed by "You know: Cats and dogs, living together...mass hysteria", which is then followed by references to a "new killer virus" or "another major city vanishing in a mushroom cloud." And this is as someone who wrote a post-apocalyptic comedy as a teenager.

But this entry isn't for describing what's wrong with RP1—that's what the first eight episodes are for. Mike says at one point they're not just slinging mud, though they are doing that. There are legitimate critiques which, I found, I could use to improve my own writing.

And that's where the idea of "372 Rules for Writing" came from.