Working on Catch-22

A reader comments:
Too bad you couldn't have explained this to Joseph Heller before he wrote Catch-22. Armed with such knowledge he could have written a Gothic novel instead.
Of course, Heller took my advice immediately when he wrote Catch-22. He was a very apt pupil and wise to consult me even though, as I recall, I was in fifth grade at the time, and most didn't trust I knew what I was talking about. But Joe saw my wisdom right away.
Per my suggestion, he made sure Yossarian was sympathetic and that he had a problem.
And from the opening pages, he had one event in the novel lead to another and to another, etc. Sure, these techniques were from Writing Your Novel 101, but even then it shocked me how many talented wannabes forgot the basics.
I recommended to Heller that he write a memorable opening line. He came up with a classic: "It was love at first sight."
I'd told him the ladies are nuts about a guy in love. But don't make it too Hallmarky.
So Heller added the twist: He made Yossarian in love with the chaplain? (What the hell? Over.) Strange how back in those good old days, "Yossarian in love with the chaplain" was taken as absurdist hyperbole.
Today it would be the story.
Then I pointed out what a catchy idea Joe had with that catch-22 thing, and I insisted he slip an example in the first paragraph, so the reader would understand from the get-go that this was going to be a story that was not only engaging, but that would expose the dark underbelly of war. I was pleased to see he wove the first "catch-22" in early enough to be on the opening page when his novel was in manuscript format.
As a final coup de grace, I suggested that he make good use of his incredible dark sense of humor throughout.
And, the rest is history.
After the success of Catch-22 Heller wanted to write a Gothic novel. He was crazy about castles, ancient prophecies, and overwrought emotion. But once the public got a load of the original, they wanted "Catch-22 goes to Disneyland," "Catch-22 takes the 14-day European Tour," "Catch-22 on Route 66," etc.
I told him over and over, if he wanted to write about the absurdity of doors grating on rusty hinges on the night the howling wind blows out the lights, he should follow his dream and to hell with with all the naysayers.
Sadly, he only took my advice on the first novel. His later attempts, of course, were readable, but sheer originality rings such a clear bell that its younger brothers don't stand much of a chance.
So it has been, and so it will always be.
Please note: the above entry is fiction, which isn't to say it doesn't contain truth.