Tower's Writing Career: From Literary Acclaim to Hollywood Screenplays
The trajectory of Tower's professional writing career is marked by a versatile transition from critically acclaimed literary fiction to high-stakes screenwriting. Beginning with a strong foundation in short stories and nonfiction reporting, Tower has established a presence in both the prestigious circles of New York literary magazines and the global entertainment industry.
Literary Beginnings and Early Recognition
Tower first gained significant attention in 2009 when Farrar, Straus and Giroux published his debut short story collection, Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned. The collection received high-profile praise, including a review by Edmund White in the New York Times Book Review. Notably, Michiko Kakutani of the New York Times named it one of her ten best books of 2009. The collection, which was also a finalist for The Story Prize, features a title story centered on an aging community of Vikings.
This early success led to rapid recognition within the literary community. In June 2010, The New Yorker identified Tower as one of its "20 under 40" luminary fiction writers. Shortly thereafter, on June 10, 2010, he received the Tenth Annual New York Public Library's Young Lions Fiction Award, a $10,000 prize dedicated to American writers under the age of 40.
Contributions to Nonfiction and Journalism
Beyond fiction, Tower has proven to be a skilled reporter and essayist. His work was selected for The Best American Short Stories 2010, and he has been featured three times in The Best American Sports Writing. His recognized sports reporting includes "Own Goal" (2011), originally in Harper's Magazine—which was a National Magazine Award finalist for Profile Writing—as well as "Welcome to the Far East Conference" (2012) and "Who Wants to Shoot an Elephant?" (2015), both originally published in GQ.
Tower's versatility continued into 2014, when he became a finalist for two National Magazine Awards: one in the Essays and Criticism category for "The Old Man at Burning Man," and another in Fiction for "The Dance Contest."
Transition to Screenwriting and Film
In recent years, Tower has expanded his portfolio into the film and television industry. On May 22, 2022, Netflix acquired the global rights to Pain Hustlers for $50 million. Written by Tower and directed by David Yates, the film stars Emily Blunt and was inspired by the nonfiction book The Hard Sell by Evan Hughes. The film explores the opioid epidemic, though it received mixed critical reception; it holds a 23% positive rating from 115 critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 44/100 on Metacritic.
While Pain Hustlers reached the screen, Tower has several other high-profile unproduced projects. These include the screenplay The True American for director Kathryn Bigelow and Annapurna Pictures, and Framed for Netflix and George Clooney's Smokehouse Productions. In television, he has written the dramatic series Paper for HBO and Plan B Entertainment, as well as the series Mayor for HBO and Alec Baldwin.
Key Facts
- Debut Collection: Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned (2009).
- Major Awards: Young Lions Fiction Award ($10,000) and New Yorker "20 under 40" luminary.
- Journalism: Three-time feature in The Best American Sports Writing.
- Major Film Sale: Netflix paid $50 million for the global rights to Pain Hustlers.
- Industry Collaborations: Worked with entities including HBO, Plan B Entertainment, and Smokehouse Productions.
Career Summary Table
| Category | Notable Work/Award | Year/Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Literature | Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned | 2009 (Debut Collection) |
| Award | Young Lions Fiction Award | 2010 ($10,000 prize) |
| Journalism | The Best American Sports Writing | Featured 3 times (2011, 2012, 2015) |
| Film | Pain Hustlers | 2022 ($50M Netflix deal) |
| TV (Unproduced) | Paper and Mayor | Developed for HBO |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Tower's first major literary success?
Tower's first major success was the 2009 short story collection Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned, which was praised by Michiko Kakutani and was a finalist for The Story Prize.
Which awards has Tower won for his writing?
He was awarded the Tenth Annual New York Public Library's Young Lions Fiction Award in 2010 and was named one of The New Yorker's "20 under 40" luminary fiction writers.
What is the basis for the film Pain Hustlers?
The screenplay for Pain Hustlers was inspired by the nonfiction book The Hard Sell, written by Evan Hughes and published in January 2022.
Has Tower written for television?
Yes, although his television credits are currently unproduced. He wrote the series Paper for Plan B Entertainment and HBO, and the series Mayor for Alec Baldwin and HBO.
How was the film Pain Hustlers received by critics?
The film received mixed or average reviews, with a 23% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 44/100 on Metacritic.