The different stories range from hooking up with the wife of a stranger who invites him over for dinner to admire his work, to Bukowski's versions of "debates" with other writers at "Open City".

Along with the series Notes of a Dirty Old Man, Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook includes another deep look into Charles Bukowski's life.

It is a lengthened version of Notes of a Dirty Old Man that is more of an autobiography about him becoming a writer than a short story.

This short autobiography places Notes of a Dirty Old Man into a clearer timeline, providing the reader a better perspective of Bukowski's life.

He began his cycle of getting kicked out and moving into different homes and hotels (which is elaborated more on in Notes of a Dirty Old Man).