I recently finished King's non-fiction book On Writing: a memoir of the craft. It was one of those books that had me changing my entire opinion of the author. I've read a few of King's books over the years and although I liked them...I didn't love them. Yet his passion for writing and reading drips from every page of his writing memoir, I couldn't put it down. Maybe you've had an author in your life like that. Books shape us, regardless of what we read. Whether it's being read to as a child by a parent before bed, or exploring new genres in our teens, or reading something in our adult lives that completely changed or shaped how we look at life itself -- we are what we read. Stephen King is one of those authors who has shaped a genre and a generation. When you think of horror, you always think of King.
"Books are a uniquely portable magic."
What I enjoyed the most about King's writing memoir was that you could really see his passion for writing, more than that really, you could feel it. It wasn't just another book about writing, about how to format a manuscript with the odd tip and trick thrown in. It is a book where an established author not only shares his tools of the trade but explains why they are successful. He's realistic; people who love to write are really absorbed in the craft and aren't doing it because there is a dollar value at the end of a project. He gives examples, real examples, and explains why they work and in some cases don't work. He gives you comparisons, sentence structures, and shows you how to make dialogue believable and not full of adverbs; yes, the dreaded over-used adverb. Dialogue between characters wasn't something I noticed until I finished that section of King's book and everything I'd read since I do with a critical eye. He is so full of enthusiasm for writing that it's no wonder he can produce a finished book so quickly.
"If you don't have time to read, you don't have time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that!"
He emphasized that no matter the kind of writer you strive to be, you have to read a lot to understand how a story works, how to get from beginning to end and all that's in-between. A self-described slow reader, King reads between 70-80 books a year. How does he do it? He turns the TV off and picks up a book and reads, and he makes use of audiobooks while driving. If a book isn't holding his attention or just isn't good, he stops. Life is too short to read bad books. But, each bad book is an example for you. How could you make it better, how could you turn it into a good story, heck, a great story? I've tried to write a novel before, and let me tell you it is hard. King has a point, if you aren't going to familiarize yourself with how a story flows and it's structure and how to keep it going, you'll never get it off the ground. You'll sit in an endless cycle of writer's block.
King has also made his mark as a short story writer and talks about the power short stories can have, because a story doesn't have to be long to be great. He's also had a few ideas for short stories that have turned into full-fledged novels, like the 1987 bestseller, Misery. He suggests writing a short story before trying to write a novel. He also outlines his schedule when starting a new project. He keeps to a specific writing schedule that allows him to finish a novel from start to pretty much finished in three months. And, there are several YouTubers who have tried this schedule and you can watch their progress online. His work may not be for everyone, but you've got to hand it to someone who has written over sixty books, many of those having been produced as films or television shows, the guy knows how to write a story.
Here is a clip from a 2013 interview by Rich Fahle of Bibliostar.TV on YouTube where King discusses the power of short stories.
And another showing his fantastic sense of humor from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert :)
So whether you are a die-hard King fan and pre-order every new title he has, or you're like me, a little bit skeptical, Stephen King has definitely given the world something that can't be taken back. He has set the bar for the horror genre and has inspired countless authors giving them inspiration and fodder to their writing fire. I think the part I enjoyed the most from King's memoir was his recommended reading list at the end. He gives you a curated reading list of novels that have held his attention even after he put the book down, books that have inspired him, and given him a push to be a better writer.
Enjoy a PDF copy here:
For more information about Stephen King or to see what he's working on now, visit his website here. And to see what books the Essa Public Library has in right now, do an author search through our catalogue here.
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