TIPS FROM STEPHEN KING
G'day guys,
Here are a few tips from Stephen King, courtesy of Kanyakrit Vongkiatkajorn.
Let's be
honest. Stephen King probably wrote one of the books or films that terrified
you as a child (or even, as an adult). The author, whose work includes over 50
novels and 30 film adaptations, has a knack for crafting stories that chill you
to the bones. He also has a lot to say about writing. In 2000, he published On
Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, which is a sprawling, beautiful, and
incredibly honest half-memoir, half-manual on writing. Amidst recollections of
his early life struggling to make ends meet, King provides useful and practical
advice on becoming a writer. In celebration of his Sept. 21 birthday (he's
turning 66), here are seven invaluable writing tips from his book.
1. Everything Begins With Rejection
Very few
writers begin with immediate success, and if there's anything to be gained from
King's book, it's that you start with rejection. King began submitting stories
to magazines as early as middle school, and whenever he received a rejection,
he would pin the letter on a wall. By the time he was 14, he had accumulated so
many letters that the pin could hardly support their weight. Yet none of these
rejections daunted him. In fact, King says he learned some of his best lessons
from the notes scrawled on the slips. One note that told him to cut down on
wordiness changed the way he wrote "once and forever."
2. Read a Lot, and Write A Lot
King
argues that if you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all else:
read a lot and write a lot: "If you don't have time to read, you don't
have the time (or the tools) to write." Every book has a lesson to teach.
The bad books tell us what not to do, while the good books teach us
about style, narration, plot development, and the elements that create a
compelling story. More importantly, reading helps lead us into writing. It
creates an "ease and intimacy" with writing, allowing us to dip into
our creative processes without being self-conscious.
3. Master the Fundamentals Of Writing
To be a
good writer, you must master the fundamentals of vocabulary, grammar, and
style. Use only the vocabulary that you feel most comfortable with. Know your
grammar. Avoid adverbs and passive voice like the plague. Understanding these
fundamental skills will enable you to build powerful stories unfettered by poor
language and misplaced pronouns. As he reminds us, mastery of these basic
skills can eventually lead to the magic of a full-fledged novel: "At its
most basic we are only discussing a learned skill, but do we not agree that
sometimes the most basic skills can create things far beyond your expectations?
We are talking about tools and carpentry, about words and style … but as we
move along, you'd do well to remember that we are also talking about
magic."
4. Writing is Work, So Be Prepared to Do
It
King
wrote non-stop. Whether he was washing maggot-infested motel sheets or teaching
English with only a few hours to spare, he found the time to pen his one-reel
horror movies. Though King describes the best writing work as akin to
"inspired play," he also admits that writing isn't always easy.
However, persistence is key: "… stopping a piece of work just because it's
hard, either emotionally or imaginatively, is a bad idea. Sometimes you have to
go on when you don't feel like it, and sometimes you're doing good work when it
feels like all you're managing is to shovel shit from a sitting position."
Writing requires commitment, and "... if you don't want to work your ass
off, you have no business trying to write well."
5. Stories Can Be Found Anywhere, At Any
Moment
One of
King’s first pieces of advice is that there is no treasure trove of ideas
waiting to be found. Good story ideas come from anywhere, and it's the writer's
job to recognize them. Most of King’s ideas came from overhearing snippets of
conversation and building scenarios around them. He found his inspiration for Carrie
during a brief stint as a janitor at a high school. While scrubbing the
rust-stains off the walls of a girls' shower, he imagined the book's memorable
first scene: Carrie discovering her period as girls threw tampons at her in the
shower. There's no need to wait for a muse when all you need is to keep your
eyes and ears open.
6. Always Be Honest
King
repeatedly returns to the necessity for writers to be honest with themselves
and their interests: "Write what you like, then imbue it with life and
make it unique by blending in your own personal knowledge of life, friendship,
relationships, sex, and work," he writes. In a variation of the
"write what you know" rule, King encourages writers to write what
they feel to be true. Using what you know and what is unique to you will bring
an honesty and truth to your characters, dialogue, and scenarios.
7. Support Goes a Long Way
Of the
many stories embedded in King's book, perhaps one of the most heartwarming and
inspiring ones is that of his relationship with his wife, Tabitha. King
describes Tabitha as the person he turns to for support and advice. He
considers her his ideal reader. When he decided to throw out his first few
pages of Carrie, Tabitha fished out the pages the next morning and
encouraged him to keep going, which he did. Carrie would go on to become
King’s first major success. Support goes a long way, and King states it best:
"Writing is a lonely job. Having someone who believes in you makes a lot
of difference. They don't have to make speeches. Just believing is usually
enough."
Clancy's comment: Thanks, Kanyakrit. Nice to know he was once a janitor at a high school.
I'm ...
Think about this!
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