So a good friend of mine presented me with Stephen King’s book, On Writingat my going away party. On my flight to Ithaca, I received some back story about Mr. King and how one of America’s most prolific writers came to be. The blueprint of the blueprint so to speak. The back story was entertaining, insightful, and above all, inspirational.
I realized that writing a novel is not easy, but it does come natural. You have this idea or concept in your mind that could be a great story in the making, but we keep it trapped in our mind, and before long, it fades to black.
King encourages you to write down your thoughts, feelings, ideas, pretty much anything that comes to mind because like the human mind, it quickly forgets.
The first 100 pages or so discuss his early life, growing up in Maine and where the passion for writing began. He would read old science fiction comics, and often reenact the stories on paper, expanding his imagination.
He started as a sports reporter, knowing nothing about sports, and was editor of the high school newspaper. He made his own version, The Daily Vomit, which mocked teachers and administration. However, the administration caught on, and action was taken.
This humorous story made me think about the ridiculousness of high school. We are just kids, so youthful and innocent and tied down to the conformities of our friends, and confines of compulsory education.
Like Mr. King, I hated high school. But it was a necessary learning experience, and has only made us the people we have become. Plain and simple.
Towards the middle of the book, the writing basics again. The toolbox analogy is one for the ages! He mentions that every new writer can always develop his craft, and like a toolbox, should have certain acquired skills stowed away, and when it becomes necessary to incorporate them into your writing, its simply another tool in the toolbox.
He also mentions the importance of becoming committed to the writing ordeal, if you want to be serious about it. 1,000 words a day was his rule. Doors closed.
The doors closed allows you to focus strictly on writing, with no distractions, no interactions that might hinder your flow of ideas, a sort of escape from the outside world and into your own realm; your desk, your laptop, your fingers passionately typing away on the keyboard, and your mind.
It makes sense that Stephen King was fascinated with the extraterrestrial, the unknown, from a very young age. Simply look at his unconventional, often queer stories about non-human forms taking over the human landscape.
However, he is a great writer because he reads a lot. 80 books a year! Like he said, your writing only becomes better when you read fiction book after fiction book.
His writing ability has found a medium, with stories such as Hearts in Atlantis, which deviates from the disturbing, often trifling images of evil that predominate most of his work.
An inspiration to all of us, King epitmizes the ideal writer. He is prolific in nature, dedicated, and above all, excellent at the craft. But Rome wasn’t built in a day.
For all young aspiring writers out there, I strongly recommend this book that journeys through life, grammar, personal advice, how to get yourself published, you name it. Stephen King knows it all, and forty years into the business, we are not the least bit surprised.
In case you want to know, my favorites are It, Hearts in Atlantis andDesperation. Also loved his screenplay Storm of the 21st Century, and short story “1408.”
The man was an english teacher and has a degree from the University of Maine. I am inspired by his words of wisdom, and sped through the book contently (another thing he hates, too many adverbs…but its so fun to sound sophisticated isn’t it?).
If you enjoy writing, pick up this blueprint for success. If you were unmotivated before, you are inspired now. Take it from a guy who has written…50 books or so.
Let’s just say he’s been living up to his name for awhile. They call him Mr. King for a reason.