Stephen King on Generating Ideas 
John Gould, editor of Lisbon's weekly newspaper, advice to Stephen King on learning how to write about sports.
“These are games people understand when they’re watching them drunk in bars. You’ll learn if you try.”
“These are games people understand when they’re watching them drunk in bars. You’ll learn if you try.”
Writing and rewriting a story.
“When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story ... when you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.”
“When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story ... when you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.”
When you start writing, you are the audience.
When you finish writing, everyone else is the audience.
When you finish writing, everyone else is the audience.
Why Stephen King's Marriage is a Success
Stephen King on the Challenges of Writing.
"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."
"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."
In 1973, Stephen King made $7,500 a year teaching.
The next year he sold the movie rights to his first novel, Carrie, for $400,000.
Lesson: Your life can change in an instant.
The next year he sold the movie rights to his first novel, Carrie, for $400,000.
Lesson: Your life can change in an instant.
How to Start Writing
"Put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support-system for art. It’s the other way around."
"Put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support-system for art. It’s the other way around."
"Put your vocabulary on the top shelf of your toolbox, and don’t make any conscious effort to improve it."
The Basic Rule of Vocabulary in Writing
"Use the first word that comes to your mind, if it is appropriate and colorful."
"Use the first word that comes to your mind, if it is appropriate and colorful."
Stephen King on Why People Write in Passive Voice
"I think timid writers like them for the same reason timid lovers like passive partners. The passive voice is safe. There is no troublesome action to contend with."
"I think timid writers like them for the same reason timid lovers like passive partners. The passive voice is safe. There is no troublesome action to contend with."
Stephen King on Adverbs
"The adverb is not your friend."
"The adverb is not your friend."
You can judge if a book is easy or hard to read by opening any two pages and looking at the patterns.
Stephen King on Informal Writing
The most basic of words and styling can create writing "far beyond our expectations".
The best writing is magic. The ability to take us to a place we've never been and never want to leave.
The best writing is magic. The ability to take us to a place we've never been and never want to leave.
Stephen King on Becoming a Better Writer
"It is possible, with lots of hard work, dedication, and timely help, to make a good writer out of a merely competent one."
"It is possible, with lots of hard work, dedication, and timely help, to make a good writer out of a merely competent one."
If you want to be a writer you need to do two things:
- Read a lot
- Write a lot
There are no shortcuts.
- Read a lot
- Write a lot
There are no shortcuts.
A Story About James Joyce
The first draft of a book should take no longer than 3 months.
Stephen King typically writes 10 pages a day or 2,000 words.
Stephen King typically writes 10 pages a day or 2,000 words.
