On Writing by Stephen King (#4)

"This isn't the Ouija board of the spirit-world we're talking about here, but just another job like laying pipe or driving long-haul trucks." (Page 153) Stephen King refers to the job of writing as something which is still work. Finding a proper location (King's first "office" was the laundry room in his trailer home), focusing and holding yourself accountable for production, and not getting too caught up in any one aspect of what you are doing.

"When I'm asked why I decided to write the sort of thing I do write, I always think the question is more revealing than any answer I could possibly give. Wrapped within it, like the chewy stuff in the center of a Tootsie Pop, is the assumption that the writer controls the material instead of the other way around." (Page 155) For King, he typically will start with characters in a particular circumstance and then build the story/characters/situation from there.

"I want you to understand that my basic belief about the making of stories is that they pretty much make themselves." (Page 159)

When talking about descriptions and suggesting never to overuse descriptions "In many cases when a reader puts a story aside because it 'got boring,' the boredom arose because the writer grew enchanted with his powers of description and lost sight of his property, which is to keep the ball rolling." (Page 175)

"Practice is invaluable (and should feel good, really not like practice at all) and that honesty is indispensable." (Page 195)

This section of the book was certainly useful - and I feel like I have the "insider secrets" to writing after reading this. What I found very interesting is that Stephen King mentions that he wants me (the reader) to write a four page story and send it to him through his website. That is VERY COOL - I wonder if he will actually read some of it. There is only one way to find out right?