Stephen King

I just finished reading Stephen King’s "On Writing." First things first, my heart is bursting forth with gratitude to the person who gifted me this precious piece of work. Friend, if you are reading this blog - thank you. Next, I want to thank King for the pearls of wisdom that fall off from the pages of this book. The book was educative as well as entertaining.

For someone contemplating on scripting a novel which is character-cum-plot driven, On Writing can help lay the initial foundation. With King’s insightful tips, aspiring writers or greenhorns can pull up sails and cruise along towards success. King’s observations are unique. They hold the key to triumph. Other writers might be apprehensive to share their secrets (Lest others follow suit and become better than them.), but not King. He shares everything, accepts everything, including criticism. He isn’t afraid to say that he is wrong. That’s what makes his character an endearing one.

At an age when death is looming large, his contemporaries turning senile, King insists on being corrected and on walking the talk. A feat not many successful writers willingly embrace. I was particularly taken by the thought where he says if you want to become a good writer you must become a good reader first. Smooth as silk. From the list of authors whose works he admires and spits at, it is obvious King has his favorites. He takes sides with the best. He prods us to do the same. The way he quotes copious playwrights across his book will give an idea of the reading he does. In unequivocal terms, he puts it across that he reads at least 70 to 80 books of diverse authors in a year. And I believe this is now. Earlier, he used pack in a lot more.

I fell for the part where he says it’s easy to think of a plot where the drunken husband beats up and threatens his wife. He adds, “This happens every other day. What’s great about it? Want something different? Take the same story and twist it. Go on, do it! You make protagonist the antagonist and vice versa. Viola! You have a gripping theme.” In fact, he had done just that in one of his books. The woman is a psycho. I don’t remember the title though. But he tells it works. It has worked for him.

Gerald’s Game, Salem’s lot and Green Mile, these books have been gathering dust on my rack. They belong to Stephen King first. Then, my elder brother. I never bothered to read them since they promised only gruesome acts, blood and death. To which I was averse. After reading On Writing, my perception of King has topsy-turvied. Behind his mean and ‘deadly’ writing, is a brilliant playwright with a good head on his shoulders. I wouldn’t mind reading his works. Not after having read his On Writing.

I think it’s myth that clouds our imaginations into thinking horror writers are actually as bad as the characters they create, if not worse.The first thing I did when I finished reading On Writing was to go and purchase a copy of Dead Zone. One of King’s books on which he lavishes praise. He says it’s the best among all his books to date. Fortunately, I could also lay hands on another book, The Regulators, which King has written under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. I found it in rubble on a wayside bookstore. Ironically, it was ‘Seek and ye shall find’ kinds.

I don’t know how much I will like his other novels, but I adored his book, “On writing.” If King has time to deliver lessons on writing, I wouldn’t hesitate to enroll as his disciple and serve him till I am convinced I have mastered the craft.

After all, he is “King” in the business of writing.

Star Event!

I had a blast at Landmark the last before Friday.

Vinod (Whom I had met by a chance encounter through his blog.) had extended an invitation to his friend, Hari Mohan’s book launch at Landmark in Banjara Hills. I swiftly relegated everything I was doing to the back of my mind and jumped onto it. Of course, there are numerous reasons for grabbing this opportunity. The foremost being that book launches are so infrequent, you skip it once and you don’t know how long you have to wait for another one. Furthermore, this, I believe, is Hari’s second book launch. Interestingly enough, the first book “The Men Within” has won him rave reviews from diverse quarters.

Besides, Hari seems to have a split personality. While one played cricket at Ranji level. The other seemed to have decided to master the nuances of English to draft fast selling novels. I know this sounds tough. But Hari has done just that. “How could an individual have such diverse interests and still excel in them?” The thought kept gnawing at the back of my mind while I geared up for the event.

A little prior to the launch, I could grab a few minutes to visit the CD & DVD section at Landmark. Boy! The place had a collection that could make a music lover break into cartwheels with joy. Music of diverse genre was bursting forth from the racks. Even Planet M, which actually deceives you into imagining the store to possess a galactic collection of CDs and DVDs stocked in an infinite expanse, doesn’t hold such a fine collection. Right when I thought even wild horses wouldn’t pull me out from there, the fear of missing out on the book launch ran constant stings of apprehension through my veins and I subconsciously scampered upstairs to catch the action.

Upstairs, the hall was smartly decked up with the camera man’s paraphernalia; with the author nowhere to be in sight. At least, I couldn’t locate him. But I was awestruck at the star presence. I knew Gunnam Ganga Raju, a film director was to launch the book, but I didn’t realize a part of Telugu film sorority would be present. The presence of these actors ushered in an air of excitement. Everyone turned conscious of their looks. Sumanth (Of Gowri fame), Swathi (Of Ashta Chemma fame) and Thanikella Bharani, who is a well-known comedian, where all present in flesh and blood looking their devastating best.

I wonder what it is with the actors they are pretty confident even in front of large crowds. Swati’s English was fabulous. The way she went on an extempore addressing the crowd definitely lent an air of exuberance. Sumanth was no less either. After both these actors spoke and read some passages from the book, Hari spoke about the inspiration behind the book.

Probably, taking a cue from the success of “Three Idiots”, Ganga Raju even announced that Hari’s first book “The Men Within” would soon be converted into a movie. A wild applause rang through the hall. After the film director’s brief speech about who would don the roles of hero and heroine, the event came to an end. On the whole the book launch was an impressive success.

Moreover, I was able to steal a few moments with the actress Swati to congratulate her on the impromptu talk. Right when we both were warming up for a good conversation, someone scampered and chipped, “Madam, the director is asking for you.” That slammed shut the conversation. She politely excused herself and I was left wandering looking at the book collection again. For the second time.

In the end, I got to meet Vinod who actually invited me for the launch. Vinod is also writing a book. So, we spent sometime talking over a cup of tea. Discussing this, that, and of course, his book and the book launch. On the whole, the evening turned out to be a pleasant one. With a whirlwind of an activity constantly taking place on the professional front, I guess sometimes one needs to take time to smell the roses. I am glad I attended the launch.