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.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment