Comments on: Stephen King breaks it down

By: Kristin Laughtin

Kristin Laughtin — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:47:03 +0000

A little bit of the librarian-in-training in me balks at his suggestion to never look at a reference book while writing a first draft–but mostly because he's defining reference books as primarily dictionary/thesaurus, and because in a number of genres (historical fiction, some science fiction), it's important to have the facts down or you could end up having to rewrite a lot later. (Unless you're not going for realism or accuracy, I suppose. That's fine if it fits your story, but it's something that should be deliberate and known from the beginning.) Otherwise his advice is very sound (except #11)!

By: Roland D. Yeomans

Roland D. Yeomans — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:59:03 +0000

#0 : Be infamous or famous,

Then, like Madonna you can write a children's book. I'm sure there would be a market for a "discovered" cook book by Jeffery Dalmer.

Actually, I've always been struck by the wisdom of that article by Stephen King. Of his last three books, I only truly enjoyed DUMA KEY but enjoyed that one so much I bought the audio cd to listen on my runs as a blood courier.

Interesting post, Roland

By: Charlie

Charlie — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:33:45 +0000

#1: Be talented.

Of course! How could I not think of that one?

By: Daryl Sedore

Daryl Sedore — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:12:17 +0000

That article was first published 24 years ago.

I personally loved #12 the best because killing off characters sometimes makes thing worse for my protagonist.

About #11; try to remember the era he wrote that in. Magazines were hot still and accepting great stories for a good buck.

Short stories could still be sold routinely.

I feel he was saying that as a writer you should get out there, flog your work and make lots of money.

Then, with accolades in hand, approach agents and move to the next step.

Today is a different story. Unless you're going self-published (e-book) you had better have an agent on your side.

That's take on this...thanks!