'The Dark Half' and the nature of being a writer

[Bryan James]

Now THIS is a good thread. I might actually have to consider stuff that I'd normally avoid.

Writers (artists) are not insular, even the bad ones. We have stuff floating around in our heads that we need to get out, that we need to "sick up." We have to get it out there even if "out there" is never seen by anyone else. For me, "out there" sometimes means a printout and crumpled paper straight into the garbage can.

But there's always something next, looming on the horizon.

Painters are the same way. Sculptors too. Even lawyers to a degree (but if you meet one of those that's also an artist, be vewwy vewwy careful...left AND right brain meeting in the middle can be dangerous).

I recently had a short idea that wanted to take me somewhere that I wouldn't write. The father/daughter on a road trip get kidnapped and the father is force-fed Viagra and has to...you get the picture. I could envision it all, even the part where the father got over his fear and liked it......but I couldn't write it.

So I changed it. And my brain let me get away with it, as long as I let something loose.

Turned out to be a decent (very) short story. I am weak on dialogue, so I focused on that and killed two (actually four, if you read it) birds with one stone.

Some major, unexpected violence at the end (mostly undescribed...I like to let the Reader fill in those bits and chunks), and I had purged some horrible thoughts.

There are more around the corner. Under the bed. Outside at night under a palm tree, winking at me with a glowing cyan eye.

But we purge.

I may have something more to add, I need to get some fresh air.

To your health,
BJS

[Samantha_]

...

(I stole these passages from my Bachelor's thesis on this book)

Then, imho, you wrote a very good thesis... well said.

[aptpupil]

Frankly, I have no outlet for my "dark half" other than my writing, so it probably portrays a more negative and pessimistic world than the one I truly believe in.

I work in a job where I'm constantly meeting customers and having to smile and be friendly. I have a very loving partner and three wonderful young children at home who deserve nothing less than my best, so I strive to create the best family environment for them, too.

Consequently, when night falls, and everyone goes to bed leaving me with just my computer for company, I tend to be ruled by the darker, more depressive side of my personality, and I suspect that this shows in the underlying mood of my storytelling.

However, as witnessed by Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska", a preoccupation with the darker underbelly of society doesn't mean that the end product needs to be uninspiring or impossible to appreciate.

At least, I hope not!

[Bryan James]

Presque Vu,

What cool a school, and what a kickarse Prof to signoff (pardon the rhyming) on that subject.

You, also, I have noticed, seem to have, how should I put it, an 'enjoyment' of the comma.

I been writin' colloquialisms and one sentence dialogue untils I get them puppies under control.

Bend it, the language, that is. Break it, and of course I am speaking of the language, even. But, no matter how much you want to, and despite what you have been taught, don't ever, ever, ever....

I've been overcome-Commala'd myself on occasion.

You catch my drift.

I would like to read the paper you mentioned.

BJS

[michal]

I loved the book, it was "About Writing" more than many other of Mr. King's books, but writer-characters are very common in his work. There are, I believe, more books with a main "Writer Characters" than there are without one. It makes sense I suppose. John Grisham, being a lawyer, wrote about courthouses. Mr King -being a writer, wrote about what he new best.

[char80]

I read the book a few weeks ago now and thought it was very good, I have to agree with the middle dragging on a little though, but still I really enjoyed it!

[OneEyedNick]

I believe every writer has got to have that 'third eye', that fountain of unusual perception that separates him/her from the masses. Stephen King demonstrates that in a very real and profound way, much more than many writers out there.

[CDennisMoore]

I credit this book almost on its own with inspiring me, in my senior year, to stop thinking about writing and to DO it. It's also the book that got me reading constantly. I loved this book and can honestly say that, without it, I probably wouldn't have taken that next step from "want to be a writer" to "I'm a writer." Wasn't TOO crazy about the movie, but what're you gonna do. This book's influence on me was so huge, I can't credit it enough.

[Pucker]

There is a difference betwen having something to say, and having to say something.

Think about it.