On Writing

**psalm27iam** · June 26th, 2009

Dear Steve,
I know you will probably never see this, thats ok, someone in your camp will.

Anyway, I have been a fan since 1978, The Stand is still my all time favorite Book, and the frist time I ever fell in love was in 1980, with Andy McGee in Firestarter, I am still searching for a man like that!!

Your characters are the richest, most vibrant, and you are the KING of writing. I just finished 'On writing', and I wanted to thank you because it sooooo hit home with me. I am an aspiring writer and when i read, 'write what you know', I cried. Thank you! I have one published work and am writing 2 more as i write this. Although I will never reach your greatness, I hope to be discovered one day and have some measure of success. On writing gave me the inspiration,the push and drive i needed to get me going again. Thanks again so much!!!!!! God Bless!!! p.s I think its so great the way you talk about your wife!!
Cindy Blackstone

**Bryan James** · June 26th, 2009

Be mindful of your exclamation point usage, welcome, and best wishes,

BJS

**curtis.han** · July 28th, 2009

To Stephen or other members:
I am 16 and I am a beginning writer. I am working on a story and I need some advice on how to describe a setting and how to open a story. Can you help me? Curtis

**Duma D** · July 29th, 2009

I am also an aspiring writer. Lately I have been reading everything King recommends, in addition to his books. I'll never forget that winter afternoon in my writing mentor's office in Wyoming when the Wiseman sat comfortably in his swivel chair, leaning back a bit, and turned from a book by Stephen King he had been reading. Wiseman lifted the book toward me and told: "He's got something here." That was over forty years ago. I wonder now was he signifying as all the writers workshops always criticized my "sweetness and light," as some critic put it way back when. Maybe. Maybe not. Truth is, a mentor is supposed to steer you toward truth. And King definitely has something. Now, I've read his book on how to write many years ago, although I hardly remember it in any specifics, except that everytime I use an adverb I try to cross it out!!!!!!!!!!!!! Right now I'm kinda into letting it flow, rergardless.....I recently started my first horror story doing what my mentor said, just turning a corner into fiction, nothing drastic, except that the rooster crowing in the neighborhood that morning made me think of the giant plastic smiling rooster on top the gas station/grocery store built on old farmland that a cognitively-impaired old man circumnambulates every day as if patroling an invisible perimeter around an almost gothic farmhouse.....That's what I mean by letting it flow. Letting the story have a chance to be important to someone, if only to that lifeless smiling rooster on the roof.

**Bryan James** · July 29th, 2009

It was a dark and stormy night.

The End.

~BJS

**Samantha_** · July 31st, 2009

Originally Posted by Duma D

just turning a corner into fiction

That's nice advice and a beautiful line.

**Albie** · October 14th, 2009

Originally Posted by curtis.han

To Stephen or other members:
I am 16 and I am a beginning writer. I am working on a story and I need some advice on how to describe a setting and how to open a story. Can you help me? Curtis

I have authored technical stuff. Want to move into books - fiction.

Read, Read, Read... and then write, write, and write. Find your inner voice. Develop a style. Work on grammar. Join a local writer's group. Try emulating a favorite author. Grow a thick skin and let others read and critique your work.