How does SK maintain his touch with reality

[RichardX]

when he has been rich and famous for so long? I wonder how artists like the Rolling Stones or SK maintain any sense of normality. Does it affect his craft or art to be so successful? Make it more difficult to be creative? Imagine there are a lot of yes men and women once the money is rolling in. Remember George Bush Sr being amazed by the price scanner at the grocery store? He had never seen one before.

[Moderator]

Living the majority of the time in semi-rural Maine, where he has his roots, has certainly helped. Steve continues to do the ordinary day-to-day things most of us do including the occasional trip to the grocery store and if you did not know who he was, you would think he was just your average Joe. He is one of the most down-to-earth people I know.

Being successful has given him the means to be able to write full-time so in that sense it has helped make it less stressful to be a writer. Not all published writers have the luxury of writing as their only career. Whether that also translates into being more creative, I'm not so sure. I think he'd be creative no matter what as he had several lean years of writing/publishing before becoming an overnight success.

[vannikiete]

I think that even if he had all the money in the world he will still be the best .... Sk is not just a writer he was born with a gift and he sure enjoys it and share it !

[Bryan James]

He reads every post here. And maybe "The National Enquirer."

[GNTLGNT]

IMO, he is a "people's writer". He's never forgotten living from unsure paycheck to uncertain employment-while trying to live his dream. He may be a legend, but is still one of us-God Bless his little Maine livin' soul.

[fushingfeef]

I remember being very struck when reading "The Sun Dog", where the main character has to slowly pay back all that money to that old skinflint who is charging him exorbitant interest rates. I said, "Now this is someone who remembers in great detail what it is like to be poor". I think if you've grown up poor (and I'm not too proud to admit that I did), you always have at least one foot in the real world, no matter how successful you become later. You are more keenly aware of your good fortune later, and also aware how quickly it all can change.

[rjt65]

From his interviews he remains very grounded IMO... He is what he is. I am sure having the money allows hm to do lots things differently, but he is what he is...

good for him!

[nursecindy]

I have a feeling that if Mr.King decided to act like a "star", Mrs. Stephen King would quickly bring him back down to earth. She is a wonderful writer also.