Stephen King: On Writing Flashcards

Stephen King: On Writing Insights

• King's revelation about writing emerged during his recovery from a serious accident.
• He believes that all writers seek financial compensation for their work.
• His wife, Tabitha, encouraged him to return to writing during his recovery phase.
• Characters should be portrayed primarily through their speech to convey authenticity.
• King identifies two fundamental reasons for writing: passion and career opportunity.
• Immersion in a new novel can motivate King to write on his normally designated off days.
• In his childhood, King helped his uncle repair a window screen, showcasing early influences.
• He advises to minimize the use of adverbs in writing to enhance clarity and strength.
• King's pivotal advice to writers is to maintain honesty in their work.
• He recommends "Strunk and White's Elements of Style" for understanding grammar and style.
• The writer's toolbox should prominently include essential tools such as vocabulary.
• After his accident, King realized writing served as a crucial form of life support.
• Initially, he considered his novel "Misery" to be merely a short story.
• The inspiration for "Misery" came to King in a dream.
• During his recovery, writing was the furthest thought from his mind until he found solace in it.
• His accident was caused by Bryan Smith when he was struck by a van.
• King views writing as a serious and straightforward profession, devoid of frivolity.
• He emphasizes the importance of being mindful of paragraph length and structure in writing.
• King asserts that not all guidelines in his recommended book should be followed strictly, as some may be excessive.
• The dedication of his book goes to Amy Tan for her encouragement to write freely.
• A key quote from King: "To write is human, to edit is divine," highlighting the editing process's significance.
• The main section title "C.V." stands for Curriculum Vitae, showcasing his academic and professional journey.
• King defines writing as a form of telepathy, connecting writers and readers beyond words.
• Common enemies of writing, as stated by Strunk and White and echoed by King, include adverbs, passive voice, and poor dialogue attribution.
• King categorizes writers into groups by ability, with 'bad writers' being the largest demographic.
• An anecdote about "From a Buick Eight" reveals that King drew inspiration from a personal incident involving a snowy embankment.
• King's near-fatal accident in 1999 and subsequent rehabilitation (referred to humorously as "pain and torture") are detailed in his writing journey.
• Castle Rock is a fictional small town that appears in multiple King novels, creating a familiar setting for readers.
• Richard Bachman was the pseudonym under which King wrote "The Running Man" and "Thinner."
• Tabitha King, a novelist herself, is King’s wife, supporting his literary endeavors.
• Stephen King pursued English studies at the University of Maine from 1966 to 1971.
• He believes that fear serves as the root cause of poor writing, inhibiting creativity.
• From writing "Carrie," King learned that a writer's perception can misalign with readers', and the importance of concluding a piece effectively.