A Term with Stephen King

Reading Stephen King's, "On Writing," this term has given me quite a bit to think about.

I enjoyed following his life from a boy and seeing how he grew up into his role as a writer. It wasn't something that he really decided in any one moment. Instead, it was a part of him and something that he chose to work at daily.

On page 178 he says, "Practice the art, always remind yourself that your job is to say what you see and then get on with your story."

This is a helpful point for me because so often I get caught up in trying too hard when I really just need to focus on telling the story.

King is a firm believer that "if you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot."

I will definitely remember this statement because I have seen how true it is.

It is when I am deeply enthralled in a novel that my mind begins to write stories with better pictures and clearer wording. It is when I am constantly typing that I develop style and expression that comes out more understandably than before.

This also helps to exercise my mind and thought. I think more clearly and go through stories in my head in an organized fashion. It's when I avoid the words, whether taking them in or getting them out, that my mind becomes lazy.

"Having someone who believes in you makes a lot of difference," says King.

I couldn't agree more.

Just as King's wife Tabby was his inspiration, his helper, I need to embrace the critique and encouragement of the "Tabby's" around me.

Not only in my writing, but in everyday life, it's good to remember how important it is to have that person who will tell it to you "like it is."

If I were to pick what I didn't like about the book, it would be that some stories got a little too descriptive for me. When King tells about getting hit by the van, I could see everything like it was happening right there in my own world and time. Good writing on his part equaled nausea on mine.

I was also turned off by the language King used to get his points across. I can tell that it's just his conversational speech, but I really didn't understand how it helped to convey what he wanted to say. Much of the time, it seemed misplaced and drew attention to the words instead of the story.

Overall, there was much to be learned from Stephen King's, "On Writing." It kept me interested and engaged, leaving me with a lot to hold onto as I continue my life as a writer.