On Writing
From Stephen King’s ON WRITING:
“You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair — the sense that you can never completely put on the page what’s in your mind and heart. You can come to the act with your fists clenched and your eyes narrowed… . You can come to it…because you want to change the world. Come to it any way but lightly. Let me say it again: you must not come lightly to the blank page.
“I am convinced that fear is at the root of most bad writing… . Good writing is often about letting go of fear and affectation. Affectation itself, beginning with the need to define some sorts of writing as ‘good’ and others sorts as ‘bad,” is fearful behavior. Good writing is also about making good choices when it comes to picking the tools [words] you plan to work with.”
“Reading is the creative center of a writer’s life.”
“The real importance of reading is that it creates an ease and intimacy with the process of writing… Constant reading will pull you into a place where you can write eagerly and without self-consciousness. It also offers you a constantly growing knowledge of what has been done and what hasn’t, what is trite and what is fresh, what works and what just lies there dying (or dead) on the page. The more you read, the less apt you are to make a fool of yourself with your pen or word processor.”
“Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.”
“The scariest moment is always just before you start [to write]. After that, things can only get better.”
I love that book.
And it’s just what I needed to be reminded of. I was just telling my crit partner that I need to stop second-guessing myself and just write.
Great and very inspiring quotes, Caroline! I think that’s so true of reading–it puts our minds into a flow of how words are strung together.
I’m with Jennifer! I love that book. On Writing was the first book on the craft of writing I ever read. King opened up a whole new world for me and helped me see writing in a whole new light.
I so agree with reading being “the creative center of a writer’s life.” It teaches you pacing, words, conflict, character building, and many, many other tools.
You trying to tell me something. :)
I did like the book but I thought Koontz’s book was better. Unfortunately, its a little dated now.
I bought this book on the recommendation of many people but I haven’t read it yet. Sounds like I need to! He has some great advice.
I love “The scariest moment is always just before….” That is so true!
I just finished ON WRITING yesterday! I was skeptical because I’m not a Stephen King fan, (or of thrillers or horror in general,) but I think ON WRITING is the best book on the subject.
Sharon, I’m with you.
I have to hop on the bandwagon and say how much I loved ‘On Writing’ too. So many great tips and things to ponder, not being a huge horror fan, it was the first book I ever read by Stephen King and is also the one I still think about the most.
I’m reading this book right now! Reminds me how important reading is!!
Love these quotes, Caroline! Especially “Reading is the creative center of a writer’s life.”
I may have to dust off my copy for a re-read.
I agree. Sometimes starting is the scariest part!
Thanks for posting these! I definitely needed to be reminded of some of those points right now.
I think the reading quote is my favorite, too. Books are lessons in craft, voice, characterization, everything.
Oooh, I love “you must not come lightly to the blank page.”
So me cracking my knuckles and diving into the blank pages maybe isn’t so good… Oh, crap. :)
Awesome – I actually got little chills reading this :)
Great quotes. I loved that book.
I just saw on the MichKids e-mail list a posting about your book & that you used to be in the Michigan SCBWI. I live in Michigan. I wish you were still here.
Huge King fan. Have to be, living in Maine. I think fear is the number one killer of our time writing, our scenes, and our choices while we’re writing. Let’s not be leery of the pen–‘K, keyboard. “;-)
Hopefully, I can start following that advice.
Natalie, small world! I loved SCBWI-MI. I wonder if our paths ever crossed.
Love these quotes! Thanks!
I seriously need to dust that book and take it off the shelf. As in READ it. :)
that is wonderful. i am a the beginning of my second novel and have endless respect for fearsomeness of the blank page at the moment!