On On Writing
About once a year I dive back into Stephen King's, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. I especially like the audio book because of the way King talks about writing. He has a lot of passion!
I would put this on my must-read list of books for beginners, save for one thing: Stephen King dislikes the notion of outlining. And I mean really dislikes.
Don't get me wrong, I love Stephen King's work (when it comes to characterization you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who does a better).
But I use outlines. I like them. They free me to do my best creative work without worrying where the story is meandering off to. Long ago I came to accept writers who outlined and those who don't. I believe all writers’ brains are just wired differently.
This caveat aside, King's book is definitely worth reading. His work ethic is extraordinary. If for nothing else, you should listen/read this book if you want to jumpstart your writing motivation.
Speaking of which... I need to get back to my writing (new project titled: All that Lives Must Die) and get my minimum word count today.
I would put this on my must-read list of books for beginners, save for one thing: Stephen King dislikes the notion of outlining. And I mean really dislikes.
Don't get me wrong, I love Stephen King's work (when it comes to characterization you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who does a better).
But I use outlines. I like them. They free me to do my best creative work without worrying where the story is meandering off to. Long ago I came to accept writers who outlined and those who don't. I believe all writers’ brains are just wired differently.
This caveat aside, King's book is definitely worth reading. His work ethic is extraordinary. If for nothing else, you should listen/read this book if you want to jumpstart your writing motivation.
Speaking of which... I need to get back to my writing (new project titled: All that Lives Must Die) and get my minimum word count today.
posted by Eric Nylund at 6:32 AM
17 Comments:
I have owned this book for going on three years back when I was going to start writing comic books. Ironically I have never found the drive to finish it.
Haven't read it, though considering my reading list is an ongoing growing line of old classics and newer...others, and that nothing is actually being read anyways, I can't say I ever will.
However, I can sympathize with both notions. Outlines are a steady bar that many writers, myself included at times, just really need to latch onto. Without it, the world they create can fall to pieces all too quickly. That's of course the whole point of an outline, to summarize the points of the story and keep some order in the chaos that is thought and imagination blended together at high speeds.
Not using outlines is much more dangerous, but for those who are exceptionally confident and have great memories, it may work better for them. It means they'll be able to not stay within the boundaries of the thought outline they'd written long ago, allowing a constant, fluid outline that remains solely in thought. These are generally the people who can give out log lines like it's the easiest thing in the world, because they know exactly what their stories are about.
Like most things, meeting in the middle and compromising is probably the best for those who don't fall on either spectrum of the bell curve. I find that outlines are unnecessary unless you are unwilling to let go of fundamental ideas that you feel must go in, for whatever reason. They do just that: hold back creativity. Then again, there is more than enough junk out there that's just so damn creative it's disgusting.
Jim--Flip ahead about 2/3rds the way through to the part on the mechanics of writing. It might help.
Jamesz—I did a lot of experimenting when I began—with and without outlines. Every writer owes it to themselves to try different techniques and see what works best for them. Good luck!
Is your new project a thriller or something like tragedy type of story? It does sound like it. Something tells me this one might contain extreme violence. (Just a thought)
I sort of have a love/hate relationship with outlines. I hate feeling trapped by the outline but I also like the structure of it. If I get stuck on a section I can pick another section from the outline to write while my brain works out the stuck issue. That freedom of movement seems to reduce the trapped sensation.
Oooh. New project. Be that a nod to Hamlet?
Dang my library for not having this book! Also, dang myself for borrowing money for an Xbox 360 from my sister and not having the money to purchase a copy! Dang it!
Aruthur – yes to all of the above!
Nikoda – I started with just a couple of pages of outline for my first novels. The latest novel will be about 200-250k words long. The outline I have for it is 80 pages! And yes, both _Mortal Coils_ and _All that Lives Must Die_ are nods to Shakespeare. Nice catch.
Danerusdave – ask your librarian if they can do an inter-library loan. I get most of my book that way. Good luck!
Yeah, I'm learning that outlines can turn into stories themselves. Short stories that only I understand, but still.
I wasn't sure if Mortal Coils was a nod or if it was just something that you (or your editor) thought sounded neat but I figured two quotes equals nodding.
Have you read Germaine Greer's Shakespeare's Wife? I hope to pick it up soonish. It looks terribly intriguing.
I'll definitely check out the library thing. I just finished Stephen King's Cell and am working my way through the Dark Tower series right now, so I'm right in the thick of his writing and any insight into his mind and the mind of any writer would be a really great thing right now. Why don't you write a book like this, Eric?
Nikoda – the titles are more than mere nods. Like the referenced Shakespeare, my stories deal with love, family, treachery, violence and sex! (yay!)
Greer’s book is on my “to-read” list which is now impossible too long :/
Dangerusdave – A “how to write book” isn’t in the cards for me, man. Too many other projects under deadline! I have to keep focused.
I knew there was a reason you're my favorite author. ;o)
Thanks, nikoda!
I would also recommend Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing. It's kind of short and oddly formatted (I read it in about fifteen minutes) but the little tips he gives are quiet interesting and worth taking a look at.
Thanks. Added to my library "hold" list.
Eric, I was just wondering. What is your daily minimum word count?
unsc trooper – I have three hours in the morning to write before I family/work get up/start. In that time I try to get my minimum words done ~750 a day (for this particular project), spend an hour editing a previous chapter, and spend an hour doing more editing or research. This puts me on track to deliver a 200k word novel about February. For comparison Stephen King hits a min of 2,000 words a day (he doesn’t have a day job).
Man, just finished it and that was awesome! I really loved the memoir section, and all of the other stuff was also completely and totally awesome as well.
Post a Comment
<< Home