Stephen King 's On Writing

Immediately after we are born, we start picking up sounds; the sound of our mother’s voice, the music playing in the elevator on the way to the car, and the happy cheers from a small child seeing their new sibling for the first time. We are always listening–picking up on conversations not meant for our ears, eavesdropping on the gossip of the adult world, and finding the meaning in the portentous silence. From all these auditory stimuli, we piece together the world around us to better understand what is happening to us, around us, and the secret happenings that were not for us to know. Great writers are the ones who listen and say nothing–who take it all in and save their classified information for a day when all the right words flow and form one epic story of the wondrous world we live in.

The assigned reading of “Good Readers and Good Writers” by Vladimir Nabokov probes the subject that is the necessary attributes an individual must have in order for them to be successful readers and writers of literature. A list of ten rules is then stated in the essay and sets them as the baseline commandments that an individual must follow in order to be some kind of a devoted “good reader”. While the criteria sets the standard for a “good reader” it aligns with that of a good analyzer and can be applied to that sense. For example one of the first pieces of advice states “If one begins with a readymade generalization, one begins at the wrong end and travels away from the book before one has started to understand it” (Nabokov 1). If a

Berkenkotter discussed the issue that writer’s processes are unique, and why people should show close attention to them. Berkenkotter described that

When an author writes a book he has a message that he is trying to get across to

Task #1: C.V. Literary devices are elements or techniques that’s writers use to tell a story. King uses the various literary devices in his writing. In one passage, he mentions that he can not remember much of his past, but he mentioned that he imagined himself as a “ Ringling Brother’s Circus Strong boy”. As thinking he was a circus strong boy, king decided to pick up a cinderblock.

In this course, students will read accomplished authors in the genres of poetry, flash-fiction, short fiction, non-fiction, memoir and the novel. Students will pay particular attention to the tone and voice of each author he or she is introduced to. Each week we will study one author who is writing in the genre of flash fiction, short story, the novel, non-fiction, memoir, poetry or the comic, with the goal of deconstructing the elements of writing that lend to the author’s unique voice. After coming to a collective understanding of how each author is accomplishing his or her work, students will be challenged to write their own original piece that mirrors the writing style of the selected author. We will be studying James

Although not having very noble beginnings as a writer, I find Stephen King’s experiences with writing to be very relatable. When King saw The Pit and the Pendulum, he decided it was a good idea to turn it into a book. Despite having plagiarised the whole movie, his only focus was on how much money he can make if he were to sell it to his fellow classmates at school. Not only he ended up going through with his plan of selling his book version of The Pit and the Pendulum, he made bank. This experience of his resonated with me the most because I used to do something very similar back in high school.

From communicating with the world, to the ability of being skilled in a career, writing is an essential tool to have in life. The importance of writing and its application is covered in video two. It begins with Keena Turner; an athlete from the previous video, discussing how understanding what is being read is one key to being a good writer. He states that “communication…revolves around you being able to read and understand,” and even though taking time to read may not be “glamorous”, it is always better to be prepared. Equally important, it is said in the video that out in the “real world”, writing is more than just a grade. Rush Limbaugh notes that in life, “you’re competing against far more than just the classroom you’re in.” Seeking a

Although aspiring writers can learn the basic components of what Stephen King considers great writers to possess good vocabulary, proper grammar, and the elements of style, experience and insight cannot be taught. Thus, while it is impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer, and while it is equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one, it is also impossible, despite lots of hard work, dedication, and timely help, to make a good writer out of a merely competent one. Given that many have taken writing courses and still aren't and never will be great writers, it is obvious that there is something inherent in great writers that goes beyond mere learning.

Overall his article gives helpful, personal advice to those who want to write. By “enjoying…analyzing and experimenting [with your reading]” one who wishes to become a writer can succeed. This point is made clear throughout the article as Babauta encourages his readers to take up reading in order to garner a more holistic writing

Using this strategy is especially effective as we can understand the nature of writing for ourselves through his lives. This first part of the novel prepares us for the sections of pure writing technique work that King offers up to us because we have drawn the lines between life and writing. Ex. the toolbox that his uncle made he uses to create his point. Yet, at the end King has made it clear that writing is an open medium with interpretations and styles beyond count and that the one he is presenting is just another of many. It makes the novel unique in it's charm and relatability and informative

A theme is unable to be expressed unless the audience is able to associate themselves with the characters and situations that the author sets the story up with. King treats capably those literary techniques that critics expect of a good and serious writer with his theme and craft. Writing is in fact hard and tedious, it is something that almost every experienced writer and beginner writes have to overcome. But when an aspiring writer finds themselves facing the incompetency to begin or finish their work, what do they do? In King’s On Writing, he dedicates an entire chapter to describing a toolbox. Although he begins the section by describing a real one, he addresses how an individual needs a toolbox of the mind. Not only should one pay attention

Every how to become a better writer, book, article, class or seminar seems to always enforce the importance of reading, for reading is regarded as the writer’s daily bread. For it builds the reader’s understanding of others experiences. Not that other writers’ experience is more important than non-writers but simply put books, poems, paintings, articles or blogs are all artist statements that introduce an artist. Artists possess a language, which is all their own, whether written, spoken, painting, drawing, sculpture, or singing. As a writer, I want my artwork to have a critical view of social, political and cultural issues. In my work, I want to analyze and rethink the so-called American dream, popular fairy tales, and my children chosen nursery rhymes. I want to engage subjects as diverse as the civil rights movement, and classical music.

Writing requires imagination and research on whatever it is we plan to place in whatever we are writing. I have read

Take a minute to consider the objective and the strategies you will need to accomplish it. What do you remember from prior lessons in this unit about the reasons why authors write? How do you think you can use clues to make inferences about the author’s point of view or stance? Write your ideas in your digital notebook.