Stephen King's Top 20 Rules for Writers

I got a lot out of his On Writing. Also Norman Mailer's The Spooky Art and the John Gardner book, On Becoming a Novelist.

I'd give, not anything but a lot, to be able to write a first draft in 3 mos. Maybe this time.

I have these sticky taped the wall above my writing space. Although I mostly enjoyed On Writing for it's autobiographical lean it still contains vital do's and don't throughout.

He is The King.

10. You have three months. “The first draft of a book—even a long one—should take no more than three months, the length of a season.”

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Nonsense. A draft takes as long as it takes. There isn't any race going on. So take as long as you need to take and disregard that, "on your mark; get set; go," stuff.

Ken said:

Nonsense. A draft takes as long as it takes. There isn't any race going on. So take as long as you need to take and disregard that, "on your mark; get set; go," stuff.

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Stephen King is as prone as anyone to thinking that what works for him is the only thing that can work.

He also says no one should outline, which is a completely valid way of writing a story for some writers. Not for him--and that's fine--but for some people, outlining is a necessary and intensely fruitful step in the process.

Like all writing advice, if it resonates with you, then glom onto it. If it doesn't, then give it a whirl to see if you can work better that way, and if not, discard it.

Ehhhhh. I give these "rules" an almighty shrug. Do what works for you, I say.

jjdebenedictis said:

Stephen King is as prone as anyone to thinking that what works for him is the only thing that can work.

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This, basically.

Like all writing advice, if it resonates with you, then glom onto it. If it doesn't, then give it a whirl to see if you can work better that way, and if not, discard it.

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Yup. If these rules strike a chord with you, run with 'em into the horizon. But they're not gospel. In particular, when it comes to the ones about process, it bothers me that he tries to assign "rules" to that at all. Do what you need to do to write how you need to write.

I've read S.King's book on writing. It's good, just as his top 20 rules are good.

BUT you have to take his word with a grain of salt. Take #11 for instance. "11. There are two secrets to success. “I stayed physical healthy, and I stayed married.”'

Huh. He has admitted to drugs and alcohol. I'm not sure if that could be considered "physically healthy." And as for marriage--yep, I'm married, happily, but I think it depends on the situation a person is in.

Adverbs--he's used them, even in dialogue tags. Sparingly, but they're there.

A draft in three months? Maybe. But it's not a necessity unless you have to.

I've read so many books on writing. Take it all with a grain of salt. Most is good advice, but it's not gospel-truth.

I certainly don't intend to get married just so I can write...

shadowwalker said:

I certainly don't intend to get married just so I can write...

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Really? What a lack of dedication. Personally I'm toying with the idea of a personals ad. Maybe something like:

SWF writer with a desire to take her craft to the next level seeks to tie the knot with a compatible mate. Male preferred. Must guarantee bestseller.

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Love any book by Stephen King, including On Writing.

I think his rules are good guidelines, and I don't believe they are meant to be set in stone or a testimony that this is the only way to do things. He's an incredibly successful author, and perhaps these rules are things that he pays attention to. Who knows? With anything, we take what we like and leave the rest.

I'm not married, but I've been happily with the same guy for years. I wrote when I was romantically alone, didn't write much when I was married, and I write now. For me, writing is about discipline not about romantic status. However, King has said his wife reads his drafts prior to publication and that she is honest with her feedback, and she's also an author.

The adverb rule is meant to be a guideline. I know in my own writing that once I start planting them, if I'm not paying attention they do multiply. Some situations call for an adverb, some do not. Discernment is our friend when it comes to adverbs.

As for the three months to finish a novel-I would think that's for full-time writers who make a living with their books. It would undoubtedly be more difficult for someone who works full time to write a novel in three months, but someone who makes a living as an author would be able to complete a book in that short time span.

A while ago I grabbed a King book off my shelf - The Dark Half - turned to a random page and counted 20+ adverbs on that one page. One must'nt forget that not all adverbs end in 'ly.'

There are adverbs of manner, place, frequency, time and purpose. Words like here, there and everywhere are adverbs. As well as since, always, never, often and always. (And tons more.)

And I could go on and on. I always think the avoid adverbs rule is rather a silly one. Avoid unnecessary adverbs is better.

My favorite piece of advice from King is actually this reminder: "The scariest moment is always just before you start."

I'll be the wet blanket here and point out these are not actually King's rules for writing, but rather what the writer of the article pulled out of On Writing and turned into rules.

I drafted my current WIP in less than three months. A year later, I'm still editing...

jeffo20 said:

I'll be the wet blanket here and point out these are not actually King's rules for writing, but rather what the writer of the article pulled out of On Writing and turned into rules.

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Love it.

I do like the
the 'magic is within', and fear = bad writing, and writing = magic.

yup. Whoever said it, it rings true, to me.

magical, 'tis.

Also check out Secret Windows, the companion book to On Writing.

I liked the advice he gave in his On Writing, even though I picked the book up for the memoir side of things.

Most of what he says is how he does things, not that it's the only way to write, and I felt he made that pretty clear.

As with all advice, I'm always happy to listen when it comes from someone more experienced and a proven history of success in the field, but I wouldn't cling to the advice as hard rules.

Akragth said:

I liked the advice he gave in his On Writing, even though I picked the book up for the memoir side of things.

Most of what he says is how he does things, not that it's the only way to write, and I felt he made that pretty clear.

As with all advice, I'm always happy to listen when it comes from someone more experienced and a proven history of success in the field, but I wouldn't cling to the advice as hard rules.

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Yep, was a long time ago I read this book, but I remember him saying right at the start something along the lines of "there is no right or wrong", and he encourages the reader to find whatever methods work for them. I need to read it again though. Remember a very funny story involving poison oak.

All hail the King!

The main 'rule' I took away from On Writing was you have to read a lot and write a lot. Makes sense.

jjdebenedictis said:

Stephen King is as prone as anyone to thinking that what works for him is the only thing that can work.

He also says no one should outline, which is a completely valid way of writing a story for some writers. Not for him--and that's fine--but for some people, outlining is a necessary and intensely fruitful step in the process.

Like all writing advice, if it resonates with you, then glom onto it. If it doesn't, then give it a whirl to see if you can work better that way, and if not, discard it.

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Taken as insight from a great writer on how they do things rather than what one must do when writing his twenty rules are neat.

jeffo20 said:

I'll be the wet blanket here and point out these are not actually King's rules for writing, but rather what the writer of the article pulled out of On Writing and turned into rules.

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Very good point.

I've been reading On Writing, on and off. I find it entertaining, and he makes some good points but I don't think he's proclaiming 'rules.' He does suggest that writers read a lot, and write consistently. He suggests writers find themselves a space in which to write without distraction--do that for themselves. There are some real gems in the book. He does know how to turn a phrase.

I don't consider On Writing to be something a writer should swallow whole. Food for thought, that's what I think. I'm nibbling thoughtfully.

Some of these rules are kind of meaningless.

"12. Write one word at a time." What does that even mean? Do you know people who can physically write more than one word at once? Please let them teach us this amazing skill!

Some of these rules are nonsensical (someone already pointed 10).

And some of these rules are just literary canards. The passive voice will be used where it is required, thank you very much.