Has anyone checked this how-to/memoir book out yet? I found it had some of the best advice on the craft, especially about the editing process. Specifically, King says what he does is, he writes his story (usually dedicates himself to writing 2000 words a day no matter what), sets the story aside for a few weeks, continues to write something else, then goes back to the first story and edits it. When he edits it, he's able to look at it from a different perspective (the ideas aren't fresh anymore and he has more or less forgotten the details of what he's written, so it feels like he's reading it for the first time). He edits it, then sends it out to his trusted beta-readers, who give him the necessary feedback, which he uses to revise a third time. After that, he's done, and he sends it out. He's done it this way for decades now, and it really sounds like one of the better ways to revise.
There's also a lot of advice on various other areas of the craft. King hates adverbs and believes "the road to hell is paved with adverbs". I find it to be true in most fiction, although first person narratives seem to accept them a little easier than third, which makes sense.
Has anyone else checked out this book yet? If not, I suggest doing so as quickly as possible. Personally, I skipped the parts about his childhood and focused more on his techniques and adult experiences, which included getting Carrie (his first novel) published and the trouble he had with writing it; the way he dealt with all the rejection letters and how he thought he'd never make it; and of course the car accident he was in which has since become a landmark incident in his life (he writes it very entertainingly). He also discusses the drugs.
Anyway, I just wanted to share that ^_^
Posted by JenniferHicks (Member # 8201) on :
Welcome to Hatrack, jcavonpark. Check out under the "Discussing Published Hooks & Books" header. Someone else started up this same thread there a week or two ago.