How to Write a Bestseller like Stephen King

If there’s one surefire way to get a writer to read an article on writing it’s to quote Stephen King, a writer of whom you may have heard. (Or not…but only if you don’t hail from this planet.) Here’s the latest gold mining expedition into Sr. King’s Volcano of Wisdom:

stephenking
by Aditya Bhushan Dwivedi

Most of us often dream of authoring a great book. While some of us lie in the realm of fiction and want to pen down bestsellers, others look forward to write books that can establish themselves as an authority on a subject. Very few are able to actually finish and achieve our dreams. Stephen King is one of the best-selling writers of all time, and his books have sold over 350 million copies. His autobiography –On writing – is considered a gospel among writers. In his autobiography, Stephen King lists 20 rules that help us write better and more expressively. So read and follow them. But remember to use these rules as a guideline instead of a religion.

First write for yourself, and then worry about the audience.“When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story. When you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.”

Don’t use passive voice. “Timid writers like passive verbs for the same reason that timid lovers like passive partners. The passive voice is safe.”

Avoid adverbs. “The adverb is not your friend.”

Avoid adverbs, especially after “he said” and “she said.”

But don’t obsess over perfect grammar. “The object of fiction isn’t grammatical correctness but to make the reader welcome and then tell a story.”

The magic is in you. “I’m convinced that fear is at the root of most bad writing.”

Read, read, read. ”If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write.”

Don’t worry about making other people happy. “If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered, anyway.”

Turn off the TV. “TV – while working out or anywhere else – really is about the last thing an aspiring writer needs.”

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.”

Read it all at Your Story

We're looking forward to your comments!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.