Stephen King’s 6 Tips For Writing
Stephen King is one of the undisputed masters of the art of writing in our time. This American author, born in 1947, has managed to capture the imagination of several generations. In addition, over the years, several adaptations of his works have been made in audiovisual media, for which he has also received a multitude of recognitions that reward his work.
For this reason, Stephen King’s advice for writing is especially valued among fans of this discipline. The author has conducted several interviews in which he counseled aspiring youngsters on how to achieve writing success. In this article we will see six of his most interesting ideas on this topic.
What Stephen King advises to learn to write
1- Write to yourself first
The first of Stephen King’s tips for writing and being successful at it can be counterintuitive. According to the acclaimed North American author, it is essential that an artist write regardless of whether the public likes what they do. At first it may seem that this cannot be the path to fame in literature; However, if we think about it carefully, it makes all the sense in the world.
After all, literature is a very broad field. There are dozens of different genres and styles, and there are many different stories to tell. Completely opposite books can achieve similar levels of fame, without looking too much alike. For example, what do Don Quixote and Harry Potter , two of the best-selling works of all time, have to do with it?
Therefore, the most important thing to be successful writing is that you like what you do. If your work convinces you, and you persevere with it, sooner or later you will end up finding your target audience.
2- A work is written word for word
If you’ve ever tried to create your own book, you know that dealing with blank paper can be a scary thing. When we set ourselves a very big task, we can get paralyzed thinking about everything we have to do. Therefore, the second of Stephen King’s tips for writing gives us a possible key to overcome this problem.
The horror author believes that the best way to avoid paralysis is to tackle the next part of the task each time. Don’t think that you have to finish a book of several hundred pages; focus on writing a few words each day. Thus, little by little and without realizing it, you will have finished your work without so much stress and difficulties.
3- Read a lot
For this author, the best way to find your own style is by reading many different types of works. For him, one of the keys to becoming a good writer is having been an avid reader for much of your life. So if you haven’t learned to appreciate a good book by now, King advises you to start doing it now.
4- Avoid distractions
Stephen King’s fourth piece of writing advice is not exclusive to completing a play or novel. As you already know, distractions can prevent the emergence of creativity. Therefore, when you face your task, eliminate from your environment everything that could break your concentration.
You already know: when you are writing, no electronic devices. Let your family and friends know that you are going to be offline for a few hours. Avoid social media, television, and all kinds of temptations. After all, once you start writing, your goal should be to write for as long as possible without stopping unnecessarily.
5- Find your own style
One of the most common mistakes among aspiring writers is that they try to imitate the style of one of their idols. When we start to do something, we are not yet comfortable with our abilities. Therefore, we try to emulate those people we admire.
Although this is perfectly normal, we must find our own way of writing as soon as possible. According to Stephen King, this is one of the most important keys to success in writing.
6- Set a deadline
The last of Stephen King’s writing tips is meant to be a call to action. One of the important actions to be successful in any field is to set a goal and start working toward it. For this author, in the field of writing the goal should be to finish our first work within three months.
Having this challenging (but achievable) goal can motivate us to get serious about writing. According to the author, by doing so, we will be able to solve all the problems that we encounter. And you, have you discovered something that helps you write better? Which of these tips are you going to apply first?
