Gearing up and reading Stephen King's "On Writing"
Recently I’ve been really feeling like I have a story to tell. It’s been may years since this feeling has been with me - but only recently has it felt like I could actually do it. I’ve had starts and stops, grinding out words onto paper but leaving it in midair, hanging over my head.
Why did I wait to write? I felt like I hadn’t read enough to really understand what I liked. It’s old wisdom to “write what you like” or “write the book you would want to read” - both of which I would like to believe is good advice (vs the maligned “write what you know”). But to really take advantage of this, I needed to inundate myself with a variety of literature to really understand what kinds of stories excite me. Having seen a lot of movies, I know what makes a compelling script - but for narrative fiction - there’s a bit more nuance required.
I know I can just start anytime. “Start where you are”. I believe this adage - but for me, I personally felt like I needed to do some research and come better prepared. To be a good writer you need to be a reader, and I wasn’t doing much reading a few years ago. But that’s all changed now.
I’ve just recently picked up Stephen King’s “On Writing”, a short book about the craft of writing. This has given me the big boost that I needed - there is so much practical advice throughout that makes it feel less scary. The big takeaway so far (I’m just over halfway through) is that a writing routine is paramount. Keeping the momentum, and don’t lose the gas that is fueling the creative fire. This will be my first objective, to really hone in on the most creative part of my day and where I can write distraction-free.
What will I write? I have a couple ideas tumbling around. Nothing concrete - but I know kind of what direction I want to go. I love folkloric horror, especially when it is mixed with the modern day setting. I also love gothic “grimdark” settings, inspired by what Joe Abercrombie is doing.
All I need to do next is just to sit down and write, and let it flow. Enough speculation! Time to take action!