I continue to read Stephen King's On Writing. In the first half, King speaks of his life. In the second half, he switches to advice about writing. I enjoyed the first half more (mostly because I like a story). But, I have definite personal responses to the second half.
Some of his advice is heartening.
Writers need to love to read! -- Check.
Writers need to love to write! -- Check. Writers need to have a toolbox of skills (a decent vocabulary, a grasp of grammar, an abhorrence of passive voice, and an allergy to adverbs). -- It will be most humbly attempted by this writer to adhere to these sensible rules which will so nimbly guide my prose.
I also have reactions to other statements he made.
King: Great writers are born not made. A competent writer can become good, but a good writer cannot become great. And, bad writers? They are a hopeless cause.
My thought: This is an alarming hypothesis. What if, unbeknownst to me, I am an incompetent writer? Just a common hack? Then, I decided, "I'm sure I can learn. I'm not as pessimistic"
King: If he had stayed in teaching, he would have hit age 50, grown a beer belly, and would have had 5 unfinished manuscripts in his desk drawer that he would periodically pull out to fiddle with.
My thought: Uh-oh. I have stayed in teaching (which consumes a great deal of my time and energy). I have multiple unfinished manuscripts. And, I have hit a middle-aged age. Am I doomed then? I'm sure King would not wish to discourage a writer (being optimistic, here). Therefore, I'll just assume he's trying to get people to take their writing seriously.
Another interpretation of King's words could be that teaching is so draining that it would be very difficult for a writer to overcome the daily, weekly, monthly, yearly mental and emotional drain. This is the more alarming explanation because I fear it may be true.
Caring for children is a tiring (exhausting? life-sucking?) activity. I have taught with complete dedication during my career (no scrimping or cutting corners when it come to students' educations), and it has taken almost all my time. The other part of my time has been spent caring for my biological children. At this rate, I should be a burnt-out dish-rag, not with a beer belly, but maybe with diastasis recti from giving birth to twins. I think I will just say, "No comment." (put laughing emoji here)
King: Writers should spend 4-6 hours a day writing and reading.
My thought: To quote the illustrious Eliza Doolittle, of "Pygmalion"/"My Fair Lady" fame, "Oh wouldn't it be loverly!"
Yes, that would be the dream. A room somewhere. Far away from the cold night air. With one enormous chair. Ah! Wouldn't it be loverly?
Let us conclude the night (for it is night, after a long day of teaching and caring for my children) with a paraphrase from another noble heroine of fiction: Cinderella. If a dream is wish our heart makes, then let us keep believing, for no matter how our heart is grieving, the dream that we wish for may come true.
Till next time, fellow dreamers. Till next time..
Comments