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Stephen King "On writing"
I have got round to reading it, and it's very accessible and interesting.
He says that when we write novels we should forget about the notion of "plot" and just write "story". He argues that, if he doesn't know where it's going, then his reader won't be able to guess either (this is a bit like my serve in tennis).
If we have any SK readers out there, does he follow his own advice?
And have those among us who have written (and published?) novels gone down the plot route or the story route?
Comments
So I don't think he does follow his advice, I have the book to reread on my bookshelf, too many books as usual to get around to reading it.
Maybe the problem is he doesn't know where it's going so he has to write all these long boring (sorry) chapters to find an ending?
I think he's over rated and I prefer James Herbert.
That said I haven't read all of his books, but I'm a fan of reading anything that begins with those kind of 'what if' principles.
I do love On Writing though. And he does add in that in some parts he says "do as I saw, not as I do" (such as with adverbs).
I think having at least a rough plot gives you some structure to follow but you're a writer so you're bound to wander off from time to time and often that's when the best things happen.