How to Be the Next Stephen King

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:NextStephenKing
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How to Be the Next Stephen King

Introduction

Stephen King is one of the best-selling authors of all time. His name is synonymous with the horror genre and many of his books have been turned in to feature films and miniseries. Even those who have never picked up one of his books know some of his stories. Following in his footsteps requires attitude, style and hard work.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You'll Need

  • A computer on which you can easily write very long stories.
  • A private writing room where you can let your mind flow freely.

Steps

1

Step One

Read plenty of Stephen King books. King has a signature style for sure, and there's no better way to learn that style than to absorb as much of it as possible.
2

Step Two

Think of something scary. It can be supernatural, but something more simplistic is often what King taps in to. Perhaps something scary that has happened to you is the most frightening thing you can conjure, and that may be for the best. Some of King's books rely on nothing more than base human fears such as animal attacks (Cujo) or getting lost alone in the woods (The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon).
3

Step Three

Write as much as you can, all the time. Stephen King is one of the most prolific writers of our time, and it doesn't all come out of thin air.
4

Step Four

Re-visit the same subjects more than once. King is known for covering old territory in slightly new ways. His critics would say that the later works are just re-hashes and that King has nothing new to offer. However, being a critical darling has never been Stephen King's greatest strength.
5

Step Five

Find a publisher who shares your enthusiasm for your material.

Tips & Warnings

  • The British series "Garth Merenghi's Darkplace" is a satirical parody of Stephen King and his works. If you're trying to be the next Stephen King , you probably aren't looking to satirize him. However, this show does a brilliant job of emulating both King's writing style and his personality.
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