I just finished Stephen King's "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft". I have been told many times over the years that this was a must-read, even if I wasn't "into that type of writing." It was an interesting mix of personal story and practical advice (Second Draft = First Draft - 10%). The author of the graphic "Carrie", "The Shining" and "The Dead Zone" saves the best for last, however.
On page 269, as he describes his struggle to begin writing again after a car vs. pedestrian accident where he was the pedestrian, he wrote some of the truest words yet. "The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better."
That is the way it is with writing. It is easy to find a million other things to do than sit down and pound out your deepest secrets. But once you start, it not only gets better, it becomes painful to stop.
He continues: "I feel that buzz of happiness, that sense of having found the right words and put them in a line. It's like lifting off in an airplane: You're on the ground, on the ground, on the ground... and then you're up, riding on a magical cushion of air and prince of all you survey. It's what I was made to do." Let me repeat that last line. "It's what I was made to do."
That is why we write, isn't it? It's not for money or fame or free coffee. It's because it's what we do.
I would like to thank Stephen (he says everyone calls you by your first name during an emergency) for sharing this insight and inspiring a whole new generation of writers in all genres.
Now it's your turn. How do you get off the ground? What gets your writing started?
Yours in Writing,
Promptmaster
Jennifer Sander
JT Long
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