On Writing by Stephen King

After almost two months of setting out my 2025 challenge, as I called it, I've finally finished my first book on the list. On Writing by Stephen King.

It took me almost two months to get through not because it was a tough read but because I kept getting distracted. Whether it was my movies or tv shows, I somehow always found an excuse for not having the time to read.

However I've now finally completed the book, and wanted to jot down the key takeaways from it before they slip away:

1. Don't wait for the muse

   Essentially, don't wait for inspiration on character to strike you with a lightening bolt. Build as you go rather than waiting for an ideal character to story to come about.

   
   

2. Set a writing goal you must achieve everyday

   If you ever want to finish a novel, like everything in life, you need to make time for it. Set a word count or page goal that you have to achieve everyday, and then put aside time in your day to achieve. It doesn't matter if you are feeling inspired or uninspired, the writing must happen. Somedays you'll hit that goal in a heartbeat and others it might feel like a trudge through the trenches, but the point is to get there.

   
   

3. Write your first draft with the door closed

   When writing a novel it can get very easy to want to share the progress with loved ones, to get feedback or validation. Don't. While it is tempting it is often the factor that make writers lenient towards actually finishing the piece of work. I can say for a fact I've experienced this myself. So, when writing the first draft of a novel, do it behind a closed door without distractions, without noise. Lay out the barebones of the story completely, without other eyes on them.

   
   

4. Write your novel for your Ideal Reader

   While we want to reach a vast group of readers, imagine the ideal reader you are writing for, often this is the person you first want to show your writing to, the person who you think will enjoy the story. They are the person that pops into your mind as you write a scene. Focus on that one Ideal Reader, rather than getting drawn into a multitude of directions trying to please a crowd. So, think of the one, rather than the many.

   
   

5. Let the first draft marinate

   Once the gruelling months you've spent writing the first draft have come to an end. Put it aside. Pack it up in a drawer and let it sit and marinate. Allow yourself to go back to day to day life, work on something else until the story no longer consumes you. Forget about it for months (~ 10 months even). Only then when the story no longer feels like your baby should you go back and read it. Read it once, as it is and start marking some of the obvious errors. Then re-read and start working towards the 2nd draft.

   
   

6. 2nd Draft = 1st Draft - `10%

   Mostly importantly Stephan King shares a formula for second drafts that he learnt: the second draft should be 10% less words than the first draft. Why? because we often add redundant or uninteresting information. We do not need to know everything the character is eating for breakfast unless the food is poisoned, even then, would you really go into every small ingredient within the meal? So the point is, in your second draft you go in and get rid of the adverbs, the doze worthy details, and the repetitive narrations. This not only helps you focus on what really matters but allows ensures that you don't lose your reader while going on a tangent about something that doesn't matter.

All in all, this book has a lot of key pointer that can help shape a writers journey towards getting that first book published. However, it is important to remember that it is simply a guide, the hard work still needs to be put from the writer.