‘On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft’ — Part Two
Tips on writing from the master, Stephen King
Stephen King knows a thing or two about how to write. Here are a few tips from his book, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
I am fascinated by how others write, as we all write slightly differently, and I chat to writers most days about their challenges.
Stephen says it is impossible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer. Equally, impossible to make a great writer out of a good one. But with lots of dedication and hard work, it is possible to make a good writer out of a competent one.
A basic rule of vocabulary, when trying to think of a word, the first word that comes to mind is probably the best one.
Adverbs are not your friend, usually ending in ly, the timid writer creates these words.
Take any noun and any verb, put them together, and have a sentence. This is a helpful tool to provide a safety net for your writing.
Stephen doesn’t like using adverbs, although it’s human. He thinks using, he said/she said, is divine.
You should avoid using passive verbs, timid writers like them because they are safe. Stephen recommends purchasing a copy of, The Elements of Style.
