tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post1236710800251927081..comments2024-03-22T12:11:58.453-06:00Comments on Michael Offutt: The best book about the writing craft I've ever read was written by Stephen King.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-35492541425602980352021-08-05T13:49:50.944-06:002021-08-05T13:49:50.944-06:00Genre fiction gets no respect. It's sad, for I...Genre fiction gets no respect. It's sad, for I think it's better to write stories that people enjoy rather than ones that are "literary". But I'm just a reverse snob.Liz A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16531953467834426316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-39773582371785775942021-08-04T14:08:49.400-06:002021-08-04T14:08:49.400-06:00King is something of a nut. He writes every day. H...King is something of a nut. He writes every day. He publishes lots of books. A lot of those books never needed to be written, at least by Stephen King. He would’ve greatly benefited from real introspection. There’s a reason why the movie version of <i>The Shining</i> bothers him so much, because it’s the rare glimpse of King in his own work. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t do that more? But it will still be a terrible excuse. And recommending writing every day is just suggesting you spend too little time thinking your stories through. That’s what writers should really be doing. Even GRRM. If he spent as much time thinking as he did “writing,” he apparently wouldn’t have gotten himself tied in so many knots. Because he’s either drastically overthinking or underthinking. I’m inclined to believe the former…and the latter…Tony Laplumehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07854455859399339169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-47542252092614676882021-08-04T11:02:19.987-06:002021-08-04T11:02:19.987-06:00On Writing is one of my all-time favorite books on...On Writing is one of my all-time favorite books on writing. It's really a fantastic read.M.J. Fifieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15626475963328519693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-51226263132560834772021-08-04T08:31:26.009-06:002021-08-04T08:31:26.009-06:00I had never heard of Lawrence Block's book. Th...I had never heard of Lawrence Block's book. Thanks for the tip.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-35843402399258368282021-08-04T08:30:40.466-06:002021-08-04T08:30:40.466-06:00I wonder if King would agree. Some people really l...I wonder if King would agree. Some people really like awards.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-19323980255409805502021-08-04T08:07:21.059-06:002021-08-04T08:07:21.059-06:00Hi Michael, Stephen King's book is popping up ...Hi Michael, Stephen King's book is popping up in so many posts that I have to buy it fast now :)Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-63813381574041468642021-08-04T07:31:28.935-06:002021-08-04T07:31:28.935-06:00I liked that book too, Michael.
Have a great readi...I liked that book too, Michael.<br />Have a great reading/writing day.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-19223413076420694792021-08-04T06:39:34.642-06:002021-08-04T06:39:34.642-06:00About all I remember from that book is the thing a...About all I remember from that book is the thing about not using adverbs, which I eventually stopped caring about. The only other thing about it I remember is I was reading it that day in 2003 when there was the big blackout in the eastern part of the country and Canada.<br /><br />If you get the chance, Lawrence Block has some great books on writing. He's a much more blue collar author so his experiences and advice are closer to our level. And he's been in the business a lot longer.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-10675538844534227212021-08-04T04:50:42.863-06:002021-08-04T04:50:42.863-06:00I totally agree--On Writing is my favorite book ab...I totally agree--On Writing is my favorite book about writing as well.Ted Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022309459554237650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-60894792203994910122021-08-04T03:25:35.978-06:002021-08-04T03:25:35.978-06:00Stephen King's books have sold millions - that...Stephen King's books have sold millions - that's better than any award.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com