Did SK change his style?

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skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
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Recently I have read "Lisey's Story" and "Doctor Sleep". It seems in these works SK changed little his style of writing. Am I alone in my opinion?

They are written with an older man's sensibility--maybe less anger and more reflection. People change, and so did he :) The essentials are the same though: attention to believable characters and dialogue.
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
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sweden
It's not only those. I don't think he could have written, for example The Girl who loved Tom Gordon early in his career. He is evolving but, as Skimom said, the main things are always there and characterize his books.
 

not_nadine

Comfortably Roont
Nov 19, 2011
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Behind you
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Perhaps, but it's all good.
 

asoul

Well-Known Member
Jul 13, 2006
595
1,096
Ukraine
I am not a writer and I only try to understand...Usually people say in one manner. Sometimes it may be changed depending on circumstances. But only on short period of time. What about writing? Can a verbose boring writer write also funny anecdotes? :umm:
 

Rrty

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2007
1,394
4,588
You know, you actually got something there, maybe a screenplay idea for either a comedy or a really complicated drama: famous author and famous author's son, who's also a writer, exchange books and use each other as pseudonyms. Then, when it is revealed to the public: what is the reaction? Maybe it could be a horror story, too.

To me, I think King's style has changed in a couple ways. First, he no longer necessarily -- I stress necessarily -- tries to come up with really commercial ideas. "Mr. Mercedes" was incredibly commercial, but what I mean to say is he doesn't necessarily try to find a "Thinner" or a "Misery" concept to write about. Those days are long gone for the most part.

Second, and I'm not sure how to put this in words, his voice has changed a bit. It's no longer what I used to think of as the arrogant-cocky-confident narrative voice -- his narration at times was so tight, so sure of itself in its metaphors and poetry and complexities that it compelled you to do nothing less than turn the page, turn the page. Don't get me wrong -- I still turn the page, I still turn the page. But it's different. I don't feel necessarily (there's that word again) like I'm on the same level with the narrator's voice, that I am a trusted friend who is being told a story out of a mutual respect. Now it feels as if the voice has gone off in a different direction and is interested in different things. I guess I've grown older; then again, maybe King's writing voice has. Who knows. That's the best I can do to explain it.
 

Blake

Deleted User
Feb 18, 2013
4,191
17,479
You know, you actually got something there, maybe a screenplay idea for either a comedy or a really complicated drama: famous author and famous author's son, who's also a writer, exchange books and use each other as pseudonyms. Then, when it is revealed to the public: what is the reaction? Maybe it could be a horror story, too.

To me, I think King's style has changed in a couple ways. First, he no longer necessarily -- I stress necessarily -- tries to come up with really commercial ideas. "Mr. Mercedes" was incredibly commercial, but what I mean to say is he doesn't necessarily try to find a "Thinner" or a "Misery" concept to write about. Those days are long gone for the most part.

Second, and I'm not sure how to put this in words, his voice has changed a bit. It's no longer what I used to think of as the arrogant-cocky-confident narrative voice -- his narration at times was so tight, so sure of itself in its metaphors and poetry and complexities that it compelled you to do nothing less than turn the page, turn the page. Don't get me wrong -- I still turn the page, I still turn the page. But it's different. I don't feel necessarily (there's that word again) like I'm on the same level with the narrator's voice, that I am a trusted friend who is being told a story out of a mutual respect. Now it feels as if the voice has gone off in a different direction and is interested in different things. I guess I've grown older; then again, maybe King's writing voice has. Who knows. That's the best I can do to explain it.
Obviously you've written about 70 books, so who are you to criticise?
 
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