On writing

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Marco_Italy

New Member
Apr 4, 2016
3
6
49
Dear Stephen

I'm finishing reading your book "on writing".

I am completing my first book, not without difficulty.

I'm not a writer, I never had this claim, but as they say in my part, the appetite comes with eating, and writing, a little passion has become almost a disease.

I write at night after 22, most nights until midnight ad after

I can not do otherwise. Quality and quantity are affected but not defeated.

The idea of a novel turned into a saga.

In your book, do not treat this subject, at least not in the first 200 pages.

Do not talk about books that are part of a saga.

I would like some advice from you about.

At the moment my main problem is itself the conclusion of the book, not to not have a defined end, but more out of fear of leaving open too many things.

In reality, there will not be a real conclusion because history and above all a large series of events will remain pending to continue, in the second volume and in the following.

I thought a lot if you give a setting similar to Harry Potter (each volume is almost as if it were an episode in itself), or as the Game of Throne, (where the story continues in the next book).

I opted for the latter because the story is spread on three different characters and why the outstanding events are way too many.

I would like some advice from you.


One last question about your aversion to adverbs.

I am tempted to read one of your books in English while knowing my limits in your mother language and about this I apologize for inaccuracies in this post.

I do not know if it is like the original, but in the Italian translation of your books seem to me that there are a good amount (including also a good amount of suddenly).


Thanks a lot, especially this your book (on writing) in which I found a valuable resource, as well as a nice and fun reading.

Best regards

Marco
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
First, welcome to the Board! I'm sorry, but Stephen does not respond personally to questions posted here. There are other published writers who are members of the Board, though, and they may be able to offer you some advice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GNTLGNT

Senor_Biggles

Well-Known Member
Sep 13, 2015
188
878
51
Hi Marco.

Firstly let me congratulate you on taking up the challenge. I have a little experience of what you're going through, I started work on my first novel just over a year ago and I'm slowly crawling toward the completion of the first draft and it's already twice as long as it should be. I don't think I can offer much in the way of advice in regards to turning a novel into a series or a saga, though my own work has spiralled out of control I still see it as a single story only and once the first draft has been completed I will be editing with a vengeance, trying to get it down to roughly half the size. I do remember the advice about adverbs from On Writing and, for better or for worse, I have taken it to heart.

Stephen King is definitely not the only writer who has a disdain for adverbs, Elmore Leonard went as far as to describe using an adverb to modify the verb said as 'a mortal sin' and is also completely dismissive of the use of 'suddenly in any context. I can't remember if Stephen King's advice about adverbs was particularly focused on dialogue or not, but I think the advice to avoid adverbs in general is based around the idea that they are generally unnecessary and intrusive and that the secret to good writing is as much about the words you leave out as those that you put down on paper (that's my interpretation of what other writer's have said on the subject, I'm obviously not in any position to give advice about what constitutes good writing myself).

I'm also fairly sure that he admitted to using adverbs himself and that the important thing is to be aware of them so that they are not overused as this can make the writing feel unnatural. To return to Elmore Leonard, 'My most important rule is if it sounds like writing I rewrite it
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dana Jean

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
850286.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Neesy and Dana Jean

Robert Gray

Well-Known Member
finished.
My first book is finished.
I would not have thought to do that.
immense satisfaction

Congratulations and much envy from me, although I am not far behind. Now remember to get copies to your initial readers, i.e. those whose opinions you trust for useful feedback. Lock your own copy up and walk away from it for at least a month. Don't look at anything your readers write or have them talk about it until you have gotten a minimum safe distance to come back and look at it again. The next part is harder, i.e. time for the edits.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GNTLGNT