2 questions

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sumolemon

New Member
Mar 5, 2020
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1: does stephen king have a comfort zone or go-to when developing character? there are lots of naughty parents scattered amongst his work. i remember some years back my mentor said "we all raise ourselves" about parents, good or bad. a lot of the closeness i feel to his characters have to do with an absence of sound parenting. any other go-tos, or what is the jumping off point for a story?
2: storytelling developed as an oral telling of events. he reads his works so beautifully, and sounds very much like he were telling me and me only the story, not just reading. with it being such a personal thing to tell a story and to hear one, i'm interested in the ease with which he collaborates with others. also ps what's the difference between stories for screen and stories for the page?

thanks!
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
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1: does stephen king have a comfort zone or go-to when developing character? there are lots of naughty parents scattered amongst his work. i remember some years back my mentor said "we all raise ourselves" about parents, good or bad. a lot of the closeness i feel to his characters have to do with an absence of sound parenting. any other go-tos, or what is the jumping off point for a story?
2: storytelling developed as an oral telling of events. he reads his works so beautifully, and sounds very much like he were telling me and me only the story, not just reading. with it being such a personal thing to tell a story and to hear one, i'm interested in the ease with which he collaborates with others. also ps what's the difference between stories for screen and stories for the page?

thanks!
Try King's nonfiction book On Writing. He touches on many of these subjects. You may want to study the differences between plot and story, too. Grasping this distinction goes a long way in successfully creating books and stories that outlive the writer. Welcome.
 

Drawn to Ka-tet

Well-Known Member
Mar 15, 2007
2,409
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New Hampshire
I have heard that Mr King usually starts out with an idea for something that seems funny and then, there's a WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED??? moment which turns the heat up.
I agree that stories read aloud and told aloud are very powerful. One example that I really love is The Revenge of Lard=Ass Hogan as told by Gordie LaChance in The Body. Of course we know it in the brilliant film Stand By Me.
Gordie entrances his friends, his audience, A story in a story gives up depth of character, time and place.

Watching Stephen King read aloud is a terrific experience. Lots of videos are on YouTube. His delivery gives us a personal feeling.

I can't speak to his ease of collaborations, but the proof is in the pudding in The Talisman and Black House with Peter Straub; In the Tall Grass with Joe Hill. The flow back and forth between authors is pretty fluid, in my humble opinion.

That's all I got. Welcome to the Board.
 

osnafrank

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Jan 24, 2017
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mal

content
Jun 23, 2007
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Hi sumolemon,

For question #1: I believe if Stephen King was not slightly broken in his youth, we wouldn't be seeing the man he is today.
For question #2: Stories for the screen rely on visual and auditory stimulus in order to enhance or propel the story further. Stories for the page describe these things in words and your imagination enhances the story.

Welcome to the board!!
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
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Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
1: does stephen king have a comfort zone or go-to when developing character? there are lots of naughty parents scattered amongst his work. i remember some years back my mentor said "we all raise ourselves" about parents, good or bad. a lot of the closeness i feel to his characters have to do with an absence of sound parenting. any other go-tos, or what is the jumping off point for a story?
2: storytelling developed as an oral telling of events. he reads his works so beautifully, and sounds very much like he were telling me and me only the story, not just reading. with it being such a personal thing to tell a story and to hear one, i'm interested in the ease with which he collaborates with others. also ps what's the difference between stories for screen and stories for the page?

thanks!
Welcome to SKMB

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