My "On Writing" exercise.

[Emerson Smith]

Hi everybody, My name is Zach, I'm new here. I'm new to writing. I want to be a writer so bad, and I have no idea where to start. My favorite author has always been Stevie King so I picked up his book "On Writing" because I didn't know where else to start. Some of you may know in this book he advises the reader to complete a short creative writing exercise and drop it on his website! So, I did, and I am! Please forgive my style and grammar, I have yet to get to "The Elements of Style" Also I forced myself to play by the rules, not over think it, and write this in one sitting of about 2 hours. Sorry, I'm nervous! I hope you enjoy!

*I received your telepathic message loud and clear! Turns out that time traveling message can still be heard over twenty years later! Thank you, Mr. King.*

 

[Moderator]

Welcome to the Board!

Sorry, but as noted in the FAQ, Steve is no longer accepting submissions for the writing exercise so I have deleted that part of your message. I hope you stick around, though, and join in the discussions.

 

[Dana Jean]

Welcome!

 

[Spideyman]

and welcome.

 

[Emerson Smith]

Oh well, that's very disheartening. That is the only reason I came here. Thanks for the support...

 

[Emerson Smith]

*Deleted with an eye roll*

 

[Emerson Smith]

"When he came up with that idea, Stephen wasn't thinking about the fact that someone would months or years later read his offer and want to participate." Wasn't this the whole point? Doesn't it make it even more interesting that it's 20 years later? I'm just dumbfounded by this.

 

[Moderator]

"When he came up with that idea, Stephen wasn't thinking about the fact that someone would months or years later read his offer and want to participate." Wasn't this the whole point? Doesn't it make it even more interesting that it's 20 years later? I'm just dumbfounded by this.

When the book was first published, Steve was inundated with submissions. There was no way he could ever read or respond to them all without taking a lot of time out of his writing schedule. He then made the decision, at least for purposes of his web site and physical mail sent to our office, to stop doing so. I've asked a number of times to have that part of the book deleted, but unfortunately, they haven't chosen to do that. Even if they did delete it from the book, though, there are millions of copies out there that someone could read for the first time. We added the information to our FAQ with the hope that people would read that and know that he would not be accepting new submissions.

The real point of the exercise, though, was to get writers to try this approach to writing and see if it worked for them. Did you find that it helped with your writing?

 

[Emerson Smith]

I did find it helpful, but I'm very disappointed that it was removed. I mean, I didn't expect Steve to read it. I expected the people of the forums to read it and give me feedback. Since you guys are all very well read I'm sure.

 

[Emerson Smith]

Why don't you just have one small spot on the forum for them? I mean you have a spot for everything else under the sun.

 

[Moderator]

Why don't you just have one small spot on the forum for them? I mean you have a spot for everything else under the sun.

Because we don't post original fiction writing on the advice of Stephen's attorneys.

 

[Emerson Smith]

Sure that makes sense, you don't post anything. The Author does. I can understand sharing unauthorized original fiction, but if the Author posts it what kind of issue is there? There are dozens of websites, most namely Reddit, that do this daily. Is this something that has been discussed, or was it more of a "this is how it is don't question it' situation? I studied law, and this isn't on the level.

 

[Moderator]

Sure that makes sense, you don't post anything. The Author does. I can understand sharing unauthorized original fiction, but if the Author posts it what kind of issue is there? There are dozens of websites, most namely Reddit, that do this daily. Is this something that has been discussed, or was it more of a "this is how it is don't question it' situation? I studied law, and this isn't on the level.

When Stephen's attorneys tell us that we should not be posting any fiction written by other writers, we do what they ask. Their worry is that he could be accused of plagiarism if he wrote something similar even if he never read the other story that was posted on his web site.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

If I’m not mistaken you can link to a blog here under Self-Promotion if you want people interested in reading your work to have access. WordPress is a free and easy source for blogs. I’m sure Ms Mod will correct me if I’m wrong... she seems to enjoy doing that.

 

[Moderator]

If I’m not mistaken you can link to a blog here under Self-Promotion if you want people interested in reading your work to have access. WordPress is a free and easy source for blogs. I’m sure Ms Mod will correct me if I’m wrong... she seems to enjoy doing that.

I take it as my purpose and duty in life. In this case, you are....ri......rrrr......riiiiiiii.....not mistaken.

 

[Emerson Smith]

While smoking a cig and contemplating this situation the plagiarism issue dawned on me as well. A apologize for my brash nature, but I am simmering a bit. I was totally prepared for my first shot at prose to get "rejection letters" but I was not prepared for total annihilation.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

I take it as my purpose and duty in life. In this case, you are....ri......rrrr......riiiiiiii.....not mistaken.

 

[Moderator]

While smoking a cig and contemplating this situation the plagiarism issue dawned on me as well. A apologize for my brash nature, but I am simmering a bit. I was totally prepared for my first shot at prose to get "rejection letters" but I was not prepared for total annihilation.

As DiO mentioned above, if you would like to post a link to an outside source where your work is posted in the area for Self-Promotion, we're happy to do that. There are a number of writers on the Board who may be willing to give it a read and provide feedback.

 

[Emerson Smith]

Well, that wasn't really my intention. My intention was to follow the instructions in the book. I don't even have anything to get feedback on but a 5-page short story written on the direction of "On Writing" and maybe a few dozen one-line ideas. I suppose in some sort of romantic way I felt that if I did this step, it would naturally lead to the next. So back to the studying it is. Maybe I will write more to get feedback on once I read the style guides. If there was anything I learned while writing this exercise it is that I do NOT know how to structure paragraphs and dialog in a piece of fiction. I also reaffirmed something I already knew, I seem to write effortlessly. I don't know if this is the norm but I literally have a burning desire to write. I have been in sales for the past 10 years and I can't shake the feeling that I need to write. To create. Is this how you guys feel?

 

[Neesy]

Well, that wasn't really my intention. My intention was to follow the instructions in the book. I don't even have anything to get feedback on but a 5-page short story written on the direction of "On Writing" and maybe a few dozen one-line ideas. I suppose in some sort of romantic way I felt that if I did this step, it would naturally lead to the next. So back to the studying it is. Maybe I will write more to get feedback on once I read the style guides. If there was anything I learned while writing this exercise it is that I do NOT know how to structure paragraphs and dialog in a piece of fiction. I also reaffirmed something I already knew, I seem to write effortlessly. I don't know if this is the norm but I literally have a burning desire to write. I have been in sales for the past 10 years and I can't shake the feeling that I need to write. To create. Is this how you guys feel?

You may have already seen this one, but I just found it:

Spoiler

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