Patterson and King

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Rrty

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Jun 4, 2007
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I know we've mentioned this before and that people are not necessarily fond of James Patterson's methods, but I find this guy fascinating (even though I have never read any of his material). Here is an article about him:

James Patterson mostly doesn’t write his books. And his new readers mostly don’t read — yet. - The Washington Post

What I find really fascinating is the comment in the article about mortality -- he has so many ideas that, realistically, he won't be able to get to them all himself. Obviously, I don't think the way he does what he does is necessarily original...although I can't think of any off the top of my head, I'm pretty sure there have been other publishing factories.

Sorry to bother Bev Vincent again -- I asked him a question in another thread -- but I am curious what you think Bev about this, as a King scholar. Could King pull this type of thing off? I would think you might want to see more of King's ideas expressed, even if it had to be in a Patterson-like way. Using co-writers maybe is no more anathema than selling a book to Hollywood, and King has basically stated that it is fine to do that, even if there are changes along the way -- i.e., in the case of the Patterson method, the idea would still be there, in King's notebook, untarnished, and he could always write his version someday anyway.

Let's take a specific example. Remember that idea about the planet whose raindrops causes cannibalism? It was mentioned in the forum several months ago, and I believe it was stated that King has basically dropped that idea. Imagine if he said to you, Bev, that he would like you to write it from a synopsis? I assume you certainly wouldn't mind doing that, but do you think that would negatively impact his legacy? I don't think it would -- I think it simply means we would have more King product out there, and that, even if every effort wasn't the height of art, that we would be exposed to more of his ideas.

Curious about your opinion on this, and about Patterson. Thanks.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
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This idea is akin to what Andy Warhol did with his 'art' inside The Factory. He had others paint the 'art' and then would sign his name to it. Is this legit? Sure, I guess so. But I wouldn't want to read a 'Stephen King' novel unless it was written by him. Nobody can write like he does- sure the ideas might be the same and the words could flow the same way, but it wouldn't have Steve's soul in there. Sorry, but I wouldn't touch a 'King' book that had been written in this manner.
 

Rrty

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Jun 4, 2007
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Is this question just for Bev, or do you also want others to answer?

Anyone can answer this question...in fact, more opinions would be better. I only singled out Bev because he is a professional.

Kingricefan -- and for some reason I cannot quote you at this time -- I either forgot about the Warhol thing or never knew it (it does sound familiar). That guy really did that? Somehow that seems different to me, I'm a bit negative on that; I'll have to research it. I suppose if he designed the idea, then it may be okay. In a sense, that's no different than someone designing a videogame while someone else programs it. And I definitely see what you mean about King producing work in that manner -- I wonder, though, if it would be okay if he just did his thing during the day (i.e., write the books that his muse dictates to him) and then, at the end of the day, looked over ideas he had but knows he will never get to, and decides how he can put them through such a factory process so that his readers can at least see those concepts. In a sense, it's almost like an idea notebook or sketchbook that is published...only in a much more thorough fashion. And I tell you, I would absolutely love to see his sons tackle some of his ideas. Could you imagine Joe Hill writing a sequel to It, or 'Salem's Lot? With the modern-day technology included? That would be fun. And if it bothered some that it was done in such a way, all one has to do is consider it not truly part of the overall King-mythos.
 

Nomik

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This idea is akin to what Andy Warhol did with his 'art' inside The Factory. He had others paint the 'art' and then would sign his name to it. Is this legit? Sure, I guess so. But I wouldn't want to read a 'Stephen King' novel unless it was written by him. Nobody can write like he does- sure the ideas might be the same and the words could flow the same way, but it wouldn't have Steve's soul in there. Sorry, but I wouldn't touch a 'King' book that had been written in this manner.
Agreed. There are other books like that out there; Ordinary Grace by William Kent Kreuger was assigned to my mother by her book club. She loved King before I read Lightning in 86. She is now a published author. .i digress, she insists that I read this one because she hated it , "it was like reading all of Stephen King's stuff without him." (The book club evidently lauded it) I have this book now and I keep glaring at it. There will be time to read the results of a legacy someday but I prefer to revel in reality. I hate to cry reading a book for the wrong reasons! ( I humbly apologize for mentioning a Koontz novel)
 

kingricefan

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Anyone can answer this question...in fact, more opinions would be better. I only singled out Bev because he is a professional.

Kingricefan -- and for some reason I cannot quote you at this time -- I either forgot about the Warhol thing or never knew it (it does sound familiar). That guy really did that? Somehow that seems different to me, I'm a bit negative on that; I'll have to research it. I suppose if he designed the idea, then it may be okay. In a sense, that's no different than someone designing a videogame while someone else programs it. And I definitely see what you mean about King producing work in that manner -- I wonder, though, if it would be okay if he just did his thing during the day (i.e., write the books that his muse dictates to him) and then, at the end of the day, looked over ideas he had but knows he will never get to, and decides how he can put them through such a factory process so that his readers can at least see those concepts. In a sense, it's almost like an idea notebook or sketchbook that is published...only in a much more thorough fashion. And I tell you, I would absolutely love to see his sons tackle some of his ideas. Could you imagine Joe Hill writing a sequel to It, or 'Salem's Lot? With the modern-day technology included? That would be fun. And if it bothered some that it was done in such a way, all one has to do is consider it not truly part of the overall King-mythos.
Joe, Tabitha and Owen are the only writers that I would even consider reading if they wrote sequels to Steve's books. Especially Tabby as she has known his 'voice' longer than their two sons have.
 

Nomik

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This type of writing has been going on since before Shakespeare, Poe, and Chaucer figured it out. Beowulf was written by some anonymous Scandinavian about 1100 years ago and I'm pretty sure we can all remember that one from an anthology.
 

carrie's younger brother

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Mar 8, 2012
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Anyone can answer this question...in fact, more opinions would be better. I only singled out Bev because he is a professional.

Kingricefan -- and for some reason I cannot quote you at this time -- I either forgot about the Warhol thing or never knew it (it does sound familiar). That guy really did that? Somehow that seems different to me, I'm a bit negative on that; I'll have to research it. I suppose if he designed the idea, then it may be okay.
Many of the Renaissance masters did it as well. They all had schools of students who would finish their paintings after they sketched them and told their students what colors to use.
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
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This type of writing has been going on since before Shakespeare, Poe, and Chaucer figured it out. Beowulf was written by some anonymous Scandinavian about 1100 years ago and I'm pretty sure we can all remember that one from an anthology.
But that is not the same thing, surely. To write something anonymously like Beowolf (which actually is written in England by an Anglosaxon in Old English, it is only set in Scandinavia) is different from the lending of a name and dealing out ideas like Patterson.
I hope King never does that. It is the very special King flair we seek, at least i do. That is what makes him so much diffrent, and better, than the rest.
 

Nomik

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Strunk or White said something like once they're mine, they are mine forever (King, 2000) in
On Writing
, if memory serves correctly. I could be wrong- I have both books in front of me and I can't quote exactly right now. The point was not lost. I need more light in here!:wait:
 
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Nomik

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...I don't see Joe taking over for Dad, even though he has a good grasp on the creative reins....he has too much of his own storytelling to do.....and probably would find it more than a bit presumptuous....
Absolutely. He gave a great ten minute podcast interview out of Portsmouth about writing. I hung on to every word and I liked what he said. More like nibbled . . but it's a bit too much to contemplate. I wish I knew these people, you know? It's almost like - they must get so sick of it! Either that or they laugh at our presumptuous perspectives, crazy ideas, and mistaken assumptions. More likely they ignore this thread completely because it is already too long, they have lives and work to do. I can't even imagine being so loved by so many and having to pick and choose what to keep on the back burner, what to cut, and who to keep. ( characterization, revision, etc)
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
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Joe, Tabitha and Owen are the only writers that I would even consider reading if they wrote sequels to Steve's books. Especially Tabby as she has known his 'voice' longer than their two sons have.
In View From the Cheap Seats, Neil Gaiman's collection of non-fiction, he was sent to interview Stephen and this is what Stephen said about his writing that if something happened to him, who would take over -- in this case, it was back while he was writing Joyland.

"So, if I got hit by a taxicab, like Margaret Mitchell, what wouldn't be done, what would be done. Joyland wouldn't be done but Joe could finish it, in a breeze. His style is ALMOST INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM MINE. HIS IDEAS ARE BETTER THAN MINE. Being around Joe is like being next to a Catherine wheel throwing off sparks, all these ideas."
 

not_nadine

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Nov 19, 2011
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In View From the Cheap Seats, Neil Gaiman's collection of non-fiction, he was sent to interview Stephen and this is what Stephen said about his writing that if something happened to him, who would take over -- in this case, it was back while he was writing Joyland.

"So, if I got hit by a taxicab, like Margaret Mitchell, what wouldn't be done, what would be done. Joyland wouldn't be done but Joe could finish it, in a breeze. His style is ALMOST INDISUISHABLE FROM MINE. HIS IDEAS ARE BETTER THAN MINE. Being around Joe is like being next to a Catherine wheel throwing off sparks, all these ideas."

Reading Joe Hill - Fireman.


yes.
 

Nomik

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In View From the Cheap Seats, Neil Gaiman's collection of non-fiction, he was sent to interview Stephen and this is what Stephen said about his writing that if something happened to him, who would take over -- in this case, it was back while he was writing Joyland.

"So, if I got hit by a taxicab, like Margaret Mitchell, what wouldn't be done, what would be done. Joyland wouldn't be done but Joe could finish it, in a breeze. His style is ALMOST INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM MINE. HIS IDEAS ARE BETTER THAN MINE. Being around Joe is like being next to a Catherine wheel throwing off sparks, all these ideas."
Upon further reflection I will say that I enjoy Joe's candidness and marketing. The kazoo idea reminded me of an interview that I attended once at a writer's home here in the valley. He invited me in to read his book, during which time I was herded (bitten) by one of his border collies from the bathroom to the reading area. His book was similar to Left Behind with an Indiana Jones twist. I was offered the job "guerilla marketer", which I declined. I'm thinking that the author's immersion in this type of marketing is penultimate for its success. What do kazoos have to do with Joe's marketing, and the future of writing ? I wish I knew, the answer lies between the truth. Don't worry, they will not see this ramble here to watch my words fill up this post. This thread is worthy, enjoyable and sweet. Since I make no promises that I may reap, this legacy will be found for generations to keep.
 
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