Book Review: Stephen King’s Writing Memoir

Interestingly, I have been making notes the entire way through SK’s book. When I read his section on plot, thoughts jumped into my head (very aggressively) that I had to stop and write them down. Here is one thought I had from the plot section with reference to my own writing or plotting.

What’s interesting about Stephen King’s memoir is the plot subject. It is not his job to steer or help the characters but merely watch them work the situation out themselves. Let the characters figure it out. It instantly got me thinking about the characters in my manuscript. What if Velkan should die, but rather than die right out, he is wounded by the (secret characters), poisoned, and dies as Stone awakes. As her eyes flutter open for the first time, Velkan takes his last breath. It’s rather a romantic notion. If I was to kill Velkan off in the first book, who would search for her in the second book? With Casmir?

On the other hand, it could eliminate romantic complications between her and Gabriel, and Jay. I’m going to revert to my very first initial idea (I just have to dig it out of the box of notes I’ve scribbled to do with the book), and see what the future for Velkan was. And Jamie.

If Velkan makes it into the second book, then he should be killed off, or should Jamie die after he confesses his love to Stone. He’s injured. They kiss. He dies. It’s rather dramatic.

Stephen King says that plotting kills the natural story. It does just as much bad to a story as it does good.

More thoughts on SK’s memoir to come.