Stephen: "King" of Horror
“I have spent a good many years since―too many, I think―being ashamed about what I write. I think I was forty before I realized that almost every writer of fiction or poetry who has ever published a line has been accused by someone of wasting his or her God-given talent. If you write (or paint or dance or sculpt or sing, I suppose), someone will try to make you feel lousy about it, that’s all.”
-Stephen King
A 'New York Times'-bestselling novelist who made of name for himself in the horror and fantasy genres with books like 'Carrie,' 'The Shining' and 'IT,' Stephen King was born on September 21, 1947, in Portland, Maine. At a young age, he developed a strong interest in the visual arts and music while also studying math and science. This passion for school led to him attending and graduating from the University of Maine and worked as a teacher afterwards while working diligently to establish himself as a respectable writer. While simultaneously publishing several of his other works under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, in 1973, King sold his first novel, Carrie, the heart-wrenching story of a tormented teenager who finally gets her long-awaited revenge on her peers on prom night.
King initially published his early novels under the pseudonym because of his concerns and doubt that the public wouldn't accept more than one book from an author as new as himself within just one year. This self-doubt and fear almost stopped the promising writer from pursuing his dreams and would have left the world lacking in horror substance. The book became a huge success after it was published the following year. This success allowed him to the breathing space to devote himself full time to his writings. When Carrie was later adapted for the big screen, it essentially skyrocketed King into the world of fame and renown. Carrie was the first horror movie I ever watched with my family and is the film that left me fully in awe and taken aback at the brilliant mind of Stephen King.
King completely reinvented the horror genre, arguing that writing horror novels is a passion that enriches the writer’s life. As consumers, we reap the fringe benefit of this since reading something that is written from the heart leaves the audience indeniably changed by it.
When prompted as to why he wanted to become a writer, King simply replied that "The answer to that is fairly simple-there was nothing else I was made to do. I was made to write stories and I love to write stories. That’s why I do it. I really can’t imagine doing anything else and I can’t imagine not doing what I do." While he may have initially just wanted the fame and praise for his works, King still continues to write in order to inspire others to follow their dreams and put their creative thoughts down on paper, unconcerned with what the world may think as long as it is authentic.
Stephen King is definitely the king of horror. I think his intrinsic motivation is really inspiring. However, it is also interesting to think about what how his motivations may have changed from year to year depending on his circumstances. In other words, I wonder if he is always intrinsically motivated, or if he has had times in his life where he was more extrinsically motivated.
ReplyDeleteI love two of the quotes you use in this post. The intro quote about people standing in your way and trying to discourage you is a powerful statement about the dedication that a creative must have for themselves and what they do. One must never be afraid to be passionate about what they care about. The second one about how King felt he was born to write and there is nothing else he was "made to do" invokes a strong sense that you'll know when you're on the right track. I think that's a great testament to people's innate ability to understand what drives them and makes them happy, which is another great concept. King certainly was on the right track and the literary world is better for it!
ReplyDeleteI think Stephan King is a fantastic writer. I think he's created some very original and terrifying stories. And even the ideas that aren't original he make his own and puts his own spin on things. His stories have truly terrified many and he continues to do so with more books, tv shows, and movies.
ReplyDeleteStephen King is a phenomenal writer. I heard him speak over the summer and it doesn't surprise me at all that he was made to tell horror stories. Apparently some of his ideas came from bedtime stories his mom used to tell him as a child, so he was just constantly surrounded by ideas for his books. Stephen King mastered the art of making you feel like you are experiencing everything the characters are feeling. He's so descriptive and compelling that you don't want to put the book down. I vividly remember reading The Shining at 3 am when I was younger. I was absolutely terrified, but I couldn't force myself to put the book down. Stephen King really knows how to draw a reader in and compel them to stay until the very end.
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