STEPHEN KING INTERVIEW

For all of those people who didn’t attend Stephen King’s interview live on the big screen last night you missed a great opportunity to listen to the King of Horror and a man gifted with the ability to pen great stories.

Stephen King looked great for a man who had sustained a horrific accident years ago although he did have a small limp. His humour surprised me and delighted the audience.

As I didn’t take notes, I cannot quote him exact.

New York Times book critic Janet Maslin interviewed him re his new book Under the Dome. She mentioned that Under the Dome would be considered a “literary” book.
Please check out:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/15/books/a-literary-award-for-stephen-king.html

When answering a question from the audience King said that when you’re teaching it saps your creative energy. A lot of writers have menial jobs such as dishwashers or something that won’t sap your energy. (He was a high school English teacher.)

In answer to another question from Mississauga, ON, he concurred that he reads novels by beginning writers but only if the book is good. “Too little time, so many books.” He likes to “pay it forward” as a publisher took a chance on him.

Another person asked if he had an idea that was so horrific and glory and did he ever decide to NOT use it. He pondered for a moment and said something like “Sure, I’ve had some stuff and thought his isn’t good for human consumption.” He pauses and then smirked. “But I used it anyway.” Everybody laughed.

A lot of the interview centred on his new novel Under the Dome, which sounded like another great story.

He plans on writing another book re the Dark Tower series.

On Writing

He has been interviewed with other authors who plot their novel and make detailed character synopsis. He wings it. He thinks it’s a great day when he knows what’s happening in his book for the next writing day. Character – he puts the character in a situation and then sees what the character will do. He writes mostly by situations – the idea much like Sci-Fi writers who start with an “idea”.

His “Virtual” Office

It’s nothing like his real office because his office is really messy. What a relief. I'm not the only writer with a messy desk.

Check out the following websites:

http://www.stephenking.com/index.html

http://charnelhouse.tripod.com/

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/k/stephen_king/index.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/05/books/books-of-the-times-how-to-write-if-you-re-stephen-king.html