I am so sick of academics putting Stephen King down. They wish they could write 1/4 as well as him. I've been reading him for over thirty years. He is a King!
Storytelling and literature are two different things. If you actually think that King is a better writer than Dickens, Joyce, Faulkner, hell, even Murakami, you need to read more books.
I love that King constantly references other authors. The man reads, takes some entertainment or educational worth from it, and then gives credit where it's due. Pure win.
"I wish I was better." It packs a punch hearing Stephen King struggling with the same thing I am. I'm reading IT right now and I keep finding myself putting the book down to just awe at what I read. He's so good at what he does.
For those who might be apt to say "Under The Dome" was someone else's idea, you may want to read "The Tommyknockers" where, as the residents of the Main town of Haven gradually fall under the influence of a mysterious object buried in the woods the object contains the townfolk inside a invisible barrier that surrounds the town. The Tommy Knockers was published in 1987, two years before The Simpsons first episode.
People always ask; "where do you get your ideas from?". I'm not a writer myself, but the ideas are the easiest part. It's far more difficult to turn the ideas into a story. And then the story has to be translated into characters, dialogue and descriptions in a language good enough to make people want to read it.
just finished the dark tower today, this man is a genius and i look forward to helping my children with their book reports on his work in a decade or two!
Did he just say " i wish i was more original " ? He is, more than anyone. King transformed everything around us in nightmares. Our cars, our dogs , our hotels in vacations, sewers, flu, fans, clowns...i've never read anything like it.
If there was ever a writer who can create a world so real it scares the crap outta ya its Stephen King. An amazing writer, an amazing guy, and if any writer wants to learn fifty years worth of knowledge in a few hours, read his book on Writing.
The Stand is my favourite. It's not long enough. I've read about 20 stephen king books including most of his classics and I'm still reading them because they're amazing. I actually can't describe how much I love reading stephen king books. The first one I ever read was the green mile because I'd seen the film and I literally couldn't put it down. He's a genius. I want to be an author, I haven't got much hope because I'm starting a levels in september but I'm only 17 so there's plenty of time
Just love Stephen King. I am still making my way through all of his books. I do read other authors, a select few, but Stephen King takes me to experiences that no other can do. Thank you Mr. King. 🇨🇦
Stories about domes over cities is common. It's almost a category. The interviewer ask great questions. I think King has some idea of the coming questions.
I loved thinking about writing stories and having been healed one time by a faith healer always wanted to write a story about a faith healer. I have never read Stephen King but when I saw the Green Mile I concluded no one could surpass the subject of healing the he did there.
Under the Dome/ Simpsons movie, 'salem's Lot/ Dracula, Christine/The Car, elements of Kings works in many tales told before. But nobody does it like the King. An American literary master!
Wow, literature is about extraordinary people in ordinary circumstances while popular fiction is about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances....how true!
I love how his name is bigger than the title on the books in the background. That means that you only need to put Stephen Kings name on a book for it to sell..
Popular Fiction can also be literary. I like to read all kinds of books so I don't understand readers who are automatically against a certain style of fiction. I just love fiction in general. That's why I love SK's books so much, because he gives me a little bit of everything I could possibly want from a story in all his various masterpieces. The best example of every genre in one I've ever read is The Dark Tower, of course.
Nothing would make me happier as a writer (being published, of course the number #1 spot), then to meet, shake his hand and get some advice on writing from Stephen King. The man is one of THE best alive. His advice would fucking awesome.
Good interview. Can't wait to read this one. My favorite books of his (not related to The Dark Tower of course) is, ironically, Rage. Shame he wont let it go back into print. I mean, I understand why he wont re-print it but still, I think its one of his best.
After "shining", you should try "It". King's books are seriously mindblowing. One of those artists who can be loved by millions of people, and still be good as heck.
My favorite SK stories are Misery, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, and Deloris Claiborne. He is an awesome writer and I think when he has a nice body of fiction that is not really about horror but about psychology and human relationships and complex situations. He definitely has the chops to be literary when he wants to be. He also did a nice trilogy (Bill Hodges) that was more mystery/suspense and it was great. He can do whatever he wants, he just likes scaring the be-jesus out of people. I think he spent too much time growing up reading pulp fiction and comic books--that's where the tendency to write horror comes from. I didn't like Dreamcatcher very much, it was too jumbled up and I got the feeling he was writing from a sort of delirum caused by his accident and his health problems healing up from it. It started out great and I was enjoying getting to know the four primary characters and then it devolved into a confused and sort of trite mess. I think he should revisit those four and write a different sort of book. I like how he takes ordinary people and puts them in extraordinary situations where they have to show what they are made of. He has an exquisite touch with characterization much of the time.
"After finishing 'Glitz', I went out to the bookstore and bought everything else of Elmore Leonard I could find." - SK in 1985 "You certainly wouldn't expect him to have produced his best novel [The Hot Kid] at the age of 79, but he seems to have done it." - SK in 2005
Chester's Mill was originally formed under the premise of Tarker's Mill from Cycle of The Werewolf - Chester's Mill is West of Tarkers Mill which is East of Derry, Maine - there's a map on Stephen's Wiki page of his fictional areas of Maine, New England. Quite interesting :)
I got under the dome today and it's BIG 860 pages or so, it's my first Stephen King book and i love it so far. if i'm through with this one, i'll order the shining :)
Some of this man´s work should be mandatory reading in schools around the world. Most people, when you talk about King, they go "..UUhh, spooky.." and not much else. They´re missing out for sure. Be proud, americans, the world´s best contemporary writer is one of you. Peace.
I am now reading under the dome it's the first novel written by him that I have the chance to read... I am not even half way through the book but I've been having a great reading experience so far.
This man is the King of Horror Novels and Literature itself! I love his devotion to his writing and how me manged coming in with these brilliant plots in ALL he's books. each one is just a joy and countless movie had been made from his books! For first readers of him I suggest: Carrie it's short and easy and will get you into it to reader the bigger books which is all of them. The best in my view is Rose Madder and I'm quite depressed it didn't get the same knowledge as The Shinning it is good!
It's interesting to speculate on the ages of a lot of commenters, rating certain books as "the best", etc. I say this with no malice whatsoever, I think it is fantastic! I started at about 13 years old with Pet Sematary when it was originally published, and read everything King wrote as fast as could. The books grow with you and change meaning as you grow. To me that may be the greatest part. The story that is the bulk of 'Wizard and Glass' is my favorite. Thanks for your head, Mr. King.
I got it sent to me Monday and so far it's his best work since before his accident. Now, if you'll excuse me I need to get back to it. (In other words, it's awesome!)
Misery is my favorite Stephen King book and movie. Annie Wilks in the movie is an angel compared to how mean she is in the book. If you hadn't read Misery yet I strongly suggest it. Long live the King!
@myrtic1 That was exactly the same thing I did. "Under the Dome" was the first King book I read. I immediately read "The Shining" next. A year and a half later, I've read more King books than I can remember.
The one that 'knocked me out' was Needful Things, followed by The Stand uncut and perhaps The Tommyknockers. Reading Lisey's Story right now and intend to get to Christine, The Shining and It at some point...Under the Dome will have to wait a few years...doesn't look short.
Above and beyond the fact that he is the king of horror, i also experienced a lot a humour in his writings mainly in IT and the "Stand" i enjoy reading his books as much as he scared the hell out of me to the point it haunted me and subsequently i get up with anxiety.
Interview very nicely done. Love to hear Mr. King talk, about his works & methods, his manner is very easy going and a lot of fun, thank you. Especially during our own Lockdown with the Trump Plague.
He talked about spina bifida!!! I don't know why i'm so excited, i guess it's because an author mentioned it in an interview. I have spina bifida, so anything that mentions it i get really excited.
Stephen King is the best author of all time. Very few authors have affected me so profoundly. And to anyone who feels alienated for not reading the smae stuff as everyone else: I began reading King when I about 12, and I have never regretted it. I hope that one day his books will be taught in classrooms. (I know that in the movie The Covenant they were reading Dreamcatcher for a literature class.)
I had that moment in my writing career as Stephen with the Simpson's movie. It's so goddamn disheartening to find out that your idea resembles someone else's even though there are essential differences. I'm always like- what if someone else picks up the idea that I got now and writes it down? It's a long shot, but I've been hit once, hah.
King is perceived by the masses as a writer of pulp thriller novels, but the truth known by his readers is that he's a top-tier crafter of story--a tremendous writer who should have more mainstream awards and accolades from academics. Except that, frankly, their opinions don't really matter, precisely because they've completely missed his genius.
@LunescaZanJari the Dark Tower series is so amazing. It makes me crazy how good they are. Roland is just the most multi-dementional, beautiful, sad, strong, clint eastwood-esque, character i have ever read about. And Stephen is a hero of mine.
I see "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" in the background, first Stephen King book I read and it freaked me out! :p Also "Everything's Eventually" I own that one :) I just got "Under the Dome" a couple days ago, so far so good. I love many of King's books :)
why do people have to pit talent against each other? I can appreciate all forms of talent. You don't have to diss, reject or forget other works or singers who found fame through a televised audition (which is what Idol is) in order to pay true tribute to the craftsmanship of legends like Speilberg and King. Not if you lack conviction, you can appreciate all forms of talent.
Oh my dear--it's not what's screwed you up, it's what you can do. I've never been a huge fan of Freud but think about the Id and how it comes to the fore when we sleep. In dreams. All of us dream of death, horror and fantastical things. You my dear ARE the luckiest person on earth, in that you can raise and lower that Id, that 'thing' AT WILL and then put it to paper beautifully. Thank you for years of reading pleasures. I wish for one thing. Audio of all novels in your own voice.
"King has more depth. The Cthulu mythos was fascinating but many of the stories lacked the closure that I would have wanted" That's just the things though, Lovecraft didn't want to do it the way people wanted, he wanted it to show how hollow and cold the universe was. And that, I'm afraid, is depth.
I am so sick of academics putting Stephen King down. They wish they could write 1/4 as well as him. I've been reading him for over thirty years. He is a King!
48laveo It pisses me off. Just because it isn’t pretentious bullshit literature doesn’t mean that he’s not the greatest storyteller to ever live!
Storytelling and literature are two different things. If you actually think that King is a better writer than Dickens, Joyce, Faulkner, hell, even Murakami, you need to read more books.
It’s all down to taste. If you like writers of the Dickens or Twain ilk, go for it. If you like King or Grisham, that’s fine too.
@@MrZanctum what make em so great?
If he wasn’t good, he would be successful. Who cares what others say.
Stephen King is simply amazing. Dark Tower series is my favorite.
I love that King constantly references other authors. The man reads, takes some entertainment or educational worth from it, and then gives credit where it's due. Pure win.
My "comfort book" is 11-22-63. Not horror, but suspense and soul wrenching and freeing and just sci-fi ultra coolness. I love the love story!
"I wish I was better." It packs a punch hearing Stephen King struggling with the same thing I am. I'm reading IT right now and I keep finding myself putting the book down to just awe at what I read. He's so good at what he does.
For those who might be apt to say "Under The Dome" was someone else's idea, you may want to read "The Tommyknockers" where, as the residents of the Main town of Haven gradually fall under the influence of a mysterious object buried in the woods the object contains the townfolk inside a invisible barrier that surrounds the town. The Tommy Knockers was published in 1987, two years before The Simpsons first episode.
Cool
and stephen king wrote The tommyknockers, so yeah, it not somebody else s idea
People always ask; "where do you get your ideas from?". I'm not a writer myself, but the ideas are the easiest part. It's far more difficult to turn the ideas into a story. And then the story has to be translated into characters, dialogue and descriptions in a language good enough to make people want to read it.
just finished the dark tower today, this man is a genius and i look forward to helping my children with their book reports on his work in a decade or two!
Did he just say " i wish i was more original " ?
He is, more than anyone. King transformed everything around us in nightmares. Our cars, our dogs , our hotels in vacations, sewers, flu, fans, clowns...i've never read anything like it.
Prodigious observation skills, great attention to detail and shrewdness: that's what makes Stephen King so unique and successful.
If there was ever a writer who can create a world so real it scares the crap outta ya its Stephen King. An amazing writer, an amazing guy, and if any writer wants to learn fifty years worth of knowledge in a few hours, read his book on Writing.
Currently reading "The Long Walk" friggin' outstanding novel! So realistic I can taste it vividly
The Stand is my favourite. It's not long enough. I've read about 20 stephen king books including most of his classics and I'm still reading them because they're amazing. I actually can't describe how much I love reading stephen king books. The first one I ever read was the green mile because I'd seen the film and I literally couldn't put it down. He's a genius. I want to be an author, I haven't got much hope because I'm starting a levels in september but I'm only 17 so there's plenty of time
Just love Stephen King. I am still making my way through all of his books. I do read other authors, a select few, but Stephen King takes me to experiences that no other can do. Thank you Mr. King. 🇨🇦
Stephen King has to be regarded, in my opinion, as the greatest author that ever lived. Period.
Stories about domes over cities is common. It's almost a category. The interviewer ask great questions. I think King has some idea of the coming questions.
I loved thinking about writing stories and having been healed one time by a faith healer always wanted to write a story about a faith healer. I have never read Stephen King but when I saw the Green Mile I concluded no one could surpass the subject of healing the he did there.
Love him, he's amazing, there is no one better!
Under the Dome/ Simpsons movie, 'salem's Lot/ Dracula, Christine/The Car, elements of Kings works in many tales told before. But nobody does it like the King. An American literary master!
I just finished The Dark Tower series today and they are definitely the best books I have ever read ... simply amazing...
"The girl who loved Tom Gordon!!" in the background, I have just finished the book.One of my King's favourites of all time.
Wishes he had more talent? Is he kidding, lol? He's amazing.
It is the basis of ambitious creatives. You never think you are good enough, so you keep trying to get better and you do.
King is the beeest i loove all of his books!! get to meet this guy is like the dream!!
Wow, literature is about extraordinary people in ordinary circumstances while popular fiction is about ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances....how true!
I love how his name is bigger than the title on the books in the background. That
means that you only need to put Stephen Kings name on a book for it to sell..
Popular Fiction can also be literary. I like to read all kinds of books so I don't understand readers who are automatically against a certain style of fiction. I just love fiction in general. That's why I love SK's books so much, because he gives me a little bit of everything I could possibly want from a story in all his various masterpieces. The best example of every genre in one I've ever read is The Dark Tower, of course.
He is so good.
Nothing would make me happier as a writer (being published, of course the number #1 spot), then to meet, shake his hand and get some advice on writing from Stephen King. The man is one of THE best alive. His advice would fucking awesome.
I LOOVE his work he is a veteran and still one of the BEST.
Good interview. Can't wait to read this one.
My favorite books of his (not related to The Dark Tower of course) is, ironically, Rage. Shame he wont let it go back into print. I mean, I understand why he wont re-print it but still, I think its one of his best.
It, Needful Things, The Regulators, Desperation- some of my favs
I love Stephen!!!!!!!!
The girl who loved Tom Gordon, The green mile, The body (stand by me
i just read my 1st Stephen King book, Carrie, i fell in love and now want ot read anything else with his name on it =)
I want to be like stephen king when I grow up
Always love to hear writers like SK talk.. What makes a guy like him tick !!
After "shining", you should try "It". King's books are seriously mindblowing. One of those artists who can be loved by millions of people, and still be good as heck.
My favorite SK stories are Misery, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, and Deloris Claiborne. He is an awesome writer and I think when he has a nice body of fiction that is not really about horror but about psychology and human relationships and complex situations. He definitely has the chops to be literary when he wants to be. He also did a nice trilogy (Bill Hodges) that was more mystery/suspense and it was great. He can do whatever he wants, he just likes scaring the be-jesus out of people. I think he spent too much time growing up reading pulp fiction and comic books--that's where the tendency to write horror comes from.
I didn't like Dreamcatcher very much, it was too jumbled up and I got the feeling he was writing from a sort of delirum caused by his accident and his health problems healing up from it. It started out great and I was enjoying getting to know the four primary characters and then it devolved into a confused and sort of trite mess. I think he should revisit those four and write a different sort of book. I like how he takes ordinary people and puts them in extraordinary situations where they have to show what they are made of. He has an exquisite touch with characterization much of the time.
I love his books. He's a freaking genius!
amazing definition of success. Would be astounding just to sit down and talk with him casually
"After finishing 'Glitz', I went out to the bookstore and bought everything else of Elmore Leonard I could find." - SK in 1985
"You certainly wouldn't expect him to have produced his best novel [The Hot Kid] at the age of 79, but he seems to have done it." - SK in 2005
Cool
Him//he and Ray Bradbury are my two most favorite writers of all-times..!! Thanks so much for posting this..!!
He is an absolute genius. His books are the only books that can keep me awake at night.
you notice how this is the most viewed meet the writers out of them all
There are no words...He is a writer of GREAT MAGNITUDE! *bows down* You ROCK Mr. King! =)
Just started Wolves of Calla (sitting next to his right arm on the self) the other day, loving it!
he is a great writer and i am doing a project on him right now and i really and enjoying it he is the one who inspired me to become a writer
Chester's Mill was originally formed under the premise of Tarker's Mill from Cycle of The Werewolf - Chester's Mill is West of Tarkers Mill which is East of Derry, Maine - there's a map on Stephen's Wiki page of his fictional areas of Maine, New England.
Quite interesting :)
I got under the dome today and it's BIG 860 pages or so, it's my first Stephen King book and i love it so far. if i'm through with this one, i'll order the shining :)
under the dome. eight hundred pages and heavy as hell. its brilliant
Some of this man´s work should be mandatory reading in schools around the world. Most people, when you talk about King, they go "..UUhh, spooky.." and not much else. They´re missing out for sure. Be proud, americans, the world´s best contemporary writer is one of you. Peace.
I am now reading under the dome it's the first novel written by him that I have the chance to read... I am not even half way through the book but I've been having a great reading experience so far.
This man is the King of Horror Novels and Literature itself! I love his devotion to his writing and how me manged coming in with these brilliant plots in ALL he's books. each one is just a joy and countless movie had been made from his books! For first readers of him I suggest: Carrie it's short and easy and will get you into it to reader the bigger books which is all of them. The best in my view is Rose Madder and I'm quite depressed it didn't get the same knowledge as The Shinning it is good!
It's interesting to speculate on the ages of a lot of commenters, rating certain books as "the best", etc. I say this with no malice whatsoever, I think it is fantastic! I started at about 13 years old with Pet Sematary when it was originally published, and read everything King wrote as fast as could. The books grow with you and change meaning as you grow. To me that may be the greatest part.
The story that is the bulk of 'Wizard and Glass' is my favorite.
Thanks for your head, Mr. King.
I liked his distinction between literature and popular fiction. rings true
In the last weeks it was for some days foggy here. In that time I had always thinking about King's story: the mist.
I got it sent to me Monday and so far it's his best work since before his accident. Now, if you'll excuse me I need to get back to it. (In other words, it's awesome!)
Great interview🙏
Such a fantastic interview!!!!
One of the greatest writers of our generation. It's funny how when I watch some scary movies and find out that it was based on King's books.
Reading Desperation, almost done, LOVE IT!!
How come I haven't seen "Under the Dome," yet?
I'm currently reading The Green Mile books and Different Season, love it.
i've loved every book i've read of his. for me there's none better than the Dark Tower series.
i'm 12 and read It and now i'm almost done with Desperation!! he's awesome!!!!!!!!!!
Misery is my favorite Stephen King book and movie. Annie Wilks in the movie is an angel compared to how mean she is in the book. If you hadn't read Misery yet
I strongly suggest it. Long live the King!
@myrtic1 That was exactly the same thing I did. "Under the Dome" was the first King book I read. I immediately read "The Shining" next. A year and a half later, I've read more King books than I can remember.
One of the greatest writers of our time. Simple as that.
Hile Stephen of Gilead, I see you very well.
The one that 'knocked me out' was Needful Things, followed by The Stand uncut and perhaps The Tommyknockers. Reading Lisey's Story right now and intend to get to Christine, The Shining and It at some point...Under the Dome will have to wait a few years...doesn't look short.
Stephen King ,"king of horror".
Above and beyond the fact that he is the king of horror, i also experienced a lot a humour in his writings mainly in IT and the "Stand" i enjoy reading his books as much as he scared the hell out of me to the point it haunted me and subsequently i get up with anxiety.
Interview very nicely done. Love to hear Mr. King talk, about his works & methods, his manner is very easy going and a lot of fun, thank you. Especially during our own Lockdown with the Trump Plague.
He talked about spina bifida!!! I don't know why i'm so excited, i guess it's because an author mentioned it in an interview. I have spina bifida, so anything that mentions it i get really excited.
And having the discipline to get your butt in the chair and actually write and not be afraid to write crap first drafts. That's a big hurdle for many.
Stephen King is the best author of all time. Very few authors have affected me so profoundly. And to anyone who feels alienated for not reading the smae stuff as everyone else: I began reading King when I about 12, and I have never regretted it. I hope that one day his books will be taught in classrooms. (I know that in the movie The Covenant they were reading Dreamcatcher for a literature class.)
favorite king stories: apt pupil, eyes of the dragon, the body, the one with the tiger in the school bathroom, thinner.
I'm amazed people don't mention Th Dark Tower more. I'm up to Wolves of Calla and it been incredible so far.
I had that moment in my writing career as Stephen with the Simpson's movie. It's so goddamn disheartening to find out that your idea resembles someone else's even though there are essential differences. I'm always like- what if someone else picks up the idea that I got now and writes it down? It's a long shot, but I've been hit once, hah.
King is perceived by the masses as a writer of pulp thriller novels, but the truth known by his readers is that he's a top-tier crafter of story--a tremendous writer who should have more mainstream awards and accolades from academics. Except that, frankly, their opinions don't really matter, precisely because they've completely missed his genius.
@LunescaZanJari the Dark Tower series is so amazing. It makes me crazy how good they are. Roland is just the most multi-dementional, beautiful, sad, strong, clint eastwood-esque, character i have ever read about. And Stephen is a hero of mine.
LOL at the change of voice @6:34
What a hero! love Stephen King!
crently reading IT great book love it i love all of stephen kings books cant wait to read salems lot next
I feel that way about Carrie (which I read recently - again) :-)
I see "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" in the background, first Stephen King book I read and it freaked me out! :p Also "Everything's Eventually" I own that one :) I just got "Under the Dome" a couple days ago, so far so good. I love many of King's books :)
why do people have to pit talent against each other? I can appreciate all forms of talent. You don't have to diss, reject or forget other works or singers who found fame through a televised audition (which is what Idol is) in order to pay true tribute to the craftsmanship of legends like Speilberg and King. Not if you lack conviction, you can appreciate all forms of talent.
Me too! It got me kinda excited as well.
Oh my dear--it's not what's screwed you up, it's what you can do. I've never been a huge fan of Freud but think about the Id and how it comes to the fore when we sleep. In dreams. All of us dream of death, horror and fantastical things. You my dear ARE the luckiest person on earth, in that you can raise and lower that Id, that 'thing' AT WILL and then put it to paper beautifully. Thank you for years of reading pleasures. I wish for one thing. Audio of all novels in your own voice.
Desperation by Stephen King was a long read with 700 pages, but a really good read.
My hard cover is 400 something pages...
cool guy... i love his books.. but i also love just listening him tell stories
the green mile is really great... I also love Lisey's Story and The Stand.
Stephen King is so good, if you think you're not afraid, try to read DreamCatcher, my favorite. It isn't small and with a lot of suspense!
I love Stephen King, he is fantastic.
I love his Books !
Pet Sematary made me break down, this guy is a genius.
sooo cant wait to read this one
I see Dark Tower books in the background, best series ever
"King has more depth. The Cthulu mythos was fascinating but many of the stories lacked the closure that I would have wanted"
That's just the things though, Lovecraft didn't want to do it the way people wanted, he wanted it to show how hollow and cold the universe was. And that, I'm afraid, is depth.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS MAN
The God of all WRITING!