Stephen King Writing Advice You Might Not Have Heard

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

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[@t0dd000]

In ten years when I finally finish my d**n novel, I'll try to remember this. ;)

[@markt47]

Thanks for this. I need this kind of service.

[@kiwij1424]

how long does the promo last for do you know? Just working on a book now, wondering if it will still be available when I'm finished 😂

[@memofromessex]

The best advice I heard recently is that your first draft is the sandpit, you keep filling it with sand (ideas) so the next draft you can properly start shaping it into a sand castle.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

I really like that, I think that's a great way to look at it!

[@tophat2115]

Shannon Hale - 'I'm writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.'

[@Otto-mq8lg]

wow

[@t0dd000]

I love the point to focus on finishing. You can fix a lot of things in revision. Or file it as a learning experience. But finishing is the primary goal.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Absolutely! You never know what something might end up like.

[@kathyl6677]

My favorite saying is, "You can't edit a blank page."

[@hlt8770]

I have 35 published novels, have been both an editor and a literary agent, and still learned a great deal from your video. Thank you for thought provoking content on subjects that usually aren't touched upon in writing advice.

[@Quantumfuturestrader]

He's amazing. It's not easy. I don't know if it's talent as much as it's perseverance and taking the journey. The mind is more powerful than you think. I'm 67 and sitting down to write those old scripts of mine I put in a drawer long ago. It was lack of patience, perseverance and ideas. Or so I thought.

[@malinheleneanderberg934]

Perseverance is not easy. When despair sets in. Watch inspirational vids. Take a break and visit a place, any place where you can sit and just jut down a description of the place or feeling, mood. Go for a run/walk. Pamper yourself. Clean the cave. Organize notes the way you like them. Write a political pamphlet for your protagonist or list of their favourite jokes. Get to know their enemies or collaborators better by doing the same things for them. Sign up for a course in writing dialogue. Read a script from a radio drama of old. Ask people on forums how they would react to a situation or action you are struggling with. I haven't finished my books but am quite happy in my landscape where I visit knowledge and improvement like they were quests. Ecology (dependence, interaction, space) not a single well paved road to success. Writing together. I would love to try ping pong writing with a complete stranger. They give me their char description and I will be that char for them and then they for me. Just for fun and learning.

[@JonSolo42]

This is so great, thank you for talking through this. I definitely feel encouraged to keep writing. On the subject of “being boring”; I’m a tabletop role-player and I heard some advice from Graham Walmsley, about not trying to “be clever” in your creative suggestions, but rather, sometimes suggesting the thing that is most obvious to you, will not in fact be obvious to others, because we all have different perspectives. So don’t be afraid to say the obvious thing happens.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Great! I'm really glad you felt encouraged by it, I always want to do that if I can. That sounds like really good advice to me, it's definitely worth bearing in mind that your view and experience of the world is only yours, and many will be different. Also, I suppose sometimes the most 'boring' thing to happen is also the most logical, or the only logical thing, and in that case it would be the right thing to happen too. Anyway, thanks for watching!

[@t0dd000]

To your first point. Many many many famous writers write rather slowly. They simply persevere.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Definitely! I've written novels in 6 months, but my latest one took a couple of years of stops and starts and I like it the most. Speed doesn't matter too much as long as you always pick back up again, good point.

[@B.matrix]

Reading Project Ventus now and have noticed how perfect the description is. Just enough and always with purpose. I aspire to do the same in my own writing.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

If I had a printer I would print this and put it above my monitor ☺️ Thank you so much!

[@zkins]

Pure gold, pleased i found you. I was thinking of tossing my story that i have spent years working on. You've given me a new hope to continue. Thanks

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

I'm glad you found the channel too! Thanks for being here. Definitely stick at it!

[@juliepettigrew8797]

Thank you, Kieren. Content is concise and useful (as always). Congrats on such great sponsorship 🎉

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thanks Julie :)

[@steaminghottake6221]

Nice work. On Writing has been a book I dip back into all the time. I loved his idea that writing and reading is the closet thing we have to telepathy.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Me too! Like a lot of what he writes, it's a very smooth read I think.

[@darkartsgaming1664]

If each of my unfinished stories had a tombstone on them, my mind would be the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. Yet here I am. Victor Frankenstein. hoping to strike lightning, to give life to a monster.

[@dantespimp]

I'm an artist, so I'm a visual-oriented person. I've discovered that, when I write, I'm basically describing what I see in my head. My goal is to basically transfer what I see to my readers while leaving enough room for participation/interpretation. I enjoy descriptive writing since I grew up enjoying Nathaniel Hawthorne's work - full of wonderful dream-like imagery and metaphors. Still, I also know TOO much description kills the pace. There's nothing more intimidating for a reader than seeing massive blocks of text, so I try to balance things out. In the end, the writer has to decide on their personal end-goal. Inviting readers into the story requires the writer to be mindful of how they present their work - to make the reading process easy on the reader. On the other hand, the writer's end-goal may be to challenge their readers, in which case, they may not care about breaking up paragraphs often or having massive run-on sentences.

[@leehunts4327]

I think the first advice is the one that resonates with me most. I have start drafting in order to brainstorm, so those first chapters are always the hardest. I'm often writing right up to the end of my outline. But it gets easier, the deeper into the story I get, with a complete outline emerging within the first third. And then I can edit those first chapters in the context of the whole story in the second draft. Just push through, even if it feels off kilter.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

That sounds like a good method to me. I know what you mean about having to start in order to figure things out, I think my approach is similar for sure. What's good about your approach is that you're hitting the organic writing bit, but also hitting planning and organising at the same time. I keep saying in these videos that it's not simply 'plan or don't plan' instead it's a spectrum, and finding your place on it is invaluable. Sounds like you've done that!

[@philm9593]

Great content. Timely, too. Thanks, Kieren.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thanks for being here and watching ☺️ appreciate you

[@NotSoAlarmed]

Needed to find this. Writing the 1st draft was fun. 92,000 words. Editing the 2nd draft is hardwork, especially as a new writer. Videos like this are helping me to keep going.

[@radiojurubeba]

Thank you so much! Very helpful!

[@JaRyCu]

That subtle repeat of your affiliate code at 11:!5 caught me so off guard I actually spit out the bite of lunch I was eating while watching this. Well done Kieran! LOLOL

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

I'm glad it made you laugh rather than curse me! A calculated risk!

[@tattoodude8946]

I've only read a few King books and I would not call myself a fan of his books. What I would say I am a fan of is his philosophies about writing, and I have found that he and I share a similar writing style / approach. My editor (who quit after only doing five chapters of the third book of my trilogy and still being three months behind schedule!!! - Sorry - Still recovering) was constantly worried about the theme and plot and structure - and yes, these things are very important - but her thinking was so rigid and book-learned-I-have-a-college-degree-in-writing-and-these-are-the-rules that we just butt heads at times. It also didn't help that she took longer to edit a book than it took me to write it in the first place and then would make up her own scenarios within my world, then ask me about them - at which point I would have to ask what the heck she was talking about because those things did not happen in my story! Sorry again - like I said, still recovering... I am a character driven writer, so my favorite quote form King is, "I always felt that plot was the last resort for bad writers. I'm much more interested is character and situation than plot." That resonates deep with me. I create deep characters and then put them in situations and worlds, then sit back and see what happens - gently guiding them where the story needs to go while still allowing them the freedom to tell ME the story. This does not work for everyone. Many have to plan and plot and diagram and outline. If that works for you - great. I remember King talking about a fellow author (can't remember who at this moment) who writes his ending first and then goes back and builds the story to that climax. King seemed just as baffled by that method as I am - but if that works for you, do that. There are no rules, as long as the end product is a compelling story.

[@tattoodude8946]

@@Sir_Sway King has said many times he doesn’t know the end of his books until his characters show him - so you are saying he is doing it wrong? Edit: Where'd he go? I guess he didn't want to discuss the matter any further....

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Absolutely - I agree with you. Writing is pretty much all self-learned beyond basic grammar and stuff. There are so many options for storytelling, but among them will be ones that fit you best, and you may need to invent your own. Whatever the case, pulling from that place, instead of the established rules, I think will give you more consistent energy and generally more enjoyment out of writing. Sorry to hear about your experience there, sounds really frustrating.

[@0o0eM]

Your experience sounds nightmarish, sorry :-/ I definitely agree that you should let your characters guide you. This is something I always remember when I hit some tough spot in my writing. Like I need to get my characters from point A to point B, but there's crocodile infested river between those points and no bridge - I usually trust my characters to figure out some solution themselves. I created them smart or brave or strong, my part is therefore done. Now it's up to them, I am just an observer. It really helps if you, as an author, struggle to keep on writing because it's become hard.

[@alanclaytonrighteousviolen1715]

Enjoying your videos as always and can’t wait to get your book. I forget if I mentioned this before, but is it possible that you can make a video about showing feelings?

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thanks Alan, that's a really good idea. I'll get back to you on that shortly :)

[@dembathioye6677]

Thanks a lot Kieren

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thanks for stopping in! ☺

[@ggmagnusssx]

The problem with Stephen king advice that it’s 90% it’s directed to genre books and not “drama”fiction but this list was pretty good!

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

That's true, good point I think. Still some general stuff that can help though if you're not into that.

[@rottensquid]

I mostly write scripts, so description is largely direct and clear indications of what everything looks like. I feel like in prose, as you say, the best description is what things feel like. Someone somewhere on the net called it "thisness," which I thought was kinda esoteric. But I think it's important for prose to capture the internal experience of the story's world, rather than an external accounting of it. Like everything else in prose, I suppose. A friend of mine once wrote a book for NaNoWriMo, or whatever. She'd knocked out 70k words of a very charming premise before realizing she hadn't written a novel, but a novel-length description of one. It was painful to read, like an outline that included every detail instead of summing up. I didn't know how to describe what was wrong, let alone why prose can't just describe the story, nor could I explain how to write the experience of a story instead. But once she saw it, she was devastated, and gave up. I've tried my hand at prose writing, but it's definitely a completely different beast from script writing. I can't say I'm particularly good at it. But at least I understand what prose should, and shouldn't feel like. I like to think that, while a picture may be worth a thousand words, the job of a prose writer is to describe things in a way a picture can't capture.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

I love how you've summed that up - ' the internal experience of the story's world, rather than an external accounting of it.' That's really accurate I think. I know very little about scriptwriting other than what I've discussed with friends, but you're right it does sound like an entirely different beast. I'd love to learn to write scripts at some point, but I expect the process to feel the same for me going from prose to script as going from script to prose. I think I'll struggle, but it'll be interesting. For what it's worth, I think being aware of how prose should feel is, as you are, is a definite advantage.

[@rottensquid]

@@KierenWestwoodWriting I suppose it's an advantage, but it's a long way from actually writing prose. I know enough to be able to see that it's not going well. ;) Scriptwriting comes easy for me because I started off as an artist, and I'm writing for myself. So I know what's going to work, how much visual information can fit into a panel without overcrowding it. This is for comics scripts, mind you. It's a different game for screenplays. There, you can move the camera, or describe multiple actions in a single shot. I need to economize how much action I need for any given scene, because a character can only do one thing at a time in panel. Economizing action is a bit like turning a ten page treatment into a two-page pitch. It's about finding the simplicity that conveys everything. One of the screenwriting gurus, Syd Field or McKee or someone, described a screenplay as like a haiku, containing the same amount of story as a book, but using fewer words, just saying more with them. Comics economize even further. But man, sometimes I just want to blather on, using as many pages as I feel like. It's hard to know when the brutal gardener technique has trimmed away the point of the garden. I envy prose for being able to take as many pages as needed. Though I look at some of these thousand page genre books, from series running nine volumes and counting, and wonder if it's even a story, or just a stack of pages. There's got to be a balance, I feel.

[@Birdsummit39]

The description thing: While too much is possible issue, I’m becoming more flexible about how much is enough. Like it depends if I’m reading Quicksilver or 1Q84 -----or Fight Club Most fall in a spectrum between the QS/1Q84 maximum and the Fight Club minimum. But that’s a good point to make all things considered.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

It is a spectrum, you're absolutely right there. That's a good way to look at it.

[@schlumbl84]

I have the feeling that many writers use too much of their head when writing. Doing it from a place of FEEL AND PASSION is way more important than being overly correct and perfect. Ive read pretty much every King story and, yes, he can be boring at times, but you feel that his work comes from the heart and its always passionate. Ive seen many writing advice videos now and there are way too many authors who have a way too intellectual approach on that subject matter. I myself never do that. I just want to write the stories my imagination comes up with. I dont even give a monkey's about plotting. The story tells itself through the eyes of my characters. Its a pantser thing. And I really enjoy King's advices about writing, since he is one of the best pantsers out there and why his stories have a very character-driven style.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

I agree with you there, passion is definitely a key word for me too. I feel like it's the root of art (I know that sounds a bit pretentious). The rules and structures of it can be useful, but have they alone ever inspired anyone to get going? I'm not sure. Passion though - definitely.

[@schlumbl84]

@@KierenWestwoodWriting Yep. Absolutely. I used to think - when I was a teen - that I need good grades to become a writer. I always wrote stories as a kid and teen. Everyone around me suggested I should become a writer. And I really dont know why I thought that only good grades make a good writer. Maybe because school put so much pressure on me, that I HAD to pick a job - and they didnt see being a writer as a job. It just didnt count. And when I was 16 I had my first job - and my urge and passion to write dried up. It was gone for over 25 years. Until I woke up on the first day of Febuary of this year. As a mother and wife. And I woke up with a dream. That dream sparked a FIRE inside me and I had the very, very strong urge to write a book. And I did. Immediately. I certainly had dreams with a great plot and way more colorful, but that particular dream was.... like a vision of some sort. I finished my first draft in 2,5 months, put it aside to "marinade" (as King calls it) and started writing the second volume. That passion was long forgotten and I thought I would never get it back. And now I call myself a writer. A writer who hasnt published a book, YET, but a writer with a lot of passion, having fun writing for the sake of writing. I dont want to become rich, I just want to write and publish it. And maybe it will reach the right people who will enjoy it.

[@bluenetmarketing]

#4 is so important.

[@SNAFU2025]

Thank you!!

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thanks for watching! Much appreciated! ☺️

[@Otto-mq8lg]

I want to write about sci-fi, I have never written anything but love writers like Robert A. Heinlein

[@JoeyPaulOnline]

I'm not big on description either, but sometimes it is needed. Great video as always!

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thanks Joey :) Yeah, I'm never gonna be a huge fan of it, but it is essential sometimes for sure.

[@schofer1556]

I read Kings book with his biograohy and some writing tips. The one I remembered the best is that to wrote a story just ask yourself "What this character will do?"

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

That's a great way to approach it!

[@davidrosen3970]

king's book on writing is goat

[@5Gburn]

On the subject of frustration: I spent several writing sessions trying to figure out a fundamental problem with one of my storylines. I spent two more sessions playing chapter-and-line Tetris--and by "sessions" I mean revising for 6-8 hours at a stretch. Is writing hard? You betcha.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

It's an absolute grind at times, no doubt about it!

[@seanp7355]

Awesome!

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you! Appreciate you watching!

[@michaelmoran8755]

Great Concise Advice.

[@opollitico]

How long is your Miblart code valid for, Kieren? I will be a while before I need to use this service, but I definitely will if I design my own cover

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Good question, I've had a look and I'm not sure there is an expiry date, it's just limited to 15% off the first order you make. Maybe worth just keeping a note of it in case you end up needing it in the future!

[@opollitico]

@@KierenWestwoodWriting cool!

[@lexietalionis]

Sometimes it's not the beginning that's so hard. You can be multiple books in and then get hit with the 'what am I doing--I can't do this...why did I ever think I could do this?' And all the lessons you've learned from what you've already written swirl in your brain each time you try to write something new. Instead of improving your work, it paralyzes you. Too many directions. Too much advice. Too many opinions. And your next story is torn to shreds before you can complete even a single draft. But whether you get to that point or you're still at the beginning, I think the answer is to follow your own vision. Give yourself permission to write at your current level of ability. Maybe you won't improve. Ever. Maybe this is the best you will ever be able to do. And that's okay. You have a unique perspective. Embrace it. Everyone else is already doing all the other stuff.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Definitely - I've heard that feeling be called 'analysis paralysis'. That's a really great outlook to have, I think you're 100% right.

[@22agentsmith]

Would love some advice from Percival Everett

[@theresakidd]

I just realized that I write the same story multiple times. How do I write something different?

[@AUDREYZGAMER]

Maybe you could try switching up the genre?

[@CarisiCreates]

This is going to sound pretentious: what are these stories trying to tell you? I’ve found we do write more of ourselves into our works. If you are writing different versions of the same story, look for a deeper hidden meaning. Im also big into psychology. Not Freudian, but something subconscious is trying to make itself known.

[@AUDREYZGAMER]

@@CarisiCreates That’s a way better answer.

[@juliepettigrew8797]

Maybe you have a themed collection in your hands.

[@darrenalmgren634]

Sometimes you need to tell the same story, but it’s good to look at the differences. Often time you’ll find that though they have a similar plot or beat, there’s themes and emotions unique to the story, and that’s what you can lean into in order to make the stories feel separate and unique from each other. There’s nothing wrong with telling similar stories, just as long as you’re telling the stories you want to and need to tell. It’s like the story lines that Joseph Campbell and Kurt Vonnegut identify that are quite universal, but it’s the other stuff about the story, the emotions, characters, world building, humor, relationships, etc., that we connect to. And sometimes you need to tell the same story a few times before you get it right. Doesn’t mean the other tries aren’t good or invalid, but once you get the story told right, you’ll be ready to move into a new one.

[@princessmieya9431]

I have a few story.. but I just don't have confidence to write...I have story line...plot...even the story for every chapter and ending...but to create an actually line I just dont have confidence to start

[@Anthony-gq7dk]

A brilliant speaker who could motivate a convicted man on the gallows ! Excellent video and so informative , superb delivery with so much common sense too. Many thanks Kieren.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

You're too kind, thank you so much! Really glad you enjoyed the video.

[@tophat2115]

Descriptions, you are the senses of the reader. You as the writer, must as King says, BE THERE, so that your reader can BE THERE and be immersed in the experience, lost to the outside world, living in your world, escaping into your fiction, not reading your book, but experiencing it. Too much description and things can get 'purpley' but too little and you're writing a text book, bland and meh.

[@colbyjames7255]

King is the only author I've seen pass off one sentence as a chapter (in one of the Dark Tower books) and purposefully misspell the title of a book (Pet Sematary - because the children offhandedly mentioned in the story misspelled the sign they made for it). Just write what comes and don't ruin a story with plot.

[@jonlittle5032]

I will put aside a story if there are too many long paragraphs, one after another, charting a path through an ever deepening swamp. I will likewise put aside a story that is a string of endless staccato one-line sentences, each their own paragraph, forcing an assault on a machine-gun nest.

[@t0dd000]

Paragraphs. They can be rather twitchy in stretches of dialogue. Otherwise, focus on all the points you made. There is a lot of freedom in paragraph structure.

[@CP-rc9sw]

Sometimes there is great beauty in the boring.

[@senekakurioso7867]

Paragraphs are maps of intent. This should be a whole video.

[@agingflowerchild]

It's nice to leave some of the creative fun for the reader. Tell me it's a big brown dog that bounces and let me do the rest for myself. Descriptions of women (especially by men) are often made silly by too much detail. Dark-haired, slim, and laughing may be enough.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Absolutely! Definitely agree there. And as far as men describing women goes, yeah. Plenty of issues there for sure 🤦‍♂️

[@SamElliottsStache]

"Paragraphs are maps." Says the guy who is in dire need of an editor with each book. King sure does meanders in his work; stops and smells the roses, in other words. But I'll give him this: You should read his books if you're having trouble with the flow of your story, if you know what I mean. He writes as an actual storyteller sitting beside a campfire--and that's what you should strive for as a writer.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

You make a fair point there! I agree with you. His methods differ from mine but there's loads to learn from him still, like any experienced writer really.

[@MarianneOz]

He so needs an editor but I suspect he has them running scared!

[@langreeves6419]

I think he has an editor. Yes, he provides wondrous details. But most of the details are great. Obviously unneeded details have been been deleted by Stephen King himself, or were deleted due to comments from his wife and editor. Other writers tend to have tedious details.

[@SamElliottsStache]

@@langreeves6419 That's totally a subjective take.

[@langreeves6419]

@SamElliottsStache uh.. Yeah...subjective. Like your subjective negative judgement of Stephen King, the guy that sells millions of books. But having an editor is not subjective. Pretty sure he has an editor. He has written and spoken about how important an editor is.

[@scloftin8861]

I should stop watching writing advice vids. this was good and reasonable, and I'm still an imposter ..

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

What makes you say you're an imposter? :/

[@stevenlloyd39]

A new writer once asked me when he should stop editing his novel/short story. I told him when he's sick of looking at the fucking thing.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Sounds about right!

[@ogelsmogel]

I find character description really difficult to write. What is too much, or not enough? Does it really matter if the reader see a tall blonde where you see a short brunette? Maybe, maybe not. And clothes. I've put down books where I get frustrated by wardrobe descriptions so detailed the author uses a brand as a noun! Like, "he wore a pair of checkered 90's style Vans with extra thick soles and black laces".. just f**k off.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

This made me laugh - I get the same kind of frustration. I'm not saying this is accurate, but to me it feels like the description is more important to the author than to the story and the reader. I write barely any character description to be honest, I prefer to let readers imagine them however works best for them, but I daresay some people would hate that approach too.

[@ogelsmogel]

@@KierenWestwoodWriting Thanks for the reply 🙂 You know I just realized, in the last few short stories I've written I've only put a name and gender on my characters (with one exception where I did describe the clothing in detail, shame on me haha). I have no idea if a reader finds it confusing or not. It just doesn't feel important for the story..

[@adNauseam6798]

I’m the worst writer in the world. I’m 31 and have never finished a single story. Chapters. Sure. 80k word… abomination, yeah. Story? No. I’m a terrible writer. The worst.

[@kiwij1424]

It sounds simple, but the only way to not be the worst writer is to finish a project. get something done, and you can not only call yourself a writer, but you'll most likely write another one. The first book you finish will always be hard, but the next one will be easier. If you have a passion for storytelling, then you'll make it, no matter how many times you have to try!

[@adNauseam6798]

@@kiwij1424 I appreciate you

[@abbracia]

In Every book, Every fourth word is "shitter." I believe writing in the local language is a good way to put the reader into the present moment. Maybe Mr King needs to get out of Maine for a minute in order to stop the teeth-gritting word repetition.

[@redwawst3258]

🎩🌂

[@PeterMacansky]