Welcome to Writing Forums, one of the fastest growing writing communties on the web.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions, articles and photo galleries. By joining our free community you will
be able to talk with other writers, get feedback on your work to improve your writing skills, discuss ideas, share tips & tricks, network and make friends!
Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact support.
| Tips & Advice Share your tips, tricks and advice. |
06-30-2007, 02:14 AM
|
#1
|
|
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,414
|
Aspiring Horror Writers: A Word of Advice
If you strive to be the best-- if you write better than Stephen King--you will be published.
But, if you try to imitate and copy H.P. Lovecraft, Ramsey Campbell, Clive Barker, or Peter Straub, you will never be published. You will never see your name in the NY Times Bestseller List.
So, in other words: write better than King.
In about two years, I think I can. |
|
|
|
06-30-2007, 03:17 AM
|
#2
|
|
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,414
|
What say you?
|
|
|
|
|
06-30-2007, 04:07 AM
|
#3
|
|
Writing Machine
Join Date: Sep 2004
Gender: Private
Posts: 1,748
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Truth-Teller
What say you?
|
What does it mean, to 'write better than King'? How does one do that? And if one does, what guarantee is there that it will result in being published? I don't think there's any guarantee at all. Your advice, though well intentioned, seems pointless to me.
Cheers,
Rob |
|
|
|
|
06-30-2007, 05:25 PM
|
#4
|
|
Wordsmith
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: South-east UK
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,843
|
Seems pointless to me.
Better to say "Don't imitate... anyone, but write better than... everyone."
|
|
|
|
06-30-2007, 05:57 PM
|
#5
|
|
Writing Machine
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Grimsby, England
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,866
|
Clive barker makes King look like a hack.
Quote:
|
'The approaching storm stalked the land on legs of lightening.'
|
aspire to Clive Barker is what should be written
__________________
don't count me a blank page
waiting to be written on,
see me as a written page
waiting to be photocopied.
http://www.writersbeat.com
Last edited by Azmakna : 06-30-2007 at 06:02 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
06-30-2007, 06:23 PM
|
#6
|
|
Wordsmith
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: South-east UK
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,843
|
Don't aspire - achieve.
|
|
|
|
|
06-30-2007, 06:26 PM
|
#7
|
|
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,414
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Mike C
write better than... everyone.
|
Is that possible?
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Mike C
Don't aspire - achieve.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
06-30-2007, 06:29 PM
|
#8
|
|
Writing Machine
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Grimsby, England
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,866
|
great words Mike! but i'm a simple man with little education and pointers work for me. of course i don't follow any longer, i have my own style and the confidence to experiment, but copying is actually a more solid foundation than not having a clue. not for everyone... just beginners like myself. 
__________________
don't count me a blank page
waiting to be written on,
see me as a written page
waiting to be photocopied.
http://www.writersbeat.com
|
|
|
|
|
07-01-2007, 03:56 PM
|
#9
|
|
Prolific Writer
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Near London, England
Gender: Female
Posts: 374
|
personally, I dont like King... Barker is better. But if you wanna get into the best sellers list dont write like anyone! Be original. Why would someone want to read something thats like King? Wouldnt they just go and buy King?
__________________
"And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free.
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me -
Tell them how I
Am defying gravity!"
|
|
|
|
|
07-01-2007, 04:04 PM
|
#10
|
|
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,414
|
Nowhere in my post did I say write like King.
I said, to write better than him.
In your own unique style and voice. See his weakness, and improve on it.
|
|
|
|
|
07-01-2007, 04:18 PM
|
#11
|
|
Prolific Writer
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Near London, England
Gender: Female
Posts: 374
|
My apologies then.
__________________
"And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free.
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me -
Tell them how I
Am defying gravity!"
|
|
|
|
|
07-01-2007, 04:19 PM
|
#12
|
|
Writing Machine
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Grimsby, England
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,866
|
truth-teller... give us some advice
__________________
don't count me a blank page
waiting to be written on,
see me as a written page
waiting to be photocopied.
http://www.writersbeat.com
|
|
|
|
|
07-01-2007, 04:19 PM
|
#13
|
|
Wordsmith
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: South-east UK
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,843
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Truth-Teller
Is that possible?
|
It's worth trying. You don't know until you try. |
|
|
|
|
07-01-2007, 04:25 PM
|
#14
|
|
Best Seller
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 654
|
Quote:
Clive barker makes King look like a hack.
Quote:
'The approaching storm stalked the land on legs of lightening.'
aspire to Clive Barker is what should be written
|
I don't know, man. King has better than that in his Dark Tower series, and some of the scenes in It are breathtaking even if they aren't particularly well-written. There's something about an evil clown eating a person next to a bridge, when the bridge's underside is covered with bloated balloons.
Unfortunately, those are his past stories.
Quote:
|
But, if you try to imitate and copy H.P. Lovecraft, Ramsey Campbell, Clive Barker, or Peter Straub, you will never be published. You will never see your name in the NY Times Bestseller List.
|
There are exceptions, of course. And you can get on the Bestseller list, if you're extremely lucky. But are you going to be winning any prestigious awards or the respect of your fellow writers?
Quote:
So, in other words: write better than King.
In about two years, I think I can.
|
Write better than him from when? Back in the day he was amazing. Nowadays he's mostly floating on his popularity. His books are still quality, but I haven't read anything of his lately that is superior to what he used to write.
On the subject: writing better than King isn't a sure ticket. What do you mean by 'writing better'? Writing stories with scarier plots? Scarier scenes? Better prose? Better dialogue? Being all around better than him in every area would be rather difficult.
__________________
"A terrible energy and strength began to grow in him. It grabbed his emotions and forged them into a solid bar of anger with one word stamped on it: revenge." - Eragon by Christopher Paolini, an international bestseller
Last edited by Krim : 07-01-2007 at 04:43 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
07-02-2007, 08:25 PM
|
#15
|
|
Prolific Writer
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: East coast of Australia
Gender: Male
Posts: 260
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Azmakna
Clive barker makes King look like a hack.
aspire to Clive Barker is what should be written
|
amen to that, Steve King writes great page turners but I have never found any of his stuff (IT, The Stand and Tommyknockers, the Dark Tower included) that scary or sending chills along my spine. The first time read Clive Barker's Weaveworld (as a 24 year old) I had nightmares. If you thing King is scary try a Clive Barker novel.
But if you want to do horror, do it and make it your own genre.
__________________
When you look into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you: Friedrich Nietzsche.
I live in a cemetery full of good will and integrity: Silverchair
Last edited by red lantern : 07-02-2007 at 08:27 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:32 AM. Powered by vBulletin, Copyright ©2000-2007, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.1.0
|
|
Newsletter |
 |
|
Subscribe to Majestic
the official newsletter of Writing Forums and lit.org
|
|
Link to Us: 
|
|
