Thanks for your thoughts. I kind of thought you might pop up to comment I haven’t written about story structure at all, because you certainly have the best content on the web in that regard. No doubt, I’d just make a hash of it if I tried!

And yes, I think the debate will continue, indefinitely. Thanks again!

Thanks for your thoughts. I kind of thought you might pop up to comment I haven’t written about story structure at all, because you certainly have the best content on the web in that regard. No doubt, I’d just make a hash of it if I tried!

And yes, I think the debate will continue, indefinitely. Thanks again!

Why? Because King does the outlining in his head, AS HE WRITES his stories. Don’t think for a moment that he doesn’t have a solid plan in his brain before he begins writing. If you can do that — or worse, if in your effort to be like Steve you start a story with no clue where to take it — or if you understand the principles of story structure as well as he does, and you’re a freaking genius prodigy like he is, then sure, “pantsing” works. Just outline as you go.

But that’s not pantsing at all. Believe me, King isn’t experimenting with ideas, going down blind alleys, starting over and over again — which is precisely what pretty much all other pantsers sign up for. His advice in his book, “On Writing” — in effect, to just sit down and start writing, see what happens — is perhaps the most irresponsible and naive piece of writing mentoring to ever hit print.

He should stick to writing books and leave the writing instruction side of things to others.

That oughtta keep the debate heated up, ya think?
.-= Read Larry´s last article ..What We Can Learn from Episodic Television =-.

Why? Because King does the outlining in his head, AS HE WRITES his stories. Don’t think for a moment that he doesn’t have a solid plan in his brain before he begins writing. If you can do that — or worse, if in your effort to be like Steve you start a story with no clue where to take it — or if you understand the principles of story structure as well as he does, and you’re a freaking genius prodigy like he is, then sure, “pantsing” works. Just outline as you go.

But that’s not pantsing at all. Believe me, King isn’t experimenting with ideas, going down blind alleys, starting over and over again — which is precisely what pretty much all other pantsers sign up for. His advice in his book, “On Writing” — in effect, to just sit down and start writing, see what happens — is perhaps the most irresponsible and naive piece of writing mentoring to ever hit print.

He should stick to writing books and leave the writing instruction side of things to others.

That oughtta keep the debate heated up, ya think?
.-= Read Larry´s last article ..What We Can Learn from Episodic Television =-.

Thank you! Your feedback is really heartening–makes me feel like this is all worth the effort.

You make a great point about distinguishing between self-publishing and vanity publishing, so thank you for bringing it to my attention. It’s a subject I should be researching more because it’s now becoming so commonplace.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these 3 topics, as well. Lovely to hear from someone with as much writing and publishing experience as you!