Stephen King's Criteria for Writing Fiction

Date: February 16, 2005
From: MJS

On Writing by Sephen King was enlightening to me about the writing process. He tells a good story on himself, and in the course of that, points out that “good story” is the first requirement for writing, and after that the writer may develop characters, add description, and ought to eliminate nearly all the adverbs. In a later draft, the writer can look for and strengthen theme and symbol. I have great respect for King’s writing abilities. I think his advice is very sound.

I went on to read The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith (also author of the #1 Detective Agency series) and The Murder Room by PD James. Both authors are British, given to lots of description. The stories are somewhat interesting but not compelling, reminding me of Pride and Prejudice and other “novels of manners” of another era.

The story is really everything, as King says.

Have you read any fiction lately? Would you rate it first on story, then on characters, then on descriptions, and lastly on theme and symbols, as King does? What do you look for in fiction?




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