On Writing is his love letter to the art of writing, and in it he has only regrets about his drug abuse. He was truly sad that he didn't remember writing Cujo, because what he actually likes about writing is, ya know, the act of writing.
People have such a weird relationship with drugs. I'm sure he doesn't regret getting his career off of the ground, which was facilitated by his drug use.
The man was so deep in the hole that he doesn’t remember writing an entire novel, and you seem to be implying he should be grateful for that period in his life?
I think the point was more that it facilitated the period of his life he is in now.
But also, how long it took matters. If he did it all in a weekend and that's what he forgot on one bender, that's completely different than not remembering like, a whole year of your life.
His book "On Writing" is so good. It's obviously also trauma and just a keenness (is that a word?) towards the beauty and variability of life; don't dismiss life as something boring, predictable, or not worth it, and then you can write well
At a point in my life I was reading any and all things written by Stephen King and this was such a surprisingly good read, I thought it would be a dryer book but it was excellent.
It was actually the first book I read by him and because I have a bit of an aversion to horror, it got me hooked. It's basically magical in how well it grips you from the first page, I'd say he's actually refined the writing more than many of his fiction works - perhaps had a more sober and clear head. Writers should keep it on hand for when they need motivation to write because that was my main takeaway from it - you are imbued with a desire to write more
Just watched Stand By Me for the first time in probably 30 years, a few days ago.
Not one of his most obvious fucked up books\movies, but one that still totally wouldn't get made today. A group of 12 year old boys sneaking off to go find a dead body of a child while playing with guns and smoking and cussing and such.
I'm finding it's easiest to write when I'm a little short on sleep. Not sure it's all good, but it seems to help when your brain's a little more loopy and fluid, which would obviously make sense. Probably the same with drugs, although I've honestly never noticed much difference with visual art and weed.
There is a bias to being aware of successful artists. Many of these drugs promote success and they are expensive and are therefore more available with success.
32 Comments
lemmyman@lemmy.world · 39 pts · 2d
On Writing is his love letter to the art of writing, and in it he has only regrets about his drug abuse. He was truly sad that he didn't remember writing Cujo, because what he actually likes about writing is, ya know, the act of writing.
zarkanian@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 2d
People have such a weird relationship with drugs. I'm sure he doesn't regret getting his career off of the ground, which was facilitated by his drug use.
KaChilde@sh.itjust.works · 11 pts · 1d
The man was so deep in the hole that he doesn’t remember writing an entire novel, and you seem to be implying he should be grateful for that period in his life?
RaphaelSchmitz@feddit.org · 5 pts · 16h
I think the point was more that it facilitated the period of his life he is in now.
But also, how long it took matters. If he did it all in a weekend and that's what he forgot on one bender, that's completely different than not remembering like, a whole year of your life.
Mulligrubs@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 2d
Fortunately, he didn't get caught with a sufficient amount of it, or he'd be serving hard time.
Imagine, how many millions have been thrown in a dungeon for decades, never to recover?
Drugs are bad. The Drug War juggernaut is worse.
zarkanian@sh.itjust.works · 16 pts · 1d
"Remember, kids! Don't do drugs! You could ruin your life! Because we'll arrest you and put you in prison!"
Trex202@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 2d
cryptTurtle@piefed.social · 16 pts · 2d
this s a joke I'm too uneducated to get
chuckleslord@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2d
None of those things are things Hemingway did. There, that's all the learning you done need bout that. You done learnt some'n
CyanideShotInjection@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 2d
Guy was doing so much coke, he had to stuff cotton balls up his nose so blood would not drip over his typewriter.
trebach@sh.itjust.works · 11 pts · 2d
He had more snow around him than Santa Claus.
FavouriteShapes@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 1d
His book "On Writing" is so good. It's obviously also trauma and just a keenness (is that a word?) towards the beauty and variability of life; don't dismiss life as something boring, predictable, or not worth it, and then you can write well
Leviathan@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 15h
At a point in my life I was reading any and all things written by Stephen King and this was such a surprisingly good read, I thought it would be a dryer book but it was excellent.
FavouriteShapes@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 13h
It was actually the first book I read by him and because I have a bit of an aversion to horror, it got me hooked. It's basically magical in how well it grips you from the first page, I'd say he's actually refined the writing more than many of his fiction works - perhaps had a more sober and clear head. Writers should keep it on hand for when they need motivation to write because that was my main takeaway from it - you are imbued with a desire to write more
some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org · 9 pts · 2d
Every rock band in the 70s.
magnetosphere@fedia.io · 5 pts · 2d
Which book does he not remember writing?
StabbingSky@lemmy.zip · 13 pts · 2d
It was Cujo
Fredselfish@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 2d
Didn't also say that about IT?
StabbingSky@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 2d
Not from what I can find. I do know he threw away the draft of Carrie after 3 pages, but his wife recovered it.
Fredselfish@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 2d
I remember hearing that tell on the radio once. Back in the 90's on that show damn it ended with the guy saying "and that rest of the story "
zipsglacier@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2d
Paul Harvey! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rest_of_the_Story
Fredselfish@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 1d
That's the one!!! That is the first time I heard about Stephen King and him throwing away the Carrie novel.
Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 2d
He doesn't remember
Smeagol666@crazypeople.online · 6 pts · 2d
Cujo.
ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 1d
Just watched Stand By Me for the first time in probably 30 years, a few days ago.
Not one of his most obvious fucked up books\movies, but one that still totally wouldn't get made today. A group of 12 year old boys sneaking off to go find a dead body of a child while playing with guns and smoking and cussing and such.
Zephorah@discuss.online · 2 pts · 2d
What is it with artists and drugs.
AngryRedHerring@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 2d
same as with regular people and drugs except we make cool shit
atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 2d
Wait till you find out what happens on Wall Street…
zarkanian@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 2d
Drugs can provide the focus and creativity needed to make art.
RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1d
I'm finding it's easiest to write when I'm a little short on sleep. Not sure it's all good, but it seems to help when your brain's a little more loopy and fluid, which would obviously make sense. Probably the same with drugs, although I've honestly never noticed much difference with visual art and weed.
Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 2d
There is a bias to being aware of successful artists. Many of these drugs promote success and they are expensive and are therefore more available with success.
funkless_eck@sh.itjust.works · 0 pts · 11h
The red hot Chilli peppers made some absolute dogfart music in their biggest drug phase. And after. And before.