Stephen King, my hero.
This is the one person I have wanted so much to meet for my entire life. I am the child who carried Stephen King novels proudly through my elementary school as my strict religious teachers (hey, this is Utah) gasped in horror at the content in which I was allowed to read. “Oh yes this is my book, and my parents bought it for me. Suckas!”
I grew up wanting to become a writer. I still want to be a writer when I “grow up”. My goal was always solidly to become an English teacher as a route to eventually working my way into a life as a novelist. I was going to write some scary ass shit. And, dammit, I am determined eventually I will do so.
I read my first Stephen King book in the 3rd grade. I started it up at a read-a-thon at school. I had my Care Bears sleeping bag, my purple pillow, and my first copy of ‘Pet Sematary’ which at that time was just about to come out as a movie I believe. And since then well, I’ve read so many of his books I cannot count. Now, I can’t say I have read them all, but I would say I’ve read far more than the average reader/fan. O to the C to the D a little maybe. Ha!
Stephen King’s influence is so much of what built my desire to become a writer. This is still so much of who I am today. He inspired the piece of me that is constantly thinking about the written word. Also the part of me that writes quick one liners and saves novel ideas at work because there is just no time to do it now, so I have to save that seed for later. One of his works that completely fueled this in me is his 1999 autobiography/guide to writing titled “On Writing”. I’ve read this book at least 15-times. I think I need to go home and pick up my waterlogged copy and read it again this week. Because that book brings out the part of me that belongs only to me, the part without the mommy and manager responsibilities. The piece of me that didn’t know that you could make a lot more money managing call centers than teaching English in schools. The part of me that wasn’t tainted by reality… and still isn’t.
If you’re ever interested here is a list of a few of my favorites:
Pet Sematary
Carrie
Cujo
The Shining
Different Seasons – Rita Hayworth & Shawshank Redemption (yeah, he wrote that badboy)
Christine
Firestarter
Misery
The Green Mile
Desperation
Dolores Claiborne
Hearts in Atlantis
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
On Writing
Dreamcatcher
Cell
3 comments:
I always wanted to be an English teacher, too. Although my writing doesn't hold a flame to yours but whatevs. Haha. Which book is the LEAST scary? I would totally read me some SK but I am a pansy.
Oh read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon or Hearts In Atlantis. You'll love em, non scary, but cool.
As for writing, I am sure you can keep up. I love your stuff!
:: runs to grab Kindle::
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