How big is your thinking?

Dear Stephen King,

I have been assembling a series of over 300 books that I want to write. It is a giant outline comprised of seven ages throughout our planet's history. Each age has seven moving points that change the course of that age's history. Then each of those moving points has seven novels most likely chronicling the lives of the same characters.

I'm wondering if you write in this way. From what I understand you are a "write by the seat of your pants" author. I can see you taking notes about where you want to go with a sequel or second sequel but I believe you only have an idea of what you want to write when you sit down. You don't have a full outline. You will have to let me know a little more about how you do that.

I personally, have discovered that I need an outline to sit down and write. I have to know how story is going to end before I can start writing that story. I like to have beats to write about. I guess it's because of my short attention span. I write about 100 or 200 words at a time. Then I have to get up and do something around the house and then I come back and write another hundred or 200 words. This means I sit down and write eight or nine times before I can quit for the day.

I am trying to study ways to be a little more focused, to have a more specific place and time to write. The process is something that is ever evolving, and I will continue to make changes to my routine until I find a way to be more consistent about putting words down on paper.

I look forward to hearing more about your writing process. 

Sincerely,
Robert Gasperson

Do you ever have writers block?

Dear Stephen King,

I wonder if someone who writes as much as you do ever has writers block. You always seem to have something to write about. And to tell the truth I always have something to write about.

I figure you have a system kind of like I do. I keep a notebook with me at all times so when an idea does strike me, I write them down. This way when I am trying to write and can't think of something to write about all I have to do is go back to my notebook.

Also I have a series of books that I want to write that number about 340 books. This means I will never run out of ideas for stories because I have an outline of many stories I want to write already.

I know others like Scott Sigler actually has a timeframe laid out in front of him for the next 3 to 7 years of what he's going to be writing. He will always have something to write because he already knows what he is writing in advance.

How do you make sure that you always have something to write?

Sincerely,
Robert Gasperson

Can You Sell Your Soul to the Devil?

"The Stranger" was a basic story about a man who sold his soul to the devil. He killed a guard and stole an unknown amount of money. We believe you stole the money from a bank but you didn't go into too much detail about that. The story was more about the state of his soul.

This is one of those storylines that are used all of the time in books and TV shows like supernatural horror movies dazzled. It's usually a story about how the person who sold his soul finds a way to get it back from the devil. He usually finds a way to cheat the devil or a power higher than himself takes the rights who is the devil.

Being a religious man I don't really believe our souls belong to us to so anyway. our souls belong to our Creator. I have always wondered how religious you are. You bring religion into a lot of your stories. It is one of mankind's biggest struggles in life. Is there a God or is there not.

I have never seen you mentioned God and any interview. I wonder if you believe in God. I believe you do otherwise you would not put so much of it in your stories. Especially because of the ending of "the stand".

Things in Wells Feed Karma

Dear Stephen King,

I was trying to not laugh at the choice of the name Oglethorpe when I found myself intrigued by the story of a kid who found his own fate became that of the animals he had himself mistreated. 

Karma is one of those things we learn in life. We're not necessarily confident in the existence of karma, but when something happens to us not long after we have done the same thing to others, we begin to wonder if the phrase "what goes around comes around" can really be justified as something this world really supports.

You packed a big story into a one page short about a kid who tortured animals and tried to kill his nanny by tripping her as she went down the stairs, before he himself was lowered to the bottom of the well to be tortured and mutilated by some unknown creature.

Karma can go both ways. If you do good things then many times good things will happen to you. When I came to Maine back in 2003 to see your house and the city you grew up in, I ran into a lady at the laundry mat who told the story of the pool and rec center that you funded just because you could. She said you knew that the kids of the neighborhood needed a place to hang out to keep their minds and hands entertained. 

There are many things like this I have seen you do over the many years I've been a fan. I appreciate everything you've done. Thank you for being able to help those in need, help those who are sick and help those who can't help themselves.

I am curious. What kind of charity is close to your heart? Some people help those charities that will benefit their loved ones. Our family tries to help the charities that look for a cure for anaphylaxis because there are people in our family who are highly allergic to nuts. If we can help others who have the same condition as our loved ones, maybe our loved ones will be lucky enough to find a cure.

Stephen King's Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS

Dear Stephen King,

Yesterday I watched you do the ice bucket challenge to support ALS research for a cure. It was refreshing to watch someone as famous and as successful as you are to step back and do something that was not only fun, being soaked by a bucket of ice water by a friend, but also doing something so serious as helping those who are fighting a debilitating disease like ALS.

I have a coworker who was diagnosed a few months ago with ALS. I did not know it at the time and was wondering why he was only working with one arm. I mentioned the fact in a coaching manner. Luckily he did not become offended by my remark. He just let me know what was causing the issue. Sometimes there are comments we make that we wish we could take back after learning what these people are going through.

I hope that one day they will be able to find a cure for ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. There are so many people who suffer, who cannot move like you when I can. And not everyone can afford the care that it takes to live with this kind of disease.

Thank you again for giving to this much-needed cause, and challenging your peers to give as well. If we all gave a little bit, whether it be money or time or just a simple prayer, maybe one day they will find a way to give these people their lives back.

People, Places and Things Part 1

Dear Stephen King,

I have become almost obsessed with the 18 page anthology you and your buddy Chris Chelsey put together called “People, Places and Things.” The info I found said you had your own publishing company called “Triad & Gaslight Books”. This was a publishing company created by two 13 year olds. That name is rather impressive. It almost sounds like you each had your own ideas for the publishing company, then you put them together to make one.

As I read through this short collection of one page stories, I see the beginnings of some of the things that would later grow into novels like The Shining. “The Hotel at the End of the Road” reminds me of what you wrote about Overlook Hotel where Jack looses his grip on reality while trying to write his next novel.

There are a few stories I have not been able to find in any way, shape or form. “The Dimension Warp” makes me wonder what is being describe. Is it a hole in the fabric of time that leads to another time or another dimension? Maybe it is one of the first ideas about a pocket universe, a universe between universes.

Then there is the story “I’m Falling” which, according to everything I have read, has been long lost in the depths of the darkest corners of time. I wonder how it was lost. It was ripped out of your personal copy, or maybe it is in your copy, but you want to keep it to yourself, keeping your fans feeling like there is something of yours they have not read. That would be an ingenious move to keep us in your deep dark pockets.
   
“I’ve Got to Get Away!” is a great testament of the repetitive nature of our assembly line society. We go to work everyday, help make some boss really rich, collect our measly paycheck and dream of getting away. I don’t know if a 13 year old you was thinking about that at the time, but that is how I read it.
   
I have a few more stories I am looking forward to reading. The stories “The Thing at the Bottom of the Well”, “The Stranger”,    “The Cursed Expedition”, “The Other Side of the Fog” and “Never Look Behind You” I still have to find and read.

Thank you for your childhood creations,
Robert T Gasperson

Finding Stephen’s Writings

Dear Stephen King,

For years I have followed your work. At one time I had a pretty impressive collection of your books. I had all the hardbacks, most of the anthologies and many of the old magazines that I could find on ebay. When I got married, I had to give up a lot of my collections, and My books shelf was one of them. I am not entirely sure I am over that sale. I did make the guy happy I sold the books to.

I have made it a challenge to find every piece of writing you have allowed into the open market. I started by looking at the complete list of written works on your website. It is a great list. It helps me find the stories that are not in my collection.

The next part of my search are the few works that were available before you sold “Carrie”. In “On Writing” you described a series of newsletters you and your brother Dave wrote called “Dave’s Rag” That led me to a story called, “I was a Teenage Grave Robber” which was published in Comics Review in 1967. This story led me to Horrorking.com and their list of Rare Works by Stephen King. This was the motherload. I was so excited about finding this.

I soon discovered an anthology you and your childhood friend Chris Chelsey wrote together. It contained 18 single page stories, of which you wrote 8 and 1 you co-authored with Chelsey. I have found synopsis of several of these stories, but I have not been able to find the stories themselves.

After a little more research, it turns out there are a number of books about rare works you have either not released or have not been republished in an anthology. "The Lost Works of Stephen King", by Steve Spignesi and "Stephen King: Uncollected, Unpublished" by Rocky Wood with David Rawsthorne & Norma Blackburn are two of those books. The first I can get pretty easily. The second I might have to settle for the kindle version. It is out of print and the copies available are $50-200. I look forward to the hunt though?

Thanks for the rare stories
Robert T Gasperson

PS. Do you enjoy hiding stories or leaving easter eggs inside stories for your true fans to hunt for?

Watching a Documentary of H. P. Lovecraft

Dear Stephen King,

The children hogged the two available Netflix channels this afternoon, so I could not get my fix of Fringe. Yes I realize I am way behind. I had not given it enough of a chance when it was airing live on the television. I tried it again a few weeks ago and now I cannot stop watching it now... except when the kids have control of Netflix.

While I was hiding away on my day off inside the house and looking for any excuse not to write my own work, I started surfing some of the other movie providers, and that is where I found a documentary on H. P. Lovecraft. I got drawn in and could not stop watching. This man was a wonderment and led a sad, exciting and expressive life. I knew about him, but I never knew his life story.

I don't really want to talk about Lovecraft himself though. I want to say something about the inspiration to go write when I watched this film. There is something to be said about seeing the success someone else has and using that excitement as fuel to get yourself writing again. I find myself tired and not really wanting to write after a long days work.When I sit down to write my own story, I will sometime only get a couple of paragraphs down before my mind is exhausted and I move to the couch in front of the TV. I should really get rid of that thing.

I am wondering what other documentaries are out there, whose biography can I look into and become inspired by. I have been inspired by the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. He has a lot of great experience that we can use in our own lives; things like his notebook stating the points he tries to avoid in his daily life. If he breaks one of the rules he set for himself, he would mark his notebook and at the end of the three month period, he would see how he was progressing by observing how many marks were in his notebook. He would wipe the notebook clean and start again.

I have also enjoyed your writing memoir, "On Writing." Even though you are giving advice about how you personally made it in the business and what you learned along the way, I find your personal success story inspiring. It makes me want to sit down and BE you. It makes me wonder, Who were the inspirations for you? Who made you want to sit your butt in the chair and keep writing?

Here's to making today memorable history for tomorrow.
Robert T Gasperson

Writing on Holidays

Dear Stephen King,

Yesterday was the 4th of July, a national holiday that requires family fun and bar-be-Que and lots of fireworks. I found after getting home from work and having fun with the family, I did not have the time to get my butt into a seat to churn out any words. I thought about it. Are holidays supposed to be free from writing?

I have met authors who refuse to write on holidays because they want to spend their day with their family. They don't want to have a story hanging over their heads, guilt about not sitting down and writing when they are busy entertaining or playing with the kids. They want to set that time aside for their family and friends.

I have met other authors who refuse to miss a day of writing no matter what. It could be thanksgiving or Christmas, they still want to write, even if it is only a hundred words or so. If they don't write, then they feel like they have dropped the ball somewhere. They feel the fear of not picking up where they left off. If they miss one day, that day might lead to a week or a month without writing. Then their story will never get told.

What do I think? I think I should have a specified time to write on holidays. This time does not have to be long. Even if I can get on the computer and knock out 20 minutes of writing, then I feel like I have done something towards finishing my book. Usually holidays are spent sitting around either talking or sleeping or watching the kids play. There has to be a few moments that can be made to write. I try to find them early in the morning before anyone else in the house is up and moving about, this way it is already done when things start happening.

What about you Steve? Do you write on holidays?

Have a great week.
Robert T Gasperson

Why Do People Ask, "Where Do You Get Your Ideas?"

Dear Stephen King

I think, "Where do you get your ideas?" is probably the most asked question people ask authors. I am not sure why. It is one of those questions that can't be answered easily. The answer, in my own mind, has to be: "It Depends."

Every writer has a different way of developing ideas for stories. Some get their ideas while in the shower, a time in their day when they have complete alone time and their mind can spend time thinking about stories. Some people keep a dream journal next to their bed where they write their ideas down when they awake with strange and ingenious dreams.

Most writers jot down ideas that are inspired by the experience of their days. If something happens to them or to someone around them, they will sometimes think, "What would happen if a different person were in this same situation, or if these people made a different choice, what would the consequences be? This is why most prolific writers carry a pocket journal with them. You never know when inspiration is going to strike.

I have started a universe bible for a series of more than 300 novels. I think that will keep me busy for most of my life. I have an overarching idea that connects all the stories, but as I have other ideas throughout my experience, the timeline is loose enough that I can insert new storylines. Because I have this set of rules for my universe, I can sit down and write more ideas as they come to me. I don't ever have a time when I don't have something to write about.

For those people who feel they need to ask the question, "Where do you get your ideas?" I think they should ponder why they are asking that question. Writers are writers because they always have a story to tell. Their idea stream never drys up. In fact there should be more ideas than they have time to write. I know I am going to be busy for the next 100 years, and that is only if I can churn out three novels per year, otherwise I might have to live to be several centuries old.

If you have a hard time coming up with a story idea, then maybe you are not a writer. Don't let that stop you from writing when you have the occasional idea though. If your having to search hard for the ideas, then just step back and look at other hobbies that you are more suited to do. It is not a bad thing. You just write when you have something to write about.

Here is to all those stories we have outlined in our pocket journals. May they all find a way to be written.
Robert T Gasperson

A Man of Decision Cannot be Stopped

Dear Stephen King,

I have been re-listening to my copy of "The Law of Success" by Napoleon Hill. One of the first points in this series of books is "The Man of Decision Cannot be Stopped, the Man of Indecision Cannot be Started." I have been thinking about this quote and I am trying to find ways to apply it to my own life.

Writing is one of those things that many people think about, but never do. I have met several people who say they are planning their "All American Novel". They have been planning it for decades. Some of them have binders of information about the world they are writing in and sketches about their characters, but they have yet to start writing the novel itself.

Two days ago I decided to take the initiative and publish a short story on the kindle store. I had been putting it off because I was afraid. I made three editing passes over it and believe it is as good as it is going to be without a proper editor, then I uploaded it and pressed the publish button. What I like about the kindle store is I can make changes to the story as people make comments about it, or I can just ignore them and leave it story alone.

I have also made a definite decision about this blog. I really enjoy writing to you. I know you are not reading this as of yet. Maybe as I write more and get better with my commentary, you might take notice and feel the inspiration to respond. That would be awesome. The point of this blog is to use you as a Mentor to bounce my writing thoughts and ideas off of. I am able to use you as someone to speak to.

The idea of this blog came from my goal on 43things.com to one day meet you. I didn't want to just stand in a line and wait to have you sign my copy of your latest book. I wanted to earn your respect and develop some sort of relationship that would lead to a meeting of meaning. What I decided to do to make that happen is to become an author (another goal I intend to achieve), someone you might be able to relate to. To help me become that author, I started this blog to focus myself on the craft, to give me a way to see all the things that might make my writing great.  

Needless to say, you are an inspiration to me, as to millions of other people all over the world. Now all I have to do is make myself stand out from the crowd. Until then you can always find me here writing to you.

Take care my friend,
Robert T Gasperson

Writing for Money or Pleasure

Dear Stephen King,

This week in my own time of writing, I thought about what it really means to write. Is writing something you do just for the fun of it, or am I only writing because I think I will make money or even a living from it?

I am beginning to believe that most people write because they expect to make money from it. Writing is one of those things you don't have to invest a lot of money into to make a return. All you really need is a computer and some time. Most people these days, at least in America, own a computer already, whether it be a desktop, laptop, a tablet or even a smartphone. Most people have something they can write on. Even if they don't have a computer, a sheet of paper and a pen are easy enough to come by. You don't even need to buy them. Companies will give you paper and a pen from only an inquiry.

Sure, most people will say they love to write. They would continue to write even if they never got paid for it. I think that is true for a while, but I think the prospect of being able to sell something is a driving force behind anyone who writes on a regular basis. Most want to be able to show off a properly bound hardcover book with their name on the front.

I want to know if there is a way to switch my thinking about my own writing. Can I turn off the thought that I want to publish something to I just want to write for other people's enjoyment. I want to share what I create and then maybe I can create just to create.

I guess right now I am worried about publishing a short story, selling it on the Kindle store without a proper publisher. I am worried that people will not like it and everyone will want their money back. I know in my head that it is decent work, and I will be able to grow an audience from it, but the fear is still there. Maybe if I can give it away for free and just let people enjoy it, then maybe I will not be so worried about the content.

Did you ever just write because you loved to write? Did you ever just want to share your stories with the world? It is hard to believe you were where I am now early in your career. You are a superstar author, someone I strive so much to be like. I remember reading somewhere that you had a homemade magazine that you published on your own. It make me smile when I picture you going about sharing those creations with your family, friends and neighbors. If only we could go back to those simple times, simple thoughts and simple writing.

Take care Steve, and keep writing.
Robert T Gasperson

Turning Short Stories into Novels

Dear Stephen King,

I am excited about the work I have been doing. I have been working on a series of short stories that will eventually come together to form a full length novel. There are several reasons I am doing this. First; I can't seem to finish writing a novel.

I have been able to get 40-50,000 words into a story and either get bored, or jump to another idea. These short stories will allow my short attention span to hang on long enough to get done with a short story before moving on to the next one.

The second reason I am doing this is to have something finished so I can post it on the amazon kindle store. I am writing each of the stories so they can stand alone if the need to. Then if the reader wants to know more about the story or the world, they can go read my other short stories. Also, If for some reason I decide to abandon the novel, the short stories can stand on their own.

I was wondering if you have done anything like this. I remember when you released "The Green Mile" as a 6 part serial. I loved it. I had a coworker who was reading it at the same time. Since we had to wait for each episode to come out, we could discuss the part we had just finished. Then we could talk about what we thought was going to happen next. I kept those paperbacks for a while, then when you released it as a Hardback, I bought it to go with my collection.

Sometimes I wonder if some of the Dark Tower series was written as short stories. Then assembled at a later date. Maybe you can let me know about that one day.

Have a great day,
Robert T Gasperson 

Stephen King's Writer's Workflow

Dear Stephen,

I searched and searched and searched for my copy of your book "On Writing." I bought it back in 2000, when you first had it published. I've read it a couple of times. Then after I got married and life got filled with all the other things that happen, I believe that book along with most of the other books I had got sold or donated to make way for cribs and toys and all the other things that come with having a family.

The reason I was looking for the book was because I am curious about your processes for writing everyday. I want to know how you are able to sit down and get so many words out, allowing you to publish 2 or more books per year. Researching the information online things I found a blurb from "On Writing" where you say you write 10 pages a day without fail, even on holidays. That’s a lot of writing. If I work out the math that would be 250 words per paperback book page which means you have to write about 2,500 words per day. If you write 10 pages single spaced in an 8.5x11 page format, then you will have almost twice that at about 5,000 words per day. I suppose that is what you can do when your career is writing.

Lisa Rogak wrote in her book about you, "Haunted Heart: The Life and Times of Stephen King" a statement you made, “There are certain things I do if I sit down to write, I have a glass of water or a cup of tea. There’s a certain time I sit down, from 8:00 to 8:30, somewhere within that half hour every morning, I have my vitamin pill and my music, sit in the same seat, and the papers are all arranged in the same places. The cumulative purpose of doing these things the same way every day seems to be a way of saying to the mind, you’re going to be dreaming soon."

This makes me want to find a routine in my own life where I can sit down everyday and write. My schedule is so unpredictable. I am working all kinds of hours. The kids always have something going on that needs my attention. I just have to find that hour everyday where I can sit down and write. I would love to find the consistent time, the time that happens each day where I am not doing anything, where I can place that block of writing time. At this moment, I believe that perfect time would be right when I get home from work and before I start making dinner for the family. That is usually the time I sit or lay down on the couch and rest for a while. Maybe this is the time I should be writing.

I think I am going to hunt down another copy of "On Writing." I really want to read it again. The thing is I want my first edition back and it seems it is a little difficult to find. Even on Amazon, there are only 2 used editions available. I am also going to see if I can find a copy of that book club release called, "Secret Windows: Essays and Fiction on the Craft of Writing". I am sure there is a lot of great information in that book I could use to become a better writer.

I hope you have a great week. Here is to being productive.
Thank you for allowing me to carry on as I do.

Your Buddy,
Robert T Gasperson

Not Your Ordinary Stephen King Fanboy

Dear Stephen King

I was thinking about what it would be like to meet you in person. I'm not talking about just meeting you in a line of other fans or outside a venue trying to get you to sign my book. I was wondering what it might be like to sit down at a table and speak to you as a human being. I'm thinking more than just an interview, more like a talk between friends or colleagues.

I wonder how I would react. I know that you say you are just another guy who happened to sell a few books and become recognized world wide. There is no reason to put you on a pedestal. Many of your fans do that. I'd like to think I would treat you more like a friend, that I would be able to sit down with you and have a real conversation, a conversation that would not restate all the things everyone else talks with you about.

I am sure that you talk about your books on a regular basis, or how you find ideas for what you write. I can find that information anywhere online. I want to sit down and hear more about you. I want to hear about your Red Sox and some of the stories you might be able about meeting some of your favorite Rock and Roll superstars. It would be fun to hear about your fanboy moments.

Would I try to get you to Sign my stuff? I have tried to get your autograph in the past. I have sent you letters to see if you might send me an autograph. I received a letter from your assistant stating that you were uncomfortable sending autographs through the mail. I can understand that. It is more meaningful to the fans who get to meet you in person and have you autograph their book.

I think I have decided that it is more important for me to have the experience of meeting you, to have a meaningful conversation with you. Your autograph is just a pen mark on paper.  Nothing more, nothing less. An autograph would be nice but it would not change me as a person, a conversation with you would.

Thank you for taking the time to read my humble words, and I hope one day we will get to meet each other. Until that day, take care and keep writing.

Your Friend,
Robert T. Gasperson

There is So Much Out There to Read

I discovered a used bookstore a few weeks ago in the shopping center I am training at. For a used bookstore I found their prices a bit high, but maybe I am used to buying my books from resale shops and places like Goodwill. These days I don't ever pay much more than $1.50 for a hardcover. There are just too many books out there to read, and being that I am a slow reader, I will only ever read about 6-10 books per year. (Maybe I should take a speed reading class)

Outside of this used bookstore, they keep a small rolling rack of books they know they can not sell. So they have a sign on the front of the cart with the word "FREE" written on it. I have taken about 10 minutes at least once a week looking through this cart. Yesterday I found a few old volumes of "Reader's Digest Condensed Books" I picked up two of them that seemed to be in really good condition. Then this morning, I started reading one of them.

The story is called "The Secret Project of Sigurd O'leary" by Martin Quigley. It was included in the second volume of the 1959 edition of Reader's Digest Condensed Books. It is set up as a journal, written with a month and date for each entry. It is about a boy and his older brother making a life for themselves after both of their parent's died.

The story was set in the 1920's. I am finding a lot of the little things written about fascinating. The boys were punished for low marks on their report card by missing dinner. If they made a B, they missed one dinner. If they earned a C, they missed two consecutive dinners and if they got a D, they missed three dinners. If they failed a semester, they would go all week without dinner. I suppose they would be given breakfast in the morning. I also think dinners were lighter back then. You ate more for breakfast because you needed the energy for the day.

Their main transportation was the Railroad. They hopped on an open car with the hobos. The camped in the woods till they found an abandoned shack to live in. There was no electricity. They heated their homes with coal fires. They ate a lot of beans and bread. It was an interesting time I think.

So, what does this all mean?  I have been told time and time again that I should read a lot if I want to learn how to write. This book has already given me an insight for some of the setting I want to include in a short story I am writing right now. I have found that the more I read, the more I want to write. Just look at the length of this post compared to the posts I have written the last few days.

Also, I really don't like to spend a lot of money on books. I have always thought $28 was a lot of money to spend on a hard cover book. This is why I spend time in the thrift stores in their books section. You will be amazed at what you can find. I find Stephen King books all the time. I found a copy of Anthony, Robbin's book "Unleash the Giant Within." I also found a bunch of Dale Carnegie books. Those are classic and many of them are still relevant in today's market.

If you don't like going to the thrift store, check out the Amazon Kindle store. They always have several dozen books you can download for free. That doesn't include all the public domain books that are available. I recently listened to the "Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin". It was extremely insightful. You will be amazed at what you can learn by reading anything you can get your hands on.

"In" From "Carrie the Musical"

If you have not taken the time to check out the new Musical of Stephen King's masterpiece "Carrie" You should find a way to watch it. I know you can watch old footage from the musical when it played back in 1988. From what I understand is that version of the musical only lasted through 5 performances. It got such bad reviews that it didn't last but about a week.

I have been looking around at the reviews of the new version of the musical. They are saying that the theme is important. Today our youth are plagued with bullies, Kids are afraid to go to school, or they get into fights that get them into trouble that they normally would not get into. I am not sure what this story brings to the kids other than if you are a bully and you continue to push your classmates, eventually they will break and something bad will happen.

The reviews also say that the music is top notch. The performances are amazing and if they could only make the climax of the play as potent as the novel or even the classic movie, then maybe they will be able to create something that will stand the test of time. The problem with the play is the lack of climax. They can't destroy the set every night. That would be too costly. There are not enough effects to make the scenes believable or even scary. Honestly, I still want to see it. Next time I'm in new york, I will make an effort to go see it, Or I will try to get a copy of the DVD when they release it.

The Art of Darkness

I am visiting a city that I am not familiar with this week. Today I stopped at a shopping center to get some new earphones for my iPod. When I parked and started to walk towards the store, I noticed there was a thrift store next to the Dollar General I was heading to. So I went into the thrift store.

I always go into thrift stores when I come across them. I know that I can sometimes come across clothes that I could use or books that I can't find anywhere else for the price point that these store provide them. Today I spend about a half hour looking through the books at this Resale store. I came across an old book about the writing and life about Stephen King.

I am excited about reading this book. It is focused on the first few books that he wrote. It talks about the first dozen books up to the collection called Night Shift. I am looking forward to seeing how and why Stephen King wrote some of these books. As I read it I will talk about what I learn as I read it.

I Think I Need to Write

I want to write. I need to write. I sit down and can't seem to make myself think straight so I can write something worth while. I have decided to start putting something down in words everyday. I don't really care if it is a story or not. I just need to write.

How does this pertain to Meeting Stephen King? I think I am going to have to become a famous writer to finally meet him. I am going to have to travel in the same circles to find a moment to talk to him more than just a fan. So now comes the hard part. Writing millions of words that will be published, get me noticed and maybe lead me to a function where I can meet my mentor.

The Rock Bottom Remainders

Did you know Stephen King played in a band called "The Rock Bottom Remainders?" I knew he has been a lover of rock and roll for most of his life. You can tell this by the things he writes about. I had even heard he was in a band, but it was this week that I learned he formed the band with several of his author friends: Matt Groening, Dave Barry, Roy Blount, Jr., Mitch Albom, and Amy Tan.

There was an interview I found on YouTube this week about a final concert by the Rock Bottom Remainders. In that interview he talked a lot about his inspirations in music. He talks about how music affected his writing.  You can Watch the interview here:

It is fun to watch these men and women sing songs that are raw and inspired, most are cover songs that musicians have loved all their lives. They go around the country and sing for charity.  Here is King singing Dirty Water: