The book was interesting the first time I read it. I enjoyed reading his life story, but didn’t agree with everything he said. I just chalked it up to the difference between men and women because every ounce of Stephen King is a man, when in reality…I wasn’t ready to hear what he was trying to teach me.
Time has passed since reading ‘On Writing’, by Stephen King and I wanted to read it again, but gave it to a friend, so I downloaded the audiobook and began listening this time. The audio version is narrated by Stephen, which is nice, but makes it difficult to step away from to get any work done. I’ve learned not to listen to it at night because the sound of his voice lulls me to sleep.
The part of the book I want to hear again is where Stephen would sit and write. The first time I heard this, I tried it and failed miserably at his suggestion of finding a nook, facing a wall to write, but a year later the typewriter was added here and I felt a shift in my writing.
A month ago, in one of my decluttering moods, I cleared off a space in my daughter’s old bedroom. The room has a built-in desk where she would sit to apply her makeup, but it’s perfectly capable of being used as a desk. There’s a hole drilled through the corner for cords to fall through and reach the electrical outlet below. I placed my vintage typewriter in there and just realized, like Stephen suggests, I’m facing a wall in a room with a door that can be closed if needed. The wall in front of me has become a bulletin board of sorts with snippets of inspiring ideas, or light bulb moments, thumb tacked to the wall. My daughter is my biggest believer, so there’s no mystery as to why it’s fun to sit in her old room and write.

Yes, writing is supposed to be fun.
You gotta have at least one human who believes in you and your writing. Tell me who is your believer?
Writing is a lonely job. Having someone who believes in you makes a lot of difference. They don’t have to make speeches, just believing is usually enough.
Steven King, On Writing





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