tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post987011203449875380..comments2024-03-05T22:12:23.918-08:00Comments on Karen Woodward: The Magic Of Stephen King: An Analysis Of The Opening Paragraphs Of The Dead ZoneKaren Woodwardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-54825961840977626922016-08-08T21:00:01.766-07:002016-08-08T21:00:01.766-07:00Beautiful indeed. Thanks for sharing, Darren!Beautiful indeed. Thanks for sharing, Darren!Karen Woodwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-83779364518170171022016-08-08T18:50:42.982-07:002016-08-08T18:50:42.982-07:00King can write beautiful prose as well a scare you...King can write beautiful prose as well a scare you to death. One of the many pearls he offers comes from the Dead Zone. The line goes, "Overhead, the moon road the sky; a cold sailor of the night."<br />Beautiful imagery <br /><br />Darren GoadAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01598284870838682265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-6663172326094750002013-01-04T09:35:42.408-08:002013-01-04T09:35:42.408-08:00"There is always a lesson in reading a new bo..."There is always a lesson in reading a new book, either because we see something we like and want to duplicate or because we see something that is worn and we want to avoid."<br /><br />Well said! <br /><br />I love reading different openings, trying to see how various authors created a certain effect. I think it's a great way to learn the craft, and we never stop learning.Karen Woodwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-45181720615773336422013-01-04T05:12:01.709-08:002013-01-04T05:12:01.709-08:00I read a book yesterday and saw a scene that was n...I read a book yesterday and saw a scene that was nearly the same as one I'd written in the book I'm currently self editing. What I realized in that was that I had written a cliché. It was a scene that was too obvious and that other people had already used. This might even be why I’d thought of the scene in the first place.<br /><br />There is always a lesson in reading a new book, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-68020181404908895632013-01-01T20:53:15.599-08:002013-01-01T20:53:15.599-08:00Thanks Kern! By the way, they had the same effect ...Thanks Kern! By the way, they had the same effect on me. I should have put a warning at the beginning of the post: If you don't have time to read a book then don't read this article! (grin)Karen Woodwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-73539652352970564812013-01-01T20:48:08.455-08:002013-01-01T20:48:08.455-08:00Thanks Louise.
Yes, Stephen King is the master o...Thanks Louise. <br /><br />Yes, Stephen King is the master of horror because he's a fantastic writer. I don't think there's any algorithm which will duplicate his prose. What I'm hoping for is a) more of an understanding of how he does it, even if it's partial and b) something that _could_ make my own writing better. (Note I said 'better', not King caliber!)<br /><br /Karen Woodwardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05497346859460691324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-17708553333708677952013-01-01T18:42:01.045-08:002013-01-01T18:42:01.045-08:00Fascinating post, Karen, and a fascinating analysi...Fascinating post, Karen, and a fascinating analysis. It's been years since I finished The Dead Zone, but re-reading these first three paragraphs makes me want to read it again--and your post tells me why! It's fascinating to see how much set-up can fit seamlessly in three short paragraphs.<br /><br />Thanks for this--it provides much food for thought.Kern Windwraithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16771591425163484238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1939271308870333669.post-31820586173230208212013-01-01T16:30:09.853-08:002013-01-01T16:30:09.853-08:00I don't know how Stephen King does it. Your an...I don't know how Stephen King does it. Your analysis is very good, but I'm not sure it helps me grab readers by the throat the way King does. And the further magic is, how did SK learn to do it himself?<br />I've loved most of his books, The Dead Zone in particular.<br />Great article. Thank you!<br />Louise Sorensen<br />louise3anne twitter<br />louisesor.wordpress.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com