Everyone knows what writing is to one extent or another, but we all have different definitions of how it should be done and varying degrees of seriousness about the art. We all have a process of writing, but each is unique to ourselves and our own experiences. Annie Dillard and Stephen King are two well known authors who have published many pieces, two of which describe how they view the writing process and let their readers get a peek of what goes on through their minds when they write. These two pieces are Dillard’s The Writing Life and King’s “What Writing Is.” In Annie Dillard’s “Chapter One” of The Writing Life, she uses metaphors to explain the process of writing. She links words to tools, specifically a hammer that someone uses to …show more content…
He writes “We’re not even in the same year together, let alone the same room … except we are together. We’re close. We’re having a meeting of the minds.” (106) King demonstrates how writing connects us all and should be seen more as just words on a page. It helps us understand one another and learn from each other without ever saying a word. To set the mood in this piece, King describes where he is writing his work and calls it his “far-seeing place,”(103). He says that he is writing this chapter at his desk down in his well lit basement in the winter, and this place is his sanctum away from the stresses of life. By writing about his current setting in his sanctuary, King showed that he was just like any one of us. King reads books as a release from life’s frustrations. Everyone has a different writing process and if I were to describe mine as a metaphor, it is as if a child wanted to play on a table, so she threw everything off of her table to make room for her task at hand. Before I can even begin working, I need to have my space nice and cleared. Then, once the child has her space cleared exactly how she wants, she takes a bag of M&M’s and dumps them out onto the table. Now imagine that throughout the day the child finds more M&M’s and throws them onto the table to add to her collection. I take
He comes to prove to his readers that the amount of years that pass by and the number of distance between point A and B is irrelevant as long as you read and write. Words have weight. As readers, we fail to realize that we make connections with the authors themselves in personal ways. We read a book that carries a passageway to the authors minds and from there, we are in a world of fantasies and false realities, or in some cases, we are in a specific time period in which we weren’t even alive for. King stresses that that is the “pure distillation” - that is the beauty of
In King’s essay, he uses many rhetorical devices to get his point across to the reader. For example, he uses repetition to emphasize the importance of being a writer. “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others:read a lot and write a lot”(210), shows repetition when using the word “alot” twice in the same sentence. He also uses imagery in his writing stating, “Reading is the creative center of a writer’s life. I take a book with me everywhere I go, and find there are all sorts of opportunities to dip in. The trick is to teach yourself to read in small sips as well as in long swallows”(212). This paints an image in the reader’s head when to read. Lastly, he uses syntax. Syntax is when a statement is a straightforward message such as,”If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time to write. Simple as that”(212). He says it clear what he
This question can be very puzzling, as for us today reading this piece in 2017, his point is an obvious one that needs no explanation. But, we must look at this piece in the context of his time to get past our preconceived ideas and begin to analyze the plea and reasoning that King portrays in his writing. King’s writings show us that he was forced to plead with these men simply because they could not see and relate to his view of the situation and the world.
King uses allusion like the Declaration of Independence and references famous American Idols like James Meredith and T.S. Elliot. This not only helps King’s credibility, but also for the ideals he stands for. He also masterfully uses rhetorical questions like, “but what else is there to do when you are alone for days in the dull monotony of a narrow jail cell, other then write long letters, and pray long prayers” (Paragraph, 5). King also asks the question, “or should I say book?” (Paragraph, 5). King is using imagery in his rhetorical questions to illustrate his dull and desolate surroundings. He says he is writing a book because he is implying that there are a lot of civil rights issues that he would like to
One metaphor used by King was “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny”(564). King also used a simile in his letter, “Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened with all is ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light, in justice must be exposed, with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion, before it can be cured.” (569-570). These uses of figurative language were just two of many found in King’s letter. By using these language tools King creates an eloquent writing style which is deep, sophisticated and poetic. Using this eloquent style, not only makes his writing polished but it supports his creditability. Eloquent writing supports creditability because it proves King’s wit and writing skills, which proves that he is well
On Writing is a work written by Stephen King. This book takes you into his world and what all he offers to say about being a writer. You’ll read all about the circumstances and events that shaped Stephen King as a child and as a writer. It describes his struggles and accomplishments as an author. He also gives advice for ambitious writers. The book is structured into five parts, with each having different focuses. These five parts include: "C.V.", “What Writing Is”, “Toolbox”, “On Writing”, and “On Living”.
Logan Pearsall Smith once said, “Fine writers should split hairs together, and sit side by side, like friendly apes, to pick the fleas from each other’s fur.” All be it an overwhelmingly disgusting image, Smith’s words are true when it comes the art and science of putting pencil to paper. In the classroom, students should be able to be vulnerable, honest, accountable and “real” in their writing so that they may grow to become better writers. It is the responsibility of the teacher to insure a quality learning environment that is conducive to these three factors. Observing the writing process and identifying the experiences within, be them personal, direct or indirect, contribute to how the educator teaches students using best practices.
Most individuals, no matter their age, struggle with writing with proper mechanics and content. In the book “On Writing,” author Steven King gives his personal perspective and advice on the craft of writing. King also shares his story about how he has become the successful writer he is today. In his novel, King wants to reveal to his readers that it is essential to read a lot and write a lot to become a great writer. He begins by talking about how there are no bad dogs and relates it to human beings.
Through his book On Writing King proves himself to be an interesting character with many insightful views on life as well as writing. He prides himself in being unapologetic of the work that he has done in the past and encourages writers to do the same. King reveals his life story and the unique ways in which he became the writer that he is today. The details of his early life help the readers understand King's artistic choices, and what it takes to become a better writer. Although King lets the readers in on his explicit thoughts, there is still plenty to be asked about his views and the way in which he writes.
Stephen King finds writing to be natural as long as you don't dig for it. Usually it can take Stephen King about three months to write a book just about a season. What stephen king means about “dig” the writers must grab tools from their own toolbox to bring light to a story. It must be realistic or relic to something from a pre-existing world. This idea helped stephen to succeed with his career. Stephen can't stress this enough in order to achieve greatness, you have to stop all distractions. For instance television, phones or any electronics should be out of sight. Accordingly stephen found it best to find an area with doors, close doors to help inspire writing. If you don't have the time to read then you don't got time to write or the tools
He means that writing is such a powerful tool that it can be used to communicate our thoughts, feelings and ideas without using the senses known to the human beings. He thinks that the language, profundity and description of writing can express the thoughts of a person to another . Even if we are in a different place or different time we can see what the writer is seeing without even actually looking at it .
The second point King makes is perhaps a bit more broad “Read” if you don't have the time to read you don’t, as Stephen King puts it on page 142 “ have the time (or the tools) to write.” Then off this point he builds another, writing requires dedication, it needs a good portion scheduled off for it in your life. For example King states on page 148 that his “own schedule is pretty clear-cut. Mornings belong to whatever is new—the current composition. Afternoons are for naps and letters.
Using this strategy is especially effective as we can understand the nature of writing for ourselves through his lives. This first part of the novel prepares us for the sections of pure writing technique work that King offers up to us because we have drawn the lines between life and writing. Ex. the toolbox that his uncle made he uses to create his point. Yet, at the end King has made it clear that writing is an open medium with interpretations and styles beyond count and that the one he is presenting is just another of many. It makes the novel unique in it's charm and relatability and informative
When King writes, he focuses on writing to please himself and not others. While using broken sentences and not always having good endings, he writes in the way he prefers instead of worrying about how others would want him to write. Some people think that
In the book Engaging in the Language Arts, it discusses the steps in the writing process that enable individuals to become successful writers. The steps addressed throughout the writing process are prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing (p. 365). Individuals use these steps to help create, manage, and bring to life their piece of work. However, research suggests that these steps are demonstrated in a particular order during the writing process; many writers tend to “move across and back and forth” during the writing process (p. 365).