I think the recommendation of "On Writing" is one of my main takeaways. It was mentioned so many times in the comments. And my son enjoyed that additional chapter to the tale.
Hilarious, vulnerable and relatable Rick. It’s funny to be a writer online, we can write something amazing that doesn’t go viral but then the karmic virality gods (is how I see it) bring us people through another medium. The only Stephen King book I read was his one “On Writing” as I also can’t handle horror books. They give me nightmares. But I loved the layers of sweetness in your Note and the shared experience between your mother and your son.
Thanks Michelle. It's useful to see the algorithms give you an unfair advantage, because it's easier to realize that they're unfairly disadvantaging us too. In both cases, the quality of our writing is not being accurately reflected by the numbers.
I LOVE this! Everything about this — the note, the connection with your mom, the one with your son, AND your writing that came from this too. These cool connections is really where life is… I hope your mom holds onto the memory of your son’s face when he opened the book for many years to come…
Virality rarely drives relevance but it does increase exposure. Hopefully some of those people have found your wonderful stories as a result of the exposure.
On Writing by Stephen King is worth a read, if you get round to it, I’d love to hear what you think.
Thank you Claire. I did gain a fair number of new subscribers from it, so yes, I've got some new people to share stories with. Hopefully relevant ones. : )
Rick, this is such a generous, funny, and self-aware reflection. What stayed with me wasn’t the virality or the King fandom, it was exactly where you landed—the way something so ordinary, like a book handed off in passing, carried so much meaning. That’s what your writing does best: it catches those small, human moments that somehow say everything.
My favorite take away was at the end where you suggested that had you become an author of horror stories you would have likely never learned to write like yourself. That's deep and important and neatly tucked away at the end.
Finding one's authentic voice (or voices) is in and of itself a tremendous process of ongoing transformation. As I reflect back on writing I did decades ago, I wonder -- is it that I've changed so much that my past voice feels like it's trying to hard to be somebody I never was . . . or is it that I have genuinely changed that much over time.
Perhaps that query is less important than staying true to who I am now (be it with one voice or many).
Yes, agreed, and it's fun to consider how much we're likely to change and continue to evolve, such that we'll always look back at our past expression and realize it was under development. There's no top end. Which is a pretty darn cool thing to discover in the process of aging.
Brilliant essay, as always. When you take away the King-esque blood and guts (and there really isn't a lot in his novels), you remind us that his writing, like all great writing, is about connection. Taking it a step further: "Perhaps stories about disconnection ... remind us that the dark side is never far away..." It's really the humanness about King's writing that has made his work so compelling and popular for over half a century.
But I also like the humor you infuse in your essay:
• When I’ve written something I’m excited to share my capacity for delayed gratification resembles a two year left alone with an open bag of marshmallows.
• I consume horror about as well as you’d expect a lactose intolerant octogenarian to digest cheese balls.
Good stuff!
By the way, some of King's best work doesn't fall under the horror category. You can find a slew of short stories that are deeply engaging, heartfelt and, yes, honestly human.
Thank you Larry. My education about Stephen King continues with your additional insights. I like the idea that horror, or the willingness to look at the darkness, might be in service to our connecting with the light. It makes me question my avoidance a bit more.
A propos of Stephen King and recommended reading... I recently heard/read that one of his favourite novels was/is SHIP OF FOOLS by Katherine Anne Porter... so I summoned the novel from the library system in BC... and read it... and... WOW! One of the best books I've ever read. Thank you, Stephen King. Alas, I will never write like Katherine Anne Porter.
Scariest thing I ever watched was The Shining, by accident while trundling along with a group of friends, many years ago. That was the definitive proof that I am not a horror fan.
It's hilarious and agreed, the Note itself was heart warming :)
The only King book i've read is his On Writing funny enough.
How did your son react to hearing you became the lightning rod for the Stephen King substack community? 😂
I think the recommendation of "On Writing" is one of my main takeaways. It was mentioned so many times in the comments. And my son enjoyed that additional chapter to the tale.
Hilarious, vulnerable and relatable Rick. It’s funny to be a writer online, we can write something amazing that doesn’t go viral but then the karmic virality gods (is how I see it) bring us people through another medium. The only Stephen King book I read was his one “On Writing” as I also can’t handle horror books. They give me nightmares. But I loved the layers of sweetness in your Note and the shared experience between your mother and your son.
Thanks Michelle. It's useful to see the algorithms give you an unfair advantage, because it's easier to realize that they're unfairly disadvantaging us too. In both cases, the quality of our writing is not being accurately reflected by the numbers.
I LOVE this! Everything about this — the note, the connection with your mom, the one with your son, AND your writing that came from this too. These cool connections is really where life is… I hope your mom holds onto the memory of your son’s face when he opened the book for many years to come…
Thank you Masha as always for your appreciation and encouragement. The whole thing is a potpourri of connections for sure.
Enjoyed reading your reaction to this, Rick.
Virality rarely drives relevance but it does increase exposure. Hopefully some of those people have found your wonderful stories as a result of the exposure.
On Writing by Stephen King is worth a read, if you get round to it, I’d love to hear what you think.
Thank you Claire. I did gain a fair number of new subscribers from it, so yes, I've got some new people to share stories with. Hopefully relevant ones. : )
Rick, this is such a generous, funny, and self-aware reflection. What stayed with me wasn’t the virality or the King fandom, it was exactly where you landed—the way something so ordinary, like a book handed off in passing, carried so much meaning. That’s what your writing does best: it catches those small, human moments that somehow say everything.
That's very kind Rachel. Like a small human moment, I feel seen. : )
I LOVE ON WRITING! When I was writing my book I took a lot of inspiration from On Writing.
Man, I love how you ended this piece Rick. Very impactful, I must say :)
Thank you Ishan.
Rick I loved the entirety of this - especially discovering what really matters, and who we really are.
Most importantly I loved hearing about your mom again. I’m sending love to her. ❤️
Thank you James.
My favorite take away was at the end where you suggested that had you become an author of horror stories you would have likely never learned to write like yourself. That's deep and important and neatly tucked away at the end.
Finding one's authentic voice (or voices) is in and of itself a tremendous process of ongoing transformation. As I reflect back on writing I did decades ago, I wonder -- is it that I've changed so much that my past voice feels like it's trying to hard to be somebody I never was . . . or is it that I have genuinely changed that much over time.
Perhaps that query is less important than staying true to who I am now (be it with one voice or many).
Yes, agreed, and it's fun to consider how much we're likely to change and continue to evolve, such that we'll always look back at our past expression and realize it was under development. There's no top end. Which is a pretty darn cool thing to discover in the process of aging.
Brilliant essay, as always. When you take away the King-esque blood and guts (and there really isn't a lot in his novels), you remind us that his writing, like all great writing, is about connection. Taking it a step further: "Perhaps stories about disconnection ... remind us that the dark side is never far away..." It's really the humanness about King's writing that has made his work so compelling and popular for over half a century.
But I also like the humor you infuse in your essay:
• When I’ve written something I’m excited to share my capacity for delayed gratification resembles a two year left alone with an open bag of marshmallows.
• I consume horror about as well as you’d expect a lactose intolerant octogenarian to digest cheese balls.
Good stuff!
By the way, some of King's best work doesn't fall under the horror category. You can find a slew of short stories that are deeply engaging, heartfelt and, yes, honestly human.
Thank you Larry. My education about Stephen King continues with your additional insights. I like the idea that horror, or the willingness to look at the darkness, might be in service to our connecting with the light. It makes me question my avoidance a bit more.
A propos of Stephen King and recommended reading... I recently heard/read that one of his favourite novels was/is SHIP OF FOOLS by Katherine Anne Porter... so I summoned the novel from the library system in BC... and read it... and... WOW! One of the best books I've ever read. Thank you, Stephen King. Alas, I will never write like Katherine Anne Porter.
Great inside tip. Ordering it!
"as well as you’d expect a lactose intolerant octogenarian to digest cheese balls". 😂
: ) I was hoping someone would get a kick out of that.
LOL of course you did
: )
Scariest thing I ever watched was The Shining, by accident while trundling along with a group of friends, many years ago. That was the definitive proof that I am not a horror fan.
…if you were to ever read a stephen king book which would it be?…what is the scariest thing you ever read or watched?…