More Tips on Writing from King:

More Tips on Writing from King:

Inspiration and Good Writing

As I stated in the introduction, this blog will focus on King’s process of writing, as well as his body of work. Granted, there will ultimately be more articles on his body of work than the process itself.  Why?  He uses the same process with each of his pieces. However, it is important to understand that process in order to gain more from the exploration of his work. Being able to understand his process also provides important advice for our own attempts at penning an original piece, if that is the goal.

The first step is to understand that writing, in all forms, is indeed art.  Therefore, all writers are artists.  It doesn’t matter what the medium of the writer is; the finished product is still art.  It may be hard to imagine a newspaper story as art, but it is a product created from the mind and skills of the writer.  King considers writing to be the highest form of art.  In On Writing, King writes, “All the arts depend upon telepathy to some degree, but I believe that writing offers the purest distillation” (103).

One thing to remember about writing or anything else that one attempts to do, it is important to be dedicated to the project. Some might think being a comedian or a rodeo clown is having fun at work all day, and it might be. Many people have fun at work, but it is still work. Comedians and rodeo clowns work hard at their jobs. However, just because someone is having fun does not mean that they don’t take their job seriously.  This is an important point that King makes about writing, and reading his memoir about writing: 

“But it’s writing, damn it, not washing the car or putting on eyeliner. If you can take it seriously, we can do business. If you can’t or won’t, it’s time for you to close the book and do something else” (107).

The hardest thing that writers, regardless of their experience, struggle with in the process is trying to determine if what they have produced is worthy of an audience.  As a writer, I have penned a few novels and more than a few short stories that I felt was a waste of time when I finished.  It is not uncommon for writers to even quit in the middle of a story due to what King refers to as “fear.”  The fear of writing a bad story can be more crippling than any monster in a King story.  King wrote the following about that fear:

“Good writing is often about letting go of fear and affectation. Affectation itself, beginning with the need to define some sorts of writing as “good” and other sorts as “bad,” is fearful behavior. Good writing is also about making good choices when it comes to picking the tools you plan to work with” (128).

Another issue that writers face is finding that inspiration or story idea for the next top seller that they hope to pen.  King, like many successful writers, is often asked how they came up with an idea for a story.  Some may believe that these ideas are part of a magical blueprint of writing.  King assures us that there is no such formula for generating ideas.  He wrote the following about the origins of his own ideas:

“Let’s get one thing clear right now, shall we? There is no Idea Dump, no Story Central, no Island of the Buried Bestsellers; good story ideas seem to come quite literally from nowhere, sailing at you right out of the empty sky: two previously unrelated ideas come together and make something new under the sun. Your job isn’t to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up” (37).

King has said many times that the key to writing is just doing it.  You can’t be a “writer” if you don’t write.  You also can’t write in a place that is a hub of activity.  Writing is a personal thing that requires isolation of body and mind to do it successfully. King recommends the following advice for beginning the writing process:

“It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support system for the art. It’s the other way around” (101).

So let go of those debilitating fears, push the desk in the corner, grab those ideas that have landed in your lap, and start writing.  Who knows what may come of it!  I assure you that the results will be satisfying on so many levels. As a friend posted in the comment section of an earlier article – Write on!

The Castle Rock Players - Episode 3

The Castle Rock Players

Episode 3: David Morse

David Morse is a powerful force on the screen, but his delivery is smooth and reserved in a “whiskey” voice that captures the attention of every audience member.  His towering stature at six feet-four inches makes him a perfect candidate for a role that demands a larger-than-life performance.  Morse’s trademark blue eyes combined with his extraordinary acting skills allow the viewer to feel his emotions whether he speaks or not.  These traits make him a memorable person in any work, but he has brought flesh-and-blood life to characters that King created in words.  David Morse has starred in three adaptations of Stephen King’s work.  

 

Mark Lindsay Chapman and
David Morse in The Langoliers



In 1995, Morse played the role of Captain Brian Engle in the television miniseries adaptation of The Langoliers, based on the short story of the same name that was originally published in Four Past Midnight (1990). As Capt. Engle, Morse plays the role of an airline pilot that is catching a ride on the jet where the characters find themselves caught between the worlds of today and yesterday.  Morse is easily able to sell the character of a typical guy who finds himself thrust into a position of leadership due to his work and circumstances.  Morse delivers valiantly as a character struggling between a necessity to lead and a skeptic who is puzzled by his newfound surroundings.



Tom Hanks and Morse
in The Green Mile



Morse’s next King role would be in one of the most critically acclaimed films of the author’s work, The Green Mile (1999).  Morse was the second person to sign on to the production, according to IMDB.com’s profile of the actor.  He would portray prison guard Brutus “Brutal” Howell, who is the second in command to Tom Hanks’ character. Morse described the script as “very emotional” and that it left “everyone that read it weeping.”  His tall height and commanding appearance made this role an ideal fit for the popular actor, though he would be miniaturized on screen by co-star Michael Clarke Duncan, who played John Coffey (“Like the drink, but not spelled the same”).  The cast was nominated for a Screen Actor Guild Award for “outstanding performance” by an ensemble cast in a motion picture. 



Morse as Adult Bobby Garfield



Just two years later, Morse would once again take on the role of a Stephen King character in Hearts in Atlantis, based on the novella in the collection of the same name.  Morse would portray Bobby Garfield as an adult, a central character in the story.  The novella tells the story of a boy and the friendship that he forges with a mysterious stranger (portrayed by Sir Anthony Hopkins) who stays a few months in the boarding house that Garfield’s mother operates.  Though Morse’s role is significant to the plot, his on-air time was minimal in the film, since much of it occurs when his character is a child, portrayed by Anton Yelchin.  His performance is incredible, and the film builds upon that performance.

There is no doubt that David Morse has earned his spot among those listed in “The Castle Rock Players.”  Since Morse is a popular choice for King, it is possible that we have not seen the last of this fine actor in future films and television adaptations.

New Motion Picture Anthology Announced

In a discussion on The King of Castle Rock Facebook page, several King fans mentioned that they would like to see a new motion picture adapted from his short stories.  Apparently, others want to see this happen too.

This past week, StephenKing.com announced a new motion picture deal that will feature an anthology of four short stories, entitled Stephen King's The Reaper's Image.  The new film will be directed by Mark Pavia.  It will contain the following short stories:

"The Reaper's Image" is a short story that was first published in Startling Mystery Stories in 1969 and collected in Skeleton Crew in 1985. The story is about an antique mirror haunted by the visage of the Grim Reaper, who appears to those who gaze into it.

"Mile 81" is a novella that was released exclusively as an e-book on September 1, 2011. The story is set at a roadside stop at Mile 81 on the Maine Turnpike, where people disappear without a trace. An old wagon is on display at the stop, which draws the attention of all visitors.

"N." is a short story from Just After Sunset (2008).  This short is a story about a woman named Sheila who writes a friend about the death of her brother Johnny Bonsaint, a psychiatrist.  Sheila believes her brother's suicide is connected to his treatment of a patient only referred to as "N." Both deaths are connected to a field where a formation of smooth stones appear to be a portal between this world and another.

"The Monkey" is a short story that was first published in Gallery magazine in 1980, and then revised before being included in Skeleton Crew (1985).  In this story, a cymbal-banging monkey is possessed by evil, which kills any living thing near when it starts to play.

StephenKing.com reports that two of the stories were selected by King and two by Pavia. King's official website says, "the project is a solid mix of classic and contemporary King tales sure to please the Constant Reader." 

We will all eagerly wait for more news on this exciting film.

Derry, Maine: A Town of Unspeakable Evil (Part 1)

Derry, Maine: A Town of Unspeakable Evil

Part 1 – Intro and History

In Stephen King’s world, evil lurks in the darkness, balanced with a sliver of good that prevents it from engulfing everything in its path.  However, Derry is a different kind of town, a place where evil is so entrenched that most of the residents are not even aware of its presence.  Derry looks like every typical American town with average citizens and a Norman Rockwell picturesque setting.  It could be Anywhere, USA; but it is not! 

Derry has a town square where the courthouse and surrounding shops compose the community’s center of activity and life.  Popular local stores provide all the necessary commodities of life and the gossip that small American towns seem to use as fuel for life.  Mr. Norbert Keene’s drugstore located near the square is the place where most residents of Derry fill their prescriptions and doctor their ailments.  The Derry Public Library is close to the center of town and is an important setting in the events that occur in the little town.

Outside of the square, Derry has several famous landmarks that everyone in town knows, and some that they go out of their way to avoid.  Kitchener Iron Works is part of the town’s history and an important business for Derry residents as well as Stephen King’s stories.  On the outskirts of town is the infamous place known as “The Barrens,” which is where the runoff water from the town streets eventually flows.  “The Standpipe” is located in Derry Memorial Park, which is “within a shout” of the Barrens, as described by Mike Hanlon in his unpublished book, Derry: An Unauthorized Town History (IT, page 149).  Derry also has a tall statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe, the Big Blue Ox, which are fictional characters from American folklore. One of the most recent landmarks in Derry is a statue dedicated to the memory of the “lost children” of the town (Dreamcatcher).  

Derry has a tragic and dark history that is reflective upon the evil that lives in the small New England town.  This history is the focus of Mike Hanlon’s book that is mentioned in the previous paragraph.  Here are some of the events that Hanlon retells in his book:

          1741 – The entire population of Derry township vanishes. Hanlon
          compares it to the Roanoke Island, Virginia colony, where all of
          the colonists disappeared in the early settlement of North America.

1851 – John Markson kills his entire family with poison, then consumes a deadly “white nightshade” mushroom.

1879 – A crew of lumberjacks find the remains of another crew that spent the winter snowed in at a camp in the upper Kenduskeag, at the tip of the modern-day barrens. All nine had been hacked to pieces.

1906 – On Easter Sunday, the Kitchener Ironworks explodes during an Easter egg hunt, resulting in 102 deaths.

1930 – The Black Spot, a Negro social club, is burned to the ground by the Maine Legion of Decency. Dozens perish.

1958 – One hundred and twenty-seven children, ranging in age from three to nineteen, were reported missing in Derry.

1985 – Nine children are murdered; their killer is never apprehended. Also the year of the “Great Flood,” which results in millions of dollars of damage to the town.

1994 – Feminist Susan Day is killed when Derry resident Ed Deepneay – driven insane by an otherworldly being named Atropos – launches a kamikaze attack on the Derry Civic Center as Day addresses a capacity crowd. 

(Source for above history – The Complete Stephen King Universe: A Guide to the Worlds of Stephen King, 101-102.)

Although one has to live in Derry to understand the darkness of the town, even visitors have a feeling that something is odd about it.  Mike Hanlon states, “Those who have visited Derry refer to it as being ‘not right’” (IT, 151). Jake Epping aka George Amberson says that there is something “wrong” about the town. (11/22/63, 121).  Even residents of nearby Haven report seeing and hearing strange things in the town as they travel through it (The Tommyknockers).   

Derry has had a few famous residents that call the town “home.” Mort Rainey, author of two novels and a short story collection, resided in Derry with his wife until he went insane after his divorce (“Secret Window, Secret Garden”).  William Denbrough, a best-selling author and screenwriter, is one of Derry’s most famous native sons (IT).  Mike Noonan, another best-selling author, hailed from Derry and had a summer cabin near Dark Score Lake, which is near the town (Bag of Bones).  Richie Tozier, a childhood friend of William Denbrough, left Derry and became an excellent deejay that was known as “the Man of a Thousand Voices” (IT, 63).

Interesting statistics about Derry (The Complete Stephen King Universe, 101):

·   The murder rate in Derry is six times the murder rate of any other town of comparable size in New England.

·   In Derry, children disappear unexplained and unfound at the rate of forty-to-sixty per a year.

Due to the importance of Derry in King’s work and the vast amount of information that is available about the town, the article about Derry will be divided into two parts; this entry being the first of those parts.

Tips For Writers by the Master of Horror

There is no doubting the fact that Stephen King is a master when it comes to writing.  However, he has given the world more than extraordinary stories and memorable characters. He has also shared his insight into the art of writing, complete with tips on how aspiring writers can reach their own potential.  In 2000, King released On Writing, a book about the art and the process that he has perfected through the years, reflective of the teacher that still remains deep in his heart.  This book contains valuable information for everyone who wants to be a writer or understand the process a little better, whether they be a student, teacher, or just curious about the recesses of his mind.

There exist several different schools of thought on what makes a successful writer. Some may argue that great writers are born with a natural talent.  Others say that anyone with some understanding of the writing constructs can be taught to be good writers.  Some even argue that a person can be shown how to use a certain formula to create stories that are quite good.  This is a topic of great debate with one’s belief dependent upon their role in the process. However, King writes, “It is …my attempt to show how one writer was formed. Not how one writer was made; I don’t believe that writers can be made, either by circumstances or by self-will.” (18) 

The key behind any writer creating a successful piece of work depends on their ability to capture the reader’s interest by providing them with a story and characters with which they can relate.  The main way of accomplishing this feat is through the art of storytelling.  This storytelling ability is one of King’s greatest talents, which is reflective by the success that he has accomplished around the world.  In On Writing, King states that he does not believe that this is necessarily a unique talent by writing:   

“I believe that large numbers of people have at least some talent as writers and storytellers, and that those talents can be strengthened and sharpened. If I didn’t believe that, writing a book like this would be a waste of time.” (18)

Anyone who has attempted to write fiction knows that it can be a difficult and taxing labor of love.  However, many people become frustrated and just surrender when they think that their story is failing.  In On Writing, King discourages that willingness to give up on a piece of work by sharing the following insight that he learned in the course of his own writing:

“I had written three other novels before Carrie – Rage, The Long Walk, and The Running Man were later published. Rage is the most troubling of them. The Long Walk may be the best of them. But none of them taught me the things I learned from Carrie White. The most important is that the writer’s original perception of a character or characters may be as erroneous as the reader’s. Running a close second was the realization that stopping a piece of work just because it’s hard, either emotionally or imaginative, is a bad idea. Sometimes you have to go on when you don’t feel like it, and sometimes you’re doing good work when it feels like all you’re managing is to shovel shit from a sitting position.” (77-78)

King has much more to teach about the craft of writing in this “memoir” for the reader.  I will end this article with one last tip, though it can best be classified as a warning to all writers, from the master.

“You can approach the art of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair – the sense that you can never completely put on the page what’s in your mind and heart. Come to it any way but lightly. Let me say it again: you must not come lightly to the blank page.” (106)

I heed this advice with my own writing, whether it is works of fiction or the articles for this blog. It is good advice for all who venture to fill those intimidating blank pages with the words that are raging to be released for the entire world to see. TJB

Michael Rooker: The Original Sheriff Alan Pangborn



Michael Rooker (Sheriff Alan Pangborn,  The Dark Half)
and Thomas Beane, owner of The King of Castle Rock
at the 2012 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival



Michael Rooker is a very talented actor who has most recently been featured on the popular zombie series, The Walking Dead.  However, Rooker also has a connection to the world of Stephen King.  He was the first actor to play Sheriff Alan Pangborn in a screen adaptation of King's The Dark Half, which was released in 1993.

Rooker was the featured guest at the 2012 George Lindsey UNA Film Festival, which is held annually in Florence, Alabama at the Alma Mater of actor George Lindsey, best known for his role of 'Goober' in the classic television program The Andy Griffith Show.  Rooker is a native of Jasper, Alabama, where he lived until he was a teenager.



Rooker as Sheriff Alan Pangborn

 Rooker is an incredible actor with a resume that includes some of the biggest films in recent history, including playing opposite Kevin Costner in JFK (1991). Let's hope that casting directors will recruit Michael Rooker to star in future adaptations of Stephen King's work.

The Castle Rock Players - Episode 2

The Castle Rock Players

Ed Harris in Creepshow

Episode 2: Ed Harris

Ed Harris is a popular leading actor that has a unique style and delivery which has earned him a dedicated fan base.  Harris has a gentle approach to his demeanor, but has the talent to make his characters appear in complete control of whatever situation.  His famous blue eyes are very expressive, allowing him to capture the moment in a story, and, in the process, the audience.  Harris has played in three different Stephen King adaptations: The Stand (1994), Needful Things (1993), and Creepshow (1982), earning him a place in our “Castle Rock Players” category.

In one of the earliest King adaptations, Ed Harris played a role in the segmented film, Creepshow (1982), directed by George A. Romero.  Harris plays in the segment “Father’s Day” as part of an ensemble short.  “Father’s Day” is a short about a brutal patriarch, portrayed by , who returns to get his cake while shouting, “This is my day.”  Harris played the role of Hank Blaine, who attended the party with his girlfriend that is related to the family.  Harris’ character tried to discover the family’s hidden secret, but discovered something even darker.

In the star-filled miniseries The Stand (1994), Ed Harris played a pivotal role in the storyline, although his role was uncredited.  Harris played General Starkey, the commander of the project that resulted in The Plague being released.  His stern and indifferent attitude toward human life made him seem very callous toward the general public and the soldiers under his command.  Harris’ masterful performance helped make this adaptation a work of art.  “Is that Hungarian goulash?” 

Ed Harris as Sheriff Alan Pangborn



The most memorable King character that Harris has portrayed is, without question, Sheriff Alan Pangborn in Needful Things (1993).  Harris was the second actor to portray this character in an adaptation of a King work.  Earlier the same year, The Dark Half (1993) was released with Michael Rooker cast in the role of Pangborn, which was a minor character in that film.  In Needful Things, Pangborn is one of the central characters, and played brilliantly by Ed Harris.  He was able to show the strength, compassion, and even weaknesses of the character as he struggled to save the town of Castle Rock from the destructive force of Leland Gaunt (Max Van Sydow).  

  

What is 'The Castle Rock Players'?

The work of Stephen King has a reach well beyond the printed word, inspiring dozens of films and television specials. The unique characters and intricate storylines draws the interest of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, which is evident by the casts of adaptations of his work. Some of these talented actors have worked on multiple King projects. The work of these actors have defined the physical representation of the characters, and the actors and/or film can be named by viewing one single frame from the work. Kathy Bates is "Annie Wilkes" as far as many fans are concerned.

'The Castle Rock Players' is a profile of actors who have played in multiple Stephen King adaptations, including Kathy Bates, Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, and many others. These profiles will be added on weekly basis, more frequently when possible.

The Castle Rock Players - Episode 1

Episode 1: Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates is one of the most memorable actors ever to star in a Stephen King story. Fortunately, for King Fans, she played in three film adaptations, on both the big and small screens. She has played the lead roles in Misery (1990) and Dolores Claiborne (1995), and an uncredited role in the 1994 miniseries, The Stand. Bates created scenes in these films that demonstrated the best of both her acting and King’s writing. The Southern actor, born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, is an extraordinary talent with the awards to prove it. Her ability to bring physical life to these characters has won her international fame and gained approval by the dedicated King readers.

As Annie Wilkes in Misery, Bates transformed an innocent-looking woman with a charitable heart into a delusional, obsessed psychopath that still lingers in the imagination of the viewers. The brutal acts committed on the screen influenced the audience with a wave of empathic pain, and inspiring a physical reaction. This role connected with the viewing audience and critics during its theatrical run. Bates won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Annie Wilkes, bringing home a major win for Stephen King and the horror genre as much as for Bates herself. The Oscar was not the only win for her work in the Stephen King film; she also won a Golden Globe and the Chicago Film Critics Association Award. She also earned a nomination for the Saturn Award by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films.

Bates played Rae Flowers in the television miniseries, The Stand (1994), a radio disc jockey that was broadcasting to the listening audience in Maine, and across the country, the truth about the spread of the superflu, known as Captain Tripps. Bates played a fearless voice of the people who faced the harsh conditions of a military-controlled society after the viral epidemic starts to kill thousands across America. Her role was brief, but left an emotional impact on the other characters and the audience.

In 1995, Kathy Bates returned to the big screen as the title character in the big screen adaptation of Dolores Claiborne. An exploration of human actions and motivation are key themes in Stephen King’s novel Dolores Claiborne, which follows a dual storyline between two similar deaths surrounding the title character. Bates embraced the role and created a character who the audience may suspect of one or, maybe, two counts of homicide, but end up praising her strength. The role, once again, placed Bates in a favored position with the critics and viewers; earning her nominations for a Chicago Critics Award, a Saturn Award, and the Chlotrudis Award.



http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000870/

Poster artwork for Stephen King’s The Stand television miniseries is a registered copyright of Laurel Entertainment, Inc., 1994.
Picture from Dolores Claiborne is registered copyright of Castle Rock Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, 1995.
Picture from Misery is registered copyright of Castle Rock Entertainment, 1990.

Telling the Same Stories Again

King Works Being Remade

Stephen King’s world is falling victim to the spreading trend of remakes that seems to be invading the film industry. With the hundreds of original stories that SK has written through the years, it is disheartening to see the remaking of his classic work, which in most cases was done well the first time. His upcoming works in production include Firestarter, Carrie (for the third time, I believe), Pet Sematary, The Stand, and IT. There are a few never-before-filmed stories being produced including Rose Madder, and Home Delivery.

In the past, there have been successful remakes. The Shining (1997, miniseries) is a primary example of the second production being a good adaptation of King’s work. The original 1980 movie, starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall, was a scary film, but was only a shell of the King story. The miniseries aired on broadcast television and was a brilliant reflection of the book. However, no film or mini-series can truly recreate the experience or depth of a Stephen King story in print. The real story can be found in the words and connections within King’s literary world.

It is sad to see the stories that they have chosen to reproduce, knowing that the results will not equal the original. Firestarter (1984) will be lacking the power of Drew Barrymore, and anyone that plays the role will be compared to her performance. The innocence of Barrymore, established in E.T., created a connection with the viewer and character. The same can be said for Sissy Spacek as Carrie (1976). The previous remake of Carrie failed to make a significant impact that the original achieved.

The Stand is going to be remade into a series of three-hour films that will be released in the theatres. It will be released in four parts, each part being released two or three months apart. The original 1994 miniseries was a star-studded project with excellent casting, including Molly Ringwald, Gary Sinise, Rob Lowe, Ray Walston, Ruby Dee, Jamie Sheridan, and many others top stars. Not only were these actors big names, but they are also extraordinary actors. Can a project today assemble a cast that will be equal to that created for the original?

I do not even want to discuss IT. This is one of my favorite films. I confess that there are significant emotional ties and memories between this miniseries and myself. Again, the cast seems too perfect to recreate. The brilliant pairing of young and adult versions of the characters, which is a major part of the story, made this film special. The 1990 miniseries starred popular television and film actors like Richard Thomas, John Ritter, Harry Anderson, Tim Reid, Tim Curry, and this does not even include the young actors. The special effects in the original were enough to generate fear, but did not go over-the-top. Let us hope they follow the same rule in the remake.

As far as Pet Sematary, I have two words – Fred Gwynne. Who could possibly replace him?

I would love to see a creative use of Stephen King’s dozens of short stories. There have been attempts, and quite successful ones. Creepshow (1982) is a perfect example of a filmed collection of shorts. Come on, Hollywood and other film production regions; take a while to dig through the work of Stephen King. You will discover a treasure of stories waiting to be made into pictures and sound. Just waiting to be told. Moreover, you would not have to do a remake for years to come. Think about it. Please.

Sources:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000175/

New Page Added

Hello fellow Kingites,

I have added a new page to the blog site with a comprehensive listing of motion pictures and television adaptations of Stephen King's work. The new page is located on the left side of the main page under Mr. King's picture. It is located directly below 'The Books of Stephen King." I have listed all major motion pictures, made-for-television movies, and series/miniseries. I will be adding additional information to the site about programs that used SK's work in individual episodes, such as The X-Files and Monsters.

Hope you enjoy all the posts and pages being added to The King of Castle Rock. If there is information that you would like to see added to the site, please let me know.

Tb

The Twain in King

The other day, I found myself, once again, in the situation of defending the work of Stephen King in relation to classic American literature. The person that I was conversing stated that King's work was good, but could not be compared to the likes of Mark Twain. Both are extraordinary writers with unique voices, which is heavily influenced by the respective region where they grew up. I pondered this conversation for a several hours and started making some comparisons between the two authors.

Here are some similarities between King and Twain:

• Popularity of a genre: Twain brought the American experience to life in his humorous style, which has been recognized as a genre that Twain helped make popular in American culture with many imitators to follow in the years. King has done the same thing with the horror genre. The two genres are different, but both developed their respective genre to a new level.


• Courageous youth as protagonists: Some of Twain's most popular stories involve children and teens as protagonists. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) are examples where young characters are the heroes and lead the readers through an adventure, often involving dangerous situations. Stephen King is known for his young characters facing numerous horrors who lead the battle against whatever evil has befallen upon them. A few examples of this are The Shining (1977), Cycle of the Werewolf (1985), and IT (1986).


• Multiple dimensions of existence: Though the two authors do not hold the patent on stories that cross dimensions of exist, Twain and King do have popular works that involve this phenomenon. Twain's A Conneticutt Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889) is a story that involves time traveling with a twist. Stephen King has explored several different twists on this same idea of time traveling and existing on multiple planes. To find an example, one only has to turn to King's Dark Tower series (1982-2012), which has characters existing on multiple planes at the same time. In "The Mist," a novella in the 1985 short collection Skeleton Crew, King shows what happens when dimensions between two planes is opened. This discussion does not include the planes between earthly and spiritual that is the basis for a good ghost story.

I would argue that there enough comparisons between the two authors to fill a lengthy paper. Does this make them both significant contributors to American literature? Can Twain's status as a mainstay in the study of American lit be used to argue that King too deserves such inclusion? These are questions that depend upon your own personal feelings about King and his work. I assert that King indeed has changed American literature and deserves to be studied with the masters, as he is one. tjb