What Stephen King’s On Writing Can Teach Us About Crafting a Compelling Story
Stephen King's On Writing, is arguably one of the best, if not the most famous books/memoirs written on the subject of writing. It remains one of the most beloved guides for writers, both for its down-to-earth advice and its honest look into a writer’s life. King doesn't just share what works for him—he invites writers to think about how to develop their own craft.
Let's look at a few of his key takeaways:
1. "The adverb is not your friend" — Write with Precision
King’s warning about adverbs, especially in dialogue tags, is one of his most memorable pieces of advice. Why? Because adverbs often signal weak writing. If you have to tell the reader that a character said something "angrily" or "softly," you may not have written strong enough dialogue or action around the words to convey that emotion.
Instead of:
"I don’t care," she said angrily.
Consider:
"I don’t care." She slammed her glass on the table, eyes narrowing.
By showing action and body language, you create a vivid image and allow readers to feel the emotion without being told what it is. This invites readers deeper into the scene and makes your characters more real.
Takeaway: Trust your dialogue and action to carry emotional weight. Cut adverbs ruthlessly when they only explain what you’ve already shown.
2. "Read a lot, write a lot" — The Writer’s Two-Part Practice
King is firm on this: if you want to write well, you must read voraciously and write consistently. Reading exposes you to different voices, styles, and structures, and teaches you (often subconsciously) how language works. It also shows you what resonates and what falls flat—lessons that shape your own writing.
Writing often, on the other hand, is how you build your skill and find your voice. Waiting for inspiration or the perfect idea doesn’t make you a writer; showing up regularly and practicing does. King writes every day—his goal is 2,000 words a day—and he encourages others to adopt a regular habit, even if it’s a smaller target.
Takeaway: Make reading and writing non-negotiable parts of your routine. Even 300 words a day adds up to a novel in a year.
3. "Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open" — The Two Stages of Drafting
King’s metaphor about the door is crucial for understanding the creative process. Your first draft is for you alone. It’s where you tell yourself the story, explore ideas, and take risks. At this stage, don't worry about what others might think—just get the words down.
But once that draft is finished, it’s time to revise with the door open. Now you must think about the reader’s experience. What’s confusing? What drags? What’s unnecessary? You become both the creator and the editor, making the story tighter, clearer, and more compelling.
Takeaway: Give yourself permission to write messy first drafts. Then, revise ruthlessly with your future reader in mind.
4. The Toolbox — Building Your Writer’s Tools
King encourages writers to think of their skills as tools in a toolbox. At the top are vocabulary and grammar—basic but essential. Below are elements like description, dialogue, pacing, and theme. You may not need every tool for every story, but you need to know how to use them when the moment calls for it.
For example, if you struggle with writing natural dialogue, practice writing conversations until it flows. If description feels flat, study how great writers evoke setting and mood in just a few lines.
Takeaway: Focus on strengthening one tool at a time. Writing improves when you sharpen the skills that feel weakest.
5. "Fear is the enemy of good writing" — Write Boldly and Honestly
King reminds us that fear is what holds writers back—fear of failure, of rejection, of what others will think. But writing that tries too hard to be "safe" or "perfect" often lacks energy and truth.
Readers connect to writing that feels authentic. That means being willing to write scenes that are vulnerable, characters that are flawed, and conflicts that are raw. It also means accepting that not every piece will be perfect—and that’s okay.
Takeaway: Push past fear. Be brave enough to write what feels real and meaningful to you, even if it's messy.
6. The Importance of Story over Plot
One of King's subtler points is that stories grow out of "situations" more than from rigid plots. He often starts with a "what if?" scenario and lets the characters drive the narrative. Instead of forcing characters into a pre-determined plot, he listens to where the story naturally wants to go.
"Stories are found things, like fossils in the ground," he says.
I recommend a studied reading of the book. Even though Stephen King is famous for his noir and horror stories, his advice is helpful for any genre, including mystery writing.