17 Dec 2025 · 2 min
Brian Johnson breaks down Stephen King's writing philosophy: treat writing like telepathy, read and write constantly, use strong verbs instead of adverbs, and revise ruthlessly. King argues that resilience from real failure matters as much as technique.
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to Heroic Wisdom Daily, Today's book on Writing A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. Half memoir, half masterclass, King doesn't just tell you what makes great writing, he shows it through his life, work, routines and relentless commitment. This is super inspiring. If you're a writer, it's a must read. If you're just a fan of the creative process or a student of the creative process, I think you'll also enjoy it. Stephen King, of course, one of the most prolific and successful writers in history, gives us a snapshot of how he approaches his life and his craft. Awesome stuff. Check out the notes. Here's your one minute summary. Before I forget, check out Creativity 101 in the app as well, along with a ton of notes on creativity, Steven Pressfield, other great writers. So one minute summary. Write like it's telepathy King believes good writing transmits your thoughts so clearly that readers see exactly what you see. Practice this clarity with every sentence. Keep the toolbox sharp. Vocabulary, grammar, style, simple tools, but they matter, he says. Avoid adverbs, use strong verbs, write clean. First drafts are about telling the story. Don't overthink, get the story down, fix what's wrong. In second drafts, the idea is to finish not perfect in one go, he says. Read a lot, write a lot. To write well, you need exposure to what works in regular practice. Both feed the craft, which is why I love to read. It improves the writing and you get attuned to what really, really good writing looks and feels like. And life shapes your stories. King's journey, his successes, failures, even his near fatal accidents became part of how he writes and what he teaches. The vulnerability lends truth to craft, he says. You're not born a writer, you become one through attention, courage and persistence. What will you write today to tell your truth? Other fun fact that didn't make it into this he tells the brilliant story about how when he was a young man writing, he got a rejection slip. He took it, wasn't embarrassed by it. He pinned it up on his wall. He used a little nail. Then he proceeded to get so many rejection slips that he had to have this huge spike in his wall. He embraced the failures, kept on showing up. How about you.
