Stephen King’s journey to becoming one of the most celebrated authors of our time is a testament to resilience, perseverance, and the power of believing in one’s craft.
Born in Portland, Maine, in 1947, King had a difficult childhood. His father left when he was just a toddler, and his mother struggled to make ends meet. As a result, King spent much of his childhood in poverty, but it was in these early years that his passion for writing began to bloom. He would devour books and write short stories, always dreaming of becoming an author.
However, the road to success was far from smooth. After graduating from the University of Maine in 1970, King faced rejection after rejection. He worked a variety of jobs, including as a janitor and a high school teacher, while continuing to write in his spare time. His first novel, Carrie, was actually rejected by publishers multiple times before it was finally accepted. It wasn’t an immediate success, and King recalls how the book almost didn’t make it to the shelves. At one point, after receiving repeated rejections, he threw the manuscript in the trash. It was his wife, Tabitha, who rescued it and encouraged him to keep trying.
Trusting his wife’s judgment, King returned to the manuscript. He completed the novel and sent it to Doubleday, but with little hope of publication. When the phone rang some weeks later, it was Doubleday editor Bill Thompson with life-changing news: they wanted to publish Carrie. The advance? $2,500—a modest sum, but to the struggling King family, it might as well have been a fortune.
What King didn’t know was that shortly after this call, Doubleday sold the paperback rights to New American Library for $400,000, with King’s share being half. His editor called again with this news while King was teaching at school. Unable to comprehend the financial transformation about to occur, King stood in the school’s hallway, stunned. His life had changed forever, all because his wife believed in his talent enough to rescue those crumpled pages from the trash.
Funny encounter at Mc Donalds
One summer day in 1979, not long after the success of “The Shining,” Stephen King stopped at a McDonald’s in small-town Maine while on a family road trip. As King stood in line to order, he noticed an elderly woman staring at him intensely, her eyes widening with growing recognition.
King was used to being recognized, especially in his home state. He smiled politely, expecting the usual request for an autograph. The woman approached him excitedly, clutching her purse.
“I know who you are!” she exclaimed, loud enough for nearby customers to turn and look.
King nodded modestly, ready to engage with a fan.
“You’re that horror writer,” she continued, pointing a finger at him. “You’re Stephen King!”
“Yes, ma’am,” King replied.
The woman’s face transformed into an expression of righteous indignation. She leaned in closer and declared in a stage whisper heard by half the restaurant: “I can’t read your books. I can’t even look at them. The devil is in those books!”
Before King could respond, the woman fumbled in her purse and pulled out… a small silver crucifix. She thrust it toward King’s face, making the sign of the cross.
“I banish you, servant of darkness!” she proclaimed dramatically. Several teenagers in line began snickering.
King, never one to miss an opportunity for humor, clutched his chest and staggered backward in mock horror, pretending to hiss like a vampire. “The power of Christ compels me… to order a Big Mac!” he exclaimed.
The woman gasped and hurried away, while the restaurant erupted in laughter. The McDonald’s manager, who had been watching the scene unfold, approached King with a grin.
“Your meal’s on the house, Mr. King,” he said. “That’s the best entertainment we’ve had in here all year.”
Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn’t carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.
-Stephen King
Self Discipline Habit
Consistent Daily Writing Routine: King is renowned for his disciplined writing habit. He writes 2,000 words every single day, without fail, treating writing as a job rather than a sporadic creative burst. This consistent routine has enabled him to produce an impressive body of work, demonstrating that regular, committed practice is key to creative productivity.
Stephen King – The Prolific And Monumental Writer