1 John Sabolaan Editing for Usage, Style, and Clarity April 9, 2010 Analysis of King: What Writing Is When

people think of Stephen King, the one thing they can probably come up with is the term fiction. Stephen King is a renowned writer, known for his fictional novels; often, people must wonder how he comes up with such bizarre and strange ideas. All are very interesting, often lead to movies. In contrast, his book, On Writing, is a non-fiction memoir of his life and how he became a writer. He gives the specific tools needed for writers, and tells what writing is. One section of the book entitled What Writing is discusses Kings opinion of writing. The section, consisting of only five pages, is to the point and concise. In his own words, King is very direct and adamant about his thinking on writing. The first page starts with a direct answer to the following headline title, What Writing Is and that is Telepathy, of course (King 95). Here, we see that he immediately uses a type of rhetorical trope, a metaphor, implying that writing is telepathy. He then gives an anecdote after that quote. For years people have argued about whether or not such a thing exist, folks like J. B. Rhine have busted their brains trying to create a valid testing process to isolate it, and all the time its been right there, lying out in the open like Mr. Poes Purloined Letter (King 95). This seems to be an interesting background information since J. B. Rhine has had trouble manifesting such a feat as telepathy. Kings initial thought though, is direct, and simply states that writing is telepathy. All the arts

2 depend upon telepathy to some degree, but I believe that writing offers the purest distillation (King 95). In order for Kings telepathy to manifest, he has to be in a far-seeing place. The middle of the essay talks about this far-seeing place he had developed over the years. This is where he begins to prove his point that telepathy occurs in writing. He starts, by describing this far-seeing place, using irony, and hyperbole. Im in another place, a basement place where there are lots of bright lights and clear images.Its a far-seeing place. I know its a little strange, a little bit of a contradiction, that a far-seeing place should also be a basement place(King 95). In this case, he is talking about his basement at his own home. This is contradictory and an exaggeration in terms of his description about such a place as his basement as a far-seeing place. He could have just simply said--special place, instead. In the fourth paragraph, halfway through the essay, he transitions to catch the readers attention by connecting and using appeals almost in simile form, So lets assume that youre in your favorite receiving place just as I am in the place where I do my best transmitting (King 97). He includes the reader and relates to the audience in this style. This seems to build a sense of connectivity with the reader because he engages with the audience, as if King is talking to them right at the very moment. Kings far-seeing place is also his favorite place to read, and he mentions to the reader that they should have one too, but it may be different. At the start of the fifth paragraph, he engages the audience with a demand, as if their right there participating at his hands. And here we go---actual telepathy in action Look---heres a table covered with a red cloth. On it is a cage the size of a small fish aquarium. In the cage is a white rabbit

3 with a pink nose and pink-rimmed eyes. In its front paws is a carrot-stub upon which it is contentedly munching. On its back, clearly marked in blue ink, is the numeral 8 (King, 97). King does a good job in retaining a more personal note to the audiences attention. He alternates from a demand to a simple rhetorical question on the seventh paragraph, Do we see the same thing? Wed have to get together and compare notes to make absolutely sure, but I think we do (King, 97). He then compares and contrasts with what the audience may be perceiving. There will be necessary variation, of course: some receivers will see a cloth which is turkey redsomescarlet, while others may see still other shades (King, 97). This, in effect, is a good way to relate with the audience and bring attention, since some may have a different perception than what he sees in his mind. After a brief description of the visual image he has created for the audience, he then again engages in a more personal note. We all understand the cage is a see-through medium; beyond that we dont care. The most interesting thing here isnt even the carrot munching rabbit in the cage, but the number on its backThis is what were looking at, and we all see it. I didnt tell you. You dint ask meWere having a meeting of the minds (King 98). This is where King indicates that telepathy manifest and is in actual work. He gives a description at the beginning of what the reader should see in this farseeing place; but he points out that only the number eight is what most will see, as opposed to the other descriptions the reader should look for. In the ninth paragraph is where the climax starts. He begins to prove his point about meeting with the minds of the readers. He says it pretty blatantly, using vulgar language, I sent you a table with a red cloth on it, a cage, a rabbit, and the number eight in

4 blue ink. You got them all, especially that blue eight. Weve engaged in an act of telepathy. No mythy-mountain shit; real telepathy (King 98). Its obvious that King is trying to make a statement in proving his point. Even though there is no actual material evidence, King says it bluntly to persuade the reader that actual telepathy is occurring. Kings utilization of profanity throughout his essay gives the reader some sense of seriousness about his opinion, You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair..you can come to the act with your fists clenched and your eyes narrowed, ready to kick ass and take down names (King, 98). He also does the same manner with his conclusion on the last paragraph, This isnt a popularity contest, its not the moral Olympics, and its not church. But its writing, damn it, not washing the car or putting on eyeliner (King 98). In Kings essay on What Writing Is, he makes a point that writing is telepathy, and one way he convinces the audience is by creating a personal type of tone, simulating a type of communication with the reader. Along the way, he also utilizes rhetoric styles, such as metaphor, anecdotes, simile, hyperbole, irony, and even profanity. Using all the elements, he is able to get the readers attention in persuading them to believe the point he is trying to make.