I’m working on my big American Icons cover story on Stephen King today, and it could almost fill up two full issues. King gave me so much good stuff: He’s a truly fascinating guy, and he had so many great stories and takes on things. When I flew up to Maine to talk to him in December, we got into a discussion of popular authors vs. the academic elite, a subject he has strong opinions about, and I asked him if his mainstream success over the past 35 years paved the way for the massive careers of Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling and Twilight author Stephenie Meyer. Click read more for King’s feelings about those two as well as some other best-selling authors. And remember to check out my cover story on King in the March 6-8 issue of USA WEEKEND.
Photo courtesy of Simon & Schuster
King, whose Stephen King Goes to the Movies collection came out last week, doesn’t know how much of an influence he had on Meyer, but he does know that Rowling read his stuff when she was younger. "I think that has some kind of formative influence the same way reading Richard Matheson had an influence on me," King explains. "People always say to me, ‘Well, what about H.P. Lovecraft?’ And the thing was, you read Lovecraft when you were a kid but I never felt that he was speaking my language. It was chillier than my heart was, and when Matheson started to write about ordinary people and stuff, that was something that I wanted to do. I said, ‘This is the way to do it. He’s showing the way.’ I think that I serve that purpose for some writers, and that’s a good thing. Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking directly to young people. … The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good."
But then King recalls that when his mom was alive, she read all the Erle Stanley Gardner books, the Perry Mason mysteries, obsessively when he was growing up. "He was a terrible writer, too, but he was very successful," King says. "Somebody who’s a terrific writer who’s been very, very successful
is Jodi Picoult. You’ve got Dean Koontz, who
can write like hell. And then sometimes he’s just awful. It varies. James Patterson is a terrible writer but he’s very very successful. People are attracted by the stories, by the pace and in the case of Stephenie Meyer, it’s very clear that she’s writing to a whole generation of girls and opening up kind of a safe joining of love and sex in those books. It’s exciting and it’s thrilling and it’s not particularly threatening because they’re not overtly sexual. A lot of the physical side of it is conveyed in things like the vampire will touch her forearm or run a hand over skin, and she just flushes all hot and cold. And for girls, that’s a shorthand for all the feelings that they’re not ready to deal with yet."
You know, I can honestly say that he doesn’t see what is good about Stephenie Meyer. I think she is a great writer… You don’t have to use every single vivid word in the english language in order to be a great writer. It takes emotion and love for the characters you write. She writes in first person, which in itself can make or break your career. She pulls it off so well! I love all her books and I can’t wait to see what else she has to give us.
In all honesty, I’m not the biggest fan of King. I tried to read his novel, Desperation, but couldn’t get into it. Sure, I may be a teenager but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what a good book is. For me, if I’m not drawn to a book so much that I’ll sit for hours reading it at a time, it isn’t very good. And I couldn’t do that with his novel. I love Harry Potter and Twilight. I also love the Inheritence Cycle by Christopher Paolini… I’ll read anything including the classics.
I’m confused as to why King feels its alright to bring Meyer’s writing down when he writes around the same level she does, of course he has more experience than she does. He shouldn’t judge an author who hasn’t been in the business as long as he has.
Also, he shouldn’t judge a novel the way he has hers when it is GETTING KIDS TO READ!!!! I feel you should support any novels that get kids and teenagers to read. I’ve always loved reading but I have friends that don’t like it, but they’ve read Twilight and loved it. As long as it is drawing kids to literature, it has to be good!
I dont find anything wrong with enjoying the Meyer books, yes they are poorly written, but not only are teenage girls obssessed but so r grown women including myself. Stephen is amazing, but he really shouldn’t critic her so harshly, especially since Meyer is just starting off. I love both authors, but King should probably never talk about Meyer again or he’ll get chased down like poor Rob Pattinson does, except in a bad way..
Steohenie Meyer’s style is a lot different from his. Twilight by Stephen King? HA!
Her books have sold better than any of his.
Wow… everybody needs to calm down. As far as proper writing goes, Stephenie isn’t good… she has said so herself… that the one thing she would improve about her previous books is making the writing better, because she had no idea what she was doing at the time. However, she is a fabulous storyteller. As far as getting the right words and arranging them properly, she has room for growth, but that doesn’t weaken the power of her stories one bit… her stories are amazing. You young people need to learn to differentiate between good writing and good storytelling. Although when it comes to enjoying Twilight, well, that’s not really important.
To Angie B: Good for you! I’m glad. I just hope the others of your age will feel the same way. I meant it for the harsh comments that some have left.
Wow, for those who mentioned paedophilia, the shame is on YOU. Meyer’s books are simply for entertainment value..science fiction with romance and a bit of horror. Obviously, her writings are more for the teenage audience and those young at heart; not adult pieces like those of King. For you to construe Meyer’s ideas in that way, that’s pretty sad..sad that authors can’t have an imagination or a different style of writing w/o being criticized. Again, wow, you seem like adults yet you don’t act like it. An actual adult would ignore petty little comments regarding someone as established as King.
First of all this is Stephenies first books, she has a long way to go!! Mr. King has many years behind him… and to tell you the truth I dont care for his books nor will I ever pick a book of his. Thanks to Stephenie I’m reading and cant wait for her future work…I guess everyone has their taste and I personally LOVE the Twilight story…by the way I’m no teenager.
“Unfortunately, these blogs adds to that mockery. Don’t you all realize that those millions of young kids WILL read this article?”
A comment from Stephen King isn’t going to make someone who likes the books not like them anymore. I’ve read all 4 books, I like them as a guilty pleasure, but I can admit they’re poorly written. This is something Stephenie can improve, and I’m sure she will. Oh, and I’m 16 – we’re not all as stupid as you think … I can take someone having a different opinion as me.
I am a HUGE fan of Twilight but it is true that Stephenie Meyer cannot write. She has a very limited vocabulary when shes writing and many, many other things. I really do like the books and no, i havent read Stephen King so I wont say anything about him..Im glad Stephenie Meyer wrote the series though!!
tem cara de cu
Well, I think that Mr. King needs to chill out a bit, he called Ms. Meyer not a good writer, but what is a good writer, exactly? Is there a mathematic formula for it? Ok, Mr. Meyer writes entertaining books, so does Mr. King, he’s nothing more but also nothing less. There are so many writers out there, who wants that their book get published, but hey, if you have luck, you have it and Mr. Meyer had a little bit of it. So get over this stupid debate. It’s just a waste of your and my time. If you like Mr. Meyer more? So be it. you like Mr. King more,the same. that’s your thing, I kinda like both, they write good easy reading entertaining books, for me you can put them in the box :Mental Cinema writers”. I read a lot, in different genres, it doesn’t matter to me, if it’s a so called smart/ high reading book or just a little entertaining book.
REPOST:
Ten years ago, society criticized the youth of their lack of interests in reading books/novels. Video games and computers invaded our homes in place of reading and quality time with family. Now that a book has sparked young minds…correction…millions of young minds, they then get ridiculed for the quality of the books their reading.
Unfortunately, these blogs adds to that mockery. Don’t you all realize that those millions of young kids WILL read this article? Are you not aware that everyone’s comments will leave our youth with a “broken spirit” of what they intitially thought was a huge accomplishment in itself to have read not just one…but a whole series of “books”?
I’m a mother with a daughter in first grade. I would never ridicule the quality of books that she herself chooses. I ~embrace~ her choice.
My advice to everyone…including Mr. King himself…is to embrace the phenomenon as well. The phenomenon that brought our youth back into bookstores and libraries.
Encourage not discourage.
Ten years, society criticizd the youth of their lack of interests in reading books/novels. Video games and computers invaded our homes in place of reading and quality time with family. Now that a book has sparked young minds…correction…millions of young minds, they then get ridiculed for the quality of the books their reading.
Unfortunately, these blogs adds to that mockery. Don’t you all realize that those millions of young kids WILL read this article? Are you not aware that everyone’s comments will leave our youth with a “broken spirit” of what they intitially thought was a huge accomplishment in itself to have read not just one…but a whole series of “books”?
I’m a mother with a daughter in first grade. I would never ridicule the quality of books that she herself chooses. I ~embrace~ her choice.
My advice to everyone…including Mr. King himself…is to embrace the phenomenon as well. The phenomenon that brought our youth back into bookstores and libraries.
Encourage not discourage.
I think as creative
Writer that push the limit of writing you I think be more open to creative to be a good writer
You not open minds, as you seem to be as and not super Natural is not all way blood and horrors is more in that a that a mystery
Stephen King wasn’t harsh at all!.
EVERY writer or media-based celebrity will sooner or later state their opinions on eachother’s work-everyone has freedom of speech.
If he was going to be harsh then he would of said how it promoted Paedophilia and basically made teenage kids (if you are an adult-shame on you!) into obessive maniacs who can’t stand their previous Stephenie Meyer to be criticised.
All we need now is for JK Rowling to say how rubbish her ‘rival’ is and Stephenie Meyer might get the hint?.
Why on Earth would he be jealous when has critical acclaim, millions of fans, and more name recognition than 99% of all living authors? He’s doing okay for himself. He was asked a question and gave an honest answer. Hopefully this gives Meyer motivation to improve her writing, but she has reacted negatively to criticism after her last book came out, so who knows.
I’m a King fan as well as a Twilight fan and I agree totally with King – while I love the Twilight series the writing and Stephaine Meyer are pure rot. It’s obvious that this woman found a cash cow and ran with it. So I guess there is one Twilight fan that he didn’t offend…
stephen king has good books but to go and dis someone elses book is just wronge that makes him look bad on the few books she did write she did amazing and sold alot she might not be a good writer to him but to thousands she is and im not a teenager so u can agree or not my children are on the same page as me with this to actually see them read is amazing you lok at it if she suck but for some people it takes a writer like her.
Steven King, you are my new love.
bom, eu sou brasileira, sei falar inglês mas eu prefiro falar na minha lingua!!
Bom, Eu amo “Twilight” and “Harry Potter”, e acho que bom você em certos pontos tem razão e em vários outros você não tem. Pra mim a pior profissão que existe no mundo é ser critico, para mim que tem que decidir se um filme ou um livro é bom e o povo!! Se crepúsculo é podre milhões de pessoas não gastavam seus mizeros dinheiro para comprar e ler o livro assim como fazem com Harry Potter. Eu tenho todos os livros de Crepusculo e Harry Potter e não me arrependo de ter comprado nenhum deles. Eu acho que o seu problema é amor.
Aquele livro do Sr. Reis é um absurdo, bom você é um absurdo!! Não acho que Meyer seja uma péssima escritora, muitas pessoas amam o trabalho que ela fa e assim como amam harry potter, pra mim esse négocio e porque crepusculo chegou do nada e tão tudo com raiva porque é a sençação do momento!!
“He needs to shut the hell up, stupid man. Maybe he’s just jealous about the sucess she has! Idiot.
Posted by: Hana | Feb 3, 2009 1:05:40 PM | Flag as abusive”
OMGOSH sweetie, arent you late for kindergarten? Be quiet and run back to school dear, Nap time awaits.
Stephen King has TALENT, he has DECADES of Experience, DOZENS of Books, DOZENS of Movies and MILLIONS of Fans that are mature enough to know good writing when they see it. So I dont think Twi-Tards have the right to go around critisising a man Stephenie Meyer isnt even CLOSE to being on the calibre of. He has talent, he has the backing and he has the kind of career she can only dream of, I read one comment elsewhere that states he was traumatising people… Well I have news for you, my darling little Twilight fans. Breaking B*ll*cks traumatised me. Jacob turned out to be a paedophile! Oh wait, so did Quil, its a trait! SHOCKER!
That book was the biggest waste of a tree i’ve ever read and the whole demon spawn was disgusting, Bella being human and drinking Blood made me physically SICK!. When you want to mature your tastes and read something that doesnt have more plot holes than gramatical mistakes, Feel free to pick up a Stephen King novel and get lost in a REAL story.
Or, if you would like to read something by a more Cult Author, I recommend Karen Chance, her stories are truly fascinating. And her characters arent whiny. See, shes looking like a better choice already!
My God…losing respect over an author disagreeing with your views is a tad bit immature.
Stephen King is a legend!-love him or not, the guy has written amazing books, which have been made into amazing films.
Yeah yeah!, I know ‘Twilight’ was made into a movie-but is it THAT good that fans were being torn into two sides over casting?.
‘Dream Team’.
‘Chosen Ones’.
So please ‘Twi-tards’, come and comment when you have read MATURE adult literature like Mr King’s.
Exactly. There is nothing wrong with enjoying her work. However, anyone who thinks its well-written really need to get out of the new release section of their local library more. Its just about knowing where it fits in literature. Frankly, its not great literature. Its flash in the pan, fun, cheesy stuff written for a very young, unsophisticated audience. Its obvious when reading the subsequent books because Meyer drops her own plot points.
Why anyone is upset by his comments are beyond me.
As an aspiring writer, THANK YOU MR. KING. It’s sad to see such poorly written work making someone millions while thousands of lesser known authors are writing brilliant, meaningful pieces that aren’t getting published.
He’s right. Meyer writes entertaining books, but her writing is very unsophisticated. She has even acknowledged this in interviews. I see no problem with it – sometimes people want to read books that aren’t classic literature, like Steinbeck or Joyce, and that’s okay. But, it is rather scary when teenage girls honestly believe these are the best books ever written.
Stephenie a big ego ? hahaha It shows how much you know !
You know what were going to be going back and forth with this but you know what you love things I’ll hate and you know what I love these books and nobody can change my mind !
I’ve lost all respect for Stephen King !
Nice. Totally on point. Stephenie Meyer can’t write. She just wrote a story that captivated an audience hungry for a love story. Yet, most fanfiction authors write better Twilight stories than Meyer ever achieved. She is outshined by her own fans. Not to mention the huge ego she carries around.
Its refreshing to have someone tell it like it is. So, I admire that about Stephen King.
Yes the truth hurts but it still doesn’t mean it’s right !
If she was such a bad writer why do so many people connect with her stories ? Yes JK Rowling is a better writer but that doesn’t mean we’ll like her books more ! I love these books and it’s not only for young kids ! This really upsets me but you know what it was her first book series give her a break !
Stephen don’t you have something better to do than knock on a fellow writer who’s trying to do things ?
Stephen King-
I understand your trying to make a point but what gives you the right to critique a new writer who’s trying to find her niche ?
Stephenie has said time and time that she’s not a good writer !
She gets is MR. KING SHE GET’S IT ! You can’t leave her alone ? I for one have read both series and you know what I LOVED THE TWILIGHT SERIES MORE ! CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT ? Stephenie is a great story teller and I honestly love that she took a chance and shared it with us. So she’s not a good writer ? Does she deserve this ? SHE DIDN’T DO A DAMN THING TO YOU !
I read for the fun of it and if I connect to a story and Stephenies books have done that for me I don’t need this literally masterpiece crap !!!! SO PLEASE LEAVE US ALONE AND WRITE ANOTHER BOOK !!!
u know what, I love twilgiht series and harry potter series, maybe they all aren’t good but think about og how much time they spend with writing this books. if stephenie meyer is a terrible writer than why does the whole world loves her and her books??
I think that Stephen king is absolutly wrong, every author wants to write on their own way, so just live with it
I was waiting for a good author to say this! As much as I love Twilight, I know what good writing is & this isn’t it. It’s a letdown. Fanfiction is better than a lot of her stuff. It draws you in then kicks you in the butt. Breaking Dawn is proof of that.
I’m glad Stephen had the balls to say what many are thinking.
People are attracted to the idea of a human & a vampire loving each other. If this story were about regular teen people no one would care. Frankly, I would’ve never picked up the book. The intrigue is the premise not the writing.
Let’s face it. Harry Potter books are fine. But they too are the same old story. Good vs. Evil. The hero has to overcome obstacles to become the defeater of evil. The hero has mentors. Sounds a little like star wars characters. I’m honestly not knocking Harry Potter. I lover Harry Potter. My point is that authors take familiar themes and make their own stories around them. I think Stephen King, King of Horror, should acknowledge that and leave at that. No need to say someone is a terrible writer. I personally love the twilight series and have read it many times. I enjoy the easy writing style of Stephanie and the page turning quality it provides. I apparently am not the only one who has stayed up til 3 am. promising themselves one more chapter. Unfortunately, as good as they may be, I didn’t have any trouble putting Harry Potter down for a good night’s sleep. As for King, I hate his books. But he is a good writer.
Regarding Jennifer’s comment, there are millions of people who have purchased Britney Spears’s albums and have gone to see her at concerts. But I’d be hard pressed to find someone who can tell me that Britney’s voice is better than Aretha Franklin’s. It’s pure entertainment. Popularity is not indicative of talent.
I am a huge fan of Meyer’s series, but I also understand why some literary critics may find her work “dribble”. However, she does not seem to write for the purpose of appealing to the masses as a great scholarly novelist. She writes (in my opinion) for the simple satisfaction and joy of telling a story.
…So lighten up, people!
Annnnnd, the Twihards are going on a rampage as we speak. I agree with what King said. Meyer’s writing is, if anything, mediocre. Rowling’s Harry Potter exceeds Meyer’s Twilight in every possible way. This is just a fad, and it will pass once these teenies grow up and realize what good writing is.
If something’s popular, it doesn’t always mean it’s good. Usually, the excellent novels are overshadowed by the crappy novels, like silly harlequin romances, which is basically what Twilight is, when you get right down to it. There is nothing special about it. Or Edward Cullen. “He was the most beautiful guy in the world” is basically his entire character development, let’s be honest. Well, besides the controlling, manic-depressive qualities. Same thing goes for every other character Meyer has created.
Stephen King speaks the truth.
Right-on Stephen King! Stephanie Lampshade can’t write at all. What more proof do you need than “Breaking Fail”.
YES! Thank you Stephen King.
Stephenie Meyer is a horrendous writer.
I love the twilight but i agree…jo is an exceptional writer..her story is a thousand times better and more complex than twilight. but still i think twilight is amazing but nothing compared the harry.
Mara… I agree, it is kind of unprofessonal to comment on other writers… however sometimes the truth hurts. I think it is more unprofessonal of Meyer to abuse her readers, saying they just dont understand her books, and they need to reread them and learn to love them, and that it is their fault a unfinished draft of her book *which she was handing out to people* leaked.
She never takes responciblity for anything she does, and often blames others, mainly her readers, when things dont turn out peachy keen.
I am not a big fan of king’s writing, mainly because it is just not my thing, but I can recognize that he knows how to writer properly. Meyer has yet to prove she can write legitimately. her writing is pushed out in 3-4 months by her own admission, and it lacks the loving care into each word that is found in king and rowling.
And meyer is constantly comparing herself to rowling, shakesphere, austin, bronte, and the like. she is no where near those authors.
I think for someone as established as he is, his comments were unprofessional and uncalled for.
And hana, just so you know, stephen king has sold far more books then stephenie meyer has. he has no reason to be jealous. he is considered by the literary world and reading public to be a master of his craft.
Meyer is considered by the literary world and the vast majority of the reading public to be a fluke who found a niche with a young age group, then milked it for all she could, which she has.
Jennifer, To answer your question, most of stephenie meyer’s readers are really young *too young to be reading the series as a whole when you bringing breaking dawn, subtitled, the smuttification of twilight* and therefore, usually arent going to be as well read or as discerning as older readers. For the most part, the books are vain, vapid, self-indulgent drivil that relys on physical sexual obsession, yet by the end of breaking dawn, has never once shown anything that resembled love.
All it is, by meyer’s admission, her fantasy, and that she is bella. No surprise that she makes bella this self indulgent, whinny person who is perfect, yet always whines about imperfections she only has when shes whinning about it. she spends all this time lusting and describing edward in purely physical terms, and maybe 1-2% of her descriptions ever go deeper then skin deep.
Her characters are flat and underdeveloped, and constitue only a name, a physical description, and abused, cliches vampire romance personality traits.
He needs to shut the hell up, stupid man. Maybe he’s just jealous about the sucess she has! Idiot.
I like all 3 writers for the different things that I get when I read their books. JK Rowling created a whole world that is fascinating & great. I love the Twilight series for the characters. I think comparing the Twilight series & the Harry Potter series is difficult because they are very different except for some of the mythical aspects. I disagree that Stephenie Myers isn’t a good writer. She brings enduring characters and a sweet story of first love that many can releate to. Both bring their own unique qualities to their stories as does Stephen King in his books. When it comes down to it, its all an opinion, but those of us who enjoy both or in my case all 3 writers there’s enough to enjoy from all.
Come on, he’s absolutely right.
Stephenie is such a bad writer, and as Stephen said, teenagers like her stories because all of them want a Edward, a life with vampires, true love, etc. It doesn’t mean she’s good, just means that people like her.
Stephen King’s opinion is very worth, well, he’s Stephen King!
I agree with “IknewIT”, Twilight fans will be really furious, but Stephen is right.
U know that her writting skills aren’t good
but she can facinates the public
Of Course she can’t compare to Stephen
he’s the King
I’m not a King fan, but I agree with him all the way. Meyer didn’t get kids deeper into reading and writing, opening imaginations and coining quirky language like Rowling. She just wrote a romance for tweens to enjoy that’s mocked by a lot of people. But everyone’s got their own thing, so it’s better to agree to disagree.
If she’s such a bad writer, why are millions of people so attached to the book they have to read it 10 times? If she is such a terrible “writer” how could she of written characters that millions of people go to bed every night dreaming about?
Your opinion is worth nothing, Stephen King.
Back in the ’90s I tried reading one of Mr. Kings books and quite frankly, they bore me.
“Twilight” Fans will be furious, but he´s right, you know!