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Lot #557
Stephen King

In a rare letter, King encourages a fledgling writer by recalling his own early struggles: “Those doubts start to creep in…am I really good enough? Does anybody care if I am? Is anybody at all out there listening?”

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Description

In a rare letter, King encourages a fledgling writer by recalling his own early struggles: “Those doubts start to creep in…am I really good enough? Does anybody care if I am? Is anybody at all out there listening?”

TLS signed “Steve King,” two pages, 8.5 x 11, December 27, 1989. Letter to an aspiring writer. In part: “Your girlfriend…writes a mean letter. She must, because it just about takes dynamite for me to write a letter to someone, especially a stranger. Although she does not come right out and say so, she seems to feel you need encouragement with your work. If you really like to write fiction, you probably don’t; a few sales and a little money would go a lot further. Remembering back to three of four years before I started to sell my stuff (up to that point I had about five dozen assorted rejection slips hanging from a nail in the laundry room where my typewriter was situated between the washer and the dryer), I’d guess that if there’s a crisis going on with you in regard to your work, it’s one of confidence rather than interest. Those doubts start to creep in…am I really good enough? Does anybody care if I am? Is anybody at all out there listening?…But if you are good, I can tell you the thought that used to afford me good cheer when I got down in the dumps. I’d think that sooner or later, Irving Stone, Irving Wallace, Harold Robbins, James Michener and all the rest would have to kick off (now that I think of it, Irving Stone has) and leave room for somebody younger to belly up to the bar. At 24, that was me…When nothing else works, my friend, repeat the following brief sentence aloud: ‘They’re all getting older; time is on my side.’” In fine condition. King is very scarce in letters, evidenced by his own humorous admission of needing “dynamite for me to write.” Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title:
  • Dates: #374 - Ended August 10, 2011





This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
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