In a move sure to anger twelve-year-old girls everywhere, the world’s best-selling author Stephen King has called out Stephenie Meyer.
Speaking to USA Weekend’s Lorrie Lynch, King was asked to make comparisons between two of the bigger selling authors in recent memory, J.K. Rowling and Meyer. King replied, “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.”
King went on to elaborate, saying that there are some authors who aren’t so good who sell a lot of books and some that are very good that also earn the status of best-seller.  King recalled that growing up, his mother devoured and loved the works of Earl Stanley Gardner.Â
“He was a terrible writer, too, but he was very successful,” King said. “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.”
As for the appeal of the “Twilight” saga, King said, “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.”
The interview is part of a new feature on King that will be published in this weeend’s USA Weekend. And while it appears King is critical of the “Twilight” novels, there is no word on his thoughts on Meyer’s adult novel, “The Host.”Â
Guise Knight says
Hello, Pot, this is Kettle, Yer black!
Michael Hickerson says
I disagree. I’ve read a lot of King and all of Meyer’s novels. And I prefer King. I find his writing stronger, fresher and more solid than I do Meyer’s. Also I find that King’s stories, while many times about the supernatural, feel more grounded and authetic than do Myer’s. The stuff happening in a King novel may be totally off the wall, but I find an authenticity in the characters and their reactions that is missing from the Twilight saga….
John from Jersey says
While I’ve never really been thrilled by King’s writing style, I agree completely with his assessments of these other authors. Particularly Patterson (who doesn’t even write his own books anymore) and Meyer.
Jarik says
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
Micky says
I have enjoyed just about every one of King’s books except for Cujo and that’s just because I am an animal lover. I also love Dean Koontz and have books of his when he still used the R as his middle name. I hate John Saul who’s books all have the same story line but the character’s name just change just like V.C. Andrews. I tend to agree with King where you just do not subliminally write those kinds of story lines geared toward girls that are on that bridge between being a girl and becoming a woman. Its a confusing time in and of itself, let alone reading books that suggest that its quite normal for a Vampire to caress you and make you run hot and cold when that’s what they are beginning to experience anyway. To me its no different from those trashy pulp romance novels that had Fabio on the cover because the publisher or author considered him to be the epitome of what women wanted in a man. But hence the difference, women, not prepubescent girls.
And few authors now a days write their own books but rather come up with a topic or story line and hire ghost writers. Its all a question of making a buck and becoming famous. So let’s throw caution to the wind. This is where parents come in. Check out what your children are reading, watching and doing on the Internet.
Brian Brown says
Here! Here! Micky! There is a great snarky take on the entire Twilight series on LiveJournal.
One of the shows I do voice work on, QN, had a reading of the first essay.
http://quirkynomads.com/wp/2008/12/26/the-secrets-of-the-sparkle/
She links the original LJ entries in her post.
chrissi says
Haha I was only just comparing Meyer and King’s writing yesterday as I found them so similar!
Both easy to read, not much in the originality department, not particularly demanding on the reader, both best sellers without any particular talent.
I was given the twilight saga as a gift and the only difference in their writing I can see is that Meyers novels are slightly more interesting.
kelly says
wow i haven’t read any of Stephens writing but i love the twilight saga not because of the reasons stated but because i would love to have the decision of being a vampire mortal or werewolf . plus i love the characters in the book and i find the story so interesting i don’t see why Stephen doesn’t like her writing then again i am a teenager
jen says
I like steven king
but i totally disagree with his opinoin about the twilight saga
i am a huge twilight saga fan and i think stephenie meyer is a very very talented writer.
she is so talented that she inspires me to write.I can care less for J.K Rowling…
Stephenie Meyer is way more talented than her.
I guess I say all of this because im a big Twilighter, but still.
Chrissy says
You are one stupid f—– person if you think Stephenie Meyer isn’t a good writer a—–!!!! Is that why her books are BESTSELLERS?!?!?!?! Exactly and I’ve read your books your the one who can’t write a damn book!!! So don’t you dare talk about Twilight that way!!!
Arkle says
Chrissy: Spellchecker is your friend. It’s you’re not your. I read Stephen king too. You are just plain wrong. Stephanie Meyer’s books are downright sexist. Edward is an abusive, jealous, control freak. And don’t even get me started on the pedophillic implications of the werewolves in her books. Also, it is a free country, we can talk about the Twilight books and the negative message it has about the role of women in relationships (i.e. don’t make any decisions by yourself because you can’t be trusted to be rational unless you have a boyfriend). I mean seriously, in the 21st century people think it’s romantic to have a young girl ready to throw herself off a cliff over a douchebag vampire?
Jen says
King is so right. I’ve read the Twilight books and I’ve read both Rowlings and King. Meyer doesn’t come close to either of them in the quality of the writing. The story concept of Twilight is PERFECT for it’s intended audience however and I think they will continue to be very popular even though they are not as well crafted as they could be.
LSeb says
What supporters of the Twilight Saga ( like our friend Chrissy) don’t seem to understand (even though they are the same people who defend the series) is that they don’t actually like the story.
Even though they ‘think’ they like the saga as a whole, what they actually like is Edward. Edward, Edward and more Edward. And to Steph’s credit, Edward is pretty much the perfect boy/man/hero that her subconscious mind could have dredged up. The fangirls are willing to ignore the slow pacing, the Pollyanna-ish thematic and ending, entire chapters completely devoid of plot and the insanely annoying whining and neuroticism (hearing voices anyone?) Bella, just so they can read more about the perfect Edward.
They probably didn’t even realize that Edward didn’t give any discernible reason other than curiosity (at not being able to read her mind) and a nice aroma, as to why (after a century of not finding he right girl) he suddenly falls in love, for no particular reason, for a girl that should be completely beneath his notice. The fangirls gladly subconsciously ignore this so that they can put themselves in Bella’s shoes and they too can spend romantic moments with boy completely out their league.
Edward is the meat of the Twilight Saga, the actual story is shoved to the background in the light of his character.
With J.K.Rowling on the other hand, she focuses on both character development AND plot development and her literary genius clearly decimates the Twilight Saga in the eyes of people not completely overcome by pubescent hormones (Kudos to Meyer’s publisher for being smart enough to know EXACTLY what market her books should be aimed at though).
While I agree with King’s comments, I don’t think he should be throwing any stones, since his books have hideously slow pacing and one would think that they were made with a vampire audience in mind (people who have an eternity to read as much as they want). I can only remember finishing three of his books. ‘It’ (after my second try and only then because I liked the movie adaption a lot), the one about the insomnia (which left such a huge impression on me that I can’t even remember fully what it was about or even it’s title for that matter) and Needful Things. The others I couldn’t finish because I just stopped caring.
Shea says
I loving reading all types of books and in my opinion I think that Meyer, King, and Rowling are all great writers can’t we get along here and speak with respect for one another.
But I kinda agree with LSeb. I fell in love with Edward. He’s hot. But It’s the story line I enjoy the most but I still talk with some respect.
Shea says
Can’t we all just get along
tish says
I actually TRIED to read a Stephen King book (Nightmares and Dreamscares, i think) and just couldn’t get into it (although, i enjoy the movies). For Twilight and the books that followed, i enjoyed the story. I was looking for something to entertain me, and they did. Everyone is different and enjoys different styles of writing. Maybe she isn’t the greatest writer, but who cares? People aren’t going to like every book they pick up.
james jones says
I got so burned out on Mr. King’s books that I have not read anything after Dark Tower Wizard and Glass Bag of Bones.
He is a better writer than Stephanie Meyers in my opinion. But he is stale, gross, and conceited, and I crave more creativity.
All mega-authors wear me out after a while – usually by about book 3 or 4. King thinks a lot of himself, and I really dug him until about Tommy Knockers, and then I was ready to put him to bed.
Meyers finished OK with Breaking Dawn, and needn’t write any more about Bella and the Cullins family. Put a fork in it.
JK is a great story teller, and she actually held it together pretty well with Harry and friends – 7 novels!! And, in my opinion, she wrapped the whole adventure up nearly seamlessly with Deathly Hallows. Put a fork in it.
Nobody has surpassed Tolkien yet for fictional epic story-telling. I’ll gladly take any suggestions.
King? Put a fork in him after…oh…the Stand?
Wendy Hewitt says
I found this website after leaving my car, previously listening to “Twilight ” on audio, and immediately coming to the computer in search of what others thought of the writing. I have a BA in writing, and am pursuing a MA in literature. It is my goal to write for children and young adult.
I have been listening to “Harry Potter” with my daughter and love it, when I dropped my daughter off for school I put “Twilight” in. I want to stay caught up with the best selling book world, and after all, it’s all the rave. Quit honestly, I’m on King’s side. Although the story may be good, I had trouble getting through the first chapter. It’s the writing. Teenagers don’t say things like “my cloths are permeable” some of the words Bella uses just wouldn’t come from a girl in 11th grade. And it’s not just that. It just doesn’t seem well written, and it’s hard to get through.
This is why I could never be a critic, I don’t feel right about picking on someone else’s writing, but I can’t even get to the vampire part yet because this story just isn’t sucking me in with it’s language.
Rawlings on the other hand, has us hooked with Harry. She is a fabulous writer. And I think I will spend my bus ride to Paris with the magician, and the vampires can stay home.
senselocke says
Ah, the king of straight-to-television horror is spouting derision at someone who is actually successful. Don’t get me wrong, there are a handful of amazing King works, but then there is the rest. Predictable, overworked, BORING. I am thrice 12-year old, and not a girl, (just finished all four books in a week) but I found Meyer’s writing much more compelling. She’s much more focused on the relationships than the characters, it’s a different way to define, more abstract. And some characters, like Jasper (empathy leads to controlling the emotional climate in his vicinity), are a very different take on “super powers” than almost any male mind would come up with, the male concept being rather singular and “super-hero”. One glaring difference between King and Meyer is that I could not stop reading Meyer, and I have to force myself to care about King.
Stevie, baby, you need to go write something with real cultural impact within the last QUARTER CENTURY to have your opinion on the matter of skill and importance even matter. So get to work on that and let’s not disparage someone who is writing from an entirely different perspective than yours, because there exists a throng of readers who think, rather fervently, that you “can’t write worth a darn”. Don’t throw a tantrum because your spotlight has cobwebs on it.
joe says
I have all Stephen Kings published books, loved most of them.
I have also read Twilight saga twice, what King doesn’t understand (maybe you need to be female) is the magic in the storytelling. Most women/ girls have felt these emotions, understand them and will never forget them. Sounds corny but true. Meyer seems to love these characters and it shows in the writing.
I have also read The Host which was disappointing and I believe proves Kings point about her writing ability.
I also have all of Koontz books and he is a far better writer then King