Who is Stephen King, or is that a dumb question? Delve into the background and writing accomplishments of Stephen King, a prolific horror mastermind.
Unless you’ve spent your entire life living under a rock (no judgment, I wish I could join you), you’ve probably heard of Stephen King. Dubbed the King of Horror, King launched his professional writing career in 1974 with the publication of Carrie, sparking a prolific, decades-long journey of producing books, short stories, and movie and TV adaptations.
But who was Stephen King before he became the literary mastermind he is today? Well, that’s a good question. Let’s take a look at who Stephen King is, what he wrote, and what to expect from him in the future since he doesn’t show signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Who Is Stephen King?
Stephen King is a writer who was born in Portland, Maine, on September 21, 1947. He graduated from Lisbon Falls High School in 1966 and went on to study English at the University of Maine at Orono, where he also wrote weekly columns for the school newspaper and engaged in student politics.
King sold his first professional short story, The Glass Floor, to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967, but it was in 1973 when he sold his first full-length novel Carrie. For the next several decades, King expanded his collection of horror novels, which includes other fan-favorites, like The Shining and Pet Sematary.
He also dabbled in fantasy with the epic Dark Tower series and published crime novels, including The Colorado Kid and the Mr. Mercedes trilogy. Although King lived in Boulder, Colorado, for a bit while writing The Shining, he currently resides in Maine with his wife, Tabitha King, where he continues to write to this day.
What Did Stephen King Write?
Stephen King has written over 60 books in the half-century he’s been publishing. Other than the titles mentioned previously, some of his most popular books include:
- It
- Misery
- ‘Salem’s Lot
- The Stand
- Christine
- The Green Mile
- Cujo
- Under the Dome
Honoring his beginnings as a short story writer, King also has an impressive array of short story and novella collections, some of which have been adapted into movies. Popular stories include:
- Secret Window, Secret Garden, Four Past Midnight
- The Langoliers, Four Past Midnight
- 1922, Full Dark, No Stars
- Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, Different Seasons
- Children of the Corn, Night Shift
In 2000, King also took a stab at nonfiction with On Writing: A Memoir of Craft, which explores his personal journey and offers advice for aspiring writers.
Upcoming Stephen King Projects
On May 21, 2024, King released his newest collection, You Like It Darker, which contains 12 brand-new stories chronicling the darker parts of life. Several of his books and stories are also slated for release as upcoming movies.
Salem’s Lot is expected to debut on Max sometime in 2024, while The Life of Chuck, inspired by a novella of the same name from the collection If It Bleeds, finished filming at the end of 2023. Additionally, The Monkey wrapped up filming just this past March, and Billy Summers, Christine, and Fairy Tale are currently in development.
Other Notable Achievements
- 2003 recipient of The National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
- 2014 recipient of the National Medal of Arts
- Developed The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, a private nonprofit that awards grants to other local nonprofits and aids in art, literacy, and education initiatives to support Maine communities
Want more creative writing tips? Subscribe to Stay Enlightened: The Blog.
The Enlightened Storyteller 
Leave a comment