As a writer, I have my favorite of my own stories that I like to talk about. I've written dozens of specs, and there are just some that really stick out in my mind and that I care about more.

That's the nature of being a writer: you have to get your ideas onto paper and get them out into the world, no matter what.

But if people ask, I'm always going to talk about my favorites.

Recently, Stephen King was on Stephen Colbert, and he was asked about his five favorite pieces of his own writing.

Let's dive in.

Stephen King's Top 5 Stephen King Stories

Before we get into King's picks of his own work, I really liked the story he told about writing his epic post-apocalyptic novel, "The Stand."

He described hitting a point where the story became unwieldy, with a sprawling cast of characters and a plot that felt too "heavy". He found himself stuck, unsure of how to move forward.

We've all been there. And like many of us, he turned to a friend and mentor to seek wisdom about escaping the situation.

He took a piece of advice from Raymond Chandler: "When you're in doubt, bring on the man with the gun."

This inspired King to make a bold move and eliminate some of the characters, a decision that helped to streamline the narrative and get the story back on track.

It's a testament to the fact that even the most accomplished writers face moments of uncertainty and that sometimes the best solution is to simplify.

King's Personal Picks

Colbert also asked King a question that many of his fans have long wondered about: What are his own favorite works? King listed a diverse selection of his novels and short stories:

  1. Survivor Type: A gruesome short story about a shipwrecked surgeon who resorts to self-cannibalism to survive.
  2. Misery: King mentioned that he particularly enjoyed the process of writing this classic novel.
  3. Lisey's Story: A deeply personal novel that he held onto for a long time, now a series on Apple TV+.
  4. The Stand: The very same novel that gave him so much trouble.
  5. The Body: The novella that was adapted into the beloved film Stand By Me.
  6. Billy Summers: His most recent novel at the time of the interview.
It'll be interesting to go back and look at all of these and see what they have in common. King loving them is interesting to me, and I want to reread, knowing how personal these tales are to him.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

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