Samuel Olaniyan5 min read·Jul 21, 2025--
Press enter or click to view image in full sizeI tried Stephen King’s incredibly productive writing routine, and it changed my writing game.
Stephen King has written more than 80 novels and over 200 short stories. While most authors struggle to complete a novel in years, King finishes one in about three months. How does he do it? Is it talent, discipline, or just outright magic?
To find out, I tried his writing routine. And what I discovered could change the way you write forever.
Step One: Write Like a “Pantser,” Not a “Plotter”King believes writers fall into two categories: Plotters and Pantsers.
Plotters outline every scene, know their characters’ backstories, goals, and arcs. Nothing is left to chance. Meanwhile, Pantsers, like King, “fly by the seat of their pants,” letting the story evolve naturally. I personally consider myself a pantser, which is why his routine was a bit easier for me.
King usually starts with a situation, not a full plot. For example, Two kids get lost in the woods and find something sticking out of the ground. He has no clue how the story ends; he simply follows it.