Stephen King and James Patterson are two literary giants. One would think that the two writers would be united in their success, but they’ve had a love-hate relationship over the past decade. This stems from Stephen King’s critique of James Patterson, where he stated Patterson is “a terrible writer but he’s very successful.” This later led to James Patterson planning to release a book in which an antagonist would be out to murder Stephen King. This was later canceled.
Despite the public jabs the two authors have thrown at one another, the situation is likely not as serious as fans would like to believe. But the question lingers, is there any truth to King’s claim that James Patterson is a terrible writer? This is a question I’ve thought about quite deeply, and it’s one I aim to explore further.
As with any form of art, writing is subjective. Much of this debate comes down to what you perceive to be “good writing.” Stephen King and James Patterson respectively are the perfect contrast of what many would feel is the difference between good writing and average writing. Stephen King is clearly a writer who has spent years draining the ink from his pens while perfecting his craft. To the point that his works were often groundbreaking. On the other hand, James Patterson’s strength lies in figuring out the right formula for success, and not necessarily being a craft wizard.
A strong parallel of this argument comes to mind as a rap music fan. Those of us who are embedded deeply into the hip-hop culture—enough to look past the mainstream representation of the art that is force-fed to the world—know that rap battles have long been an important part of the culture. Back in the 90s and early 00s, a rapper who has reached the heights of success would often end up in a verbal war of words against a lower-tier rapper, who is often more lyrically gifted than the mainstream rapper. But the battle would still be even despite the clear difference in skill.
This is because, while the lower-tier rapper has the hunger to master his craft, the mainstream rapper has simply figured out the keys to success. They are strong enough lyrically to garner a fanbase. Maybe their simpler form of rapping sounds smoother on the beat than the lower-tier rapper’s multi-syllable rapping which is harder for a mass audience to catch.
In one of the more high-profile rap battles, we saw two Hip Hop titans going back and forth. Jay-z versus Nas might be the closest parallel to this Stephen King and James Patterson discussion. Both rappers were at their peak when they released diss songs towards one another, but fanbases were split. The consensus is that Nas won the battle and Jay-z won the war. Hip Hop purists often praise Nas as the better lyricist of the two, while Jay-z’s success and mass appeal trump Nas’.
This is how I look at the Stephen King and James Patterson debacle. Patterson isn’t as gifted at the skill of writing as King is, but he is able to capture a larger (and more general) audience. King has mastered the art of writing, while Patterson has mastered the art of publishing.
Patterson has produced over 150 books. He has made it to the Guinness Book of World records for the highest number of hardcover best-selling books. And while he doesn’t write all of them in full, his comprehensive outlining is what brings these books to fruition. In Patterson’s Masterclass, he shows that his outlines are designed in a way that the story is already there, it’s already written. The co-writer adds meat and seasoning. And this mini-economy that Patterson has established, allows for new, talented writers to make a name for themselves. This in itself is an extraordinary achievement.
But what if we take away Patterson’s publishing accomplishments and focus entirely on writing?
Stephen King – On Writing / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK
Stephen King has an entire memoir on writing. This book makes his high standards of writing abundantly clear. “I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs,” King wrote in his book. That quote alone makes King’s passion for the art of literature apparent. And to his credit, from the moment you open that first page of a King novel, he’s able to hook you in an alluring fashion. Opening lines like: “Almost everyone thought the man and the boy were father and son,” will immediately pull you further into the story he wants to tell you. A King novel is often a masterclass on writing.
On the other hand, James Patterson’s books won’t sweep you away with wonderful phrasing and descriptions. Sometimes, I even notice Patterson breaking the very rules that I’ve had to learn myself. But what many of Patterson’s books accomplish, is hooking you into a fast-paced storytelling experience that will have you flying through the pages. This is something that not every writer pulls off. It’s a talent in itself. And for many readers, this is all they could ask for.
James Patterson by James Patterson / Buy on Amazon US / Buy on Amazon UK
Both writers are able to achieve a level of escapism with different methods of getting you there. James Patterson’s short paragraphs, exaggerated scenes, and movie-like characterization is still considered quality writing, so long as it captivates readers.
I’m not here to flare up an old clash of two successful writers in an attempt to make a statement. My intention here is to have us all think deeper about what good writing means to us. I’ve witnessed many writers be classed as bad, despite the fact they are able to capture a significant audience. One thing I pride myself on is being able to appreciate when a writer has excellent technique, while also appreciating when a writer is able to catch my attention with a minimalistic skillset. Many consider Brandon Sanderson’s style to be blander than the more prose-heavy fantasy books on the market, yet, Sanderson’s other strengths are so potent that his “basic prose” isn’t remotely a concern to his fanbase.
There are many aspects that make up “great writing”, and allowing the reader to escape from reality is one of them. I’ve read far more Stephen King books than Patterson ones in my lifetime, but I’ve read enough Patterson to know that his talent shouldn’t be undermined.
-This is an opinion piece. Please share your thoughts on the topic below. We welcome all voices and opinions.
