The "Tool Box"

Stephen King writes a creative and practical metaphor regarding a tool box his Uncle Oren once owned. But King didn't just write about your ordinary tool box. His tool box entailed much more than just a screw driver and a hammer. This tool box was filled with logic and kept the tools of writing simple. According to King, the most important tools of writing were experience, grammar, vocabulary, and elements of style. The first and most important level of the tool box contained vocabulary and grammar. King explained that the more vocabulary you can "pick up," the better off you are (114). King also points out that good writers often break grammar rules, but they have to be able to recognize the rules they broke in order to communicate effectively. The second level of the tool box contains elements of style and the third level is magic. This relates to feature writing because King's metaphor to the tool box is helpful to any writer.