R. L. Stine on the fine art of spooking kids
By Sean F. Jones
There’s a certain magic to the work of R. L. Stine, and it buffeted the phone through a candid Slice interview with the disarming and self–deprecating children’s horror legend. Stine reveals that he achieved his life’s ambition before ever writing a horror book, explains in detail his idiosyncratic but stunningly effective approach to writing a book (in twelve days), and details a career that brought him from being a writer of miniature comics in Bazooka gum to that of Guinness World Record–setting bestsellers.
How many books have you written?
I’m already in trouble…I think about three hundred. It’s kind of obnoxious not to know, but I’ve lost track. I’ve killed off a lot of teenagers.
How long does it take you to write a book?
About two weeks to write a Goosebumps, but I do a lot of planning beforehand. I do a very complete chapter–by–chapter outline, and with all the hard thinking done I write much faster. I write ten pages a day, so I finish in twelve days, then I have a few days to look it all over.
Do you still personally write every book with your name on it?
Yes, I write every book. I’m too egotistical to let anyone else do it.
Do you have a favorite Goosebumps book?
I have a number of favorite books; not usually the ones the kids like. Night of the Living Dummy is one; Slappy the Dummy is such a rude character, he’s really fun to write. The Haunted Mask is also one of my favorites. The idea for that book came when my son was eight or nine at Halloween. I was watching him trying on a rubber Frankenstein mask. He put it on his face and couldn’t take it off; he was tugging and tugging and I was thinking, “That’d be a great idea for a story.” I guess I should have helped him.
Have you developed any writing–related nervous tics?
I never learned how to type. I started writing when I was nine years old at my parents’ typewriter and I’m left handed so I just used the pointer finger on my left hand. And now I’ve written three hundred books on one finger. Also, I’ve never based a book in New York City, even though I live on the Upper West Side. All the Goosebumps books and Fear Street books are very suburban. I grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and they all pretty much take place there.
By Sean F. Jones
There’s a certain magic to the work of R. L. Stine, and it buffeted the phone through a candid Slice interview with the disarming and self–deprecating children’s horror legend. Stine reveals that he achieved his life’s ambition before ever writing a horror book, explains in detail his idiosyncratic but stunningly effective approach to writing a book (in twelve days), and details a career that brought him from being a writer of miniature comics in Bazooka gum to that of Guinness World Record–setting bestsellers.
How many books have you written?
I’m already in trouble…I think about three hundred. It’s kind of obnoxious not to know, but I’ve lost track. I’ve killed off a lot of teenagers.
How long does it take you to write a book?
About two weeks to write a Goosebumps, but I do a lot of planning beforehand. I do a very complete chapter–by–chapter outline, and with all the hard thinking done I write much faster. I write ten pages a day, so I finish in twelve days, then I have a few days to look it all over.
Do you still personally write every book with your name on it?
Yes, I write every book. I’m too egotistical to let anyone else do it.
Do you have a favorite Goosebumps book?
I have a number of favorite books; not usually the ones the kids like. Night of the Living Dummy is one; Slappy the Dummy is such a rude character, he’s really fun to write. The Haunted Mask is also one of my favorites. The idea for that book came when my son was eight or nine at Halloween. I was watching him trying on a rubber Frankenstein mask. He put it on his face and couldn’t take it off; he was tugging and tugging and I was thinking, “That’d be a great idea for a story.” I guess I should have helped him.
Have you developed any writing–related nervous tics?
I never learned how to type. I started writing when I was nine years old at my parents’ typewriter and I’m left handed so I just used the pointer finger on my left hand. And now I’ve written three hundred books on one finger. Also, I’ve never based a book in New York City, even though I live on the Upper West Side. All the Goosebumps books and Fear Street books are very suburban. I grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and they all pretty much take place there.