The Body

How does an 80-page short story become a feature film?

Stephen King’s The Body

Do you first be Stephen King or do you first write an 80-page story?

It’s even difficult to find this book as it’s part of a collection of short stories by Stephen King, “Different Seasons.” But if you see the film “Stand by Me” and want to know more about it or want to read the book, it takes a little searching.

From book description, “In 1960s America, four young boys go on a journey to search for the body of a boy killed by a train. As they travel, they discover how cruel the world can be, but also how wondrous.”

I admittedly have some weird “commandments,” but I’m of the opinion that everyone should write a book about their life at 12 years old. Or their parents should or someone should, but it just should be recorded.

It’s such an important time. Although I’m sure the 11-year olds and the 13-year olds could say the same thing and not be wrong. Or maybe I just believe that we should write about every year of our lives and do it every year. Ask me again in 10 years and see what I think, but as of this date, Jan 18, 2016, I like the idea.

I hear you, “But I’m no Stephen King.” But I reply, “I’m not talking about writing best sellers or even thrilling stories. I’m talking about a memory, a spot in time, a stop in time, a story written when it happened or at least looking back at when it happened.

We watched Stand by Me together with the boys last night even though I had read it was rated R. I didn’t really understand that it was about 12-year old boys but 12-year old boys weren’t supposed to watch (or read) it. That makes little sense to me.

In fact, that’s a bit of my mission, I want to write stories that both the adults like but also the people of that age.

Finally, from the writing perspective, it was a brilliant and short read. Even hidden in there is a story from the main character that he tells to the others at the campfire that night and they all love it. Full of barfing, a pie-eating contest and a boy they called Lardass. How can you get any better than that?