Changes

King's amateur press, Triad and Gaslight Books, published a two part book titled "The Star Invaders" in 1964. He made his first published appearance in 1965 in the magazine ''Comics Review'' with his pulp story "I Was a Teenage Grave Robber." The story ran about 6,000 words in length.  

King's amateur press, Triad and Gaslight Books, published a two part book titled "The Star Invaders" in 1964. He made his first published appearance in 1965 in the magazine ''Comics Review'' with his pulp story "I Was a Teenage Grave Robber." The story ran about 6,000 words in length.  

In 1966, King graduated from high school and took a scholarship to attend the University of Maine. Later that summer he was already working on a novel called "Getting It On", about some kids who take over a classroom and try unsuccessfully to ward off the [[National Guard]]. During his first year at college, King completed his first full length novel, "The Long Walk." He submitted the novel to Bennett Cerf/Random House only to have it rejected. King took the rejection badly and filed the book away. "The Long Walk" would later be published under King's pseudonym, Richard Bachman.

In 1966, King graduated from high school and took a scholarship to attend the University of Maine. Later that summer he was already working on a novel called "Getting It On", about some kids who take over a classroom and try unsuccessfully to ward off the [[National Guard]]. During his first year at college, King completed his first full-length novel, "The Long Walk." He submitted the novel to Bennett Cerf/Random House only to have it rejected. King took the rejection badly and filed the book away. "The Long Walk" would later be published under King's pseudonym, Richard Bachman.

It was around those times that he made his first small sale with his story "The Glass Floor" for the amount of thirty-five dollars.  

It was around those times that he made his first small sale with his story "The Glass Floor" for the amount of thirty-five dollars.  

Stephen King then began to work on a short story about a teenage girl named Carietta White. After a completing a few pages, King decided it was not a worthy story and crumpled the pages up and tossed them into the trash. Fortunately, his wife took the pages out and read them. She encouraged her husband to continue the story.  

Stephen King then began to work on a short story about a teenage girl named Carietta White. After a completing a few pages, King decided it was not a worthy story and crumpled the pages up and tossed them into the trash. Fortunately, his wife took the pages out and read them. She encouraged her husband to continue the story.  

In January 1973, King submitted '''Carrie''' to Doubleday. In March, Doubleday bought the book and sold the paperback rights to New American Library for $400,000. Based on the book contract, Stephen King would get half of that. King quit his teaching job to pursue writing full time.

In January 1973, King submitted '''Carrie''' to Doubleday. In March, Doubleday bought the book and sold the paperback rights to New American Library for $400,000. Based on the book contract, Stephen King would get half of that. King quit his teaching job to pursue writing full-time.

Since then, King has had numerous short stories and novels published and movies created from his work, sometimes directed by high-profile names. Worth mentioning are the film versions of "Carrie", directed  

Since then, King has had numerous short stories and novels published and movies created from his work, sometimes directed by high-profile names. Worth mentioning are the film versions of "Carrie", directed  

== Politics ==

== Politics ==

Stephen King is a [[liberal]]; he is a self proclaimed supporter of the [[Democratic Party]], and [[Barack Obama]].<ref>[http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/175900,stephen-king-backing-barack-obama.html Stephen King backing Barack Obama: US Entertainment]{{Dead link|date=September 2010}}</ref> He has also expressed distaste for [[conservative]] political commentators such as [[Rush Limbaugh]], [[Bill O'Reilly]], and [[Glenn Beck]].<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1924348-3,00.html Roberts, Nicholas "Mad Man: Is Glenn Beck Bad for America?" ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine/''[[The New York Times]]'', September 17, 2009; Page 3 of 4]</ref>

Stephen King is a [[liberal]]; he is a self-proclaimed supporter of the [[Democratic Party]], and [[Barack Obama]].<ref>[http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/175900,stephen-king-backing-barack-obama.html Stephen King backing Barack Obama: US Entertainment]{{Dead link|date=September 2010}}</ref> He has also expressed distaste for [[conservative]] political commentators such as [[Rush Limbaugh]], [[Bill O'Reilly]], and [[Glenn Beck]].<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1924348-3,00.html Roberts, Nicholas "Mad Man: Is Glenn Beck Bad for America?" ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine/''[[The New York Times]]'', September 17, 2009; Page 3 of 4]</ref>

On April 4, 2008, King made comments which have been criticized as elitist and anti-military.  While addressing a symposium of high school students, he stated that "The fact is if you can read, you can walk into a job later on. If you don't, then you've got the Army, Iraq, I don't know, something like that."  These comments were criticized by Noel Sheppard, a conservative blogger.<ref>http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2008/05/05/writer-stephen-king-if-you-cant-read-youll-end-army-or-iraq</ref>  King has since refused to apologize for the comments, blaming the controversy on conservative commentators and claiming that Sheppard and other conservatives "...take their cues from [conservative commentators Rush] Limbaugh and [Bill] O’Reilly, who are adept at shifting discussion from what they don’t want to talk about, such as the failures of the war in Iraq, to what they want to talk about..."    According to King, "[Conservative commentators] shift the discussion away from education to who’s supporting the troops. Of course, I support the troops. In this country, there’s an equating of intelligence with elitism, and elitism with being unpatriotic. But smart people love the U.S., too." <ref>http://bangornews.com/news/t/city.aspx?articleid=164062&zoneid=176</ref>

On April 4, 2008, King made comments which have been criticized as elitist and anti-military.  While addressing a symposium of high school students, he stated that "The fact is if you can read, you can walk into a job later on. If you don't, then you've got the Army, Iraq, I don't know, something like that."  These comments were criticized by Noel Sheppard, a conservative blogger.<ref>http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2008/05/05/writer-stephen-king-if-you-cant-read-youll-end-army-or-iraq</ref>  King has since refused to apologize for the comments, blaming the controversy on conservative commentators and claiming that Sheppard and other conservatives "...take their cues from [conservative commentators Rush] Limbaugh and [Bill] O’Reilly, who are adept at shifting discussion from what they don’t want to talk about, such as the failures of the war in Iraq, to what they want to talk about..."    According to King, "[Conservative commentators] shift the discussion away from education to who’s supporting the troops. Of course, I support the troops. In this country, there’s an equating of intelligence with elitism, and elitism with being unpatriotic. But smart people love the U.S., too." <ref>http://bangornews.com/news/t/city.aspx?articleid=164062&zoneid=176</ref>