Today I read in USAToday an article nominally about Stephen King’s new book, Duma Key. There was, however, a very insightful line from Wordsworth I’ve never heard before. King was speaking of how the main character has injuries that parallel those he sustained in Maine when a speeding van broke his hip, fractured his leg in nine places, and collapsed one lung. But he was able to write about Edgar Freemantle with some distance:

It’s like Wordsworth once said of poetry: ‘Creativity works best when strong emotions are recollected in relative tranquility.’

I like that. I think it’s true, though not so easy to pull off. “Relative tranquility” seems like a rarity these days, at least for me. The trick, I suppose, is to develop skills and techniques, even agreements with the spouse or roommates, so that you can consistently find that place.

Here’s another great King quote from Duma Key, the main character speaking about his state of health:

“Everything hurt all the time. I had a constant ringing headache; behind my forehead it was always midnight in the world’s biggest clock-shop.”

I’m, as I have always been, envious. I can never find those killer one-liners.  Michael Swanwick seems to have a good knack at those as well. Anyone else come to mind?