Stephen King Says Wife Tabitha Picked “Carrie ”‘Out of the Trash’ and Forced Him to Keep Writing It

Stephen King’s debut novel, *Carrie*, which was first published in 1974, is credited with catapulting him into the horror genre. However, it almost met a premature fate when King considered discarding it entirely. Fortunately for readers and the literary world, his wife, Tabitha, intervened and persuaded him to continue working on the manuscript that would eventually become a classic.

In a recent interview with *The New York Times*, King, now 79, reflected on the origins of *Carrie* and its latest adaptation for a new television series. The upcoming adaptation, which is set to debut in 2026, features actress Summer H. Howell in the lead role and aims to bring a fresh perspective to the acclaimed story that first captured audiences in the 1970s.

Despite its long legacy, including a successful 1976 film starring Sissy Spacek, multiple adaptations, and even a musical, King revealed that he has little attachment to the narrative at this point. “I don’t think about *Carrie* that much anymore, because it was a starter book,” he commented during the interview. Reflecting on the book’s significance, he acknowledged, “I was very fortunate. I was able to stop teaching and start writing full-time, and that was what I wanted.”

Initially, King wasn’t sure if he could write something beyond a short story. However, as he began to develop *Carrie*, he became concerned that the project would exceed the typical length of his submissions. “I started it and saw it was going to be longer than a short story, and I threw it away,” he admitted. It was then that Tabitha, a writer herself, discovered the discarded pages and urged him to reconsider. “This is good. You should go on with this,” she told him, encouraging King to delve deeper into the story.

With Tabitha’s support, King overcame his initial reservations about writing from a young girl’s perspective. Much of *Carrie* revolves around the bullying endured by the titular character in her tumultuous high school life. King confessed to being uncertain about capturing the nuances of female experiences, to which Tabitha responded, “I will tell you everything that you need to know.” This collaborative effort ultimately led King to submit the finished manuscript to an editor, who was enthusiastic about the book’s potential.

The modest advance of $2,500 initially offered by the publisher quickly transformed into a staggering $400,000 for the paperback rights. This turned a corner for the Kings, who were living in a small, rundown apartment at the time. “People were fighting upstairs,” King humorously noted, referencing his later work, *The Shining*.

King expressed admiration for the 1976 film adaptation, directed by Brian De Palma, which features a notable cast, including Piper Laurie and John Travolta. However, he is selective about his enthusiasm for adaptations of his work, likening the process to sending a child to university. “You hope they do well and that they don’t get involved with drugs or anything that’s going to break them,” he explained.

He took the opportunity to highlight some of his favourite adaptations, singling out Rob Reiner’s *Misery* and the miniseries of *The Stand*, which he also penned. However, he remains critical of others, particularly emphasizing his discontent with Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of *The Shining*. “I never liked it,” he remarked, even as the film is frequently hailed as one of the finest horror films ever made. “Somehow, it’s gotten this critical reputation that elevated it. Tabby says [expletive] floats,” he quipped.

The landscape of film adaptations of King’s work continues to expand. Recent releases have included *It* in 2017 and its sequel in 2019, as well as the 2022 remake of *Firestarter* and the 2023 film *The Boogeyman*. Upcoming adaptations are on the horizon, including films based on *The Monkey*, *The Long Walk*, and *The Running Man*.

As fans await the latest rendering of *Carrie*, they can currently enjoy the 1976 film and the original novel, both of which have secured a lasting place in the horror genre. With the new television adaptation set for release next year, interest in this iconic story is poised to reach new heights, ensuring that *Carrie* remains a significant part of King’s enduring legacy.