Here's a Story Submission Letter Written by a 14-Year-Old Stephen King

At 14 years of age, the master of horror Stephen King was an aspiring writer trying to get his stories published in magazines. In 1961 he wrote a submission letter to Spacemen Magazine with a short story called The Killer. You can read that submission letter below,

Spacemen Magazine editor Forrest Ackerman decided not to print the 14-year olds story... at that time. 33 years later after King became successful, Ackerman ended up printing it in another one of his other magazines, Famous Monsters of Filmland, issue #202. Even before this the author states int the letter that he was "submitting manuscripts for the last couple of years."

I love how King points out his favorite feature in the magazine was the Obituary department. Stephen King is my number one favorite author, and he was obviously born to write the stuff he writes. 

Transcript

Dear Editor, 

I am 14 years of age, and have been writing as far back as I can remember, and submitting manuscripts for the last couple of years. I subscribe to your magizine, and my favorite feature is the Obituary department, although "O. Henry's Comet," for which this story is intended, runs a close second., 

Thanks very much for reading my story. I hope you see your way clear to put it in "O. Henry's Comet."

Sincerely, 

(Signed, 'Stephen King')

Stephen King
Rt #1, Pownal
Maine