Stephen King’s prolific writing career stands as a masterclass in captivating storytelling. But hidden within the haunting tales and chilling narratives lies an unexpected script for product management excellence.
As someone deeply fascinated by Stephen King’s reputation for masterful storytelling and looking to become a better writer, I recently listened to his memoir and guide on writing, “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.” I’ve always known about Stephen King’s work, mainly through my father, an avid reader of his books. Reading ‘On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft’ surpassed my modest expectations, immersing me in the wisdom and fun personality of a master storyteller. It not only sharpened my writing skills but also inspired me to delve into his collection, exploring King’s style and techniques. While putting together my notes on the book, my mind began to relate his teachings to other areas outside of writing, and I came upon an unexpectedly rich source of lessons for product management.
King’s wisdom on understanding the audience, building a brand through consistency, diversifying into new formats, and continually improving through feedback and iteration closely aligns with core product management strategies. The mastery of his craft, from the sentencing structure to character development, contains surprising parallels to crafting a stellar product.
We will explore how applying Stephen King’s approach to storytelling can level up your skills as a product manager. From his toolbox of literary devices to his focus on research and revision, product developers have much to learn from the mind of a prolific writer. Join me as we draw inspiration from a horror icon to build products that engage, inspire, and terrify the competition.
Understanding the Audience: The First Rule of Product Management
Stephen King’s deep understanding of his audience primarily drives his writing success. He writes stories that resonate, terrify, and engage his readers, much like how a product manager must develop products that meet the needs and desires of their target market. King’s memoir underscores the importance of knowing one’s audience, a crucial principle in product management.
In “On Writing,” King emphasizes the importance of understanding who you write for and what they want. The same focus should be applied in product management, as user research and developing user personas are the foundations of creating sustainable engagement. Understanding who they are, as in pain points, desires, and behavior patterns, is vital to the early stage of the product development process. Identifying and creating what they expect is the business driver that fuels innovation and develops an experience they want to participate in.
Consistency and Quality: Building a Brand
Stephen King’s prolific writing career, marked by the publication of over 65 novels, is a paragon of consistent quality and brand strength. Each novel, from the chilling “Carrie” in 1974 to the recent “Fairy Tale” in 2022, showcases King’s unwavering commitment to captivating storytelling. This consistency is not just in quantity but in the quality that has become synonymous with his name. King’s books have sold more than 350 million copies worldwide, a testament to his enduring appeal. In product management, King’s approach translates to maintaining a uniform level of excellence across all products.
Similarly, leaders in the automotive industry and beyond have long celebrated Toyota for its consistent quality and reliability. This dedication to maintaining high standards across all models has established Toyota as a trusted name, reflected in its position as one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world.
King built his brand on profoundly understanding his audience. He knows what his readers expect — a blend of suspense, horror, and psychological depth — and delivers consistently. His reader-centric approach is comparable to customer-centric product management strategies, prioritizing customer feedback and market research. For instance, Amazon’s relentless focus on customer service has been central to its growth. Amazon has become synonymous with convenience and reliability by consistently meeting and exceeding customer expectations.
King’s enduring success in maintaining high-quality storytelling across his vast array of novels is a crucial lesson in brand building for product managers. The key takeaway is the significance of upholding consistent quality standards while adapting to changing market dynamics and customer preferences. This strategy builds trust, loyalty, and a strong brand identity.
Building a Product Portfolio: From Books to Screens
Stephen King’s success in transforming his storytelling craft into a vast portfolio encompassing books, movies, TV series, and merchandise exemplifies the power of diversification in product management. King’s journey from a bestselling novelist to a multimedia phenomenon mirrors the strategic approach of effective product managers who look beyond a single product or platform.
His adaptability, crucial in product management, shines through his ability to understand and leverage different mediums. This versatility has been vital to King’s broadened audience reach. For instance, the film adaptation of “It” (2017) grossed over $700 million worldwide, demonstrating the immense potential of translating written narratives into visual spectacles. Similarly, TV adaptations like “The Outsider” on HBO captured audiences who prefer episodic storytelling, proving King’s ability to tailor his content to diverse preferences.
King’s approach also highlights the importance of risk mitigation through diversification. His range of books, adapted into various films and TV series, caters to different audience segments and stabilizes his brand against market fluctuations. His imaginative storytelling ranges from horror to fantasy and drama. This diversification, akin to a product manager exploring new markets or developing complementary products, enhances brand resilience and value.
In the realm of merchandise, King’s iconic characters and stories have been transformed into collectibles, apparel, and more, creating an additional revenue stream and deepening brand engagement. Tie this back to product management, where extending a brand into new product categories can drive growth and foster a more robust connection with the consumer base. Apple diversified into music with the iPod, telecommunications with the iPhone, wearable technology with the Apple Watch, and services like Apple Music and Apple TV+.
Stephen King’s multifaceted portfolio — from the written word to the screens and beyond — serves as a powerful model for product managers. It illustrates the benefits of adaptability, audience understanding, and strategic diversification in building a resilient, impactful product portfolio.
Risk-Taking and Innovation
Stephen King has never shied away from experimenting with different genres and themes. This risk-taking is a significant part of innovation in product management. The willingness to explore new ideas, even if they deviate from the norm, can lead to groundbreaking products. King’s exploration of different genres and formats — from horror to fantasy, from novels to screenplays — is akin to a product manager exploring new features, markets, or product lines.
King’s success also illustrates the importance of adaptability within consistency. While he remains true to his genre, his foray into different sub-genres and formats (novels, short stories, collaborations) showcases a versatility that keeps his brand fresh and engaging. Netflix demonstrates a similar strategy in its content creation. While maintaining a consistent quality, Netflix explores diverse genres and formats, catering to a wide array of viewer preferences, thus strengthening its position as a leading streaming service.
Read part 2 to finish the story on my Substack page