Misery

At the novel's start, Paul Sheldon, best-selling author of the Misery series, completes his first non-Misery novel, Fast Cars. With it, Paul hopes to earn respect for more "serious work" (30). The people who read the Misery novels, mostly women like Annie Wilkes, Paul's self-proclaimed "number one fan" (6), have no concern for writing "technique" (23). Rather, they just want a good story. However, Annie does have a better understanding of writing than Paul thinks she does. For example, she conceives of writers as "God to the people in the story" in the same way a writer might (39). Thus, Annie holds Paul accountable for anything that happens to Misery. Annie even puts on "an editor's hat," giving Paul suggestions for storylines and holding him accountable to continuity (113).

In Paul's mind, Annie represents the monolithic obstacle he must overcome in order to write Misery's Return; at the same time, she represents the impetus for the undertaking. As Paul's captor, Annie provides Paul with the physical equipment and environment necessary to write. Much of the novel's second half follows Paul's thought process as he writes the book. Sometimes the words come easily, but he also faces writer's block, "trying to have an idea.