Rating: 
Summary: review
Review: When you say the name Stephen King, you tend to get mixed responses. Some people
cringe, some utter words of disgust, hey, even some smile. Either way, most people have strong
opinions of the well-known writer. Myself, being a long-time King fan, love the guy. Many hours
of my life have been spent in long car rides, waiting rooms, and (dare I say), classroom lectures
immersed in a King book. And upon being such an avid fan, I of course asked myself "what's
His secret?" In his book, On Writing, I didn't really know what to expect. Would he finally
reveal the secret to his success? Tell us about the land of best seller ideas? Some secret careful
diet of cigarettes and booze that leads to million-dollar deals with publishing companies? Quite
on the contrary, King makes himself out to be an average guy with a quirky sense of humor and
an uncanny ability to connect with people through stories. And in this case , through his sharing
of his past, and sharing every thing he knows about "the craft" of writing. King answers almost
every possible question you could ask about him and writing. He artfully combines
autobiography, instruction, life experience and into a jolly little book.
King begins this tromp into nonfiction with what he does best, story telling. In the section
titled, C.V., it is much like an autobiography where he describes his life through specific events.
"[He] lived an odd herkey-jerky childhood," and reflections of it are " a fogged-out landscape
from which occasional memories appear like isolated trees(17)." But that fact seems to have
little or no effect on the picture he surly meant to give his audience. One thing that a reader will
notice about King's narrative is his handle on voice. He really welcomes you into his memories,
as the scenes play out like home movies. It is as if he is sitting right next to you pointing out all
his favorite parts. He also has an amazing way of connecting the memories with funny little
quips and jokes throughout the text. It really makes you forget that you are reading and not just
having an intimate conversation with Mr. King himself.
King doesn't really start to get into writing specifics until about one-third into the book.
Here he offers explicit insight into how he writes and instruction and suggestions on how you
can too. There, in his usual stylistic manner, he begins with one big long extended metaphor.
Before you begin writing, King demands that you must be prepared. For this he suggests you use
a literal "tool box" In which you must have all the fundamentals because "if you don't, you're
apt to find something you didn't expect and get discouraged(114)." King does put quite a bit of
effort in explaining his pet peeves about grammar and how their use will not only kill your work
but it will be a long, fiery, painful death. He makes sure that you will never forget that, "The
adverb is not your friend.(208)"
King may not win an award for best motivational speaker (he stresses that no good writer
can be made into a great writer, and no bad writer can be made into a good writer. But, alas,
there is hope. A competent writer can be made into a good writer.), but he does have a way of
making you want to write without giving you a false sense that reading his book will allow you
too to sell millions of copies on just you first try. This is not a text book, and King does not
pretend that what he says is fact. This goes along with the fact that it is in good part a memoir
(hense the title) and King is just revealing what fifty-some-odd-years has allowed him to learn.
After he was hit by a car in 1999, King found himself confined to a wheelchair and the
pain of pins in his healing legs could only be calmed by huge doses of pain killers. He describes
in painful detail how in conjunction with his wife's support he managed to get back to writing.
Where he sat through the pain in order to finish the book I was enjoying. It doesn't take a
life-threatening accident to inspire the writing of a good book, but maybe the whole 'life
flashing before your eyes' incident made this one just that much more insightful. He came to the
conclusion that writing is about "getting happy(270)." And though he commented that "perhaps
too much [of the book] has been about how [he] learned to do it(270)," he never fails to believe
that if you write to that same end, your result could be even more rewarding.
Rating:
Summary: A Review of On Writing
Review: Stephen King's On Writing is an all inclusive book about writing. The book guides the reader
through the beginning steps of writing to finding a publisher for the finished work. The book
starts off with accounts of King's childhood, which reveal why he wanted to become a writer in
the first place. These stories are at times humorous, tragic, and disturbing. Readers who want
only to know how to write can skip over these stories without missing much. The stories are only
for the readers who are curious about the tribulations King went through to become a writer and
why he writes horror novels. The rest of the book contains details of King's life, but not as much
as the first and the last sections, which are devoted solely to that subject.
The body of the text details various writing techniques and some of King's personal pet peeves
when it comes to writing. The advice given is not in the usual textbook form, so it is easy to
follow, it is almost as if King sat down next to the reader and started an impromptu discussion
about writing. King uses a variety of similes and references to get his points across in a way that
is both amusing and comprehensible to the reader. Excerpts from novels and other books on
writing provide examples of different writing elements. King usually gives two examples of each
element, one well written and the other poorly written, so the reader knows what to do and what
not to do in their own writing. King's points are reinforced by quotes from people who have
influenced him, and anecdotes about other authors.
The writing advice itself, is mostly concerned with writing fiction, but many of the techniques
and grammatical information can also be used in other forms of writing. The passages
concerning grammar are the general rules taught in a standard high school English class; they are
only helpful to beginning writers with little or no experience. The most detailed and useful
passages are the ones about voice, style, character development and other creative elements. An
interesting part of the book is a passage from one of King's short stories which shows exactly
how he edits his writing. King gives clear concrete reasons for each correction. The corrections
made range from simple grammatical errors to complex character inconsistencies. The amount
of editing in this passage is somewhat inspiring because it shows that even seasoned writers so
not turn out perfect writing in their first drafts.
The pacing of the book makes it a relatively quick read. That does not mean the reader can turn
their brains off while reading it, the book does require some reader participation. Some of the
interaction works, like when King tries to get the involved by having them imagine scenarios or
visualize objects. These kinds of activities enhance the reading experience and the reader hardly
notices that they are being prompted to think. Some of the activities do not work though. King
suggests one writing exercise in his book, but at five to six pages long, the activity is only for
those who are really serious about improving their fiction writing. The last bit of interaction is a
book list included in the last three pages, which mentions a number of books King has enjoyed
reading in the past. The list encompasses many different genres and could come in handy if the
reader ever gets bored and is looking for a good book to read.
The final section "On Living" serves as a excellent closing piece to the book, this section
explains why King has continued to write over the years. The most inspirational moments of On
Writing come through in this section, where King expresses the love he has for writing and how
writing helped him come to terms with certain events in his life. The book works as a learning
tool and a great reading book, because King is straightforward and does not use much writing
jargon. There is some redundancy in the text, but King usually moves on to another subject after
he feels he has reiterated himself enough to get his point across. The good aspects of this book
certainly outnumber the negative aspects. This book may not be an appropriate choice for
readers who are not familiar with, or are not fans of King's novels. However, for those readers
who are looking for a book on writing, and can handle some colorful language and brutal
honesty, then this book serves its purpose.
Rating: 
Summary: I felt as if he were right there, guiding me in his craft
Review: Any writer and/or Stephen King reader must read this book. It's a terrific insight to King's past, his mind, and his works. King starts by telling us colorful stories of his childhood and lets us follow his career path toward being the most prolific writer of today.His memoirs aren't all cheer and blossom, in fact, they are often a bit dark, much like his fiction. Even the style of "On Writing" takes a dark turn around the middle, written around the time he was run over by a van. He admits his weaknesses in this book and tells us of a time when he was suffering from addiction and how it was his wife, Tabitha, that pushed him to overcome the addiction to become an even better writer. In fact, it was Tabitha that could be credited for his first great success as a writer, "Carrie." If it weren't for her, the book may have never been published. That's another part of King's story, documented in "On Writing." If you're only a intermittent King fan and just get into his books for the horror factor, this book probably isn't for you. However, if you want to be a successful writer, or if you just want to know what is behind the King, I would recommend this book. In fact, I loaned my extra copy to a friend and never got it back. Hey Tiff, please return it.
Rating:
Summary: For anyone interested in writing or the writing life.
Review: Okay, I admit it. I'm a Stephen King fan. I've been reading his books since the early eighties and think he's one of the best story-tellers of our time. So, when I heard he wrote a book on writing, I was on the Amazon waiting list way before the book came out. And I wasn't disappointed. The first part of the book is about the man himself. Now you may ask, what does this have to do with writing? Everything. Writing is a difficult way to make a living and a solitary and uncertain way of life. Reading about Mr. King's life is an inspiration. Plus, it's great to discover that someone at his level is still a writer at heart and suffers from all the same maladies as the rest of us. The second part of the book is his thoughts on writing and the writing process. It's simple, straightforward and informative. There are no great truths or revelations here, but some very basic and important guidelines. Every author I've talked to about this book has found at least one piece of information in this section that made the book worthwhile. All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in writing or the writing life.
Rating:
Summary: Simply amazing
Review: I have never read a single Stephen King novel. I am not a writer (nor an aspiring one). I bought this book for my husband, but picked it up one night just to glance through it. I ended up reading the entire book. I laughed and cried through a book that was, I thought, going to be rather like a textbook. Mr. King even made me feel that I should write - just for the appreciation of it - just for myself. I now have utter respect for this incredible author. Anyone who speaks so lovingly of another human being (in this case his wife) and is as gifted in his craft as he is, demands our respect. This was such an inspiring book. Mr. King - I will being reading your novels now. I am ashamed I have not done so yet.
Rating:
Summary: The King Speaks
Review: I stopped reading his books years ago, just to give the others
a chance. I think this man is so on target, no airs, no jive,
just straight business with a twinkle in his eye. If you like to
write or just read his fiction, here is a great book. To realize
that the seeds of our favorite stories (The Stand, Carrie,............)
came from such common and arbitrary happenstance is the reason
this thing called fiction is indeed art. I blasted through this book in a
few hours for it is so well written (and a book on writing had better be;
right Will Zinsser?) that the pages flew by. The why's of writing are
explained as much as the how's and to me I walked away ready and
empowered to write some more. Thanks Steve, you are awesome.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, unpretentious, and FUNNY
Review: You don't have to be an aspiring writer or necessarily even a die-hard fan of Stephen King to enjoy this book. It is wonderful! Mr. King has a very dry wit and he is very generous with it here. I laughed so much while reading the first half of this book that my husband finally had to ask me what I was reading that was so hilarious. When I showed him the cover he asked, "Stephen King is FUNNY?" Yes, he is! The first half of the book is largely autobiographical though Mr. King prefers to call it his "curriculum vitae" or "C.V." In this section he tells about some of the experiences that shaped him as a writer. Be prepared to laugh as you read about some of the scrapes he and his brother Dave got into or about the "slightly" controversial high school newspaper that King produced in one evening, one which satirized many of his teachers and even the bald-headed principal ( Old Cue Ball.) There are just as many sobering experiences included as well but even these are related with a humorous overtone. The second half of the book deals with the art of writing but it is far from a dry lecture. Mr. King simply tells the reader what has worked for him and explains a few of the ingredients he believes it takes to make a good writer. He compares these to tools in a toolbox ( and throws in a nice anecdote about his uncle in the process.) I especially enjoyed hearing him talk about the importance of reading in his own life and how being a good reader helps make a good writer. Near the end of the book he talks about the accident in 1999 that nearly claimed his life and how with his wife's care and encouragement he returned to writing as not only a way to cope but a way to heal. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves words and reading and is curious to find out what really forms a successful writer. And wouldn't mind having a few good laughs while doing it!
Rating:
Summary: just finished it.. loved it!
Review: I've been working on a book (in my head) for over 20 years! How many of us can say that? probably a lot, I would guess. A friend of mine gave me this book as a gift after she and I had discussed our mutual interest in writing. What a gem this book is! Stephen King's talent for writing is unmistakable. As the other reviews have already said about this book, the first section, sort of an auto-biography, gives you a glimpse of how his ideas are formed based on his background. I found myself laughing out loud at many portions of this book, his quick wit and the way he was able to make even the most horrible events from his childhood seem almost comical are a true talent. I really did learn a lot from this book about writing and what to do as well as what not to do! (watch out for those adverbs!) If you are an aspiring novelist you owe it to yourself to add this book to your personal library (and read it!) You don't even need to be a fan of King's fiction work.
Rating:
Summary: Noone could fathom the tips WITHIN!!!
Review: I have no plans to write fiction, and haven't read a King novel in years, but enjoyed the book anyway. I read the book over New Year's break. While reading I noticed a peculiar shadow on the wall. When I turned to look again it was gone. Spooky, I thought. Once more I turned toward the same spot. I glanced toward the set of gleaming butcher knives. And I saw the shadow!!! Oh my God!!!! But seriously... the book has great tips; like use short sentences, "cut the fat," and no adverbs (the adverb should be implied in the context - he shouted shrilly = the reader should know it would be shrill). So, I'm actually using the tips in everyday business writing.
Rating:
Summary: A good intro to King the writer
Review: Who amongst us lovers of literature has not wanted to be a writer? I did. In college, I was an editor of a campus magazine, Spectator. It was a magazine that covered sports and cultural events around the campus and had some features like crossword puzzles, etc. It was a free magazine with no ads or sources of funding and so we, the three editors, wrote all the articles (with someone telling us what actually happened at events) and the features. At about this time, I was reading a lot of poetry. During preparation of the second issue of our magazine, I read Vikram Seth's "The Golden Gate", a story about love, California Style, told in sonnets set in iambic pentameter. This inspired us to write an issue in sonnets. It makes no sense now, but then it did. It made sense for Mr. Seth to set his book, which was about love, to sonnets. It made no sense for a magazine talking about one team beating another in 3-a-side to do so. Anyway, we wrote all the sonnets. Big mistake. We rhymed over with rover, inspire with perspire and verse with terse. Need I say more? One of the other campus magazines, Focus, wrote "Spectator goes from worse to verse to worst".
That incident cured me of my dreams of being a poet. But if I were to look deep within me in some dark spot, I guess I still want to be, if not a poet, at least a writer. If you feel the same, then Stephen King's On Writing is meant for you. It is a 'how-to' book on writing. Though well written, the book seems like a long answer to a question that I am sure Mr. King is asked often at book readings: "How do you write?" One finds it difficult to believe that it will inspire anyone to write.
In this book, Mr. King talks of an incident where he wrote a horror story while in school. His teacher found it and told him that he should be ashamed of writing such a story. Though I had never read his books and my only introduction to him was through movies based on his books, I would have agreed with that teacher. Having read this book, however, I have to say, I was wrong. He is a good writer.
Despite what Mr. King sets out to do (to write an advice book on writing) this book is not on writing, it is about Mr. King as a writer - his formative experiences, his toolbox of writing, and his techniques of writing. It is in the initial section of the book, which he titles "C. V.", that he is at his best. He describes his childhood, school days and his days as a struggling author juggling jobs and writing, leading to his first success with Carrie. He does not so much give us a memoir, as limn a montage. He goes through his early life as if describing a montage of photographs. One can almost see him looking over one's shoulder describing each picture, at the same time letting one draw their own inferences about the whole montage itself. The vignettes that make this montage are at times funny, at times touching, but always interesting. It is very rare that one gets such keen insight into what makes a writer. Then, he moves to talking about the toolbox of writing and how to develop it. One piece of advice that he keeps repeating is "Read a lot, write a lot." I am not sure how valuable that advice is. Joseph Conrad, for one, never wrote anything substantial till he one day decided to write, in his mid to late thirties and in his second language (English), "Almayer's Folly". I guess such exceptions prove the basic rule.
Later, he moves on to the writing of books and novels. His insights into dialog, narratives and descriptions are interesting. I am not in a position to judge if they will be useful to anyone. I suppose any class or seminar in creative writing will give one the same kind of advice.
Mr. King wrote most of this book in '98. Then in early '99, he was hit by a van that nearly killed him. In the final section of the book, he describes his ordeal and how his work, his profound need to write, helped his recovery. I think this section gives us as readers the best insight as to what makes a writer even more than the first. This need to write despite one's physical state is what separates those of us who want to write and those who need to, and therefore do.
If you want a manual on how to write well, I guess one could always read Strunk & White (which, one must add, Mr. King holds in high regard). But if you want a glimpse into the psyche of a writer, then this book is for you.
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