Rating: 
Summary: Finally, a view into his mind
Review: I have been a fan of Stephen King for years, and have often wondered how he lived, and how he came up with his stories. Now I know. It was interesting to learn that his stories do not begin with a plot, rather, with a situation or a scene that evolves into a plot. I'm sure he is as mystified as to how the story will end when he is writing it as we are when reading it.His relationship with his wife and family reassured me that he is not as wacky as his characters - he may object to that - but it seems that his writing stems from an acute interest in the obtuse, while he enjoys a sort of storybook kind of happy marriage and family. It was also interesting to read the details of the tragic accident that nearly killed him. I had read about it in news stories, but never had read it in his own words. Although I do not aspire to write fiction, I found this to be a page-turner, and recommend it to all of his fans, and to aspiring writers.
Rating: 
Summary: Abracadabra
Review: If you're looking for a magic "How to Become a Successful Writer in 5 Days or Less," look elsewhere. Or better yet, look here to see why there is no such book, regardless of what the title says. Stephen King's _On_Writing_ is Strunk and White's _Elements_ with skin on. S&W provide a strong skeleton for good writing, but King makes it breathe. Part memoir, part workshop, _On_Writing_ is a fascinating book. But more importantly, rather than a recipe for birthing yet another generation of hack writers, King tries to provide his readers with a look at the love and work of writing. He sums it up this way in his third forward when explaining why the book is so short (less than 300 pages), "Fiction writers, present company included, don't understand very much about what they do -- not why it works when it's good, not why it doesnt' when it's bad. I figured the shorter the book, the less the [b.s.]."
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable read for us non-writers
Review: I am not a writer, I never will be a writer, and I have no desire to be a writer. Ever. But that didn't make me hesitate one second when this book went up for sale on Amazon. I don't know what it is about this man.....I have gotten totally engrossed in almost all of his fiction stories, but even his nonfiction books are engrossing. I've been a huge Stephen King fan since his first published novel "Carrie", and am always impatient to see what he'll think up next. I enjoyed "ON Writing" simply because it made me feel like I know him a little. When he writes "Dear Constant Reader" I feel like he's right in front of me, taking my hand, and ready to lead me down a long and terrifying, or funny, or unworldly place. But he seems to know his way around so well, I'm ready to follow wherever he leads, because I am his "Constant Reader". He complains that critics say he could sell his grocery list. Well, that may be a bit much, but if he managed to put his mind to work on a story about a laundry list, chances are, it'd be loved by his legions of fans. Anyway....if you really enjoy his works, and have not read this book because you think it's an instruction manual, give it a try. We learn a little more about Mr. King, his life and his wonderful family.
Rating:
Summary: On Stephen King's writing of On Writing
Review: His approach to writing fiction is unusual and unique, as is his way of explaining it. As uncomfortable as he claimed to be about writing this non-fiction book, it is a enjoyable. For would-be authors of fiction, it turns out as inspirational as it is informative. I also highly recommend it to Stephen King fans.
Rating:
Summary: Very good and entertaining writing advice
Review: I'm not much of a Stephen King fan and have read few of his novels. However, I was quite entertained and pleased with the audiobook of his writing instruction manual. King has obviously mastered the craft of writing solid novels that entertain many people, although by his own admission he is not the kind of author that critics love. As such, his writing advice is workmanlike but also incredibly useful. King intersperses his advice with illustrative vignettes from his childhood and early days as a writer. You can really see how his interest and talent in writing developed. Although he gives much useful basic advice about writing (e.g., avoid adverbs), perhaps the most illuminating was his description of what it takes to be a good writer - lots of reading and lots of practice. It's easy to see how his faqmous work ethic has lead to his great productivity and success. King really breaks down the writing process in a way that I felt inspired to write more after hearing his book. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Stephen King talks about writing, reading and other things
Review: This is really not so much a book about writing as it is a conversation. Whenever Stephen King writes in his own voice, whether it is the foreword or afterward to one of his novels, an essay, or whatever, there is always a strong conversational element, and that is what exactly what you find when you read "On Writing." It is also a book about reading as well and there are also autobiographical elements that take on a life of their own and make you forget they are intended as pivotal episodes in King's realization that he was born to write (as far as I am concerned, he can never talk enough about Tabby). This latter part takes up the first part of the book and then King turns to the specifics of his craft, detailing the necessary items a writer needs to have in their "Toolbox" and then talking about the lessons he has learned that he wants to pass along. ...he traces back over the superhighway of his own career. If you are looking for a step-by-step process that will lead to fame and fortune, then you need to look elsewhere. There are suggestions, helpful hints and even one actual to go assignment (that you can take or leave), but "On Writing" is still a pleasant conversation with one of the most successful novelists in the history of the written word and not an instructional manual dolling out detailed information that will be covered on a comprehensive final exam. In the end, I think you will discover that King achieves the two most important goals of anyone attempting to "teach" writer. First, he will convince you that you WANT to write and that all those impulses knocking through your brain are pretty much the same collection of euphoric thoughts and dastardly doubts with which King is all too familiar. Second, he will convince you that you CAN write, that there are simple truths that writers can take as being self-evident. One thing that is also clear by the time you finishing reading this book is that King wrote it as much for his own benefit as he did for those of his reader. The reason for that, for those of you too involved in reading and/or writing to catch the news from a few years back, is explained in the book's postscript. The final thing I learned from this book was that if you ever hit somebody with your car, it had better not be a writer. Even if you hit somebody who can go get a good lawyer who will take from you everything you own in court all they can do is rail against you so long and so hard that it will dawn on the jury that while you might be a wretched human being you are probably not one step removed from Hitler. But a writer can strip you naked before the world with a few choice sentences. William Wallace fared better when put to death by Edward Longhshanks than does the man who ran down Stephen King.
Rating:
Summary: Kill Your Darlings...
Review: I realize that Stephen King survived his accident to give us writers this book--it is an invaluable tool, and one I shall use in my tool box. As a successful writer King lets you into his world and illustrates how the craft evolves. His methods, his strategies and his touch of the unexplained weave a great tale, and at the same time provide nourishing food for thought. I recommend this book to anyone remotely serious in the craft and aspiring writers alike.
Rating:
Summary: Let me begin with an apology
Review: I wrote a 3-star review of On Writing when the book first came out. Boy was I mistaken. Since that time, I purchased the book on cassette and began listening to it as I drove. Stephen King makes a double contribution on these tapes. His first gift is the book itself. King's slender volume may not be complete, but it offers the most direct and useful advice on writing that I have seen in print. King's second contribution is his reading. He may not do voices and accents like Frank Muller (the amazing reader of The Green Mile), but he is a good reader and hearing his words in his voice is a nice plus. On Writing is a wonderful book for struggling writers. It comes from a man who obviously knows how to sell his work. But forget King's financial success--he is also a superb writer and storyteller. This book comes from a man whose great love affair with writing is apparent.
Rating:
Summary: enjoyed it
Review: A little self-serving, but otherwise good. I think if King actually writes a whole autobiography, it will be as riveting as his novels. Much of the writing advice he gave has been said many times before. Anyone who's taken a college or even a high school writing class has heard this stuff time and time again. At least now we understand why a number of his books have such atrocious, tacked-on endings--he never has a plot, so he's left with a lot of loose ends that are resolved in an unbelievable or stupid way. But I have to admit I have spent hours entertained by his novels.
Rating:
Summary: Stephen King shares his writing knowledge...
Review: This book is worth reading just for the insight that he shares about the writing of some of King's best know books. Add to that his autobiographical material, and you have an excellent read. I am not sure why I have not heard of this book prior to searching for books on writing, but the insight it gives to the craft of writing and King's writing in particular, make this book a treat. I laughed outloud as King describes his early start in writing, and at least a dozen times. The book also motivated me to get on the ball, with my writing, and to make it fun. He discusses examples of contemporary writers, the different techniques and a few writing projects for the reader to tackle as well. If you are a King fan and dislike this book, it would be a horror.
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