On Writing

Rating:
Summary: Good read, Most inspiring
Review: I love Steven King's stories, but even if you don't (in this case my advise is to skip the first 100 or so pages) this book will inspire you. This book gives you the NO NONSENSE way to write fiction: make anything up (it basicly tells you) and then later (at least 6 weeks) read it and edit it. Not so hard is it? If your looking for plot, grammar, theme or style advice this is not it and you should try the "Elements of Fiction Writing Series". Good luck!

Rating:
Summary: A Word From the Master....
Review: To be honest, Mr. King has been an author I studiously avoided my whole life. I snorted like an elitist when I heard he was working on this book. How can a man who writes so much really CARE about his craft, I wondered.

Boy, was I wrong. I have looked at myriads of books about writing and this is, by all odds, the best ever done. A blurb on the back of the book said, "This is the best book on writing. Ever."

I find it hard to disagree with that. King speaks to the reader his enthusiasm and care for the language. He also uses superb examples of writing both positive and negative to wonderful effect.

If you desire to write fiction (regardless of genre) then this book should be mandatory. It's clear, fun and highly motivational. If this doesn't make you want to pick up a pen or run to your word processor, then there's something wrong with you!

Oh, by the way, this is the first book of Mr. King that I ever read. I intend on reading others.

Enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent read, even if you have no plans to be a writer
Review: I've not read any fiction by Stephen King in years. I've just never really enjoyed the horror genre. But not only has this book really got me jazzed about writing, it's made me want to read Stephen King fiction again. I just ordered "The Gunslinger" to get started! This book is extremely entertaining. One of those rarified books that I just didn't want to put down. The autobiographical section is endlessly enjoyable. The section on writing is just as enjoyable and educational. I highly recommend this for anyone who just wants a good book to read. I definitely recommend this book to any Stephen King fans and/or budding writers. One of the smartest book purchases I've made in a long, long time.

Rating:
Summary: Master class
Review: In what is probably his finest work to date, King provides readers with a quick autobiography, a lesson on the tools and do's and dont's of writing, and a breathtaking account of the accident that nearly cost him his life. This third section combines autobiography with writing class, telling an exciting story while artfully employing all of the rules for good writing along the way. King delivers his lessons with great warmth and zero fluff. He's got a wonderful, completely correct idea that writing is meant to be a joyous exercise, and that all the Chandlers and Shakespeares, the popular and 'gifted' writers in the world can live together in greatness, so long as they're good at what they do. This a lesson lovingly given by a man who knows what he's doing, and knows what makes a great story. A good read for everyone.

Rating:
Summary: A Very Educational Read!!
Review: Everybody who writes -- or who wants to write -- should include this book in their library. As a teenager, I had read all of Stephen King's works. Now, as somebody who wants to write, I was very excited to have found this book.

This is really two books in one. The first is a quick autobiography of Stephen King. It begins with his family life... his mother and genius brother. He wrote about some of the things that has influenced and inspired his life and his stories. He wrote about how he first began writing and what life was like before and after writing success. When I first read this, I was shocked to find him writing an autobiography instead of giving lessons on writing. However, I not only ended up loving this section, but it also gave great insight on what it takes to BE a writer.

The next section is his "No bull crap (that was censored)" approach to writing. He gave several tips on things to do while writing (like, of course, writing in the active voice) and he also gave several examples of things NOT to do while writing.

If you want to be a writer, you've got to pick this book up. Stephen King is truly a master of the art of writing and found this book to be an invaluable addition to my library!

Rating:
Summary: Finally-a book on writing worth reading!
Review: Being a writer myself, I have read many books on writing, but exercises about subjects that bore you are worthless. Here is finally a book about writing that inspires, a book about the true 'craft' of writing and not endless exercises and examples. Just the plain and simple truth about what being a writer is all about. Thank you, Stephen King!

Rating:
Summary: Erin's review on Stephen King's memoir
Review: Although I am not much on writing, this book interested me greatly. I love reading his books, and after taking the time to read this one I figured out where all his weird stories come from. This book will greatly entertain whoever will take the time to read it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Stephen King's work. Reading this can really help you see into how his mind really works. On Writing is a good book for writers everywhere, and it has been said that it really inspires people to write. On Writing talks about Mr. King's adolescence and adult life. He has faced many obstacles in his life. He was raised by his mom and moved around a bit. He also had to go through many things from getting poison ivy on his butt, to smelly babysitters, one of who locked him in a closet. This book also talks about his newspapers and stories he wrote as a kid. An example of this was his paper called "The Village Vomit." There are so many more stories in this book, but I am not going to go through them all.
Like I said earlier he really helps aspiring writers. He does this by showing how he proofreads all of his books and other things. He also really lays down some major ground rules for writing. This book is nothing like the other books that are published to help writers.
So, although I am not an aspiring writer or anything like that I read this book because I loved his work. I have to say though that this book has given me insight to what writing is like for him. This book really tells it how it is.

Rating:
Summary: Simply The Best
Review: This is one the most enjoyable books ever written. I bought the cassette version and I just couldn't wait to get back in the car to listen to more. It is an incredibly helpful tool for a novice writer. Thank you Mr. King!

Rating:
Summary: On Writing
Review: This book stuck with me, more than any of the author's horror stories have. A brief autobiography, followed by his personal experiences as both a struggling and accomplished author, make this a highly entertaining and thought-provoking read.

Anyone interested in practicing "the craft" should start with this wonderful instruction manual on writing.

Rating:
Summary: A treat for the reader and the writer
Review: This is a little gem of a how-to book. It's little, because Stephen King has taken seriously the commands of Strunk and White to "omit needless words". He also rails against the excessive use of adverbs ("adverbs are not your friends"), the temptation to "dress up" plain and more direct language ("this is like dressing up your dog; the dog is embarassed and the person who engaged in this premeditated act of cuteness should be more embarassed"--I'm paraphrasing), and writing untruthfully about subjects with which you are uneducated ("if you're a plumber, write about plumbing; God knows why, but people love books about work").

Other than that, King offers few hard and fast rules. The most important commands are to write often and to read often. His book is funny, wise and above all inspiring. It contains words of wisdom from an imaginative man who made his living doing something that he still absolutely revels in doing. How many people can say that?

This book also contains two autobiographical sections and a reading list. The first autobiographical section deals with his childhood and early adulthood as a young husband, father, English teacher, writer and pauper. It is both funny and sad. The second section deals with the accident that nearly killed him in 1999. This part is less funny and more sad, but contains a fundamental truth: his passion for writing, at least in part, saved him.

There is also a sweetness about the way King feels about his wife. He clearly adores her and is still in love and lust with her after all these years. She is his "ideal reader", the person he writes all of his books with her opinion in mind. She is smart, outspoken, and nearly idolized by King. What woman wouldn't want a man to feel that way about her? Tabitha King is a lucky woman.

If this book doesn't make you want to jump up and write (and read) something, then you're not a writer. Even if you're not, you can still enjoy the wickedly wise tales of King's childhood and his astute, self-deprecating look at the world of bad versus good, and sometimes great, writing.