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Summary: Required reading for any would-be author
Review: If you don't like Stephen King, then read no further. It's not likely that anyone said here will convince you to read this book. If, however, you do appreciate that it's not just dumb luck or "poor taste" behind his success, then you owe it to yourself to get this book. King offers some great anecdotes about how he got where he is today, as well as useful advice to upstart authors. In addition, we get some candid insight into drug and alcohol addiction and how it destroys lives. Want to learn how to (and not to) write? Learn from one of the modern masters.
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Summary: A Fantastic Insight into writting!
Review: I found this book to be both inspiring and interesting, some thing not many other than the master of all authors could manage in one book! It covers not only his own experiances and his rise to number one best seller but alot of very useful tips on getting in on the writting world oneself.
As an unyet unpublished author I found this book so helpful it is beyond words, he not only encouraged me but made me feel as if I had an audiance with the master himself!
Alot of what is said struck a cord with me, the section on reading, how it feels to know I'm not the only person who carries a book with me every where incase the opportunity arises to read it! The rejection slips with the handwritten "your style is very good but this subject matter isn't for us" I get those too! It gives you hope that he went through the process and came out the other side, maybe I can too...
Thank you Stephan King for sharing both proffessional and personal experiance with us in a bid to help all those who long to be published.
Long live the King of horror may he continue to turn out the books we all love to be scared by!!! If this is a taste of his non fiction then I eagerly await his next, by far the best book I've read for months.
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Summary: I'll read anything with Stephen's name on it
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Even though I have noaspirations as a writer, I found his narrative of writing transferable to obsessions of my own. An interesting meld of his personal life and a writing lesson.
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Summary: Two, two, two books in one
Review: Stephen King probably should have called this book "On Life and on Writing." That's because this book is part autobiography (a rather sketchy autobiography) and part writing course. The book never fails to be interesting, thus the four stars, but I think the reading/writing public could have been better served by two separate books, with a fuller treatment of both King's life and his tips on writing. What he has to say about writing is very helpful, and one cannot argue with his success. While it is probably not the final word on the craft of writing, it is a very good start.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Quite Great
Review: Stephen King is nearly a great writer. There are two things he does, both of which are found in this book, that keep him from greatness. The first is his continuing overuse of foul language. I mean, even in this book on WRITING he can't restrain himself. It seems like a holdover from his geek days in high school, when smoking and swearing were easy ways for a dweeb to increase the masculinity level. But King is a middle aged guy now. Get over it. It just seems silly and off-putting. The other thing is his advice on endings. He tells writers just to write and not worry how the story will end, trusting that a way will be found. Well, that's his weakness as a novelist. His endings. Especially in the biggies, like It and The Stand. The build up is great, but then he finds he's in a corner and the ending seems like a bolt from the blue (what they call deus ex machina in literature classes). As good as King is, and there are few better, a little more pre-planning of plot, and a lot less coarse language, would have elevated him into a higher rank. Still, this book has a few insights for aspiring writers. It does not have a lot of the nuts and bolts found in, say, a Writers Digest book. But it's worth looking at for a little insight into the mind of near great writer.
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Summary: Well worth a look!
Review: On Writing is Honest, direct, and entertaining to a fault. There's little I can add to a book averaging 4 1/2 stars in 300 plus reviews, but I will toss in my two cents anyway.
For those interested in the writing and "how to" aspects, the biographical information is revealing. One gets a glimpse at how a person who chooses to express themselves through writing often makes such decisions early on in life and creates an inextricable bond between themself and their chosen mode of expression. For those interested only in the memoir it's still well worth while. You get a glimpse behind the scenes at the processes behind many of his works, as well as the tools used in creating them. Plus you get an easy to digest writing primer free of charge.
I haven't read a Stephen King novel in over ten years but I inhaled this one almost greedily!
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Summary: Interesting reading
Review: If you are looking for a how to book, this ain't it. The book, looks at King's life, and the events which shaped him, inspired him to write. Still, in a funny, twisted way, (not unlike his novels) I came away with several ideas as to how I could tune my writing. You may not get what you expect, but I was pleasantly surprised.
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Summary: The one writing book all writers should read
Review: All I can say about this book is WOW. Not only has King given us a revealing glance into the good, the bad and the ugly of his life, which would be interesting enough, but he's also given all of us the permission to follow our dreams and write from our hearts. Much of this book seems to deal with King's experiences as a writer and a person. From rejection #1 to a huge paperback deal for "Carrie" that allowed him to sink fully into writing, you'll find yourself nodding, laughing and being moved by the experiences all writers share. But beneath the surface of those moments is the underlying message that writers should WRITE. And that they shouldn't apologize for it. King writes genre fiction, and has been criticized and made fun of from time to time for doing just that. But in this small, yet powerful book he tells us to ignore those voices that tell you writing mainstream fiction like romance, horror and mystery isn't noble. That's the kind of permission that all writers need to hear from time to time. Finally, he gets into the nitty gritty of real writing, from grammar to all kinds of other things. If you are a writer, this book will change you in some way. If you care about someone who is a writer, this will give you a glimpse into their world that will be valuable in your interactions with them. If you aren't either, but just like Stephan King, this book will give you lots of insight into the man and his life. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
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Summary: Unreal
Review: I could barely read for the tears of laughter in my eyes.
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Summary: an amazingly smart, funny, and poweful guide to writing
Review: As a hopeful writer, just beginning, at age 18, I found Stephen King's memoir extremely powerful and helpful. He has a great way of writing that makes the reader both respect him and relate with him. He's one of the richest authors in the world and yet he doesn't talk down to you or gloat about about his status. Instead he gives it to you straight. I've not read any of his novels, I've seen a few of his film versions, but it wasn't his body of work that lead me to this memoir, but rather I was interested in how he did it. He's talented, orginal, both respected and critized, and he's extremely famous. You don't have to have read any of his novels to get the power of this memoir, that's not to say it wouldn't help. In fact this book has encouraged me to read some of his novels. Finding the secrets behind them have made me want to read them. The style of the book is easy. He begins telling you about himself and his childhood through his adulthood. He then focuses on the process of writing, how to do it and how to go about publishing, but he does this as a friend might. He never says this is the only way to do anything. This is what worked for him and he never lets you forget the luck that goes along with his success and anyone's for that matter. He then discusses the accident that nearly killed him and how he survived. If you are a big fan of King or an inspiring writer, pick this book up and you will not regret it. It's both informative and touching. It's warm and cold and will leave you with a slightly different view of the King himself.
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