On Writing

Rating:
Summary: On Writing for Those Who Can't Not Write
Review: I started working on my novel again and later that day received a writing magazine in the mail, with an excerpt from this book as the cover story. I found Mr. King's comments encouraging, even though I've never read any of his books. (I did stand in a bookstore several years ago, barely able to put Misery down, but I don't enjoy the horror or suspense genres.)

This week I received a package in the mail from someone who I like to think believes in the writer in me. "It's a book," I thought, then I pulled it out and my heart fell. "Oh, it's Stephen King." But when my eyes landed on the title, the thrill was back and I couldn't put this little book down.

I was thrilled to receive permission to keep my writing private until it's finished, to drop out of the writers group with its silly reviews, to not take another writing class, to not write from an outline, to let the story take off without planning the plot ahead of time, to trust that what I need to do is to read a lot and write a lot, and to be honest above all.

I keep thinking that I never wanted a mentor, yet Stephen King is so earnest and casual in this book, I feel as though he's talking directly to me. I've got a shelf full of books about writing, but none have the honesty and enthusiasm for writing because the writer loves to write. (Thank you, Kevin, for the most meaningful gift I've ever received.)

Rating:
Summary: I'm not a fan of horror...
Review: I'm not a fan of horror. In fact, I've only read one other book by Steven King. But I'm glad a hardback version of this book will grace my shelves.

The biographical aspects of this work are of interest to those who adore King's books, are familiar with movies based on his works, or who simply live in contemporary American culture.

The essence of the book, however, is glimpsing King's thoughts "On Writing". The text is conversational and direct. The topics are loosely organized, yet have a seemingly natural flow. This is a book that some will read in one sitting, but which most of us will find it easy to pick up and put down as daily schedules demand. (I found myself enjoying the chance to ponder the thought of a particular section between chances to acutally read more pages).

King does not pretend to be an all-knowing expert. He is not preachy. He does not use the book as a glorified advertisment for his other novels. He simply gives you the impression that he is "thinking out loud" and sharing his opinion.

This isn't meant to replace a college degree or to even serve as a textbook (in fact, he offers references to his favorite textbooks). But King does offer interesting insights, creative analogies, practical tips, and optimistic hope for aspiring writers. And for dedicated readers, it is an interesting chance to examine the words and language that paint the stories that we enjoy reading.

Rating:
Summary: Writing A La King!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book - both the autobiographical first section and the chapters following on the specifics of "writing a la King". His analysis and dissection of rewriting the Second Draft were particularly telling - it's helpful to see this stuff in action! It's rare to be given so deep a look into the creative process of a successful individual artist - and Mr. King reveals the style AND substance of his prolific output in this book. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: on ON WRITING
Review: This is not so much a how-to-write book as it is a--as the title of the book states--memoir of the craft. The book is divided into three parts, at least in my mind. The first part of the book is a bit of an autobiography. To some people, this is unnecessary, but King does draw some EXCELLENT parallels that make his second part--the part on writing--a lot more visual and helpful. The toolbox and fossil parallels especially so. To top it all off and bring this book to its grand finale, King gives us the first, unedited draft of a short story he's written. Then he edits it, and presents to us the sloppy second draft. Too many times I think people are under the impression that writers crank out perfect first drafts, when in reality they're really dreadful looking. Finally, although I haven't always been all that impressed by Mr. King's works, I really enjoyed this book (finished it in two days)and felt that it really clarified some things that I've always wondered about. Though this book is good for aspiring writers, you'd be better off reading THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE first, as Mr. King highly recommends it and mentions it often in his book. Then go back and read this one.

Rating:
Summary: King Gets Right To The Point
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's filled with writing tips and inspiration. I love Kings writing because he has something to say and gets right to the point. He discloses some interesting things which he experienced while growing up and describes his humble beginnings. Inspirational, funny, and surprising!

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly little advice on writing
Review: For fans of Stephen King, the purchase of this book is a foregone conclusion. For aspiring writers, it does give some helpful insights into this elusive and unusual lifestyle, but it provides nothing that hasn't been done to death by other authors -- perhaps not as popular, but far more gifted than Mr. King, on the art of fiction -- and becomes, as King himself decries in the opening chapter, full of "BS." The first half of the book is King's memoir of his early life and formative years as a writer. Many of us have heard it all before in numerous interviews, yet a few new gems emerge. The second half of the book is entitled "On Writing," and yet it is largely a first semester course in what not to do when composing fiction.

If I may make the distinction here: Writing is a verb and literature is a noun. What King discusses here is essentially his understanding of literary structure and principle. He basically teaches what he knows about the difference between hack fiction and competent fiction. Fair enough. But none of it is anything the reader didn't get in his or her college introductory courses in creative writing, and by no means is it a substitute for that education. The reader can get the same advice (and it truly is worthwhile for those who did not receive a college education in creative prose) from a one year subscription to the magazine Writers Digest. Furthermore, if the reader wants to read about what elevates a sentence of fiction writing to something of genius, I would refer him or her to the writing books of the late John Gardner (like On Becoming a Novelist, and The Art of Fiction). Anyone interested in what it takes to become a writer need look no further than Becoming A Writer by Dorothea Brande. This small book has more to say about jumping into this craft than any other written since its publication in the 1930s.

But King does give us some advice that warrants the cost of the book. Of note is the back jacket copy: "...put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn't in the middle of the room. Life isn't a support-system for art. It's the other way around." This is an important point, and well illustrated. Too many young writers assume that one's life should revolve around one's desire, for example, to become a novelist. So their lives and creative energy get sucked dry by a notion as silly as the efforts that fledgling actors spend on appearing to take their art seriously (and who spend all their money on clove cigarettes, berets and subscriptions to artsy film magazines that they never read). Additionally, King makes his feelings about criticism plain throughout the book, and his opinions are both important and valuable. I will resist the temptation to paraphrase what King wrote, but you can well imagine what he felt about bad reviews. When Ernest Hemingway called critics "the lice that crawl upon literature," he was being kind compared to King's views.

Stephen King published a very short article in The Writer about six years ago called something like "Everything You Need to Know About Writing." It was about three pages long. I read it and loved it! It is, in fact, everything you needed to know about writing. If you want King's advice, seek out an old copy and read it, for it is truly excellent. What he goes on about here is redundant and excessive.

I am not a fan of Stephen King's novels, but I do admire the man for his success. Considering his troubled background, I am delighted that he made it to the top. As far as his book on the craft of writing is concerned, let his fans buy it to add to their collection of King's work. But for young writers who aspire to join King in his ranks as a happily published author, well, this book won't hurt their chances, but it is sadly just another primer on the nuts and bolts of the construction of fiction. And in that regard its value has been surpassed time and again by other, and considerably more capable, writers.

Rating:
Summary: Why?
Review: I have never read any of King's works, before attempting this one.

I was drawn to this, because simply he is a very successful and prolific writer. And I was interested in finding out what made him tick, so to speak.

Well, I found this book was very poorly written. The expression lapsed in places, which I thought was due to laziness. Therefore, given the subject matter, the disparity was very annoying.

The book left me very uninterested in attempting his other works.

His general commentary on writing was useful. But I think he could have summarised it in a few words - that is, write 'simply, not flowery'.

Rating:
Summary: Insightful Reading
Review: An unexpected work by horror writer Stephen King, he attempts to divulge in what he knows about his craft not only by creating a useful technical guide, but also by relating his work to his life growing up and after his horrifying accident. This was a very inspirational and educational read, if one only even learns a little bit about the writer and ignores everything on writing.

Rating:
Summary: Direct, to the point, motivating
Review: I'm not a big fan of Stephen King's fiction. I have to be in the mood to read his stuff or even see the movies. But I liked this nonfiction piece.

As a writer, I'm more than willing to sit down and drink in words of wisdom from a master of the game. I truly think he gives the reader what they are seeking -- advice and motivation. Even a bit of inspiration (his story about Carrie selling as paperback gets a fellow writer's heart beating.)

I also like that his real voice is nothing like his fiction voice. He's a real honest-to-God person who works hard at what he does -- and it shows. Thanks, Stephen!

Rating:
Summary: Very Pleasant Surprise
Review: When my brother gave this book to me for Christmas, he said it was "a risky gift," because I hadn't read Stephen King since high school. Well, the risk paid off. I've read dozens of books on writing, and especially on the craft of creative writing, and I think that King's efforts strike the perfect balance between knowledgeable, literate advice and a crash course in the very practical concerns that can make or break a writer.

What shines brightest for me, in "On Writing," is the very serious treatment of the craft as hard labor. King makes no bones about the sheer determination and effort that the task requires, and readers will come away with a better sense of whether they themselves feel up to it. Part of this attention to the work behind the works involves the act of careful re-writing, and here King's advice is also invaluable. He points out common trouble spots--and often, in a very un-self-conscious manner, points them out in his own writing--for writers: overused adverbs, unnecessary description and narration, etc. Beginning writers as well as seasoned veterans can, if they follow King's advice, make their prose more economical and capable of greater immediate punch.

And then there's the moving section on his accident, and how writing ultimately helped him to move beyond it. It's a perfect ending to a beautiful and timely book--often deeply personal, often collegially frank yet encouraging--on what I believe to be the most important craft.