On Writing

Rating:
Summary: Maybe the best book I've read about the craft,
Review: and I've read most of them. Stephen King stresses several points in this entertaining little book which should be indispensable to all writers: 1) Purchase, immediately, Strunk and White's Elements of Style, then learn it, love it, live it. 2) Purge your writing of the passive voice. Be active. 3) Read a lot, write a lot; otherwise, you'll never be a good writer. 4) Don't expect to be a great writer, unless you're born that way. Heck, great writers are freaks of nature. King ought to know. Fortunately, a competent writer can learn to become a good writer. You just need the right tools in your box, and a great deal of desire.

I have little negative criticism of this book, except for the profanity. So, maybe it's true that people curse. Do we have to be subjected to it? Readers read, in general, as an escape. I say, give them what they want.

Rating:
Summary: Honestly the best book I've ever read!!
Review: As I sat down to read this book, I was a bit strained on my reading. I had just finished "IT" also by Stephen King. But two days later, I was finished with the best, most inspireing book of my life. Other than the Bible, this book touched me in a way that no other book has. I hope to find a talent like that in my writing. If you should read two books in your life, read, the Bible and On Writing.

Rating:
Summary: Best money spent in years
Review: As a writer, I was thorougly impressed with this comprehensive "journey." It's a must read for any aspiring writer. If I weren't a writer, I STILL would have enjoyed the candor of "On Writing." I read passages aloud to my husband, and have quoted the book several times in polite conversation.

Rating:
Summary: You could almost take it personal.
Review: It was fascinating to read a book about writing written without the flat and boring qualities of an ordinary English grammar and literature text. But, could Stephen King ever write like that? Probably not... The book is loaded with the usual King quips and idioms. It's easy to read and often humorous. King explains how interesting writing can be, just as long as you are enjoying it and having fun doing it. His opinions on editing and rewriting were excellent. He seemed to be pushing or edging the writer on as he spoke. His little pat on the back, letting you in on his realization of the amateur writer's loneliness and insecurities, was priceless 'felt from the heart' information. I'm not sure if I'm ready to see the guy that appears next to me smoking his cigar and putting ideas in my head. Although, since reading this book, I'm pretty sure he's there; I just can't see him yet.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting biographical info and writing how- to
Review: I'm not a big Stephen King fan, but read this because I wanted to see what he had to say about writing. I read the part about his accident first and then began at the beginning.

A lot of good advice which can be boiled down to write, don't just talk about doing it. An understanding partner helps, too.

I tried to send him an e-mail on his web site yesterday and both times the computer froze. Spooky, isn't it?

Rating:
Summary: This book is good.....
Review: ....but the marriage is magnificent - "I know it's none of my business, but...." Read this book and discover the gift of love and devotion as it exists in the real world. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. King!

Rating:
Summary: Rich In Perspective
Review: By reading Stephen King's 'On Writing' I expected a few good points about the craft from a favorite author. I received a very rich perspective about writing and life. King peels off his skin to reveal an imperfect past with neither shame or rationalization. He places each memory into a puzzle board revealing a wonderful picture his life and how his experiences affected his stories. This is especially true after his horrific accident a few years ago. Between autobiographical bookends to "On Writing' King provides pointers about the craft. Rather than dealing with the subject in grass blade detail, he broadens the readers viewpoint about key tools and important objectives before putting pen to paper. It is a lively discussion intended to broaden a writers perspective without constraining their creativity. Obviously, I enjoyed the book, picked up some excellent ideas about writing, but most importantly, received a lesson about how loving life is the foundation to good writing.

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Peek into the Mind and Method of the Author
Review: Stephen King is (I believe) America's best-selling author. This is not because most Americans are functionally illiterate (although this is arguably true---use a word over three syllables in a sentence, preferably with a Latin suffix, and watch the jaws slacken). It is not because King is a sellout, cranking out the literary equivalent of Jujubees. It is because what interests King interests us, and because he works quite hard to deliver it in digestible form.

"On Writing" is a quite unusual book---equal parts stunning, no-holds-barred autobiography on the order of Rousseau's Confessions and insider's look into the craft of writing novels and short stories. King has always been pretty fearless in dishing himself up to the public---this is no J.D. Salinger, hiding under the bed and diddling an occasional fan. But his courage in relaying the good, the bad, and the ugly in his life is simply astounding.

Amateur writers are always seeking out the magical formula to literary success. This is why books on writing represent one of the hottest markets in publishing today. As King reveals, there is no magic formula. You simply employ your God-given talent day after day, no matter how tough it gets or how the market responds, the best you can. Writing is no easier than sculpting or painting---it is the product of an enormous amount of difficult and demanding labor. To do it well takes more than the ability to turn a phrase or generate a compelling story idea. It takes a willingness to go to work, day after day, just like everyone else in the world (okay, except the Kennedy family).

I personally find King's stuff to be a mixed bag. I've often wondered how someone gifted enough to produce riveting thrillers like "Salem's Lot" or "The Shining" could also crank out such hackneyed crap as "Storm of the Century." It turns out the answer is pretty simple---you do the best you can with the story you wish to tell, but some stories are better than others.

A great book for any King fan or any aspiring writer (and aren't we all aspiring writers at some point?)

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Instructional
Review: This book is a gem! King starts off by telling you about his childhood and then gets into the real details of how to write towards the middle of the book. The book is well-balanced. Stephen's humor saves the book from being a boring instructional guide, yet there are some incredibly helpful instructions contained therein.

The only thing I have to disagree with Stephen King about is written in a section where he is talking about being honest. He commented that a child who saw his sister defecate on a porch chair would be more likely to run in to his parents and say "Mom, Amy just *hit on the chair!" than to use a different word. I've got to say this is incredibly unreal to me. I can't imagine any child I've ever met running to his parents and saying what Stephen King said is the more typical and "honest" statement, and I've been around many children. We can all find exceptions, but this certainly isn't what most kids would say to their parents. This was the only thing in the book that came as a surprise to me, and it was a minor thing.

Stephen takes time to give you specifics about how to write the first draft, how many words to write daily, pitfalls to avoid, and so on. This is an excellent book I would recommend to anyone who wants to write for themself or others.

Rating:
Summary: Brainiac from Bangor
Review: You can not come away from this book without respect for this man, despite the F word, the leathers, the drugs and alcohol and those horror books. He's had more crises than Liz Taylor - well, almost. He's only in his fifties. Despite the trappings of a renegade, he espouses traditional New England values like honesty, hard work, discipline, love for his one and only wife and respect for his mother. He displays intelligence and wit throughout this book. I was moved by his description of his writing desk and its place in his life. When I dream of a hunk - this is it. All the muscle is between the ears.