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Summary: Self Help for the Budding Author
Review: After more than thirty block-buster thrillers, horror-meister Stephen King has penned an unusual primer for the prospective writer. This is not a simple "how-to" but is an interesting perspective of the author, his background, and his approach to his craft. (Although he seems to think of it more as his addiction.) Additional significance comes to the book because King was working on it when he was almost killed in a vehicle-pedestrian accident in the summer of 1999. After leaving the hospital, King returned to the book and finished it as part of his therapy. The book is in three parts. The first part is biographical. King relates his background, including his early urges to write stories, in order, in his words, "to show how one writer was formed." The second part is a treatise on the business of writing. King uses the analogy of a carpenter's toolbox, along with a story of how he once helped his uncle replace a window screen. After lugging the massive (and heavy) toolbox to the job site, his uncle used only a single screwdriver to complete the job. When King asked him why carry the whole box when only one single tool was needed, the uncle responded "I didn't know what else I might find to do one I got out here, did I? It's best to have your tools with you. If you don't, you're apt to find something you didn't expect and get discouraged." The third part recounts King's near-fatal accident, his recovery, and thoughts on living and writing-which to him are the same thing. All three parts of the book are interesting. For someone interested in writing as well as reading, the middle part is the most significant. King does not present any new, world-shaking formula for good writing, but he restates many of the standard guidelines in the no-nonsense style that is the hallmark of his novels. This is a far cry from presentation of style manuals and creative writing courses. He does provide emphasis on certain points-some of the tools in the artisan's toolbox. Anyone who likes to read and/or write should enjoy this book immensely. (There's an adverb-sorry, Stephen-but I have tried to avoid passive voice and long sentences.)
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Summary: He's baaaack, and it's good!
Review: If John Doe wrote a book on writing, six people would read it and five would find something to complain about. But this is Stephen King. He's going to tell us about the boys in the basement. He's going to take us on a trip through the creaking-door start up and into the shadows of plot and let us see how he gets those hairs jumping up off our neck. And he does. It turns out to be by hard work, not by selling your soul to the devil. Writing, King says, is done by reading and by. . .well, writing. He tells us how, too, with examples from his own and others' work. Real examples. William Carlos Williams gets his due at last. King could have told us he'd sold his soul and we'd believe him. In fact, we'd prefer to believe that than get down to work. And that's exactly why King did writers and readers alike a huge service when he wrote a non-fiction book on writing. It's just hard work. And hard work is worth it to writers because anything else except writing isn't worth getting up for. But it's lonely and scary. And King knows it; he's made the most of that fear and loneliness for us for more than 25 years. If you want to make your living as a writer buy this book in hardcover, read it and keep it close at hand. When you think dusting/changing the oil on the car/cleaning windows is more important than writing 2,000 words today, crack open the book and read any two pages. You'll be a better writer for it.
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Summary: Great Book!
Review: This is perfect for anyone contemplating writing and gives great insight into Stephen's works!
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Summary: Surprising
Review: I am decidedly not a Stephen King fan but a writer nonetheless. I picked this book up as a whim and could not put it down for the following three days. Behind a cavalcade of horror literature lies a sensitive man who knows his craft. I found more helpful bits in the first section, his autobiography, than I have in any writing books of late. Even for those not enthralled with the horror genre, pick this book up. It's worth it.
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Summary: A must-have for fiction writers and King fans alike.
Review: I just finished "On Writing," and I was very impressed with it. If you or someone you know is serious about getting into fiction writing, this would be a great purchase (as a needed boost or motivator, or just to get into the head of an author who has struggled with his work and become successful).In the sea of "So you want to be a writer?" books already on the market, King's work should stand out not only because of his recognizable name, but because he has put together a work that really can help the aspiring writer. He is honest and to-the-point -- he makes it clear that he is not out to bore the reader with every detail of the craft or the business, but to share a few stories and a few pointers. And he does it very well. "On Writing" flows like conversation and doesn't miss a beat even when hitting the nuts and bolts of writing -- the grammar, the presentation, and so on. The beginning of the book is a memoir which switfly runs through King's childhood and early beginnings as a writer, up until he publishes "Carrie." Throughout the rest of the book, though, King keeps up his accessible tone and even offers a lot of interesting details about many of his works. If you are a fan of King and are interested in some of the behind-the-scenes aspects of his writing, you'll get your fill of details. And if you are, indeed, an aspiring creative writer and need another's words to feed on while you weave your own, this book will suit you well.
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Summary: Inspiration in black and white...
Review: Wow. I guess I'm reviewing this more from my point of view than from the average reader. It reminded me of why I wanted to be a writer in the first place. Its very easy to get caught up in todays ultra-information age and get side-tracked, but King brings it all back. To those who think the writing mechanics portion was too short, you should be writing, writing, and writing some more, not looking for quick fixes in a how-to book. Besides its much easier to remember short, helpful hints than memorize pages of rules and regulations. 'nuff said... time to write
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Summary: Fabulously funny!
Review: Oops, that's an adverb. This book is a must read for any writer or wannabee. Great book, no bullsh--. I was hooked from the first foreward. Don't pass this up if you are a Stephen King Fan.
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Summary: Writers Write, Wanabees Look for the Magic Feather
Review: Steven King does a great job in On Writing of illustrating the most important part of the craft that every young writer should remember. Writers write. If you are not writing, and not writing every day, then you are not going to improve your skills. Also King's attention to an often overlooked part of the craft, reading, is something that I've found lacking in most of the books on writing that I have read. If you're not reading and you're not writing then you can't be a writer, and this book does a great job of hammering these points home. A great book and a worthy read (Especially the audio version).
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Summary: Kings Take on Writing
Review: It is ironic that this is the first book I have read by Stephen King. I do not know why I decided to start here, but I am glad I did. King first presents the reader with a brief account of his journey through ecoming a writer. His witty sense of humor about his own beginnings is enjoyable. He emphasizes that even the best of writers have gotten rejection letters, including himself. This first part lets you take a glimpse into what made King the writer he is today(which is very interesting!). King then concludes with a section on writing. He does not give a magical formula for becoming a writer, but instead gives basic advice. Read and write alot is what I got from it (very basic). Overall, I really enjoyed reading this first piece of writing I have read by King, and by the way...I have already bought The Shining for my next read!
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Summary: Simply put, the man knows his craft.
Review: I don't know why I expected this book to be awful. Truth is, it's not. He's a very capable writer and a very capable teacher. If you're planning on writing a popular novel, do yourself a favor and read this book.
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