On Writing

Rating:
Summary: Good fun for writers and King fans
Review: There's really only a handful of bits of advice on writing in here, but the book in general is still good fun. The autobiographical bits are great, and the general tone and style offers some insights into King as a person (who generally seems to be a pretty likeable guy). Just hearing about the early struggles of one of the world's most successful authors is worth the price of the book. The moment when he gets a call to say that the paperback rights to Carrie had been sold is classic. If you're a writer, would-be writer, or a King fan, this is a great read.

Rating:
Summary: Does it really contain anything new?
Review: I enjoyed this book on writing by Stephen King--it was inspirational and freeing in many ways. I liked his discussion about plot, and how he doesn't make a slave of himself to it. But the book didn't contain anything new about writing, and actually contained less information than in other writing books I've read. It seems that he writes mostly by intuition, which is hard to communicate to someone else. Also, the profanity in the book was distracting and unnecessary. Perhaps he feels that in this point in his career, he can say what he wants, any way he wants. I would recommend reading this if you need a "You can do it!" jumpstart for your writing, but I'd get it from the library instead of keeping it on your shelf for reference.

Rating:
Summary: The Master Speaks!
Review: While giving us a no-holds-barred lesson on what it takes to be a good writer, Stephen King also weaves the story of his life into this remarkable book. Complete with a reading list, this book will be a useful resource for the aspiring writer for years to come. Some simple rules are put forth: "If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write" and "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."

Like one of his fiction novels, this book keeps you running from page to page. It begins with a fascinating account of Mr. King's childhood, and before you know it, you're in the middle of "how to write." At the end, after we are quite firmly on the hook, we get the lesson on editing. Ruthless editing. Mr. King shows us how to follow the 10% rule, that is, 2nd draft = 1st draft - 10%. We are given the detailed explanation for each of the editing changes, and it serves to drive home each of the clear lessons given throughout the book. It is an excellent summary section, and one that can serve as an example for any writer (or editor). In short, a necessary addition to an bookshelf.

Rating:
Summary: A fine overview of good writing.
Review: Stephen King's "On Writing" is part memoir and part advice to the budding writer. At just under three hundred pages, "On Writing" is more concise than most of King's books. King provides the reader with details of his impoverished and itinerant childhood. King entertainingly describes some of the wacky pranks that he and his brother pulled when they were kids, and he describes his early love affair with horror stories and horror films. King gives us a good idea of how he developed into the person that he is today. The section on the art of writing is entertaining and informative, although it breaks little new ground. The most powerful part of the book by far is the postscript, "On Living," in which King describes the harrowing accident in 1999 that almost cost him his life. He was hit by a van while walking along the side of the road near his home in Maine. King had to undergo a series of operations followed by a painful and grueling rehabilitation. This section of the book is wrenching and intensely personal. It is excellently written and to the point. I recommend "On Writing" to all Stephen King fans as well as to aspiring writers seeking advice on how to improve their work.

Rating:
Summary: An intriguing look into one writer's craft
Review: This book provides a fascinating look into how Stephen King wrote all those creepy novels and how he writes. I've always wondered, like a lot of people, how he comes up with the characters in his novels and the scary scenes and how a twisted imagination works. It's all in the book and more.

Anyone who wants to write, whether they be short stories or novels, should read this book. Stephen King began writing stories at a young age and had his fair share of rejections. He took odd jobs, lived through difficult times, but through it all, he continued writing. Unlike other books on the craft of writing, Stephen King does not impose a whole set of rules upon the aspiring writer. He has a few rules of thumb, but that's it.

Reading this book liberated me from all those rules and encouraged me to write again. All those excuses not to write, the ones that pop up just as I'm about to hit the writing table, I deal with them by remembering how Stephen King wrote most of his stories and novels. He just sat down, sometimes in a cramped room under not too pleasant conditions, and wrote. Since reading this book three weeks ago, I have one completed short story and the words just keep flowing!

Rating:
Summary: King as a wise teacher!!
Review: Stephen King gives us an introspective look on the craft of writing, his personal accounts of some of his legendary novels and an eerie look into the accident last year that almost ended his life. ON WRITING is not just a how-to manual, it is not an autobiography and it certainly is not a new novel to devour. It is an intimate look into the processes that go into being one of the widest read authors ever.

The first section of this memoir is about the childhood and adolescence of Mr. King. He goes into depth at how his young days were spent at the hospital, either through his own acts (wiping his rear with poison ivy) or things he couldn't control (serious ear infections). He also lets us in on how his mother's life and, ultimately, her death greatly affected him. He also details how his own vanity press novels sold well to relatives and classmates. This lets us see the development of a young King and his influences that shaped his imagination.

The second part is about the craft of writing and King's opinions and advice on this subject. While referring other works, King also illustrates with his own writings. Specifically, THE DEAD ZONE, MISERY, THE STAND and BAG OF BONES are discussed at length. To have King tell us how he "solved" his dilemma in THE STAND; how a nap on an airplane and a feverish writing session in a hotel gave him the tidbits that turned into MISERY; these are priceless moments. The phone call he gets about the paperback rights of CARRIE is touching...and we are there with him and his wife. Also mentioned is the author's battles with cocaine and alcohol addiction. To think that he doesn't remember much of the writing of CUJO is a shame and enforces just what addiction can ruin. All in all, this is the meat of the tome...the master teaches us how he does it and how beginning writers can as well.

The last part details King's brush with death. The day his walk turned into a nightmare. An out-of-control van runs King down on a country road, the people who saved his life and King's own dealings with mortality is harrowing as well as enlightening. A lot of questions I had about this incident were answered and to know that the culprit has died mysteriously in the past weeks adds a shadow of eeriness that chills my blood.

Sometimes hilarious, oftentimes insightful and always entertaining, ON WRITING shows Stephen King not only as a writer and student of the craft ...but also a wise teacher.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but, in the end, not all that useful . . .
Review: I enjoyed the read and actually went over some parts of this book more than once. Certainly as a writer (and I imagine many of the readers of this book are writers or at least aspire to be), I was keenly interested in what such an accomplished storyteller as Stephen King had to say. But I must note that, in the end, I did not come away with all that much. Some good insights yes, and a feeling for the person that King is and for some of the events and experiences he believes shaped him, both personally and in terms of his craft. In fact, I found the author a likeable soul (surprising, given the stuff he usually writes about) but his pointers were spare and mostly common sense. I thought his most interesting insight was that you either got it or you don't. But that if you got it at a modest level, you can make a bit more of it. On the other hand if you ain't got it, forget it. I think I already knew that.

His other big thing was write less and more simply, don't pile on the words. A good rule, most of the time, though I personally believe that less is not always better. For me it's the rhythm and beat as much as the content of the words; these are inextricably bound in the effort to convey "information" which, in the end, is all that writing is.

Finally, he seems to suggest one should write from deep inside one's experience, letting it boil up and cook the tale . . . or whatever. Okay. Good thought and nice to know Mr. King, who is plainly an expert in his field, sees matters this way. To me it means he's the real thing, not a hack. But, on balance, it didn't add much to my knowledge of what it takes to write well. But I guess that was the point: you can't tell people what they need to know to write well. You either got it or you don't.

Still this was a decently done and enjoyable book for the window it provided, however briefly and idiosyncratically, into one very skilled modern writer's mind. I guess King is just one of those guys who can't turn it off. He loves to write, even about writing and about loving to write. Me too. A decent book and worth reading but it's not going to shake you up.

Rating:
Summary: On Writing is off-putting ... for a reason.
Review: This book contains the most pedestrian "secrets" of How To Writing ever. Everything in it is of derivative quality. So it appears. It almost appears boring.

Maybe it is so off-putting because there are no secrets to getting published, other than to have a pure heart and clear head? If you are writing for anything other than the enjoyment, you are not in the groove of it, as Mr. King points out. And even though the late R. A. Heinlein claims to have written stories solely to make money, he really was coming at it from another angle -- the issue of being practical by writing a commercial product -- which is something Mr. King eventually addresses in another section of the book.

So, although King emphasises that writing should begin with an actual enjoyment of the craft, his approach is also one of practicality and the desire to make a commercially viable product -- to make money from your stories. Plain communication and a sharing of warmth in your cover letter, plus a good yarn, will eventually win an editor over to publishing your work, as Mr. King illustrates in one example. Maybe this is something you should try. Try enjoying your writing and your efforts in communicating with a potential editor. You might actually create an attractive product this way. (Psst! That's a Major Secret!)

So ... On Writing is like a good magic trick -- it looks deceptively simple. But only so.

Watch the trick again -- read the book again. Though you might still miss how it's done, you'll be getting closer to the real picture -- like one of those magic eye pictures. You see, by observing the trick again and again, you will eventually catch a glimpse into how the magic of actually gettting published is built up around a special structure that consists of humble basic principles. Principles that not even Mr. King was aware of earlier on in his writing career. Yet that is what Mr. King is really trying to get you to catch in this part autobiography part lesson plan workbook: how to combine the humble little principles of writing and communication skills needed to give your work a sense of warmth and attractiveness, qualities that will get your work at least noticed favorably, if not published. And Mr. King carries this off masterfully, without having to resort to boxing your ears over it all. That's called being subtle. That's called being a masterful magician.

Psst! Wanna see a neat trick?

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: Look at the book cover. It can be interpreted in two ways. The glow of the light from the window gives me a sense of comfort and invite. But look at the cellar doors, now this has an erie symbol of horror. Cellars are sometime dark and dank, a perfect habitat for macabre. Just thinking that sends tingles down the back of my neck.

This book was excellent. I have not read any of Stephen King's books, so I can't compare them to this one. If his other writings are this good, I will definitely read more.

He talks about what his life was like growing up and what made him into the writer he is today. His battle with drug and alcohol addiction was a problem that he admits to, not many people can say that about themselves. How he overcame those odds was an interesting solution. His stories about his childhood were at times kind of funny. They made me think of my own trials and tribulations of being a child.

The second part of the book goes into his style of writing, such as not ploting out his stories. He likes to say 'What if' when he starts a book. I like the idea of not ploting a book. Just create the characters and put them into compelling situations. He says the key to becoming a writer is that you have to read and write a lot. This is very true. That reminds me, he says for you to tell the truth when writing, for example, make the characters believable to the way actual people talk and act and feel. In his book "Misery" he had to become Anne, to think like her. He wanted you to be in her shoes, if you will, see her point of view. Make you think that she's a good person. This allowed me to understand the movie more, now I think I want to read the book.

In the last part of the book, you get an idea of what he went through when a blue Dodge van ran into him, almost killing him. He said that he felt as if he was hit by a character from one of his books, almost funny if it wasn't so serious.

If you have never read any of Stephen King's books, read this one first, if you are offended by fowel language, you might not like it, however. He has "a mouth of a mill worker", as he would say.

Rating:
Summary: Enter the mind of Stephen King.....
Review: Door open.......... As a longtime reader of Stephen King's novels, I was pleasantly suprised by his latest offering. A memior/instructional book on writing. The book is seperated into three parts. The first part of it roughly (very roughly) sketches Stephen Kings early years. His childhood, high school, college and beyond are layed out like snapshots of his early life. This part quite entertaining, informative and quite honest. It really helps you understand where Mr. king has come from. What he's gone through and obstacles he's ovecome.

The second part of on writing, the real meat and potatoes of it deals with the craft, mechanics and business of writing. He covers mostly all of the basics from grammar, syntax and dialogue to ,description,theme and style. He does so in a very straighforward but non-pretentious manner. Also On writing is not from pat yourself on the back writers book school which gives the writer pie in the sky, unrealistic expectations and unworthy praise. King's lessons and advice are almost the exact opposite, more like tough love. His Hemmingway like advice, is basically place your backside firmly to the seat and write is a real change of pace from the wait until inspiration arrives , write whenever you feel like it books. But he's not all tough talk and simple solutions. I found his door closed, door open philosophy to be the most important advice to aspiring writers.

The final part of on writing deals with Stephen kings accident and recovery. It was interesting to know how seriously injured he was after his accident. He notes that writing this book helped save his life.

There is also a short piece of writing by him that he uses to show how and what he edits. It shows you thaty even best selling novelists need to edit. There is also a recommended reading list attached. Spread throught On.. is Kings trademark dry wit which makes this book not only informative but very readable and enjoyable. On writing is essential for all Stephen King fans and would be writers. Door close.....