On Writing

Rating:
Summary: A good intro to King the writer
Review: Who amongst us lovers of literature has not wanted to be a writer? I did. In college, I was an editor of a campus magazine, Spectator. It was a magazine that covered sports and cultural events around the campus and had some features like crossword puzzles, etc. It was a free magazine with no ads or sources of funding and so we, the three editors, wrote all the articles (with someone telling us what actually happened at events) and the features. At about this time, I was reading a lot of poetry. During preparation of the second issue of our magazine, I read Vikram Seth's "The Golden Gate", a story about love, California Style, told in sonnets set in iambic pentameter. This inspired us to write an issue in sonnets. It makes no sense now, but then it did. It made sense for Mr. Seth to set his book, which was about love, to sonnets. It made no sense for a magazine talking about one team beating another in 3-a-side to do so. Anyway, we wrote all the sonnets. Big mistake. We rhymed over with rover, inspire with perspire and verse with terse. Need I say more? One of the other campus magazines, Focus, wrote "Spectator goes from worse to verse to worst".
That incident cured me of my dreams of being a poet. But if I were to look deep within me in some dark spot, I guess I still want to be, if not a poet, at least a writer. If you feel the same, then Stephen King's On Writing is meant for you. It is a 'how-to' book on writing. Though well written, the book seems like a long answer to a question that I am sure Mr. King is asked often at book readings: "How do you write?" One finds it difficult to believe that it will inspire anyone to write.
In this book, Mr. King talks of an incident where he wrote a horror story while in school. His teacher found it and told him that he should be ashamed of writing such a story. Though I had never read his books and my only introduction to him was through movies based on his books, I would have agreed with that teacher. Having read this book, however, I have to say, I was wrong. He is a good writer.
Despite what Mr. King sets out to do (to write an advice book on writing) this book is not on writing, it is about Mr. King as a writer - his formative experiences, his toolbox of writing, and his techniques of writing. It is in the initial section of the book, which he titles "C. V.", that he is at his best. He describes his childhood, school days and his days as a struggling author juggling jobs and writing, leading to his first success with Carrie. He does not so much give us a memoir, as limn a montage. He goes through his early life as if describing a montage of photographs. One can almost see him looking over one's shoulder describing each picture, at the same time letting one draw their own inferences about the whole montage itself. The vignettes that make this montage are at times funny, at times touching, but always interesting. It is very rare that one gets such keen insight into what makes a writer.

Then, he moves to talking about the toolbox of writing and how to develop it. One piece of advice that he keeps repeating is "Read a lot, write a lot." I am not sure how valuable that advice is. Joseph Conrad, for one, never wrote anything substantial till he one day decided to write, in his mid to late thirties and in his second language (English), "Almayer's Folly". I guess such exceptions prove the basic rule.
Later, he moves on to the writing of books and novels. His insights into dialog, narratives and descriptions are interesting. I am not in a position to judge if they will be useful to anyone. I suppose any class or seminar in creative writing will give one the same kind of advice.
Mr. King wrote most of this book in '98. Then in early '99, he was hit by a van that nearly killed him. In the final section of the book, he describes his ordeal and how his work, his profound need to write, helped his recovery. I think this section gives us as readers the best insight as to what makes a writer even more than the first. This need to write despite one's physical state is what separates those of us who want to write and those who need to, and therefore do.
If you want a manual on how to write well, I guess one could always read Strunk & White (which, one must add, Mr. King holds in high regard). But if you want a glimpse into the psyche of a writer, then this book is for you.

Rating:
Summary: Really absorbing, a tribute and a buddy book...
Review: The best thing I can say about Stephen King is this: in his best books, he writes like a guy you've known all your life, who flops back in your lazy boy with a drink as he tells his story. He speaks directly, and plain, and it's clear he means what he says. J.K. Rowling does the same, but secretively, and whispery. ON WRITING suggests that Stephen's run-in with a van has not ended his ability to write well. This book was finished after the accident. It has conviction, and I loved it. (While I personally consider his next novel, Dreamcatcher, one of his weaker books, it also had fine moments.) In ON WRITING, the first part tells us some of his isolated memories, which he believes have helped him become a writer. He avoids calling it a biography. Some interesting points discussed are Stephen's term as a newsletter writer (as a boy); his period as a manual laborer; teaching, and selling CARRIE. In the second part he gives advise to writers. He approaches this like a regular guy. For example, he compares his writer's rules to a "toolbox" that you should keep with you. Otherwise you'll get frustrated and give up on your project. I find it interesting that Stephen finds characters "more important" than plot. Some writers I've read and spoken with say that characters ARE plot. It shows how a writer develops their own methods, and that they'll use whatever works for them.

Rating:
Summary: SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS INTO LIFE AND WRITING
Review: Up front, I have to admit that I'm neither a dyed in the wool Stephen King fan nor am I an aspiring young writer. For these reasons, I'm not even sure why I read his _ON WRITING_. However, I did read it, and I'm glad that I did.

The section devoted to his youthful experiences hit close to home for me. Since I feel as if I shared a lot of his childhood angst, I found this mini-bio appealing.

I believe that _ON WRITING_ can't quite be looked at as two separate books in the way that many reviewers, both editorial and contributing, feel that it is. It seems to me that the craftsmanship portion of the book is a logical follow on to the life experiences covered in the first section. I also feel that the third section of the book, which discusses his almost fatal accident and his period of convalescence, is an integral part of the whole narrative. By this, I mean that coping with his painful recovery helped him over his "writer's block" and that forcing himself to write again aided his recovery.

_ON WRITING_ also contains a lot of information that you just don't find in most books about the nuts and bolts of writing. An example of this is his "composite" unpublished writer who recognizes the need of an agent and goes about preparing to find one the right way, i.e. first by writing, submitting, and getting, as would be expected, a lot of rejection slips -- then by not getting discouraged by these rejections and continuing to write and submit his stories -- by recognizing the importance to a beginner of the "little magazines" -- by continuing to submit, taking note of the comments on some rejection slips, and eventually getting a few acceptances -- then by parlaying these acceptances into items on a resume and using this resume to obtain a good agent. The details of how this might be done make the book valuable, even if you were to get nothing else out of it.

You will, however, get other things out of it. For instance, you'll find that adverb is a "dirty word," and that adverbs should almost always be avoided. King also reminds us that sentence structure, paragraphing, good grammar and proper punctuation are valuable tools, as are neatness, professionalism of approach, and, something he learned from an early rejection, staples are no-no's. Oh, yes, there's also the "10% rule" that you'll find interesting and valuable

I could go on, but King is one heck of a lot better at expressing these and other ideas than I'll ever be, so I really would advise the early-career writer to read _ON WRITING_ by Stephen King.

Since I'm not one of the writing hopefuls for whom the book was written, I won't worry too much if this review violates a half dozen or so of the guidelines for good writing, although I have attempted to do a competent writing job. (Also see his discussion of "Hacks" vs. "Competent Writers" vs. "Good Writers." It's another concept that I have not seen elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous book!
Review: This book is an autobiography and instruction manual all rolled into one. In his usual easy style, King tells his story and you just have to listen. I wasn't sure what to expect when I got this book. I've always been a fan of his work but never knew much about him. He does a good job tying himself in with his craft.

Rating:
Summary: My new favorite book
Review: I was completely blown away by this book. It is different from any book on writing I have read. I enjoyed the excerpts from King's life. What an inspiring tale of a writer making it - and an example of hard work and tenacity paying off.

King's advice on writing is basic and to the point. He doesn't give a magic formula but realistic suggestions and personal experience.

I recommend this book for any writer and even non-writers who want to know more about the real life of writing.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent memoir and guide for writers and readers
Review: On Writing is a memoir more than an instructional book on writing which is what makes it an enjoyable, as well as informative read. Stephen King shows through stories about his life how he has become a great and successful writer. His stories show writers what is required to polish writing skills and to become successful. This book shows that his success came after grueling hours, sacrifice and many failures. It shows the lifestyle of a famous and prolific writer. He also does offer advice and instruction to writers on skills, techniques and attitudes.

I don't think anyone would be disappointed with this book, since it is entertaining and instructional. I think it would appeal to writers and to any fans of Stephen King.

Rating:
Summary: regarding notes from reader in Boyds, MD
Review: Incase anyone hasn't noticed this book is based on and around Stephen's life and how he acheived his status in the literary world. He states that it is very hard even for good writers to acheive any success. So when you say it is a waste of time, you are telling people that they should only base their writing on this book. This should not be the case. Many other books will help each individual and their writing style, including this one. This book is a guide to how you could write and to help bring your imagination forward. It is a teaching memoir, this is the way he writes. His use of experience prepares the reader for what may happen not what will happen.
I definately recommend this book, novel, teaching guide whatever you may call it. I know for sure that it can help people maybe not you but it never hurts to see other points of view.

Rating:
Summary: Save Your Money, this is a waste of time
Review: I bought this book on the strength of the excerpt published in "The New Yorker" about King's injury by a lunatic-driven van in 1999 while taking a walk in Maine. That essay was quite good, and a steal for the price of the magazine. It's added on at the end of "On Writing", as a sort of PS. That it wasn't integrated into the work as a whole shows me, at least, that neither King or his editor really cared about this book in the first place.

This book is a crude, banal, meandering, self-absorbed effort--to call it a work is too kind--that isn't worth the 7.99 I dished out for it. I am not a fan of King's, I admit, though I remember reading "Carrie" and really liking it--in high school. Still, I like all kinds of music, movies, and books, and was really looking forward to hearing some interesting insights on the craft. Something like John Gardner's "On the Art of Fiction". Well, forget it, that's not here. Yes, the stuff about how he sold "Carrie" and lifted himself out of poverty is interesting, and at times, very funny. But that's it. Take "The Elements of Style", reduce its insights into writing by 2/3's, and add plenty of fart jokes, moronic stereotypes about religion, strained and boring metaphors and analogies about writing, and presto, you have this, er, book. Sorry, Steve, it just ain't worth two Extra Value Meals at McDonald's, and that's the truth.

Rating:
Summary: Change Is Good
Review: Stephen King has made a remarkable and substantial change with this book, and through the book he has proved that his writing abilities are not limited to his stereotypical horror/fiction genre. On Writing explores King's childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood as a writer. Not only does the book give background information, it provides tips on submitting manuscripts to magazines and the importance of finding an agent.

The book also discusses how King's accident in 1999 affected his health and writing.
King provides the reader with examples of prose and examples of how he edits prose to keep it concise yet informing. The book is a quick read and well worth your time if you aspire to become a [better] writer. King's genius is undisputable, but this book is testimony that his genius is not limited.

Rating:
Summary: A great read and ongoing reference
Review: This book is both entertainment (due to the autobiographical and anecdotal aspects) and instruction. Rarely have I encountered this combination with such honesty and passion. (The only other such book that comes to mind is Natalie Goldberg's "Long Quiet Highway.") King answers the most common question, "Wherever do you get all your ideas?" once and for all, and also gives you such raw insight into his life that at times you feel like an intruder. I read parts of it over and over in hopes of memorizing the lessons. Highly recommended. (And you don't have to be Stephen King's biggest fan to aggree.)