On Writing

Rating:
Summary: Insights from a Master
Review: I've been a writer since I was in my teens. I've studied the craft and I have a shelf full of books on writing. This book is one of the best.

The subtitle of the book is telling. King called this "a Memoir of the Craft." He is an excellent memoirist.

The memoir part is fascinating. King tells us about his life and it's quite an interesting one. He talks about his youth, about meeting his wife, about his early years and his writing, about his alcoholism, about his near-fatal accident, all enriched with a myriad of details. This is the stuff of which of which good memoirs are made.

Throughout the book, King throws off little droplets of observation about writing and the writer's life. For example, "Writing is a lonely job. Having someone who believes in you makes a lot of difference. They don't have to make speeches. Just believing is usually enough."

That line comes amidst the discussion of meeting his wife and what she's meant to him. As someone who's been in relationships that were both helpful and not, it resonated with me. There are insights like that sprinkled throughout the book. Some of them are about writing. Others are not.

All of this is fascinating, more so because King is an excellent writer, and he conveys a lot with very little verbiage. But the core of the book is about the craft of writing. King leads into it in this way. "What follows is everything I know about how to write good fiction."

As the subtitle says this is about the craft of writing. It is about craft, not art, not inspiration, not "being a writer." It is about craft - the work of writing and how to do it well.

King lets us in on this hard-core craft focus early on. "There is a muse, but he's not going to come fluttering down to your writing room and scatter creative fairy dust all over your typewriter or the computer station."

In other words, folks, King is saying that it is up to you. Then he gets down to some practical nuts and bolts. "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot."

We find out how much King likes to write. We find out what his rhythm is, and how he alternates periods of intense work with lying fallow. We find out how important he thinks health and the support of his wife are. We find out where he thinks you should work.

Some of this is very directive. "You need the room, you need the door, and you need the determination to shut the door. You need a concrete goal, as well. The longer you keep to these basics, the easier the act of writing will become. Don't wait for the Muse."

While King is specifically directive on some things, his overall tone is quite different. He tells you what works for him and suggests that you might want to consider it for you.

Here's a brief part where King talks about symbolism and theme and how he gets them into his work. "Mostly I don't see stuff like that until the story's done. Once it is, I'm able to kick back, read over what I've written, and look for underlying patterns. If I see some (and I almost always do), I can work at bringing them out in a second, more fully realized draft of the story."

If you are a working writer, or if you would like to be, this is a great book to read and to return to. There is a wealth of unvarnished advice from a master writer. Of all the craft books on my writing shelves, this is the most readable book and it is one of the most helpful.

What if you're not interested in writing? Well, if you read a lot, even if you don't read Stephen King's work, but you're fascinated by the sounds coming out of that writing workshop out back, you'll find this a great read, too.

Rating:
Summary: Vital for any writer
Review: Truly fascinating. The first half of this book is an autobiography of sorts, and King offers interesting tidbits about his childhood and adulthood in a chatty, reader-friendly style. He's very candid, especially in describing his lengthy bout with alcohol and substance addiction. It's rare that a celebrity of this magnitude is so honest about his shortcomings and failures, and I give him enormous credit for doing so in print.

The second half is a hundred pages of crucial observations and tips on the publishing industry. King covers agents, publishers, plot, symbolism, research, rewrites, writing classes, rejection letters and everything else under the sun as it pertains to writing. He also appears to be one of the most encouraging people on the planet, simply advising the would-be writer to block out distractions and discouragement and simply let it fly. Great stuff.

Finally, since King was writing this manuscript when he was nearly killed after being struck by a van in 1999, he adds a deeply moving epilogue which covers his physical and emotional recovery--which included realizing that he still wanted to write and had what it took to do so. It's fascinating that this work of non-fiction was among the most challenging he's ever undertaken in his eyes, and it was made all the more difficult to complete after the life-changing accident.

Whatever you think of King's novels, and there are those out there who don't care for his stuff, he's clearly one of the good guys in the business. If you have any interest in writing, read this book. It's compact, concise, and refreshingly down to earth. And if the spirit moves you toward his novels, they aren't all blood and gore--I've read almost 20 over the years and heartily recommend "The Dead Zone," "Misery" and "The Stand."

Rating:
Summary: Inside the mind of a literary treasure...
Review: Unlike the plethora of books "on writing" that invade the marketplace every year - some good, some bad - Stephen King's "On Writing" isn't necessarily a how-to book. It's more of an autobiography, with a special emphasis on King's development in the craft he is so well known for.

That said, "On Writing" is a beneficial book for writers because of its unique perspective. What better way to learn more about a trade than to study the masters? And Stephen King continues his fine writing career with this touching book, one that tells numerous tales of his early exploits with home-spun newspapers, his love of B-rate horror films and comic books, and his early attempts to write short stories. After a number of self-proclaimed failures, King began to perfect his art and became a titan in the book industry. The book follows his life all the way up to the car accident that almost claimed his life four years ago.

In addition to touching on the major events of his life, "On Writing" examines some of the writing techniques King uses. How often he writes. Where he writes. It's all in here. Overall, this is an intriguing book because it allows the reader to enter the workplace of a modern day literary giant, and the best stories are ones with larger-than-life characters! Stephen King handles that role perfectly... Five stars.

Britt Gillette
Author of "Conquest of Paradise: An End-Times Nano-Thriller"

Rating:
Summary: Yes please!
Review: As I read this book, i could almost see Stephen King sitting there, mumbling too himself. This book is the voice of a man, talking about his experiences as a developing writer. He offers many tips and valuable advice, and all in a lightfashioned manner that is simply delighting to read. This is not a boring learn-how-write book. This is a journey in the life of an author, and a story in itself.

Rating:
Summary: Mr. King - Thanks You for Completing this Book
Review: I should first start by saying, "I'm not a fan of Stephen King." He is a great author but I'm not into horror tales. I bought this book to learn about writing. At first I was very unimpressed; I thought he was going to ramble about his life through the whole book. Boy was I wrong.

This is one of the great books on writing. Mr. King not only gives great advice to the reader but he enriches and motivates the writing soul. If you want to write, you really should buy this book. If you don't want to write but you just want to understand the life of a fiction writer, this is a great book for you.

In one section Mr. King notes this was his first non-fiction book. He relates many problems he had completing this book. I just want to say, "Mr. King by sticking it out, you have completed one of the best books on writing." Thank You!

Rating:
Summary: The Master Reveals His Secrets
Review: Best selling author Stephen King has taken a foray in the world of non-fiction and has written a brief guide on how to be a better writer. King's book begins with a autobiography describing the events in his life that led him to writing and how his "career" as a writer evolved from writing for his mother, to selling short stories to magazines, to writing best-selling novels. King deals candidly with his own personal demons and his personal relationships. The next portion of the book is King's guide on how to be a better writer. In it he offers everything from how to write better dialogue, to tips on description, to the best environment to write in. The next section of the book was added on in the wake of the author being struck by a van. Just like the rest of the book, King does not pull any punches describing the accident or his recovery. Most importantly he relates the accident to his writing and the reader goes away with the feeling that if King can go back to writing after his accident surely we can make it through our first book.

I've read quite a few books on how to become a better writer (I'm an aspiring author myself, and I'm going to be honest, I'm not very good. I'm not going to try and tell you I'm writing the next great American novel because I'm not) and most are written by authors with one novel to their credit and I can almost guarantee its one you have never heard of. This is a book written by a man who has sold more novels that almost anyone else. I'm willing to bet that if you go up to anyone the street and ask them to name five Stephen King books off the top of their head they can do it. That alone makes this book worth buying. Kings candor in speaking about his early life and the accident with the van also help keep the readers interest and make this more then just another how-to-write book. The section that deals with writing is also very good. You have to accept some of King's tips, he obviously know what he's doing. This section changed my perspective about how-to-write.

If you are an author or a fan with more then a passing interest in Stephen King I would advise you to pick up this book. This book offers an overview of how a man becomes a best-selling author and a valueable how-to on writing.

Rating:
Summary: Finally -- A well written book on writing!
Review: This book was fascinating to read -- an open glimpse into the mind of the master himself. He begins with a short memoir on his own life, which reads much like one of his novels. Here, the reader is able able to get a good understanding about his motivations for writing.

The remaining two-thirds of the book is then dedicated to tips on the craft itself, interwoven with numerous numerous examples from other authors, as well as his own. It's intersting to see his perspective which authors and writing styles he likes (and doesn't). In essence, his tone to aspiring writers is one of encouragement, interspersed with a good dose of realism. According to King, a poor writer cannot learn to become a good one, but a good writer can certainly learn to become a better one.

In brief, here are his main points:

1) Read often, write often.
2) Omit needless words (an oft repeated mantra of Strunk and White).
3) Stay within your own vocabulary level. Writing above it is unnecessary and pretentious.
4) Dialogue should reflect reality. Use profanity if necessary.
5) Keep descriptions simple. Being too elaborate only distracts the reader. Provide just enough information simply to spark the reader's imagination.
6) Don't write to please everyone. Instead, write specifically for an "ideal reader". Ask what he/she would think about what you just wrote.
7) Conscientious editing: Length of second draft should be first draft, less 10%.
8) Write about what you are genuinely interested in. You must have a passion for writing.
9) Be disciplined. Spend a consistent block of time every day achieving a specified goal. He suggests 1,000 - 2,000 words.
10) Writing is like fossil hunting. All the bones (ideas) are present already, it's simply your job to dig them up.

There's nothing groundbreaking about his advice on writing. It's more or less common sense. But aspiring writers should find it interesting to learn from this book how King was able to use common sense to propel himself to the top of the profession today.

Rating:
Summary: A Writer's Refuge
Review: On Writing, by Stephen King, is truly a masterpiece. He steps outside his typical Sci-Fi/Horror genre and created a story that every aspiring writer should read at least once.
The first 100 pages chronical the events that lead to Stephen King's career in writing. Beginning with his traumatic childhood medical experiences and ending with his recovery from his near-fatal car accident, Stephen King's life was truly an inspirational message.
The last 200 pages are dedicated to advice that Mr. King believes will increase the quality of any author's stories. Everything from grammar suggestions to developing your story's theme are covered in this friendly story. References to modern fiction authors are made and one can learn from their examples (often mistakes). In addition, writing assignments and reading lists are offered to anyone who needs some "homework" to practice what they learned.
Providing valuable information without making you feel as if you're in an Enligsh class, On Writing truly is a wonderful guide for anyone who has ever thought of becoming a writer.

Rating:
Summary: Do it NOW
Review: 27. On Writing by Stephen King

It is all about resonance and a paperclip instead of a staple. There wasn't that simple? Here is a master craftsman inviting you into his shop, letting you play with the tools, showing you how to do this work. How to enjoy it for itself. I savored this book as it spoke to me. It was written for me and people like me that have discovered the joy of building with words. Most of what he says is in a personal way that allows you to know the man behind the curtain. He is no scary man, no pervert, not mad. He likes to tell stories. Keep you interested. And he has done a masters job. Thank you Mr. King for taking some mystery out of the process and inviting everyone to have a go.

Rating:
Summary: Probably the best writing primer available.
Review: Before I discuss this book, readers should know I have probably read fewer Stephen King Horror novels than any living American. I have little time for his epics - I prefer to watch the movie versions.

Why? Most novels I read need to be less than 150 pages or I lose interest. I see a 300 page novel and I fear I'll get bogged down with descriptions of yet another unique acacia tree or that sun's ray with some peculiar glow. I'm not accusing King of having done so in his novels, it is just that I remember too many of those books from when I was a youth in the 60s.

Besides, I am more of a non-fiction buff. That was why the first Stephen King book I have ever read cover-to-cover is On Writing - A Memoir Of The Craft.

This is a terrific book that honestly discusses the inner needs a budding author must have without wasting too much time discussing the nuts and bolts.

King once wrote, "I write because I cannot not write." This has always stuck in my mind.

In On Writing King mentions that good writers are good readers. The man goes nowhere without a book close at hand and an audiobook in his car.

That comment is worth reams of advice. I know far too many writers who seldom read even one book a year but think they are qualified to write a best-selling novel. Whatever your interest, it can't but make for a more compelling book if you have read a dozen or more similar books.

His advice on how to write active, instead of passive was also beneficial. Just as does King confess, I tend to be unsure as to whether I am understood and thusly(!), revert to the "ly" verb. If you're confused by this line you won't be after reading On Writing.

His frank discussion of telepathy and comparison to the same is a breath of fresh air. In many ways writing is telepathy. Some will scoff at his free acceptance of telepathy and the psychic phenomena. Not me though. I know for a fact it is for real. At least sometimes for some of us.

Still, even if readers don't ascribe to esp, if they can imagine that they are sending their thoughts into the future to someone thousands of miles away, they will then have the necessary imagination to convey their musings with just the right amount of description.

I appreciate that King did not bog us down with the discussion of how to plot a story. Good stories are usually what-ifs and King points this out. He also opens us to how most good stories are inspired by blending two or more common but isolated observations. Carrie was such a story.

Within 288 pages King has masterfully shown aspiring writers how to:

1 - Write an autobiography (his, with just the right amount of humor and tragedy).

2 - How to develop idea-driven fiction not overladen with detail and description.

3 - How to write a concise article in reverse pyramid style (his encounter with a van that nearly killed him.

The man did this without preaching and without overly stressing the value of this secret or that secret.

No aspiring fiction writer should be without this book. No journalist should fail to keep it in his or her personal library.

King does not claim to be a genius. Nor, probably, is he. His ability to simply explain the basics of the craft and to provide simple examples without preaching and without mind-boggling details proves that.

For those of us who want to write but are intimidated by the brilliance of writing geniuses, a simple discussion and down-to-earth advice is what we need.

King's On Writing is precisely the book we need.

I have both the print version and the audio narrated by Stephen King. And I will not part with either.