On Writing

When I’m approached by writers who are just getting their start, this is the book I send them to first. I tell them, if it speaks to you, you’re a writer. If it doesn’t, you may want to think about another path. I’ve read this book a few times and recently listened to the audiobook. There’s something special about hearing him tell his own story. It’s magnificent, and touching. One of my favorite tips: who are you writing for? Choose that person, and write for them and them alone.

I re-read Stephen King’s part-autobiography, part-tutorial before I start writing. His pithy advice will help scribblers of fiction and non-fiction, and his personal story is inspiring.

As a writer and journalist, I loved this unique writer’s guide. On Writing by Stephen King is a classic for any aspiring writer, as well as established writers. Not only is King a successful writer, and a great storyteller, he has a practical, encouraging teaching style. King shares some personal stories in this book, along with his story telling method, and advice on how to be a better writer. What is maybe most inspiring is how he breaks the rules and encourages others to do, part of what has gained him success and what can help other writers to break away from the normal, boring mold.

I enjoyed reading this book, which says a lot since I struggle to read memoirs and writing skill books. The first part of this book is the memoir portion that explains how Stephen King became the writer he is. The second part is filled with his insights to help young or aspiring writers.

Learning about King’s childhood helped to explain where and how the ideas for his haunting stories come from. I appreciate that King’s story isn’t one of overnight success, but one that involves a lifelong love of writing where hard work and skill paid off. I love that he advocates reading as a major component to being a good writer.

I didn’t agree with everything King offered in the area of writing skills, but since he’s Stephen King and much further along in his career than I am, I can at least respect his ideas and find value in them. He praises his ability to write without too much plotting, but I think that’s more of a personality trait than a writing rule or even a guideline. Some writers will be plotters and others will be pantsers, simple as that.

At one point, King says that theme develops from good stories and not the other way around. I can see some truth in this. A good story will have engaging themes in it by the nature of it being a good story, but I don’t agree that a good story can’t start with a theme. I have written many stories with a theme in mind first. While I don’t have the accolades of King, I do believe other highly acclaimed writers have likely, at some point, wanted to say something or emphasize a theme and then created a great story to put that message out into the world.

I think I get what King is saying here, though. I feel that he doesn’t want writers to limit themselves to only writing stories when there’s a theme to capitalize on. King states that he feels writing should be about writing, the desire to write, and the love of the story. If you are fortunate enough to make a good living off of it great.

I admire that he is honest and unapologetic about who he is and what he writes, even it if offends someone. He never sets out to offend people, it just happens sometimes, but isn’t that the case with anyone who shares creative work with the public.

I love his lists of reading recommendations at the end of the book.

I was not King’s number one fan when I started this book and I’m still not, but I do respect him more than I did before. I don’t have to be his number one fan to like the stories I like and not like the ones I don’t like. I respect him as a great writer regardless.

Highly recommended to writers at various stages, memoir enthusiasts, and fans of Stephen King.

Before you put pen to paper, read this! Stephen King offers motivating, simple guidelines in this book. Recommend to anyone thinking about writing a novel.

This was a great read. The writing tips are perfect for beginning writers and people who have been writing already. I also loved that it was a good read for the non-writer. This gave so much insight into Stephen King’s mind that it made me feel like I knew him a little more. Just a great all-around read for the writer and the non-writer.

I usually don’t read non-fiction that much.
When I do, it’s usually because it’s a book that collects essays or something like that written by an author I like or a biography of some rock band I also like. Other types of non-fiction really just pass me by most of the time.
This is just to give you a glimpse of what I feel about that kind of book.

“On Writing” was a book I just had to read, not only because it’s written by an author I like, who can be seen as a rock superstar, but also because the theme is really interesting to me: writing.

“Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.”

Stephen KingS’s division of the book in different parts is clever and makes you want to keep reading.

The first part tells us about his early life and his personal experience as he started writing. It’s really good to see how one of the greatest horror writers started, what influenced him, and the mistakes he made along the way – not only his successes.

Then comes the technical part of the book, as King describes the tools one, in his opinion, needs to write. I won’t get in too much detail about those tools, I’ll just say that each thing he mentions is backed by personal examples that come from his own body of work most of the time. He continues on talking about the most practical part of writing such as proofing, editing, and finding an agent and publisher.
King finishes this part by using his story “1408”, which he present as a rough first draft and then as a revised version, showing us all the cuts and edits we’ve been told how to do.

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.”

The last chapter of the book is the most personal to a certain degree. In it we are told about the accident that almost took his life and the changes to his writing after that day.

For me, the most important thing on this book is that it is in no way a “This is how you become a writer” book. It’s a “This is how I became a writer and the stuff I do” book. My first choice of word here wasn’t stuff, it was another word started with an “s”, and I just didn’t use it because this is a review and not creative writing. But, as it’s mentioned in the book, the first word you think of is always the most appropriate one.

This is not only a book for someone who wants to be a writer.
It’s also not just a book about how Stephen King writes
It’s a book about books and how they come into being.
It’s a book about life.
As he says “Writing is not life, but I think that sometimes it can be a way back to life.”

On Writing should be part of every new writers or experienced writers repertoire!! You can never have too many tools in your toolbox as a writer!

I loved this book! I learned a lot about Stephen King, but he also gave us authors great writing tips. I have started using his methods in my own writing habits. Even if you’re not a writer, it’s a great read!

One of the best books on writing. Get the audiobook and listen to the master speak in his own words.