Last year I took some of the money I won in a writing contest and bought myself a copy of Stephen King's book, On Writing. I just finished it yesterday morning and have written some words to say about it.
First off, I'm giving the book 5/5 stars. It takes quite a lot for me to give something a 5/5; not that I’m overly picky, but that last star I hang onto dearly and it really needs to be earned. The book, as a whole, is perfect for what it is: a teacher and entertainer, written by one of this country’s most prolific and recognizable authors. For me, the book is timeless.
On Writing was published approximately 16 years before I read it, but until the occasional sentence would pop that referenced something that—at the time—had yet to released, I would forget it wasn’t a new book. It felt fresh. King references some books that aided him in learning the craft, and I’ve no doubt that On Writing will, itself, be a historic tome essential in any writer’s “toolbox” (a term King illustrates in the book) for decades to come.
Before I read On Writing, I stumbled across a complaint that someone had with the book. They took issue with not every page having been dedicated solely to lessons on writing but also included a lengthy autobiographical section. I take it the guy wasn’t actually a fan of Mr. King but instead a fan of the money King makes. Apparently the life stories King told were just getting in the way. I, for one, enjoy hearing factoids about people I’m interested in, and Stephen King happens to be one of those people.
The autobiographical section takes up approximately one third of the book. We get to see exactly what Mr. King went through to finally succeed at what he loves doing most and the lessons he learned along the way. In this section, he sympathizes with the beginning writer and shares his own failures as well as successes. The anecdotes are humorous and entertaining, and if you’re an aspiring writer, they’re quite encouraging.
The next section of the book is the real meat and gravy; the reason the book was written: Stephen King sharing his wisdom; all the tips on what King feels are essential for any would-be writer desiring an audience. I saw the book as a thorough crash course in writing successfully entertaining pieces. It’s not an English class. King makes the assumption you have half a brain and clearly states that if you’re horrible at writing then maybe you should find something else to do, because nothing in his book—or any other—is going to help you. However, he does give hope to the decent writer and encourages a strict reading and writing regimen in order to learn what to do, what not to do and, of course, to help that writing muscle avoid atrophy.
Section number three: Something I feel was probably written more for therapeutic reasons for King personally. This small section goes into explicit detail on the event that nearly cost King his life: getting hit by a van while walking down the road. This includes his recovery and the process of getting into writing again after a hiatus; all of which actually happened during the writing of On Writing.
The fourth, and final, section shows us four or five pages of a rough draft of King’s short story tentatively titled "The Hotel Story" '(later named 1408), after which we are treated with the next draft, complete with felt pen markings, corrections, and changes. The last few pages are dedicated to walking you through why each change was made.
It is my belief that reading this book will give any writer a better understanding of the craft and how to tighten up their written word. If you’re not a writer but are a fan of Stephen King, then the first and third sections of the book are a must read. If you’re both a writer and a fan, then whatever it is you’re reading now needs to be put on that literary back burner with the rest of your procrastination pile. Hesitate no longer.
On Writing will encourage you. It will get you excited about writing, and if you’re anything like me, it’ll dry out a few highlighters.
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Popular Highlights in this book
“When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story,” he said. “When you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.”Highlighted by 15,717 Kindle readers- Remember that the basic rule of vocabulary is use the first word that comes to your mind, if it is appropriate and colorful.Highlighted by 11,451 Kindle readers
- If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.Highlighted by 10,410 Kindle readers
- It starts with this: 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.Highlighted by 9,290 Kindle readers
- “When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story,” he said. “When you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.”Highlighted by 8,501 Kindle readers
About the author
Neat writing
Steven king has a way of putting his life in pages and actually make it interesting it also came to a surprise that such a big writer like him was talked down on so much in his up bringing ( as a child , as a teen , and even as an adult .) and he turned out to be one of the best people in the publishing industry. He is also very straight forward and Is not scared of expressing his stand point while still not completely invalidating the other persons perspective I would say it’s a great book for people who want to start writing and would recommend to anyone !!!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2015
- Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2015
Top reviews from other countries
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- Mitul PatelReviewed in India on March 28, 2024
Provides practical help and spiritual reassurance needed to nurture a writing life
- RuiReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 8, 2023
On Writing: A Masterpiece Blending Craft, Humor, and Heart
- Ryan MillarReviewed in the Netherlands on July 19, 2023
An outstanding book in a niche of great books
