In On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft Stephen King says that we must come to writing in almost any way but lightly. We may be angry or exhuberant or jealous or anguished. I repeat, as does he, we must come to the craft any way but lightly. This is a side of Stephen King I have neve seen before, and I like it. The book is a wonderful guide to the art, to the craft of writing. My book is new, but is already earmarked and looks worn with age, as all great books should. All true devotees to the craft of writing, all who know that the demands of writing are great, should own this book. It is a revelation.

I don't even read Stephen King books. I don't like horror books as I have nightmares - but I know Stephen is a writing legend so this book was fantastic to read.

He writes in that "real person" way that makes you feel he is not some writing super-hero that just creates a bestseller out of nothing. He is to the point in his advice, but behind it is his story. How he and Tammy came from nothing, how his drug use crushed him, and how his accident changed the way he sees the world. He knows the power of story.

Some top pieces of advice from the book:

- Close your door and make a serious commitment to write. Don't wait for the muse to come. Show up every day and "sooner or later, he'll start showing up, chomping his cigar and making his magic"

- Write what you love to read. Don't write in a genre to make money.

- If you don't have time to read, you don't have time to write.

- He writes by finding some characters and then putting them in a situation. They often surprise him by what happens.

- Write your first full draft with no input. Then let it rest for 6 weeks or so "like bread dough between kneadings". You will find it much easier to kill your darlings after a rest

- Revise for length. 2nd draft = 1st draft - 10%

- "Do you need someone to make you a paper badge with the word "Writer" on it before you can believe you are one? God, I hope not."

Great book!

I'm not even a fan of Stephen King. I've seen plenty
of movies made from his books and most of them were
bad or stupid or both.

I have read a handful of fiction books the guy wrote.
He's easy to read - he hashes out these very human
characters well and puts them in these unusual, frightening
situations - often no-wins. You probably know that.

It's easy to overlook that King, the champion schlockmeister,
is a consumate communicator. His writing is empathic - which
is what keeps us curious and involved in the stories.

Honestly - I don't like slasher movies. Maybe King doesn't
write them but in my little brain he is inextricably tied
to the genre that scared the pants off me as a kid -
Friday the 13th, et. al.

The funny thing is that King's fiction is surprisingly
complex, rich in character and local color. When
put on the screen it is generally dull and seems formulaic -
but that is perhaps more because King's writing has
influenced all scary movies of the last 30 years.

I'm an admirer now. I'm taking writing a lot more seriously
now than I have in the last 15 years. I still think
the themes and plots of many of King's novels don't
interest me - but after reading this there are a half-dozen
or so I may track-down and read.... particularly:

-The Stand
-The Tommyknocker's (apparently derivative of 5 Million Years To Earth - which
is close to the best Sci-fi film ever, IMO, and ripped-off also in the Space
Vampires movie "LifeForce")

Oh yeah. The writing stuff. Cogent. To the point. How
to simplify and amplify the power of your story. He tells
how to defeat the Passive Voice habit, how to recover
from adverb abuse, etc... basically how to get the bad
habits out of the way so the competent writer can progress
towards becoming a good one.

King's passion for writing is absolute and he imparts his passion to the reader. That alone is a good enough reason to read On Writing, but this book is unexpectedly engaging and informative at every turn.

This work is phenomenal. I was only interested in the craft of writing and had never read Stephen King before. Though the work is supposed to be a manual for better writing, it reads like a thrilling novel. What a surprise.

I never imagined discussions of drafts, agents, editing, grammar, etc. could be woven together with King's biography to produce an astounding, readable text on writing.

Hi I am Vince

This book by King was recommended to me by a fellow writer [...]. This is a writers workshop online.

This book by King: "On Writing" not only give insight into King's own background, but he recommends other books that helped King advance his work. I have purchased all the books I have reviewed and that are sold here on Amazon.

Like "William Strunk,Jr: The Element of Style. I purchased two different Editions including the red Original Edition. Here on Amazon.com

I use this Stein on Writing book to help with the editing of my new novel:
THE ROCK OF NEREID. I will sell it here on Amazon.com.

Vincent J. Arcuri

Inspirational and funny. He talks about writing then goes oh by the way here's a great little tip. At first I barely noticed them. He shows what's important to him as a writer and reader as well as tells you. But even when he's telling you it's like we're having a cup of coffee together. Since its the writing rather than the subject of his books that I adore this was so much fun!! Plus, he tosses in a cool little reading list. This was the best purchase I've made for writing yet.

Stephen King's On Writing covers inspiration, writing, editing and storytelling from the perspective of arguably the World's greatest living writer.

He provides examples of how a piece can be written and then illustrates the language which makes it come alive. Also provided are tips, tricks and techniques which will improve any writer's approach to the craft.

King stresses the need to read if you want to write and he provides his favoured reading list as one starting point. He cites examples of the differing styles of some of these writers helping the reader appreciate the subtleties that may have escaped notice in the past.

The book will challenge the writer who approaches novel writing from a process viewpoint and instead shows how storytelling, the Stephen King way, is accomplished and why the level of suspense remains high in his books.

On Writing opens the mind to the possible and shows how it can be done.

I found King's memoir on the craft of writing On Writing more inspirational than instructional (a good thing) though he does spend quite a bit of time addressing the deadly overuse of the adverb (ah, there's one now) in beginning writer's work. Reading about King's struggles to write and to publish amidst his struggles to live serve to remind writers that we can overcome the challenges we face in life and use them to inform our writing. King fans interested in how writers work, find motivation, and especially in King's life will find On Writing interesting. King doesn't try to pretend his life - the good and the bad - is anything other than what it is. His honesty is disarming. Enough so it may capture some new fans for King's fiction. Writers and readers a lot can get something from On Writing.

This book is a combination of autobiography and instructions on writing. Mr. King selects incidents from his youth that led him to become a writer, and illuminates us on his progress. Should be a delightful book for anyone who wishes to become a popular writer, and appreciates this man's books. I find it helpful and fun to read.

Simply the best guide to writing that I have ever read. It humanizes the whole process.

Arthur

1. If you want to be a writer you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There is no shortcut.

2. Reading is the creative center of a writer's life.

3. The TV is about the last thing an aspiring writer needs.

4. The sort of strenuous reading and writing program I advocate is four to six hours - every day.

5. Once I start on a project, I don't stop and I don't slow down unless I absolutely have to.

6. Strunk and White is to a Writer what the Bible is to a Preacher.

7. Life isn't a support system for art, it's the other way around.

8. The idea that the creative endeavor and mind altering substances are entwined is one of the great myths of our time.

9. You must not come lightly to the blank page.

10. The first draft of a book should take no more than three months, the length of a season.

11. The adverb is not your friend.

12. The combination of a healthy body and a stable relationship with a self-reliant woman who takes zero bull from me or anyone else has made the continuity of my working life possible.

13. I like to get ten pages a day, which amounts to 2,000 words. That's 180,000 words over a three month span, a goodish length for a book.

14. Only under dire circumstances do I allow myself to shut down before getting 2,000 words.

15. When you write, you want to get rid of the world. It's wise to eliminate every possible distraction.

16. Paragraphs are almost as important for how the look as for what they say; they are maps of intent.

17. The paragraph, not the sentence, is the basic unit of writing.

18. Grammar is not just a pain in the rump; it's the pole you grab to get your thoughts up on their feet and walking.

19. Write about anything you want as long as you tell the truth.

20. You need a room, you need the door, and you need the determination to shut the door. You'll also need a concrete goal as well.

21. You should anything that improves the quality of your writing and doesn't get in the way of your story.

22. Writing fiction is a lonely job

23. The first draft should be written with no help from anyone.

24. Never let an unfriendly draft cross the threshold of your office or out of your desk drawer.

25. The most common tool of any writer is vocabulary.

26. Put your vocabulary on the top shelf of your toolbox and don't make any conscious effort to improve it.

27. Do not dress up vocabulary, looking for long words because you're a little ashamed of your short ones.

28. Invest in a copy of Warriner's English Grammar and composition.

29. Don't be a Muggle. Avoid the passive tense!

30. I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs

31. Good writing is often about letting go of fear and affectation.

32. The object of writing isn't grammatical correctness but to make the reader welcome and then tell a story.

33. I can't lie and say that there are no bad writers. Sorry, but there are lots of bad writers.

34. While it is possible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer, it is equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one.

35. The secret of my success is that I stayed physically healthy (well, almost) and I stayed married.

36. You're job is to make sure the muse knows where you're going to be everyday from Nine `til Noon.

37. Novels consist of three parts: narration, description and dialogue.

38. Plot is a good writer's last resort and the dullard's first choice.

39. The situation comes first. The characters come next. Once I have these things fixed in my mind I begin to narrate.

40. Description is what makes the reader a sensory participant in the story.

41. With characters, it boils down to two things: paying attention to how real the people around you behave and then telling the truth about what you see.

42. Symbolism exists to adorn and enrich, not to create a sense of artificial profundity.

43. Symbolism is a focusing device for both you and your reader, helping to create a more unified and pleasing work.

44. Revising is three drafts, or two drafts and a polish.

45. Good fiction always begins with story and progresses to theme; it almost never begins with theme and progresses to story.

46. You should put your first draft away for six weeks before starting the second draft, because it's always easier to kill someone else's darlings than your own.

47. When you give out six or eight copies of a book, you'll get back six or eight highly subjective opinions about what's good and what's bad in it.

48. Pace is the speed at which your narrative unfolds.

49. Your early readers will also gauge whether or not your story is paced correctly and if you've handled the back story correctly.

50. The most important things to remember about back story are that (a) every one has back story and (b) most of it isn't very interesting.

51. Routine interruption and distraction don't much hurt a work in progress and may actually help it some ways. It is the dab of grit that seeps into an oyster's shell that makes the pearl.

52. You don't need writing classes and seminars any more than you need this or any other book on writing.

53. You learn best by reading a lot and writing a lot, and the most valuable lessons of all are the ones you teach yourself. These lessons almost always occur with the door closed.

54. You should have an agent. If your work is salable then you will have only a moderate amount of trouble finding one. You'll probably be able to find one even if you work isn't salable, as long as it shows promise.

55. The scariest moment is always just before you start.

56. Writing is magic.



******

1. If you want to be a writer you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There is no shortcut.

2. Reading is the creative center of a writer's life.

3. The TV is about the last thing an aspiring writer needs.

4. The sort of strenuous reading and writing program I advocate is four to six hours - every day.

5. Once I start on a project, I don't stop and I don't slow down unless I absolutely have to.

6. Strunk and White is to a Writer what the Bible is to a Preacher.

7. Life isn't a support system for art, it's the other way around.

8. The idea that the creative endeavor and mind altering substances are entwined is one of the great myths of our time.

9. You must not come lightly to the blank page.

10. The first draft of a book should take no more than three months, the length of a season.

11. The adverb is not your friend.

12. The combination of a healthy body and a stable relationship with a self-reliant woman who takes zero bull from me or anyone else has made the continuity of my working life possible.

13. I like to get ten pages a day, which amounts to 2,000 words. That's 180,000 words over a three month span, a goodish length for a book.

14. Only under dire circumstances do I allow myself to shut down before getting 2,000 words.

15. When you write, you want to get rid of the world. It's wise to eliminate every possible distraction.

16. Paragraphs are almost as important for how the look as for what they say; they are maps of intent.

17. The paragraph, not the sentence, is the basic unit of writing.

18. Grammar is not just a pain in the rump; it's the pole you grab to get your thoughts up on their feet and walking.

19. Write about anything you want as long as you tell the truth.

20. You need a room, you need the door, and you need the determination to shut the door. You'll also need a concrete goal as well.

21. You should anything that improves the quality of your writing and doesn't get in the way of your story.

22. Writing fiction is a lonely job

23. The first draft should be written with no help from anyone.

24. Never let an unfriendly draft cross the threshold of your office or out of your desk drawer.

25. The most common tool of any writer is vocabulary.

26. Put your vocabulary on the top shelf of your toolbox and don't make any conscious effort to improve it.

27. Do not dress up vocabulary, looking for long words because you're a little ashamed of your short ones.

28. Invest in a copy of Warriner's English Grammar and composition.

29. Don't be a Muggle. Avoid the passive tense!

30. I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs

31. Good writing is often about letting go of fear and affectation.

32. The object of writing isn't grammatical correctness but to make the reader welcome and then tell a story.

33. I can't lie and say that there are no bad writers. Sorry, but there are lots of bad writers.

34. While it is possible to make a competent writer out of a bad writer, it is equally impossible to make a great writer out of a good one.

35. The secret of my success is that I stayed physically healthy (well, almost) and I stayed married.

36. You're job is to make sure the muse knows where you're going to be everyday from Nine `til Noon.

37. Novels consist of three parts: narration, description and dialogue.

38. Plot is a good writer's last resort and the dullard's first choice.

39. The situation comes first. The characters come next. Once I have these things fixed in my mind I begin to narrate.

40. Description is what makes the reader a sensory participant in the story.

41. With characters, it boils down to two things: paying attention to how real the people around you behave and then telling the truth about what you see.

42. Symbolism exists to adorn and enrich, not to create a sense of artificial profundity.

43. Symbolism is a focusing device for both you and your reader, helping to create a more unified and pleasing work.

44. Revising is three drafts, or two drafts and a polish.

45. Good fiction always begins with story and progresses to theme; it almost never begins with theme and progresses to story.

46. You should put your first draft away for six weeks before starting the second draft, because it's always easier to kill someone else's darlings than your own.

47. When you give out six or eight copies of a book, you'll get back six or eight highly subjective opinions about what's good and what's bad in it.

48. Pace is the speed at which your narrative unfolds.

49. Your early readers will also gauge whether or not your story is paced correctly and if you've handled the back story correctly.

50. The most important things to remember about back story are that (a) every one has back story and (b) most of it isn't very interesting.

51. Routine interruption and distraction don't much hurt a work in progress and may actually help it some ways. It is the dab of grit that seeps into an oyster's shell that makes the pearl.

52. You don't need writing classes and seminars any more than you need this or any other book on writing.

53. You learn best by reading a lot and writing a lot, and the most valuable lessons of all are the ones you teach yourself. These lessons almost always occur with the door closed.

54. You should have an agent. If your work is salable then you will have only a moderate amount of trouble finding one. You'll probably be able to find one even if you work isn't salable, as long as it shows promise.

55. The scariest moment is always just before you start.

56. Writing is magic.



******



When I first read `On Writing' back in 2000 when I was living in my truck on Venice Beach. Those were vastly different times as opposed to where I am now, thankfully. I read the book with a very different mindset as well. Even then, I always knew that I would spend my life writing one way or another. If I ever made money from it -- then all the better, but I didn't see that happening and most days it's just a mirage in the desert. More on this mirage later.

I picked the book up, not to ingest a sort of primer for my brain, which I probably should have, but because I was addicted to reading biographies during that period and I read this with the mindset of reading about the life and times of Stephen King. I honestly wasn't ready for some of the information in the book the first time around and thus missed the boat back in two thousand. Reading it again has given me a little more hope and possibly even triggered my default settings on a few things.

I once heard American Poet Gregory Corso speak about Jack Kerouac and his early days when they first met. He stated that before Kerouac had even written `On the Road' or anything that followed, Jack had already written over a million words. Now that's not just a direct quote from Corso, but it's pretty astonishing considering the fact that these days a standard novel could be around 100,000 words or less. That would mean that Kerouac wrote the equivalent of ten modern novels. In terms of King, it's most likely only three or four, but anyway you slice it, it's a lot of writing.

When I consider these words in context of some of the things stated by `Stevie' in his book, I wonder not only where Kerouac's missing novels are, I also wonder where his missing books are, as he says he writes close to 100,000 words a month. I know he's published a lot, but I'm sure he has a library of manuscripts that for whatever reason he'll never let see the light of day. Heck, I've got a few myself, but I'm not Stephen King. Not by a longshot.

A very wise friend of mine recently suggested that I needed to take a `remedial' writing class and read Stephen King's book On Writing after she read the first draft of my most recent novel `Greyhound'. I guess I broke King's 24th commandment about letting an unfriendly draft out of the office. While I'm glad that I got feedback on something that I puked out, I learned a lesson about patience and reading what you've written at least once before releasing it on the world.

For the record, I've successfully exorcised most of the grammatical demons from my book and I'm happy about how I spent this past summer. Most of those demons found their way in the manuscript during the nightmare of transcribing them from the handwritten yellow pad to the eye-burning computer. A task I never look forward to. If I could have someone like Anton Schindler work as my secretary and transcribe my writing, I would be much happier and my migraines might be half of what they are on their worst days. But alas, I'm no Beethoven and thus must trudge.

Like King says, if you're going to let someone read it early in the game, make sure it's someone you trust and I would add - someone that knows you as a writer and what you've done. Too many times, new eyes get wrapped up in the grammatical, which is often inescapable. This is the type of experience a writer would also have with an agent and is probably bad for both parties. Don't expect any grand acceptance letters with material in that state.

After reading On Writing again, I found the information more meaningful and much more directed at someone like me. I was able to internalize and counsel myself with King's very direct advice. I would state that a struggling writer might get the best use of this book -- after they've written a book or two, or as in my case, a mere half million words. It's hard to be honest with yourself until you've been either beaten over the head with your own mistakes or you've beaten yourself over the head with endless editing.

As for the mirage of making money ... Stephen says that you should never write for money, but I think that's something someone with money would say. Whaddya think? The rest of us breathe for money let alone write for it. When Steve was locking himself in his laundry room in his rented trailer and stinking of rotten seafood from the night shift, I can assure you he was hoping, just like the rest of us that he would get paid and that he would also sell more than one book. Visualizing the end of the rainbow is just as important as chasing it. If you're dreaming of getting checks in the mail, it's not necessarily a bad thing. But if they have your own name and address in the top left corner, then you probably weren't specific enough when you sent your dream out into the Universe, haha.

I can understand why some people got so incensed with some of his statements. Especially numbers 33 and 34 regarding bad writers. Strangely, though ... I agree. As a rule, I don't read anything when I write. I know that might be unorthodox to some, especially Mr. King, but that's the way I roll, to use the parlance of our time. When I do read, I often come away with the feeling that most of what I've read is useless and badly conceived detritus. Some of it I adore, like Haruki Murakami. I wait impatiently for his next book every time. I'm now holding the opinion that he could very well be the greatest living writer of our time. But that's just me.

But most of the stuff I read I don't like. I think the publishing industry has a policy of attrition, regarding our wallets. They'll just print whatever they think will sell, which usually doesn't and reject the rest, which also probably would sell and is far more interesting. It's also no wonder that more and more the self-publishing market is breaking out some real gems and providing a more varied market for good novels.

I think it's also safe to say that a lot of people wonder how some books get published or how a bad film gets made, quite frequently. Publishers are working overtime right now trying to re-invent the industry and cull more readers. One thing I heard was that they want to publish fewer writers, thus narrowing the field of focus hoping to sell more of the books they do publish. Sound scary yet? It's in the works or something like it. Don't be surprised if we're one day surrounded by Harlequin Murder Mysteries and Young Adult Fantasy. The publishing Industry believes that's the only formula worth looking at for some unknown reason.

I think I wanted to say more, or rather something in a different tone, but after finishing On Writing over two weeks ago, most of what I thought I wanted to say, I procrastinated on due to my other writing concerns. Obviously, I broke another writing commandment which wasn't in the book, but one that we all know ... strike while the iron is hot - or suffer the consequences.

... ...

This was the first book I read on writing. It was because of this book, that I started my first novel. Though it's been several years since I read it, what stick out to me the most, was Stephen Kings word, "just write". I had no idea how to even begin, let alone if I could finish a book. He gave me the okay, and the courage to just start and see where it leads. I was too focused on how's and what's...all things that had hindered me from starting. He also gives some helpful insight to how he accomplishes his writing.

When arguably the most popular living writer offers to share his thoughts on the process of writing, even the most casual amateur writer would do well to lend an ear. Stephen King's macabre imagination has left indelible marks on the literary and cinematic landscape, but On Writing (which aptly describes itself as "a memoir of the craft) is a far quirkier addition to the prolific author's body of work. In the modest book King conveys a deep love and admiration for the craft upon which he has made a living for more than thirty years, and his passion, bolstered by an accessible, informal tone, is incredibly contagious.

The book opens with an autobiographical section detailing King's development as a writer. From publishing a neighborhood newspaper with his brother out of their basement to struggling to balance a family, a career and a drug habit, the vignettes from King's life fashion a rich and personal tapestry of artistic development.

The second half of the book contains a detailed exploration of the writer's "toolbox," rife with carefully-selected and illustrative examples from both King's own experience and from a plethora of other literary sources. At no point does King talk down to the reader, and the almost tangible sense of authority he conveys stems from his reputation and his enthusiasm, not from exclusive jargon. For fans of Stephen King, On Writing is a brief but entertaining autobiography and for fans of writing it is a friendly--but by no means exhaustive--source of advice and inspiration. On Writing belongs right next to Strunk and White's The Elements of Style on every writer's bookshelf.

I've often heard people rave about Stephen King's ability to evoke the scene and scare the wits out of people---the main reason I never could bring myself to read his books. Not that I haven't wanted to, mind you. As an aspiring writer, I came across this book and gobbled it up. A very interesting read with helpful ideas to boot. I'm even going to try to read one of his previous books so I can get a better feel for his fiction works and understand better the examples he used in this book.

I thought that it was cool he did this. It was a quick read, and it wasn't Earth shattering, but I thought it was insightful. Quirky guy.

An easy read. Though I skimmed much of the 1st 1/2 which is mainly memoir and a bit dull at times. Though I thoroughly enjoyed reading about King's alcohol and drug problems.

In the 2nd 1/2 King talks about writing and publishing. He explains how he works (he doesn't believe in days off) and how one might go about getting published. The actual writing advice itself is not new--leave out adverbs--don't say in 3 words what you can say with 1, etc.

I think it's a great book for a beginning writer to start with.

Mr. King's story of his development into a noted and successful writer and his description of the writing craft is only one man's story, but a unique and inspiring one. Think of it as the first half of his autobiography - may he live long and well! Also, think of it as his tutorial and elucidation on how to write something worth reading. Two tales in one unique book.

King's early life was tumultuous; the reader begins to see how the writer of rather unusual stories was formed. After learning about his extended starving artist time, the reader easily celebrates his well-earned success and acclaim. His recovery from the near-fatal attack by a minivan illustrates real grit, and the extremely positive influence of his wife on his life it wonderful. King is almost as interesting a character as he the many he give us in his best books.

The greatest value of the book, however, at least to writers and wanna-be's, is in his candid explanations on how to compose, edit, re-compose, edit, edit again, re-write, proofread, and cut until the manuscript shines. Even for a master and journeyman like Mr. King, writing top-notch fiction requires focus, sweat, and time. It's tiring. I imagine if he could work more than four concentrated hours a day he would. While his description of the author's daily life is not glamorous, it nonetheless is realistic, and illustrates how a true writer can never be satisfied NOT writing.

Whether or not you usually read Mr. King's variety of fiction, if you even dabble a small amount as a writer you can benefit tremendously from what he has included in this wonderful volume.

Until I read On Writing by Stephen King, I had never read any of his books. To be honest, since On Writing, I've only read one other of his books which I didn't like so we've come to an impasse.... however On Writing is one of the best books I've read. The first half is a memoir of his life where we learn how his early jobs and experiences inspired the ideas for his best sellers. Every thing King sees becomes an obvious cue for him to think "what if". He is a prolific writer and I admire his constant discipline at sitting down and typing his heart out. He finishes a novel and then writes a novella followed by a short story and then he's back to a new novel. The man has ideas a plenty simply by always asking himself "what if" and then writing it down.

The second half of the book is a lesson on how to write. King has much authority on the subject not only due to his global success but also because he was an English teacher before the phenomenal success of Carrie back in the 70s. He teaches how to pair nouns with verbs so we can make sentences that come alive; for example, Rocks explode, which immediately takes the reader to a place where they can envisage rocks exploding... it's all about showing the story rather than telling the reader a bunch of words.

Stephen King is a master writer and teacher. A great book which even a non-writer will enjoy because King shows the reader, his Constant Reader, just how much fun you can have.

The postal service lost the product and so we never received it, but amazon quickly refunded the money.

If you're a writer or enjoy reading about Stephen King in depth, this is the book for you. The first half is his life and writing career and the second half is how he goes about writing. Very Freeing Ideas!!! He shows how to write using your creativity and intuition instead of constricting plotting/outlining techniques. Special book! Wonderful man.

This is a great book. The first half or so of it is mostly autobiographical and informs the reader how Stephen got into writing. The latter part of the book is more of an actual guide on how to write fiction. The very last part of the book recounts his life-changing accident.

I really like how Stephen writes - throughout the book I had a sense of direct communication with him. He describes writing as telepathy - and his is very effective. His humorous, honest and straightforward voice is constantly present. I also like that he unabashedly describes his particular and peculiar interests and always sticks to his guns regarding what he believes works.

If you're looking to learn how to write good fiction from a bestseller, and want to be entertained and engaged in the process, you ought to read this book.

After finishing this book, I wasn't quite sure how I felt about it.

It is seperated into three parts. The first are some brief snapshots of the author's life. Telling memories from his childhood, early jobs, first book publication, and even descent into addiction. The second part is strictly about writing. These are the pages that I found had trouble keeping my attention. The third section talks about his accident. He was hit by a motorist while walking on the shoulder of the road. He describes his experience in suprising detail.

When he shines a light on his own work, giving us an inside perspective on the books we've already, it is extremely interesting. When he is talking about the use of adverbs, not so much.

I understand that this is a book about writing. Myself not being a writer I wasn't fully able to enjoy it in its entirety. This book isn't off limits to you if you are, like myself, simply a constant reader. However, you should temper your expectations.

I found this book by Stephen King both interesting and useful.

It allowed me to see what style of writing he has and how he came about.
I wansn't a big Stephen King fan but decided to buy the book and I learned a lot about him and his career. I am very gald that I came accross it. The most important thing that I learned was to just write, write, write on your first draft. Then revise and edit on your 2nd draft.

An enlightening read!!

With nearly 600 reviews of this book there is very little need for any new reviews. I mainly want to record my five-star vote for the excellence of this book. I have to confess that I'm not a huge fan of Stephen King. I read very little horror fiction and as a result have only read a couple of King's books. Nonetheless, I have lately been toying with the idea of writing a fictional work of my own (all of my previous work, without exception, has been nonfiction, and within that virtually all academic). I thought this would provide a good practical guide to someone like myself. Regardless of one's opinion of King, he clearly has no trouble putting pen to paper. I have to say that as a practical aid this book far surpassed what I was hoping for.

The title is a slight misnomer. King does not discuss writing in general, but very specifically narrative fiction. He wants to help someone who wants to write a yarn. His advice is perfect for someone like me, who wants to take a first stab at creating a new story. I actually have a rough idea of what sitting down to write would be like and approximately what I need to do need. If I actually write what I hope, this small book could play an important role in that.

The book is, however, more than a writing guide. As the title makes clear it is also a memoir of King's life as a writer. It isn't a full-blown biography, but a record of what his life as a writer has been like. But because King famously suffered a near fatal traffic accident while he was writing this, he lingers a bit longer on this than other parts of his life. But, as Michael Scott might say, "It's all good." I enjoyed both the writing guide and the memoir. I highly recommend both.

Part of what led me to read this was reading King's columns in Entertainment Weekly. I've been quite surprised to discover that I share more interests in books, TV, and music than I would have expected. King is someone I think would be fun to argue with about all of these. One thing that surprises me in the book is how negative he is on TV. I've been arguing for years to anyone who will listen that one of the really big changes in popular culture over the past decade has been how very, very good television has become. I definitely prefer television to the movies. When he wrote this book King was clearly not a fan of television. He is now. I suspect that he began discovering some of the very good shows on the air. He has written with passion about such shows as BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, VERONICA MARS, and LOST. I'd like to know more specifically what caused him to see the light with regard to TV. But that would be a different book.

I recommend this book to just about anyone. It is hard to imagine that anyone wouldn't find something of interest in this. If nothing else, it will give the reader insights into the way one highly successful writer practices his craft.

I read this book 3 0r 4 times. His fiction is a little tacky. I ignore it,mostly. This book just fills me with joy. Why? Because Steve is a man.He gives you the reader the life of a man,who also writes. His taste in fiction,is not my taste. I avoid his books and I bless him for making a lot of money.Stephen is a beautiful guy,as far as I can discern.In America,writers have no dignity anymore:Writers are either cheap whores or celebrated whores.This is just wrong.Steve is both cheap and celebrated.Hemingway wrote great stuff in cable-ese, then killed himself.Steve writes a bunch of stuff I ignore and I hope and pray he does not kill himself.In sum, I don't read American fiction anymore-not even The New York Times:America's premier fake-news publication.
This book is a little light-weight and yet I love it.Steve is a fine man who wasted his life writing schlock.I,however, have never published anything.So, maybe I am a putz.Maybe I should try publishing for a change.God Bless You,Steve King.

I found King's book on writing both helpful and highly entertaining. One of the greatest storytellers of our time allows us an insight into the do's and dont's of being a professional writer.

This book is masterfully blended with useful information, and an autobiography of King's life from childhood memories to today. His own life is as fascinating and complex as many of his novels.

I class Stephen King's book on writing a true gem, a very rare find - highly reccomended.

By Stuart McCallum (author) Beyond my ControlBeyond my Control: One Man's Struggle with Epilepsy, Seizure Surgery & Beyond

I really thought this was a good book. I liked learning about his early life, and what steered him towards writing. I got some useful tips, as well, to use for my own writing.

I'm not a reader of Stephen King's fiction, nor am I fiction writer, but this book is a fine gem that will provide an afternoon of lively entertainment to those who love to read as well as those who love to write. I bought the book on an online recommendation. Though I've not read his novels, I have admired his consistent, reliable, disciplined creativity. For those who wonder how writer can be consistent, reliable, and disciplined through a long and productive career, this book provides great insights. His secret, I begin to see, is his approach to writing both as a craft and as a trade. This book offers insights into both.

I was surprised and delighted by how personal the book is. In his book, King is generous in sharing the experiences that contributed to his becoming a writer and how these experiences shaped his approach to the trade. Without going into great descriptive detail (this is done thoroughly in other reviews here), I can assure you that the first half of the book, which describes King's early life and his first successes as a writer, is wonderful. This is very personal material and I suppose it must be in order to communicate the essential character of the writer himself.

Among other wonderful insights were the revelations of his early jobs - scut work really - supporting his growing family and trying to perfect his writing. I enjoyed his description of working in a professional laundry by day and writing in a cramped closet by night. I also appreciated hearing about his family life during this period: this really helps put in perspective the pressure to succeed and the kind reassurance of his wife (who is also a writer). This is sound and very personal advice for anyone starting out in any chosen profession, including writers.

Perhaps not surprising to King's avid readers, the book is tremendously funny. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the book is also entertaining. Yet the humor and entertainment colors a superb description of writing as a profession. Herein are both tricks of the trade and a workman's shop-talk. This is essential material for all writers. However, it's also fantastic material for those non-writers who are interested in how novel are made.

Other reviews here contain details of the practical advice King gives on writing so I won't go into this except to say that it seems useful. I will say, however, that it is rare to see a writer of King's professional stature approach the task of writing about writing with humility and common sense. The resulting modest tone is perhaps the most impressive and wonderful aspect of this book. I appreciated his reluctance to wax artistic or pedantic.

Among its other practical aspects, one I appreciated, was his willingness to talk about the writing of other writers. This, I learned, grows from his belief that any professional writer must always be reading the writings of others and learning from them. In this book we see King's critical evaluation of what works and what does not work in the writing of others. He also generously provides a list of the novels that he read during the course of his writing.

This book is a good addition to the shelf in your library that contains style guides, dictionaries, thesaurus, and other recommendations on writing. It is also a fine addition to the shelf that contains memoirs. Surprisingly, it's also a good beach book.

From rough draft to finished product, you see King's writing life develop into a fine story. King once again shows why he is a master story teller, even if the story is his own. A MUST read for writers no matter what stage in your career you are at. King does a fantastic job of showing you then telling you. This is very true for the last section of the book as he gives you an example of 1st draft "1408" and then the edited version with written notes. Several times I had to fight the urge to put the book down and get writing!
Another great part of this book is you truly get an appreciation of Stephan King the man; the love of his wife is very endearing.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read; you get a great story and a better understanding of how it's done.

James A. Forrest - Eye of the Storm

I was never a fan of Stephen King's novels. I tried to read The Stand, The Tommyknockers, and The Gunslinger, but they bored me to tears. On Writing is terrific. I laughed at all of his funny childhood stories, wanted to hug him when he shared his painful memories, and learned a lot from his writing advice. This book is not only useful, it's deeply entertaining. Read On Writing if you want to be a better writer, or for fun.

I didn't expect this book to be as funny as it was. I bought it for the writing tips (which were great - VERY helpful) but it's a great read even for non writers.

I was not sure what to expect. Could the master of horror truly keep me enthralled with a book on writing? Stephen King delivered far beyond my wildest expectations. It was an enjoyable and insightful read and completely recharged my writing. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting. I highly recommend this book to writers and aspiring writers. You will laugh, you will learn and when you put it down you will never see the blank page in quite the same way.

It's really half memoir and half writing tips. Most writing suggestions I have heard or read before but it's always helpful to be reminded of fundamental writing techniques. Non-writer King fans will probably enjoy autobiographical segments, but most info "on writing" will be of little use or interest. For fancy-pants writers who think King is a no-talent hack...well, he is published. Are you?

Back when I began reading books on writing by established writers, I did it out of a hankering to become a creative writer. As the scales fell from my eyes and I realized that would only happen if I became the host body for a truly talented spirit, I found I still enjoyed reading writers on the theme of their craft. I've read excellent books on the topic by Anne Lamott, John Gardner, Brenda Ueland, Eudora Welty and Rita Mae Brown, to name a few, but I have to say that Stephen King's just could be the best.

I have to confess to only ever getting through a short story or two of Mr. King's; I am not a horror or fantasy reader. I just can't do it. That does not mean the man cannot write; in fact he is skilled and he does a knock up job of communicating what it takes to write. At the outset, he will say that the actual creative kernel is born not grown but refining that talent and making the most of it is a matter of awareness, skill, knowledge and discipline, which can all be acquired. He begins by demonstrating through his own life how he came to be the writer he is, snapshots that begin in early childhood. He was obviously bright and his illustrations reveal someone ready to learn from experience, someone who put a no-nonsense work ethic behind the call of the muse. The advice that constitutes the second part of the book is equally honest, without pretension. He insists that a writer cannot write without building vocabulary and grammar skills. He drives home the essential act of revision and above all, the necessity of a writer to read other works to stay fluent in the craft. A pool of trusted readers like his wife, Tabitha, help with perspective.

In 1999, halfway through writing this book, King was hit by a van. He concludes the book with a postscript of how finishing it helped him recover. As direct, plainspoken, honest, unpretentious and unsentimental as he comes across on the page, his story and advice add up to a compelling statement on the intersection of art and life.

I personally do not write fiction and have no desire to write fiction. I do write technical articles and I have a strong desire for them to be well written and interesting. This was a valuable and enjoyable read even though I have never read a Stephen King novel. I read a lot of fiction but I am not into the scary or sci-fi.

Mr. King's reputation alone warranted me reading this book. You can go wrong when you study excellence! The following take-aways from the book were very useful to me.

1. "Good story ideas seen to come quite literally from nowhere, sailing at you right out of the empty sky: two previously unrelated ideas come together and make something new under the sun. Your job isn't to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up" He then shares examples of how this worked in his life. This is a very true statement so true in fact that you could almost substitute any word for story in the quote. I have found the same to be true for business ideas.

2. "Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open." The message being don't seek criticism (including self criticism) when you are working on the first draft. Complete it first. Later in the book he states to let the first draft age (6 weeks) before going back to look at it again.

3. "You must not come lightly to the blank page." He states writing is serious and must be taken seriously.

4. "Construct your toolbox and bring it with you" Some tools being vocabulary, grammar, form and style.

5. "The road to hell is paved with adverbs."

6. "The paragraph not the sentence is the basic unit of writing."

7. "Good description usually consists of a few well chosen details that will stand for everything else."

8. "Second draft equals first draft minus 10%."

As someone who hated grammar in school and takes great pleasure in ignoring it as an adult, this book and Mr. King's examples have convinced me to stop ignoring it and embrace it.

This book is worth the read regardless of what kind of writing you do.

Dr. James T. Brown PMP PE CSP
Author - The Handbook of Program Management

From the first page to the last, Stephen King lays it on the line with total honesty. Begun before his near-fatal accident and finished months later, this book covers everything from the pain of the blank page to the necessity for good grammar and punctuation, to--my personal favorite--revision by cutting. He surprised me when he confessed that very often his characters surprise him; they take the story in directions he hadn't thought of because, in a sense, they become real people--capable of acting in the situations he gives them. I was delighted to read that, no, he doesn't plot out every event of every novel in advance. Rather, he starts with a situation, plugs a few characters into it, and sees how they react. It's much like real life. Along the way he gives a few hints about editing, starting the story, writing dialogue, pacing, description, and other tools, but this is not a primer on how to write fiction. In fact, he tells us right out that the only way to write fiction is to read a lot of it and then write it--alone, every day, no excuses. No quick routes to success, no writer's workshops, no instant fixes for your flawed manuscript. Though he didn't say it so much in these terms, his advice on description is excellent. No one is interested in your description of the forest; what they want to know is what happens to your hero when he's there. Get to it! Good stuff. I read it in two days, and there wasn't a false note in the whole thing.

If you're a reader, this book can entertain you as well as anything Stephen King has ever written. If you're a writer or would like to be, place "On Writing" at the top of your "Books I Must Read" list. King's take-no-prisoners style shows you what works, what doesn't, and what makes him gag.

I've read this book three times, and I'll read it many more because Stephen King is an absolute master storyteller, and the knowledge he imparts is essential to my own writing. And because I laugh out loud every time I read it.

Flawless. Don't miss this one.

Frank Allan Rogers

This nonfiction work sat on King's desk longer than any of his novels, and the wait was worth it. Encouraging, practical, and down to earth, this brilliant essay on writing weaves expertly between personal biography, nuts-and-bolts advice, and philosophy of writing. No writer, aspiring or otherwise, should be without this masterwork from the master.

In April 2006 I attended a workshop, Creating for Creators, run by Robert Fritz (author of Your Life as Art, among other books). To those of us participants aspiring to be (better) writers, Robert recommended that we read Stephen King's On Writing. What a great recommendation!

Stephen King is a class act - down to earth, likable, extremely funny, if On Writing is any measure - and someone to be trusted. King is both a regular guy, with whom you would enjoy having an informal conversation, as well as - no one needs to hear this from me - one of the top novelists of our day.

King demystifies the act and the art of writing fiction, and shares his perspectives on the mindset, discipline and hard work that it has taken him to create his novels over the past several decades. In earlier years he had to overcome tough financial circumstances, over-reliance on alcohol and other unsustainable substances, and his infamous near-fatal injuries sustained when hit by a van while out walking one day in 1999. King is truly an endearing person.

The first part of the book is autobiographical, describing, among other things, the wild adventures of Stephen and his older brother David. Stephen's father left the home early on, leaving Stephen's strong-willed mother to raise the boys - a gritty life in rural Maine, with stints in Wisconsin and elsewhere. In summary, King worked very hard for each of his accomplishments; nobody handed him anything. The nail on his wall - later replaced with a larger spike - onto which he impaled his countless rejection letters from publishers, is testimony to King's tenacity.

Here are some of King's thoughts:

· The least of all [your concerns] should be polite society and what it expects. If you need to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered, anyway.

· When the reader hears strong echoes of his or her own life and beliefs, he or she is apt to become more invested in the story.

· People love to read about work.

· There is a huge difference between story and plot (page 167)

· The story (not the writer) is the boss.

· Description begins in the writer's imagination, but should finish in the reader's.

· Let each of your characters speak freely; do not second guess the reaction of members of the "Legion of Decency"

· The best stories always end up being about the people rather than the event

King offers a somewhat contrarian view of the elements of a novel. In his approach there are three parts: narration, which moves the story from Point A to Point B; description, which creates a sensory reality for the reader, and makes him or her a participant in the story; and dialogue, which brings characters to life through their speech (page 159, paperback edition). King "distrust[s] plot for two reasons: first, because our lives are largely plotless... and second, because I believe plotting, and the spontaneity of real creation aren't compatible... Plot is... the good writer's last resort and the dullard's first choice. The story which results from it is apt to feel artificial and labored." )Having used a plot-driven approach with a novel I am writing, and not being pleased with the results, I buy into King's thoughts.)

King prefers to start with a situation; the characters come next. He wants to put characters in some predicament, and then watch them try to work themselves free (page 161). King's job, as he sees it, is not to help the characters work themselves free but, rather, to "watch what happens and then write it down." It's all about forming mental pictures and then documenting what you see, as truthfully and authentically as you can.

King candidly describes the challenges of weaving in the back story that every novel has no choice but to possess... include too little, and the main story has insufficient foundation; include too much, and the main story is buried. King also addresses the heart-rending job (for writers, at least) of "killing your little darlings" - removing sometimes really good material from your novel, if it does not contribute to the story.

The big bonus with this book that I never anticipated is that it is laugh-out-loud funny in all sorts of places. King's humour is enduring, clever, insightful, and not at anyone's expense.

I have spent the last three years writing a 315-page novel. I am not happy with it, and prior to reading On Writing I was seriously contemplating abandoning my novel. I now plan to do to a major re-write, and this is due to my having read King's discussion of what he went through when writing The Stand; it reminds me so much of my situation with my novel. King has reassured me that the position I find myself in, or which I have created for myself, is not necessarily awful, unusual or irreconcilable. It may simply be a stop along the way toward creating a better novel. When I read about King's management of editing and drafts, it all looks so familiar, and I am grateful for indications from him that I may be on an OK track after all.

Other related books I can recommend are On Writing Well - an informal guide to writing non-fiction, by William Zinsser, If You Want to Write - A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit, by Brenda Euland, On Becoming a Novelist, by John Gardner, Your Life as Art, by Robert Fritz, and The Elements of Style, by William Strunk and E. B. White.

I wasn't a huge fan of Stephen King until I read this book. It was given to me as a gift and I was immediately entranced by his easy writing style and openess into his life. I found tips on not only writing well, but tips for staying motivated. This book made me pull out a dust-covered mystery novel I wrote in 1996 and start reworking and re-editing. Just the inspiration I needed.
Karen Reddick, author of Grammar Done Right!

I must say I found Mr. King's advice a little telling. He says don't use adverbs ... but they are liberal in all his work.

He says get to the point with little description ... but used forty pages to describe a town in one novel. A town...

But, he is our most successful writer so go figure.

Can't recommend it and that stinks.

Wolfe

I must say that I found Mr. King's advice a little telling. He says don't use adverbs ... but they are liberal in all his work.

He says get to the point with little description ... but used forty pages to describe a town in one novel. A town...

But, he is our most successful writer so go figure.

Can't recommend it and that stinks.

Stephen King manages to create the most interesting and inspiring writing advice book I've had the pleasure of reading. It's part memoir and part practical writing instruction. He takes the reader on a journey through his own life - what made him the writer he is, the nuggets and kernels of his earliest creativity, and both his failures and successes.

Through telling his own story he leads you comfortably along until he gets to the basics of writing. Throwing out traditional English Composition coursework he gets down and dirty with what makes a sentence, what style is and how to apply it, and when, where and how to write. You can't help (well, I couldn't) but to be inspired and want to jump right out there and start writing after reading his stories.

This is a must-read for every would-be writer as well as every Stephen King fan.

- CV Rick, April 2008

I'd heard a lot of talk about this book being the eminent book for a developing writer to read. It did not live up to the hype initially, but redeemed itself in the end.

I enjoyed the conversational tone King took in this book. Reading it is like reading a letter from an old friend. He does a great job of describing his early writing life and imparting the urgency for writing that all young authors hope to have.

The advice given in the latter section is invaluable. Most of it is stuff that most writers have heard ad nauseum, but King puts it all succinctly. He makes the reader believe that writing is a gift that we have. It is up to us to put in the work and time to make ourselves better. It is up to us to improve our craft.

This book left me very hopeful for my writing future. Thank you, Stephen King.

It is true that the first fifth of this book is Stephen King's rambling, self-indulgent monologue about what a tough life he had as a youth. It is also true that King:

* Uses this book as a vehicle to wreak literary revenge on the man who nearly killed him because he was too busy watching his Rottweiler to watch where he was driving his van--he also does this in one of the last books of his Dark Tower series.

* Tells readers that because of the pompous nature of the literary critics, the full talent of popular authors such as he (King) is never recognized until they are dead. Here he groups himself with Raymond Chandler.

* Tells the world what a hard knocks life he had as a youth.

* Launches snide attacks on other authors--Danielle Steel and John Katzenbach at the top of the list.

* Uses the book as a confessional about his drug and drinking problems he experienced along with his success.

and

* Indulges in endless self-promotion.

It is also true that Mr. King at one point tells his readers that he does not believe in the profanity but that in order to portray his characters honestly, he must insert profanity into their thoughts and dialog. An interesting premise to be sure, but it does not explain why King places so much of the profanity he disdains throughout the narrative of his book on writing. Face it, the man likes to swear.

I could come up with a dozen more things to gripe about, but the truth is that Mr. King's book on writing is the finest book of its kind that I have read. (And I have read these books by the dozen.)

A number of those people who gave On Writing bad reviews simply did not read far enough. I know. The first time I read this book, I got only as far as King's "impossibly Abraham Lincoln" early married life, the part in which he lived in poverty, taught high school during the day, and sat on his porch with his typewriter poised on his lap at night. I got that far and I quit reading. And here is my true confession, I went to Amazon and gave this book a one-star review which I later removed.

I removed that review because a close friend of mine all but forced me to finish reading the book. No more than 20 pages after the spot where I gave up, King suddenly shifts gears and spends next half of his book giving the most sound and practical advice I have ever seen in a book for young writers. (The book returns to a self-indulgent memoir about the day he was struck by a van and his hard-fought recovery. Th