Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
One of the books just about every big writer, agent, publisher, or whatever in the industry says you should read as an author is Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. So what if it’s been nearly 17 years since it came out.
King covers everything from his childhood and a very bad case of poison ivy to his being hit by a driver that almost killed him. And from his first earnings as a writer from his mother paying for his childhood stories to his latest works around the year 2000. Mixing the two strings of discussion in such a way that you learn just as much about writing from reading the book as you do from what he says about writing in the book.
One thing I realize from Stephen King is, that no one is right all the time. Even King admits there isn’t a hard fast rule about writing. There are rules about writing, but not about writing. Did that make sense to you? Welcome to an example of how King sometimes gets his point across although it was my point in this instance.
Great things can be said by great people and garbage by even greater ones, but if you want to learn anything, listen to those who do things rather than talk about them. There is a reason you don’t see dozens of books about writing from King. He didn’t want to say anything unless he had something to say. It had to be different and it had to be useful information.
He succeeds on all counts. His examples are excellent and the encouragement one can get from following his path to success is inspiring. Even King had his moments of doubt but he never gave up. He hated one of the books that he is most identified with. He worked harder than most of us ever has, while continuing to write, write, and write some more.
It’s hard for me to believe I’d ever say that a book about writing is a page turner, but here I am saying exactly that.On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is a page turner. You want to know what example he’ll use next; what nugget of wisdom he will share. You want to see if you are already doing things King mentions and give yourself kudos for it, while telling King he’s wrong about the things you disagree with, but know he’s correct all the same.
King is the antithesis of what so many point to in regards to classic writing, but he’s not really. He still tells tales in that big epic manner while doing so in a modern fast paced way that holds attention. How can you read his books in one sitting? People do it.
Every book is a classroom. You either learn how to write or how not to write. King is the classic read-as-much-as-possible writer. He’s read more books than I’ve heard scanned the titles of and that’s something that needs to change, and I’m doing so.
I recommend Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft to anyone who is or wants to be a writer. The sooner you read it in your career the better. Why waste time doing things the wrong way when we have help out there telling us the right way?
ago and meant to write about it but got sidetracked.
by how well he writes. I guess I’d probably written him off because I’m not into horror and probably classified him as an airport novelist. His advice was very good and I admire how he took action and worked to get published. I seem to keep baulking from that.
I also appreciated reading about his horrific accident where he was hit while out running. It was a miracle he survived and his story is so encouraging.
I hope that makes sense. My border collie is lying on my lap underneath my laptop and I’m not entirely focused.
I’ve read other reviews about King’s book and just never took the step to buy it. I just did. I love his writing, maybe it will help mine. Thanks for your review.
If nothing else, it’s a great read that you do get something out of.
This is truly a great book. He talks about how talent is everywhere, but it’s the hard work that puts you over the top. It’s a very candid and useful book about his journey.
It’s one of those useful books you can read again and again without a feel of being taught but still learning while being told a story.
Great book on writing for sure! We plan to buy a house with a writing room and desk facing a wall. Memorable stuff – and good advice too!
Absolutely right, Ronovan, this is a definite page turner and a must read for any writer.