On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (A Memoir of the Craft (Reissue))

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.

'On Writing' is a revealing and practical look at the writer's craft, comprising many of the necessary tools of the trade for any aspiring author. It is a gem of a resource and entirely worth its purchase price in my opinion. It is noteworthy to relate that this is NOT is a 'how-to' book on crafting novels and short stories. Although Mr. King provides many nuggets of wisdom for aspiring writers throughout his book, he makes it clear that every author must forge their own pathway toward their goals, whatever they may be. In other words, there is no such thing as a blueprint for success in his vocation.Because good stories often write themselves, in most situations it is wise for an author to 'go with the flow' rather that obsessively follow a rigid plot or storyline schematic in their mind. Every writer needs their own muse to kindle their own imagination. He compares the discovery of a good story idea with digging up a fossil; the quality of the fossil(story) is ultimately dependent on the skill of the author to delicately extract it from the earth and polish it up for appreciative museum goers. (I have improvised a little bit on his analogy, but I think it fits).On Writing is a compelling, forthright narrative on what obstacles aspiring authors might expect to encounter on their personal journeys toward self-fulfillment. It is also a tough love manual for writers peppered with anecdotal stories of Mr Kings interesting life along the way. I found it illuminating and have a far greater understanding of the craft after reading this book......There are a plethora of takeaways from this fine reference, far too many to include in my review. I will attempt to prioritize the more important ones for myself and relay them to anyone kind enough to read my review on Amazon. If I have neglected to mention any of value, they have probably been mentioned or discussed before in countless other reviews of this work.Takeaway 1--Omit needless words, adverbs, the passive voice, and excessive description whenever possible.Takeaway 2--Imitation often precedes creation. SK related how as a child he often copied stories from authors he enjoyed verbatim; sometimes omitting and sometimes adding story fragments of his own creation. There is no shame in imitation if it is part of the learning process!Takeaway 3--King lists his wife/marriage and his physical health as his two keys for success. The message for aspiring authors should be to exercise regularly and marry someone who is both positive and supporting of your endeavors.Takeaway 4--Read a lot and write a lot. The art of description is a learned skill that develops and improves with copious reading and voluminous writing. There is no substitute for time invested in this make-or-break skill set.Takeaway 5--Keep your story chronological whenever possible. Flashback sequences sometimes work well in the movies or on television, but often come across as corny or cliche in novels..Takeaway 6–Find a network of trustworthy individuals to read and give feedback on your first draft in its rawest form........Affably written and educational, this well organized book is a delight to read. There were several revelations in this book, the most important one revealed as Mr.King recounted his near-fatal accident in 1999(he was hit by a drunk driver in a van while out for his afternoon walk). He professes that life isn't a support system for art --the reverse is actually true. Art is a support system for life. Mr King recounts vividly how the inseparable link between his writing and his life helped motivate him during the many months of his painful recuperation. My favorite quote of his is near the end of the book:“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 read your work, and enriching your own life, as well.”I cannot recommend this inspirational and entertaining book highly enough to readers. Pubished in 2001? Seems like it was written yesterday!