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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The Heart, Soul, and Hard Work of King all Comprised in <300 Pages
King's Memoir on Writing delivers what I expected, along with SO much more. It's bizarre knowing that it only runs for 291 pages, a bellow average amount, and yet sends you through so many layers of understanding his life, passion, and mistakes. King has a very bitter and fair outlook on both life and work, and he will not shy from letting you know about it. In fact, if you aren't willing to accept life's hardships, and the need for dedication on your part; then this book won't be much good to you. It wasn't written for the feint of heart, not for those who want and never deserve: it's for those whom have already made the dedication to themselves to seriously consider authoring. King's golden rule is the perfect example of this: "If you want to be a good writer: You need to read a lot, and write a lot", and there's no exceptions to this rule as far as he is concerned. Without further ado; on to the Pros and Cons section of this review. Pros: + Light read for the likes of anyone. You don't need immeasurable patience to get through this title, (<300 pages). + Several layers to enjoy. By that I mean this book covers *everything* King thought could be related to his success as a writer. He put all the determination and honest work into this that he could, and while half the book is about his life story, there's a good other half dedicated to more fundamental lessons. + Walk away knowing you have it in you. Even though King is harsh in his lectures, and hold little patience for anything less than determined: His lessons leave you with all the perspective and tools you need to get started as a writer. You determination is ultimately your choice, and King respects that by not offering any other options. You either care, or you don't. Walk away, or sit down and get working. Very easy to understand, yet life changing once you do. + Learn some things about King you probably didn't know before. The strange part here is: this book has nothing to do with writing if all you care about is hearing about King's life. It's a memoir as much as a lecture, and you aren't forced to comprehend both sides of it. Personally I loved the personal touch he used, while still keeping in mind my goal to be my own author. Cons: - Not much to say in the cons section, but I should add that if you get depressed easy, and don't want to read about King's tragic life experiences, (which is to say a better portion of the book is about his hardships), then you might want to steer clear. It's not a flaw of the book; it's just something that I can see a group of people being turned off by.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2015
Top reviews from other countries
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Cliente AmazonReviewed in Italy on January 29, 2018
Un must per chiunque desideri imparare a scrivere
- Ryan MillarReviewed in the Netherlands on July 19, 2023
An outstanding book in a niche of great books
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MarcosReviewed in Brazil on September 11, 2015
Para leitores e escritores: mesmo para quem não é fã
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- Mitul PatelReviewed in India on March 28, 2024
Provides practical help and spiritual reassurance needed to nurture a writing life
