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On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

4.23 of 5 stars 4.23 · rating details · 65,551 ratings · 5,182 reviews

"Long live the King," hailed "Entertainment Weekly" upon the publication of Stephen King's "On Writing." Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer's craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King's advice is grounded in his vivid memories from...more

Paperback, 288 pages

Published June 1st 2001 by Gallery Books (first published 2000)

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Sep 25, 2012 Lou rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: november-read-2011, writing, non-fiction

This is a must read for writers, readers and Stephen King fans.
Fully laden with inspiration to walk the walk and start that journey of writing a story of you're own from short story to a full novel. Imagine great writers of the past like Dickens around to give advice to aspiring writers it's a real opportunity to grasp.

This man, Stephen King, worked hard to make himself into a writer and had sheer determination, from working all hours to pay his college education to writing his first stories i...more This is a must read for writers, readers and Stephen King fans.
Fully laden with inspiration to walk the walk and start that journey of writing a story of you're own from short story to a full novel. Imagine great writers of the past like Dickens around to give advice to aspiring writers it's a real opportunity to grasp.

This man, Stephen King, worked hard to make himself into a writer and had sheer determination, from working all hours to pay his college education to writing his first stories in a trailer. He was a single parent child with one brother. His life story is what dreams are made of, he defeated the single parent upbringing stereotype and made things work. When he was awaiting that call from his agent on selling the paperback rights for Carrie he was only expecting around a $40'000 mark and received an astonishing $400'000 payout. He really loves to write and does mention it was 'never about the money.' His marriage is solid and that helped his career, he met his wife Tabitha at a poetry workshop and both their loves for writing was an important ingredient to their marriage.
From a millworker to one of the greatest writers. He had written Running Man in a week and writes one word at a time, he tells us in his book that it's all about the story never the plot.
Write what you know, fresh images and simple vocabulary believable characters graceful narration, and truth telling all the hallmarks of good writing.
It is really nice to hear him say that if you don't have time to read you don't have time to write, a bad story can teach the reader so much on how not to write a story. Reading is an essential core to successful story writing. As I ponder all this advice I am also looking to try and start writing a story.
He says that 1000 words a day is good and to all importantly have that room to write, cut yourself off from distractions, immerse yourself and close that door to the world and write one word at a time.

It was interesting to hear of his time in London at The Brown's Hotel. He wrote at Rudyard Kipling's desk the first words of his novel Misery.
Here is a photo of the table and what he said.

"I wrote most of Misery by hand, sitting at Kipling's desk in Brown's Hotel in London.....Then I found out he died at the desk. That spooked me, so I quit the hotel."
---From a 1998 interview with journalist Peter Conrad

Close that door, close out the world and immerse yourself in writing your story!

Some quotes from the book.

"Read to measure ourselves against the good and the greats and to what can be done."

"If you don't have the time to read you don't have the time to write."

REVIEWHERE TOO.(less)

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Dec 17, 2007 Jenny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Any aspiring writer

Shelves: read07, favorites

I read this shortly after finishing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year, actually it would be more accurate to say I devoured it. This is full of great writing advice, and I'll need to get a copy and read it 1-2 times a year. Most helpful? The section on grammar! Seriously, I never really learned grammar.
"Gould said something else that was interesting on the day I turned in my first two pieces: write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open. Your stuff starts out being jus...more I read this shortly after finishing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) this year, actually it would be more accurate to say I devoured it. This is full of great writing advice, and I'll need to get a copy and read it 1-2 times a year. Most helpful? The section on grammar! Seriously, I never really learned grammar.
"Gould said something else that was interesting on the day I turned in my first two pieces: write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open. Your stuff starts out being just for you, in other words, but then it goes out. Once you know what the story is and get it right - as right as you can, anyway - it belongs to anyone who wants to read it."

"...The writer's original perception of a character or characters may be erroneous as the reader's. Running a close second was the realization that stopping a piece of work just because it's hard, either emotionally or imaginatively, is a bad idea. Sometimes you have to go on when you don't feel like it, and sometimes you're doing good work when it feels like all you're managing is to shovel shit from a sitting position."

"You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair - the sense that you can never completely put on the page what's in your mind and heart. You can come to the act with your fists clenched and your eyes narrowed, ready to kick ass and take down names. You can come to it because you want a girl to marry you or because you want to change the world. Come to it any way but lightly."

"The object of fiction isn't grammatical correctness but to make the reader welcome and then tell a story.... Writing is seduction. Good talk is part of seduction."

"Once I start work on a project, I don't stop and I don't slow down unless I absolutely have to. If I don't write every day, the characters begin to stale off in my mind - they begin to seem like characters instead of real people. The tale's narrative cutting edge starts to rust and I begin to lose my hold on the story's plot and pace. Worst of all, the excitement of spinning something new begins to fade. The work starts to feel like work, and for most writers that is the smooch of death."

"If I have to tell you, I lose. If, on the other hand, I can show you a silent, dirty-haired woman who compulsively gobbles cake and candy, then have you draw the conclusion that Annie is in the depressive part of a manic-depressive cycle, I win. And if I am able, even briefly, to give you a Wilkes'-eye-view of the world - if I can make you understand her madness - then perhaps I can make her someone you sympathize with or even identify with. The result? She's more frightening than ever, because she's close to real."

"What you should probably be doing is writing as fast as the Gingerbread Man runs, getting that first draft down on paper while the shape of the fossil is still bright and clear in your mind."

"The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better."

"Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink. Drink and be filled up."

"Reading is the creative center of a writer's life." (less)

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Nov 01, 2011 Palice Pottle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Writers

Shelves: you-must-read

I don't care who you are, what you are, but if you're willing to become a writer at some point in your life, then I think you should go briefly over this book. There is a section about his life before he became a writer, a section on writing, and a short section about when he got hit by a van.

The first and last section may not interest some people, but I really, really think EVERYONE needs to read what he has to say about writing.

This book shouldn't have taken me this long to finish, but it did...more I don't care who you are, what you are, but if you're willing to become a writer at some point in your life, then I think you should go briefly over this book. There is a section about his life before he became a writer, a section on writing, and a short section about when he got hit by a van.

The first and last section may not interest some people, but I really, really think EVERYONE needs to read what he has to say about writing.

This book shouldn't have taken me this long to finish, but it did, and not because I got bored or was too busy. After every two or three pages, I'd stop reading and start writing or editing. I'm gonna need my own copy of this book so I can fill it up with sticky notes and bookmarks. Then every time I grab the book, I'll run off and start writing. It would be the best way to get me writing.

Now excuse me, I'm just going to collect some quotes here because I want to, and because they all won't fit in my status updates.

"I distrust plot for two reasons: first, because our lives are largely plotless, even when you add in all our reasonable precautions and careful planning; and second, because I believe plotting and the spontaneity of real creation aren’t compatible. It’s best that I be as clear about this as I can—I want you to understand that my basic belief about the making of stories is that they pretty much make themselves. The job of the writer is to give them a place to grow (and to transcribe them, of course). If you can see things this way (or at least try to), we can work together comfortably. If, on the other hand, you decide I’m crazy, that’s fine. You won’t be the first."

"If I tell you that Carrie White is a high school outcast with a bad complexion and a fashion-victim wardrobe, I think you can do the rest, can't you? I don't need to give you a pimple-by-pimple, skirt-by-skirt rundown. We all remember one or more high losers, after all; if I describe mine, it freezes out yours, and I lose a little bit of the bond of understanding I want to forge between us. Description begins in the writer's imagination, but should finish in the reader's."

(Oh my god, Nevermore comes to mind. Leave me something to imagine for myself, please -- don't take it all away.)

"For me, good description usually consists of a few well chosen details that will stand for everything else. In most cases, these details will be the first ones that come to mind. Certainly they will do for a start. If you decide later on that you’d like to change, add, or delete, you can do so—it’s what rewrite was invented for."

"It’s also important to remember it’s not about the setting, anyway—it’s about the story, and it’s always about the story. It will not behoove me (or you) to wander off into thickets of description just because it would be easy to do. We have other fish (and steak) to fry."

"You must tell the truth if your dialogue is to have the resonance and realism ... and that holds true all the way down to what folks say when they hit their thumb with the hammer. If you substitute “Oh sugar!” for “Oh shit!” because you’re thinking about the Legion of Decency, you are breaking the unspoken contract that exists between writer and reader—your promise to express the truth of how people act and talk through the medium of a made-up story."

(This made me remember something from Psych class. Apparently, swearing helps when you're in pain. If you say something like, "Oh, cheese and crackers!" when you want and feel like saying something more vulgar, it won't feel good. Swearing = increase in pain tolerance. The worse the swearword, the better you'll feel. SWEARING IS GOOD FOR YOU! Sorry, off topic.)

"Some people don’t want to hear the truth, of course, but that’s not your problem. What would be is wanting to be a writer without wanting to shoot straight. Talk, whether ugly or beautiful, is an index of character; it can also be a breath of cool, refreshing air in a room some people would prefer to keep shut up. In the end, the important question has nothing to do with whether the talk in your story is sacred or profane; the only question is how it rings on the page and in the ear. If you expect it to ring true, then you must talk yourself. Even more important, you must shut up and listen to others talk."

"Sometimes the book gives you answers, but not always, and I didn’t want to leave the readers who had followed me through hundreds of pages with nothing but some empty platitude I didn’t believe myself ... if the theme stands out clearly enough, those discussing it may offer their own morals and conclusions. Nothing wrong with that; such discussions are one of the great pleasures of the reading life."

"The most important things to remember about back story are that (a) everyone has a history and (b) most of it isn’t very interesting. Stick to the parts that are, and don’t get carried away with the rest."

(less)

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May 11, 2012 Jane Stewart rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star-nonfiction, nonfiction, autobiography, how-to-write

Entertaining and engaging. I enjoyed the whole thing.

Maybe half of this is Steve’s personal life and the other half how he writes and his opinions on good writing. Steve narrates. I enjoyed listening to him.

His personal life: A lot of writing when he was young. He met his wife in college. He taught high school English for about two years when his first novel Carrie was published. After that he had many bestsellers. He was an alcoholic and drug user for a while, both of which he gave up. He was s...more

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Dec 27, 2011 Michael Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, non-fiction, teaching, writing-about-on

This book binds together three very different parts: an autobiography, the part teaching the art of writing according to Stephen King, and a description of the author's current life and work (current means in the year 2000). The book reads easily, and, though helping with nothing in improving your writing skills, I enjoyed the auto-biography of Stephen King; from it, the author looks like a nice and down-to-earth person, which is contrary to the preconceived idea I had about big-earning horror-w...more

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Sep 21, 2008 Leah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wish I could give this book more than five stars. The first 100 or so pages were highly colored anecdotes from SK's childhood (did you know Stephen King had an obese, negligent babysitter who used to sit on his head and fart? me neither). I thought the whole book was going to be like this--a personal history intertwined with the occasional tip about persistence, and that was OK with me. That's how entertaining the first bit is. It certainly makes the book worth reading even for those uninteres...more

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Nov 28, 2009 Madeline rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let's be honest: Stephen King is not one of the greatest writers of all time. He will never win a Pulitzer or a Nobel (he might win a Newberry though, if he ever decides to tap into the Kids/Young Adult market), and on the few times his books are featured in the New York Times Book Review, the reviewer will treat the book with a sort of haughty disdain, knowing their time could be better spent trashing Joyce Carol Oates.

None of this should suggest, however, that King is not qualified to write a...more Let's be honest: Stephen King is not one of the greatest writers of all time. He will never win a Pulitzer or a Nobel (he might win a Newberry though, if he ever decides to tap into the Kids/Young Adult market), and on the few times his books are featured in the New York Times Book Review, the reviewer will treat the book with a sort of haughty disdain, knowing their time could be better spent trashing Joyce Carol Oates.

None of this should suggest, however, that King is not qualified to write a book about how to write. Sure, he churns out pulpy horror stories that are proudly displayed in airport bookstores, but the man knows how to write a good story, and he's probably one of the most well-known, non-dead American authors in the world. So he must be doing something right.

I'm not the biggest fan of King's books, but I really enjoyed On Writing. He talks about writing frankly and practically, mixing tried-and-true pieces of advice (fear the adverb, never write "replied/remarked/muttered/yelled etc" when you can write "said", and don't be afraid to kill off your favorite character) with anecdotes about how some of his books came about. I especially liked the story behind Carrie: King was working as a janitor at a high school, and one night he was cleaning the girls' locker room. He asked the other janitor what that little metal dispenser box on the wall was, and the other man replied that it was for "pussy pluggers." At the same time, King had been reading about how psychic abilities often manifest in girls just beginning to go through puberty. He combined the two ideas and wrote out a couple pages that would turn into the opening of Carrie. (if you haven't read it you should.) Many thanks to King's wife, who rescued the pages from the wastebasket after King first decided that the idea was stupid and threw them away.

So, in conclusion: even if you aren't a fan of Stephen King's work, he has some very good advice about writing and storytelling, plus some good stories of his own. Sure, you can call him a sellout. But I like him.

Also, he once said in an interview that Stephenie Meyer "can't write worth a darn." You stay classy, Mr. King. (less)

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Jan 05, 2012 Navin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Writers

Shelves: non-fiction, on-writing

Beautiful. Knowledge should spread, and this book should sell. To be honest I have read no books by Mr. King other than this one. So my first apprehension was ‘if not knowing his style would take away anything from the experience of reading this book’. But then he is Mr. King, and put my prime worry to rest by putting in the most important element a book on writing can have – candid honesty – almost submissively, and this book is written from the lowest denominator.
Agreed that there are differe...more Beautiful. Knowledge should spread, and this book should sell. To be honest I have read no books by Mr. King other than this one. So my first apprehension was ‘if not knowing his style would take away anything from the experience of reading this book’. But then he is Mr. King, and put my prime worry to rest by putting in the most important element a book on writing can have – candid honesty – almost submissively, and this book is written from the lowest denominator.
Agreed that there are different ways every writer comes around in his/her writing day to the table or the pad in his/her own way. Many of my friends disagree to King’s discipline of ‘should write a 1000 words everyday’ – but then that exactly is the point. It worked for him. And as far I have know it has worked for many acclaimed writing gurus of our time and before, the list is long (Murakami, Kerouac...etc).
For writers who are just beginning to find their feet, this book is a must read. For writers floating around a little higher looking for a pole to perch – this book could be the pole. Somehow, when the younger lot trolls along this book there are going to be pages when noises in their heads would go like ‘Oh I knew this! yes!’ and then there are going to be pages when the noises might hiss “Congratulations. You are already on the way” ….
The book takes you in, and yes he talks about writing in parts beginning with the basics; story, character motivation, research etc. almost in that order. Please keep a pen around, cause in my case I ended up borrowing from not so benign people, especially while travelling.
A couple of years ago when I knew nothing about this man, I read a blog that said “come on let’s admit it Mr. King will never come close to the booker et al”. I don’t know how important or appropriate the comment was, but what I can predict is that someday there are going to be a bunch of writers around who may end up thanking Mr. King in their acceptance speech. Bravo!
(less)

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Mar 16, 2012 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bio-autobio-memoir, reference-instructional, best-of-2011, read-2011

100 percent loved this. I may even knock it up to "It was amazing" as its treasure trove of advice sinks in.

Here's the thing: Stephen King knows how to tell a story. From the early to late 80s- junior high through mid-university years- I read nearly everything he'd written. His novels are the only of the horror-genre that I've read; it's never been my cup of tea, either in print or film, but King's writing has always been a cut above. He is the literary equivalent of Bruce Springsteen. I don't...more

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Jan 03, 2010 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Stephen King Fans

Shelves: stephen-king, non-fiction, owned, 2010, reviewed, challenge-1010

I love Stephen King. I'm not IN love with him, but I love his writing, his stories, his characters, and now, his advice: "Read a lot." (4-6 hours a day, even!)

Yessir, Mr. King! Finally some advice I want to heed! OK, I should say that this is really only a small fraction of the wisdom he imparts in this book, and I neglectfully left out the "write a lot" part that immediately follows "read a lot".

But I have never actually aspired to be a writer, so the reading part is good enough for me. I adm...more I love Stephen King. I'm not IN love with him, but I love his writing, his stories, his characters, and now, his advice: "Read a lot." (4-6 hours a day, even!)

Yessir, Mr. King! Finally some advice I want to heed! OK, I should say that this is really only a small fraction of the wisdom he imparts in this book, and I neglectfully left out the "write a lot" part that immediately follows "read a lot".

But I have never actually aspired to be a writer, so the reading part is good enough for me. I admire writers, sure, some more than others, but I've never thought about writing something of my own. I never really had any ideas, and if I did, I never had any follow-through on them, so they just kind of withered and died. I did take creative writing in highschool, but that doesn't count.

But here we have a revelation of sorts. Writing doesn't have to be so stiff and planned and diagrammed! I always knew that King had a kind of "organic" (gosh, how cliche that word is becoming these days) writing style - he'd let the characters be themselves and come to life on their own, and let events develop based on these characters, and just see where the story takes him. Sure, I knew that, academically. But I still rather thought that he had a kind of road-map in his head for which direction things would go, and that he filled in the details along the way. Point A to Point B to Point C to Destination D.

It's rather inspiring to know that's not how he does it, and that his method WORKS. Because it does work. My highschool creative writing teacher would probably cry herself to sleep every night if she knew. She of the "Plot Diagramming Is Key!" mentality.

I really enjoyed the way that this book was written. It didn't feel much like reading. Most of the time, it seemed as if I was having a one-on-one with Steve himself, and he was telling his tale and giving his advice to me alone.

I also felt like this, as well as Lisey's Story, is a kind of tribute to Tabitha King, for all the ways that she kept him afloat through the years. It was a little like peeking through the window into their lives. I could see their college days, their trailer with two small babies days, their slightly bigger but still small apartment with two small kids days, their big-break day. I could see the beer cans stacking up in the bin, and the drug-covered floor in the intervention. When King described his various workstations, I could see them clearly in my mind, even though he'd give us only the barest description... but then again, it's a white rabbit with a blue 8. His description of his accident, and the aftermath especially, brought tears to my eyes because, even though I knew how close the world was to losing him that day, I didn't really KNOW until he showed me.

I read this in one sitting, which is a testament to King's readability, as I am not by nature a non-fiction reader. He just somehow makes stuff, life, interesting. Even something as seemingly mundane (even to a reader) as grammar rules, he makes it interesting. His personality and sense of humor shine throughout the book and lent it a personal feeling that other grammar and writing texts lack. Man, I wish I could have had him as a teacher. Those lucky bastards. I hope they appreciated every red mark he ever scribbled on their work.

King loves to write. That's obvious. He's a gajillionaire and needs never work another day in his life, but he still writes. This makes me happy, because I can't imagine never reading another new Stephen King book. The day he is no longer able to write will be a tragic day indeed. But, hopefully that day will be very long in coming, and King will continue to do what he does best: Tell us stories. :) (less)

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Jul 24, 2008 Alison rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: readers, writers

Shelves: ew25best

You don't have to be a fan of Stephen King's work to appreciate this memoir--part auto-biography, part instructional guide to writing.

I was most caught up in his stories recalling his early days as a writer (as a child up until he sold the paperback rights to Carrie). I also enjoyed his common sense, accessible advice for writers (up until the point when he talks about finding agents, etc.--that was actually a little boring to me, although I know he meant well).

I enjoyed his voice--casual, frie...more

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May 01, 2007 Nicola rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: writers of all sorts

Shelves: nonfiction

Stephen King’s book On Writing offers insight into how one writer grew into his style and what defines the way he works on his craft. This is not the end all and be all for all writers but simply an example of how it can be done. King also provides valuable information on some of the technicalities of writing, including a very helpful simile likening a writer’s skills to a toolbox.

One extremely helpful notion King illustrated in his book was the idea of the Ideal Reader. This is the person you h...more Stephen King’s book On Writing offers insight into how one writer grew into his style and what defines the way he works on his craft. This is not the end all and be all for all writers but simply an example of how it can be done. King also provides valuable information on some of the technicalities of writing, including a very helpful simile likening a writer’s skills to a toolbox.

One extremely helpful notion King illustrated in his book was the idea of the Ideal Reader. This is the person you have in mind when you are writing something. With every word you put down you think of how your I.R. will react to the choices you have made. King uses his wife, Tabitha, as an example of his I.R., but I believe your I.R. could be someone who you don’t even know, who may or may not exist. This person is simply there as a focal point, someone you are hoping your writing will appeal to because they, like you, are interested in what you write about. William Zinsser, in his book On Writing Well, talked about not trying to appeal to a specific audience if you have to change your natural writing inclinations in order to do so. King’s idea is that this I.R. will appreciate what you write without you needing to change to satisfy his or her desires.

Another suggestion King makes is that your first draft be with the door closed and your second draft be with the door open. This is basically the idea that the first draft you write should be pure you, nothing but your original idea and your ability to put it down on paper. You shouldn’t show it to anyone during the writing process. It is only when you’ve completed the first draft and set it aside for a few months that you should take it out and show it to the people you trust to give you their honest opinions. By showing it to other people you are opening yourself up to their comments and criticism and therefore keeping the door open. Whether or not you take every bit of their advice to heart is up to you, but at least you are keeping an open mind and are willing to hear other people’s input.

Of the more technical aspects King writes about, the idea of keeping a “toolbox” of you writer’s skills was one of the more interesting. He suggests placing basic tools like grammar and spelling on the top level, most accessible and most basic. He was very clear on not wanting to turn the book into a classroom lesson though so he kept the instruction down to a minimum.

Even more inspiring than the clear-cut points he made about the dos and don’ts of writing was the story he told of his own life, his own beginnings as a struggling young writer. This is where the book ceases to be a lesson and becomes a fairy tale. It was very exciting to read about someone who was once in the position most of my peers and I are in now, only to become published and famous. We may not all end up like Stephen King with dozens of books published, fans around the world and heaps of cash, but we see that it is possible, as much of a dream as it may be.(less)

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Mar 27, 2008 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Excellent book about writing. I'd never read King before because I'm just not a horror fan, but he can really write and he comes off as likable and funny in this part memoir/part writing guidebook.
In the first half of the book he talks about growing up and how he got into writing while the second half is devoted to practical advice on writing. I found myself highlighting passages that I wanted to remember, which I tend not to do.
I've read a couple other books more recently on writing - The War...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Alecia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2011

I don't regret buying this book at all. I'm not a big reader of memoirs, but because this was a reflection on the writing craft, I just had to get it. It was very informative with a few tips on how to hone your writing. A well crafted book.

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Apr 14, 2013 Asra Ghouse rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, must-reads

Every writer, reader, and Stephen King fan MUST read this.

This book is the holy grail for writers!!! An honest account of someone so great; it's a treat for readers, too.

There is a section about his life before he became an established writer, a section on the tricks and techniques of writing, a section on how this book came about, and finally a small piece on reading. No matter who or what you think you are, if you decide to pursue a career as a writer please make it a point to go through this...more Every writer, reader, and Stephen King fan MUST read this.

This book is the holy grail for writers!!! An honest account of someone so great; it's a treat for readers, too.

There is a section about his life before he became an established writer, a section on the tricks and techniques of writing, a section on how this book came about, and finally a small piece on reading. No matter who or what you think you are, if you decide to pursue a career as a writer please make it a point to go through this book.

Arguably, every writer (fresh or established) believes in their own tricks & techniques when it comes to writing. However, by putting forth his own tricks & techniques, King is not asking us to abandon ours'. Do remember that this is a memoir and he is being honest and helpful in sharing his secrets, which as we all know worked for him (awesomely).

Personally, I love this book because I could connect with the things King says. For someone like me this book is a way of telling, 'Hey! You're going in the right way. And here are a few tips to make it better and easy for you.'

Of course, there are many excerpts that I would like to share, however this review is not the place for that. I will share just one.

One of my favorite stories on the subject—probably more myth than truth—concerns James Joyce. According to the story, a friend came to visit him one day and found the great man sprawled across his writing desk in a posture of utter despair.

“James, what’s wrong?” the friend asked. “Is it the work?”

Joyce indicated assent without even raising his head to look at the friend. Of course it was the work; isn’t it always?

“How many words did you get today?” the friend pursued.

Joyce (still in despair, still sprawled facedown on his desk):

“Seven.”

“Seven? But James . . . that’s good, at least for you!”

“Yes,” Joyce said, ﬁnally looking up. “I suppose it is . . . but I don’t know what order they go in!”

The most favourite piece on writing for me was the section on 'The Ideal Reader'.

I think that every novelist has a single ideal reader; that at various points during the composition of a story, the writer is thinking, “I wonder what he/she will think when he/she reads this part?” For me that ﬁrst reader is my wife, Tabitha.

You can’t let the whole world into your story, but you can let in the ones that matter the most. And you should.

Call that one person you write for Ideal Reader. He or she is going to be in your writing room all the time: in the ﬂesh once you open the door and let the world back in to shine on the bubble of your dream, in spirit during the sometimes troubling and often exhilarating days of the ﬁrst draft, when the door is closed. And you know what? You’ll ﬁnd yourself bending the story even before Ideal Reader glimpses so much as the ﬁrst sentence. I.R. will help you get outside yourself a little, to actually read your work in progress as an audience would while you’re still working. This is perhaps the best way of all to make sure you stick to story, a way of playing to the audience even while there’s no audience there and you’re totally in charge.

When I write a scene that strikes me as funny (like the pieeating contest in “The Body” or the execution rehearsal in The Green Mile), I am also imagining my I.R. ﬁnding it funny. I love it when Tabby laughs out of control—she puts her hands up as if to say I surrender and these big tears go rolling down her cheeks. I love it, that’s all, fucking adore it, and when I get hold of something with that potential, I twist it as hard as I can. During the actual writing of such a scene (door closed), the thought of making her laugh—or cry—is in the back of my mind. During the rewrite (door open), the question—is it funny enough yet? scary enough?—is right up front. I try to watch her when she gets to a particular scene, hoping for at least a smile or—jackpot, baby!—that big belly-laugh with the hands up, waving in the air.

Finally, the most important thing: For any writer (or person) to be honestly successful in what they do is to be able to commit; to a person they love because if one can stay committed to another person then only God can stop them from being committed to their work. And of course, you know that once you commit to your work, success is yours.

When I’m asked for “the secret of my success” (an absurd idea, that, but impossible to get away from), I sometimes say there are two: I stayed physically healthy (at least until a van knocked me down by the side of the road in the summer of 1999), and I stayed married.

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

Whenever I couldn't decide what to read, I'd go read the dictionary. Now, I have another book on that list - King's On Writing!!!
(less)

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Mar 16, 2012 Riku Sayuj rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews

The book is great and if you like writing, it is probably a must read.

I could write a summary of the book, it is easy enough to summarize and there are only a few important points that King presents, but then I dont want you to get it for free. :) Go and read the book yourself, it is worth it.

Rude? As King says, "...if you expect to succeed as a writer, rudeness should be the second-to-least of your concerns. The least of all should be polite society and what it expects. If you intend to write...more The book is great and if you like writing, it is probably a must read.

I could write a summary of the book, it is easy enough to summarize and there are only a few important points that King presents, but then I dont want you to get it for free. :) Go and read the book yourself, it is worth it.

Rude? As King says, "...if you expect to succeed as a writer, rudeness should be the second-to-least of your concerns. The least of all should be polite society and what it expects. If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered, anyway."

Here is are a few excerpts from the book that might inspire you to take my advice -

If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.

I’m a slow reader, but I usually get through seventy or eighty books a year, mostly ﬁction. I don’t read in order to study the craft; I read because I like to read. It’s what I do at night, kicked back in my blue chair. Similarly, I don’t read ﬁction to study the art of ﬁction, but simply because I like stories. Yet there is a learning process going on. Every book you pick up has its own lesson or lessons, and quite often the bad books have more to teach than the good ones.

It’s hard for me to believe that people who read very little (or not at all in some cases) should presume to write and expect people to like what they have written, but I know it’s true. If I had a nickel for every person who ever told me he/she wanted to become a writer but “didn’t have time to read,” I could buy myself a pretty good steak dinner.

Can I be blunt on this subject? If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.

The trick is to teach yourself to read in small sips as well as in long swallows.

Talent renders the whole idea of rehearsal meaningless; when you ﬁnd something at which you are talented, you do it (whatever it is) until your ﬁngers bleed or your eyes are ready to fall out of your head. Even when no one is listening(or reading, or watching), every outing is a bravura performance, because you as the creator are happy. Perhaps even ecstatic. That goes for reading and writing as well as for playing a musical instrument, hitting a baseball, or running the four-forty. The sort of strenuous reading and writing program I advocate—four to six hours a day, every day—will not seem strenuous if you really enjoy doing these things and have an aptitude for them; in fact, you may be following such a program already.

If you feel you need permission to do all the reading and writing your little heart desires, however, consider it hereby granted by yours truly.

I love this book because it agrees with all my preconceptions. Feels nice to be on the right track. It is also quite inspiring when it comes to kicking you into putting on your writing cap.

I couldn't resist putting in this anecdote about James Joyce as well:

One of my favorite stories on the subject—probably more myth than truth—concerns James Joyce. According to the story, a friend came to visit him one day and found the great man sprawled across his writing desk in a posture of utter despair.

“James, what’s wrong?” the friend asked. “Is it the work?”

Joyce indicated assent without even raising his head to look at the friend. Of course it was the work; isn’t it always?

“How many words did you get today?” the friend pursued.

Joyce (still in despair, still sprawled facedown on his desk):

“Seven.”

“Seven? But James . . . that’s good, at least for you!”

“Yes,” Joyce said, ﬁnally looking up. “I suppose it is . . . but I don’t know what order they go in!”

Of course, the book is not intended just as a writing manual. Even if you never intend to write, the memoir is a wonderful graphic tale on King's life and like all his stories, it does not lack in imagination or entertainment.

Meanwhile, let me get down to some actual writing...(less)

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Mar 16, 2012 Nate Jordon rated it 5 of 5 stars

The best book on the craft I've ever read.

If you're a prose writer, this is a must-read. Not only does King offer sound advice, proven through his decade-spanning career of success, but he offers witticisms and personal anecdotes that allow the reader to breathe. Of the many passages I could quote, I'll quote the following as I (being an MFA graduate from a creative writing program) can wholeheartedly relate to the experience:

"What about [writing seminar] critiques, by the way? How valuable are...more

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May 16, 2009 Dana Stabenow rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kerri forced me to get this book. I almost never read books about writing. You'll notice I'm in no hurry to read it, either.

April 2 update:
Guilt finally moved this to currently reading.
Enjoyed his life story. Liked Bill Bryson's better.
He reveres The Elements of Style, okay, he's showing me something.
He thinks adverbs are the mark of a lazy writer, me, too.

His life story went fast, and now I'm bogged down in the how to write part. Too much like work. I'm going to stick to it at least until th...more Kerri forced me to get this book. I almost never read books about writing. You'll notice I'm in no hurry to read it, either.

April 2 update:
Guilt finally moved this to currently reading.
Enjoyed his life story. Liked Bill Bryson's better.
He reveres The Elements of Style, okay, he's showing me something.
He thinks adverbs are the mark of a lazy writer, me, too.

His life story went fast, and now I'm bogged down in the how to write part. Too much like work. I'm going to stick to it at least until the scene where he's laying on the side of the road thinking, "OMG, I've been run over by one of my characters," which of course I've heard about, as who hasn't.

April 3:

Okay, time to stop whining. This is a good book. It is in fact (oh, he'd smack my hand for that phrase) three good books, or novellas, if such a term may be used to describe non-fiction. The first is his life story, the second is a primer on the craft of writing, and the third is the account of his close encounter of the van-crazy-guy-and-Rottweiler kind. The first is entertaining as hell, the third is entertaining and scary as hell, and the middle section, the section on craft is honest, practical and hard-nosed as hell. And also entertaining.

I like everything he said about craft because I agree with all of it. "The best form of dialogue attribution is said." "You should avoid the passive tense." "I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs." Simple, direct, absolute, I'd go farther than King and say that these are rules that should be tattooed backwards on the foreheads of all beginning authors so they see them every time they look at themselves in the mirror.

What I really like here is that he takes craft so seriously, because he loves it. He's in love with writing, with storytelling, with the written word, in love even with the way it looks on the page. He cares that we do the best job we can. "I don't believe a story or a novel should be allowed outside the door of your study or writing room unless you feel confident that it's reasonably reader-friendly."

What he said. Thanks, Kerri.(less)

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Dec 22, 2008 Katharine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: wannabe authors

Shelves: on-writing, read-2008

Well now. I have never read any of Stephen King's work, and after reading this... well, now I don't really want to.

He came across as a pretentious sod and honestly, I'm put off by his tone and how he ... well, he really sounded condescending in many parts of this. I hesitate at saying such things over an author who everyone else seems to love, but... well, I'm just saying 'What I Learned from this book.'

It has some good parts, yes, but the main thing I agreed with him on is the one thing almost...more Well now. I have never read any of Stephen King's work, and after reading this... well, now I don't really want to.

He came across as a pretentious sod and honestly, I'm put off by his tone and how he ... well, he really sounded condescending in many parts of this. I hesitate at saying such things over an author who everyone else seems to love, but... well, I'm just saying 'What I Learned from this book.'

It has some good parts, yes, but the main thing I agreed with him on is the one thing almost everyone else does not agree with, and that is that plotting makes writing dull and boring. Like The King, I write to find out what happens next and to tell myself the story. ...Whereas few others agree - they simply can't write without plotting it out first. Does that make this a moot point? Who knows.

I've heard most of his tips before, or I've worked them out for myself already, and I've only been writing since '99. Write first with the door closed, edit with the door open... ...Wow, really? How clever.

I did like how he makes the point that 'If you don't have the time to read, then you don't have the time or tools to write.' because I feel that is true, however he only sounded scathing and bitchy saying it like that. It's not always true, either. I have a friend who can write quite well and he's read only five books this year - all written by Stephenie Meyer. So there you go.

Another thing I guess I agree with is that one must write a few thousand a day, if they want to get better at their craft and keep their idea fresh and thick - but that's another thing people often disagree with me about - so again, moot point?

I wanted to like this, I really did. Having never read any of his work before I wanted to discover a whole new author to collect madly and devour, and now I'm only glad that I missed out on the hype. He really got on my nerves more than once, but I accept that is my problem - after all, he has a load more fans than I do.

It has it's good points. I'm glad I read it, but I won't be rushing out to get anything else by him just yet. ...Maybe for a very long, very boring plane ride...(less)

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Nov 01, 2007 Gay rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone who writes

This book is a revelation as well as a confirmation of what I have always believed. If you work at something you will do it. King, like many writers, wanted to write from the get go and he didn't let anything or any comment throw him off. While I believe the gazette that he and his brother produced was advanced for their ages, I also know that it wasn't necessarily brilliant. It was kids at play doing what kids like to do...pretend they are what they want to be. Or not. I have a memory of playin...more This book is a revelation as well as a confirmation of what I have always believed. If you work at something you will do it. King, like many writers, wanted to write from the get go and he didn't let anything or any comment throw him off. While I believe the gazette that he and his brother produced was advanced for their ages, I also know that it wasn't necessarily brilliant. It was kids at play doing what kids like to do...pretend they are what they want to be. Or not. I have a memory of playing with a friends old "operator" toy in the enclosed back porch of their farmhouse.

The room was the 1950s version of a modern family room with the added beauty of a forest outside the glassed walls--three sides! And Susie had a metal telephone board complete with plugs on rubbery wires that pulled out of a console to be pushed into a hole with a beeping light to connect one caller to the other. I loved it. Sitting there pretending to talk to I-can't-remember-who--my experience at that age was no farther afield than 10 miles of corn--I felt like a grown up. And an important one too. My job was to connect everyone in town with everyone else. Without me and my little headphone and plugs, no one could use the phone. But I didn't grow up being an operator. I didn't know what I wanted to do. Everything sounded like fun to me and I played at it all, nurse, teacher, librarian. And writer. But I didn't know any writers. That job didn't seem like a regular job. It seemed more like a gift. You were born with a little money on the moors of England with a strange depressive father. You had little to do but play with your sisters and brother. Your play was to make plays which led to writing plays which led to writing period.

That wasn't my experience. I played at writing to but there were so many other things to play at too.

With King, he had a brother and between them, I'm sure they role-played a million different things boys play, but what stuck was writing, at least for Steven. He kept at it. He was not to be deterred. His play was writing and he just wanted to do it and did.

I began writing as a serious endeavor and that always hung over me. It's taken me most of my life to accept writing as being the same as playing "newspaper writer, editor, publisher." Or even operator. You have to give into it. Love it. Play all the time at it. And if you do that, eventually it will become what you do.(less)

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Jul 03, 2007 AJ Griffin rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: someone who understandably assumed stephen king sucked at pretty much everything

Everything I've ever heard about this book was prefaced with something along the lines of "I know Stephen King kind of sucks, but..." and that seems pretty fair to me. I'm not a big (or, rather, not at all) fan of horror shit, and even though I grew up living about an hour away from the dude I never felt compelled to anything of his (though he does have a cool gate at his house)

I guess I borrowed this from someone, as I no longer have it. It was a long time ago, but I remember getting the impres...more

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May 24, 2007 steffie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Gunslingers

I have not been into Stephen King since I was 11 years old. I read The Shining in one day after swiping it from a friend's mom's bookcase (I did this a LOT as a kid. Hello, The Executioner's Song and The Book of Lists!). Soon after that, I got Christine, The Dead Zone, and Carrie for Christmas. I think I read two of those books and then gave up on Stephen King entirely, but somehow got pegged as a Stephen King fan for years afterwards by siblings who assumed I wanted nothing more than MORE Steph...more

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May 28, 2009 Bonnie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-books, on-writing

This was a very interesting read. I was a little surprised at how much I got out of it.

King divides this book into three parts. The first explains how he came to be the writer he is today. The second deals specifically with writing. The final part is about the accident he had in 1999. That the accident happened when he was in the middle of writing this book explains why the tone changed half-way through.

I have read many books “On Writing” so although I got some good advice out of it, I wouldn’...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Mairi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: all-time-favorites, my-home-bookshelf, reviewed, to-read-again, español, lovecraftian, non-fiction

Después de leer esta obra de King puedo decir con seguridad que es uno de mis autores favoritos, y tal vez ésta sea una lectura obligatoria para aquel que quiera hacer de la escritura su vida.

Cuando encuentras autores como éste, que te reflejan, no puedes hacer más que seguirlos.
"Han habido momentos de mi vida en que escribir ha sido un pequeño acto de fe, como escupirle a la cara a la desesperación. Escribir no es la vida, pero creo que puede ser una manera de volver a la vida" S.King

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Dec 01, 2008 Christie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone that want to become a writer

Recommended to Christie by: Ms. Levy

This book was helpful to read because it shows that someone who has nothing really can have it all. Being able to free write opens up doors that never seemed to exist. Emotions and feelings can flow freely because they are disguised behind character names and images. Anyone that is able to write should write when given the opportunity. The more writing that is done the better writer you beome.
This book starts out as a biography on Stephen King's life from when he was a little boy to his years...more

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May 06, 2013 Lav rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I want to be a novelist. It's been my dream since the day my mom suggested that I write my own books, since I was constantly reading and not doing much else. I used to think it was a pipe dream, but recently I've decided to take it seriously, and it's the only thing I want to work toward. This book inspired me. It's given me hope and it's also given me more drive, and it contains a lot of advice that I'm sure will be invaluable to me throughout the rest of my life as a writer.

What I Liked

The b...more I want to be a novelist. It's been my dream since the day my mom suggested that I write my own books, since I was constantly reading and not doing much else. I used to think it was a pipe dream, but recently I've decided to take it seriously, and it's the only thing I want to work toward. This book inspired me. It's given me hope and it's also given me more drive, and it contains a lot of advice that I'm sure will be invaluable to me throughout the rest of my life as a writer.

What I Liked

The beginning of this book wasn't what I expected. I didn't get this book from the library thinking I would be reading about Stephen King's life. I thought I was going to be reading a book that would teach me how to be a better writer. But while reading about Stephen's childhood and his struggles in the early part of his career, I realized that they aren't irrelevant details, and that it was about writing and it was teaching me to be a better writer. Everyone is shaped by their past and that shapes their writing as well. I'm not sure if that discovery was intentionally planted by Stephen King, or if that's what I pulled out of it, but I thought it was perfect.

The writing advice was brilliant. He didn't preach or talk about writing techniques, like a lot of writing books do. He pointed out that writing is different for everyone and it's hard to explain what works and what doesn't. But he talks about how writers need to work hard and write everyday, and the importance of editing. He talks about pulling ideas from your passions and he talks about reading and paying attention to the things going on around you. It's the best advice I've ever read about writing, and maybe that's because I don't read about writing very often, but I love how honest it is.

The thing I loved about this book is that it talks about how important writing is, and how writing should be something that you love. You should never feel down on yourself for spending time writing and it's not a trivial job. And you should love writing. It should be an exhilarating process most of the time, or you won't be able to do it. He talks about times he had to force himself to write, and how starting is the hardest part, but overall, writing should be fun.

What I Didn't Like

There isn't much about this book that I didn't like. It did feel a little disjointed in parts, but given the nature of the book, it wasn't a big deal.

I don't agree with his rule of not showing anyone what he's written until he is finished with the first draft. I like to show my friends the novels I'm working on as soon as I finish a chapter, so I can get their feedback. And maybe he's right about that being harmful to the writing process, because I've never tried it the other way, and he knows a lot more about writing than I do. I think it's just one of those things that's probably different for everyone.

Overall
This book was inspiring, entertaining, and extremely helpful. I was never bored while I was reading it and I think that if I take his advice to heart, I will be a better writer because of it. It opened some doors in my mind and gave me a perspective on writing that I've never had before. I think that everyone who writes or wants to write should read this book. (less)

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Jun 18, 2012 Adam Roan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"A Memoir of the Craft" stands out because it includes both King's personal affair with writing and his own practical life. The book is outstanding: it does more than a self-help book. Many self-help books I read are tedious because they presume a status that you are, in fact, an idiot. And many authors of self-help books are under the naive assumption that idiots can't contemplate when they can contemplate. This book fills that gap.

Full of veracity and highly-honed/refined skills to make any wr...more

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Nov 10, 2010 Greta is Erikasbuddy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've been wanting to read this book for maybe a year now. .... Maybe shorter... but probably pretty close to a year.

What stopped me?

Well, I've never been much for book-learning and I kinda figured this book would intimidate me.

But it's by Stephen King! Why would he want to intimidate you?

Ok, it's not that he'd intimidate me... it's more like I felt my little simple mind wouldn't be able to understand it. I will be the first one to admit that I am in NO WAY The smartest tool in the shack or the d...more

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Jan 26, 2009 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone who wants a clearer understanging of writing. Anyone who is or wants to be a writer.

Shelves: memoirs, non-fiction

I liked this book a lot. I have always admired Stephen King's way with words even tho I don't always like his stories. But it was illuminating to read how he goes about writing. And I think I have a much clearer understanding on why some books are stilted, some are good, and some are great. Maybe I can now better enunciate my thoughts about an authors writings when I write a review. I also think, at times, I will be reading with a thought to how the writer has actually been able to convey their...more

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May 19, 2012 Cass rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, 2012, books-i-own, professional-and-reference

Dear Stephen King,

Thank you for this book. I raise my hand as one of the thousands upon thousands of people who dream of writing a good story.

I devoured your books when I was younger, they scared me but I loved it. The first book I read was IT. Half-way through the book I tore it into three pieces, and buried it in my room. It was several weeks before I dug it out and continued reading.

Now I read the blurbs and think they sound great, but I can never read much more than the first chapter. I sq...more

1 like · like · see review

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About Stephen King

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his parents separated when Stephen was a toddler, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family...more Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his parents separated when Stephen was a toddler, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of the elderly couple. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.

Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and then Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.

He and Tabitha Spruce married in January of 1971. He met Tabitha in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University of Maine at Orono, where they both worked as students. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.

Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many of these were later gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.

In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching high school English classes at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.(less)

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