Steven King's ON WRITING is part memoir, part Elements of Style; it's also one of the most modest, generous, thoughtful, and succinct books on fiction writing I've ever read. Most how-to books on writing are full of blarney and mustard; Steve's book focuses on a few important stylistic and structural insights, and makes their value clear. The book also sheds useful light on the role writing has played in his own life, and shines light on his struggle with "the drink." And it winds up with a harrowing re-telling of his awful 1998 accident, and the way he managed to find his way back to the world, mainly due to the love of his wife Tabby--and the muse itself. A short, brilliant, clarifying work. It brought me new appreciation for all of King's fiction, and sent me immediately into re-reading his work. Which means, guess what, right now, I'm deep into THE STAND.... hope I don't "come down" with anything....