From the Bookshelf of The Insecure Writer's Support Group Book Club…

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Stephen King

Start date: December 1, 2019

Finish date: January 31, 2020

Why we're reading this: Our Dec 2019/Jan 2020 book. Discussion Fun Day will be January 22, 2020.
[close] Our Dec 2019/Jan 2020 book. Discussion Fun Day will be January 22, 2020.

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Jan 18, 2020 Toi Thomas rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction, reviewed, rated, educational, adult, writing

I enjoyed reading this book, which says a lot since I struggle to read memoirs and writing skill books. The first part of this book is the memoir portion that explains how Stephen King became the writer he is. The second part is filled with his insights to help young or aspiring writers.

Learning about King’s childhood helped to explain where and how the ideas for his haunting stories come from. I appreciate that King’s story isn’t one of overnight success, but one that involves a lifelong love I enjoyed reading this book, which says a lot since I struggle to read memoirs and writing skill books. The first part of this book is the memoir portion that explains how Stephen King became the writer he is. The second part is filled with his insights to help young or aspiring writers.

Learning about King’s childhood helped to explain where and how the ideas for his haunting stories come from. I appreciate that King’s story isn’t one of overnight success, but one that involves a lifelong love of writing where hard work and skill paid off. I love that he advocates reading as a major component to being a good writer.

I didn’t agree with everything King offered in the area of writing skills, but since he’s Stephen King and much further along in his career than I am, I can at least respect his ideas and find value in them. He praises his ability to write without too much plotting, but I think that’s more of a personality trait than a writing rule or even a guideline. Some writers will be plotters and others will be pantsers, simple as that.

At one point, King says that theme develops from good stories and not the other way around. I can see some truth in this. A good story will have engaging themes in it by the nature of it being a good story, but I don’t agree that a good story can’t start with a theme. I have written many stories with a theme in mind first. While I don’t have the accolades of King, I do believe other highly acclaimed writers have likely, at some point, wanted to say something or emphasize a theme and then created a great story to put that message out into the world.

I think I get what King is saying here, though. I feel that he doesn’t want writers to limit themselves to only writing stories when there’s a theme to capitalize on. King states that he feels writing should be about writing, the desire to write, and the love of the story. If you are fortunate enough to make a good living off of it great.

I admire that he is honest and unapologetic about who he is and what he writes, even it if offends someone. He never sets out to offend people, it just happens sometimes, but isn’t that the case with anyone who shares creative work with the public.

I love his lists of reading recommendations at the end of the book.

I was not King’s number one fan when I started this book and I’m still not, but I do respect him more than I did before. I don’t have to be his number one fan to like the stories I like and not like the ones I don’t like. I respect him as a great writer regardless.

Highly recommended to writers at various stages, memoir enthusiasts, and fans of Stephen King. ...more

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Oct 31, 2017 Louise rated it it was amazing

Simply the wisest and most enjoyable book on writing that I have ever read.
Stephen King's best counsel : “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.” ...more

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