Interesting but not his best
Stephen King's book Carrie and The Shining were the first grown up books I was allowed to read. I was twelve. So, Mr. King has a special place in my heart.
I am a fledgling writer and I knew I had to read anything written by Mr. King concerning the craft of writing. However, I came away with only one piece of advice from him and that is "Write alot and read alot." I kind of figured this out for myself.
If you want to learn a little personal history about Stephen King, read his book. But if you want information on writing, look elsewhere.
great memoir, less than great writing advice
Stephen King's On Writing is part memoir and part advice and observations on the craft and business of writing. I confess to not having read any of King's fiction, although my mother was a great fan, so I know what most of his novels were about, second hand. There's no question that Stephen King is one of the most successful popular writers of the 20th century, so an opportunity to read his thoughts on writing is not to be missed.
On Writing is not a textbook or workbook on the craft of writing, but instead a very personal reflection from the perspective of its author. This is both its strength and weakness.
If you learn by example, the memoir section has a lot to say about how to keep your readers engaged. King shares ... Read More
Learn the Craft
Stephen King may be thought of as a hack, but one doesn't get that idea after reading about what he thinks of his profession. The book is chock full of good, simple, insights that will help the writer convey meaning in every word. The following are the best points he makes.
NEVER WASTE WORDS: Every word should have a meaning that conveys something to the plot. There is very little patience for flowery language or tangents that have little to do with the main flow.
SHOW, DON'T TELL: What every lit major already knows, but very few manage to ever put into practice well.
AVOID ADVERBS: I somewhat disagreed with this one, as I believe they have more value than he thinks. However, I agree the word wistfully ... Read More
A New Stephen King appears . . .
I read Stephen King's "On Writing" quite some time ago. For one: I have never enjoyed Stephen King's novels. However, "On Writing" brings forth a new Stephen King, one who knows how to teach his craft of writing. I thoroughly enjoyed On Writing and recommend it for would be writers, writers, and certainly for readers who need to know how writers go about becoming writers.
High praise for "On Writing." Written well, and truthful. Maybe King should stick to non-fiction!!
More than just the master of horror!
I have been a fan of Stephen King since I was a teenager. On Writing give the reader both an inside look into his rise to fame and some very sound writing advice. I had been an aspiring writer since my teens as well, but I could never get it quite right. My scripts had a good scene or two, but then they felt forced. Then I read "On Writing," and King's method of developing characters made perfect sense to me. Every writer could find not only writing tips but also inspiration in On Writing.
Now I'm a published author with an award-winning book (Rowan of the Wood), and it is in part due to what I learned from On Writing.
