Immensely helpful and illuminating to any aspiring writer, this special edition of Stephen King’s critically lauded, million-copy bestseller shares the experiences, habits, and convictions that have shaped him and his work.
“Long live the King” hailed Entertainment Weekly upon 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 childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999 and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Scribner; Anniversary edition (July 6, 2010)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
Reviews
Reviews
"If you read it, you'll know what I mean. I do not believe I have ever read a book this length in three days, much less one that covers the technical basics of writing. I've been toying with the idea of writing, and it was as if Mr. King was in the room having a conversation with me about my concerns and fears as I consider to embark on this wonderful adventure. Even if you've never wanted to write yourself, I still recommend this book as he tells a beautiful story inbetween."
- A. Staebell
"I was very hesitant to read this book, because most books I have read on how to write are boring and out of touch to what writers really go through. But "On writing" is different. After a very frustrating time working on the second draft of my book, my IR ( my husband) made me promise to read this book. I wish I had read it a year Ago! The simple instruction, that King offers, hit me right between the eyes! Finally, I found someone who knew what I was going through! His instruction, has helped me to forge on and finish my second draft! I only wish that he would update his thoughts on the changes the book industry is going through right now Mr. King, write a second addition! And thanks for sharing your wisdom!"
- Djuanamama
"Not surprisingly, the best parts of Stephen King's foray into nonfiction are the stories. Whether a childhood memory painted in a few paragraphs or a chapter-long explication of when and how he started writing, these vignettes are vivid, well-organized, and memorable masterful examples of the craft. When it comes to the expository sections, however, the writing becomes strained as he himself readily admits, toward the end and disjointed. His arguments aren't convincing, his examples are weak, and he occasionally seems to contradict himself. Still, I enjoyed the company of this book. Reading it is like having a nice long companionable chat with a dear old friend. And it's so upbeat and encouraging, it just might inspire you to take up writing, or to write better, after all."
- Ben Mattlin
"This is one of the very best books about writing I have ever read. I recommend it to anyone who likes words, writes for a living, wants to write. Whatever. His belief that writing is about telepathy is absolutely brilliant. His novels scare me to death but they lured my reluctant reader students into reading, for which I am eternally grateful. I adore his politics. I'm working on achieving at least a little of his discipline."
- Nancy D. Solomon
"I really felt compelled to post a review of this book. This is actually the only Stephen King book I have ever read. I bought it because I have been trying to read books on the craft in writing in order to be able to start writing books. This book was mentioned a lot in other writing books, so I figured I had to get it. Of course, I had heard of Stephen King(who hasn't?) but I just had never taken the time to read any of his books. Basically, this book smokes every other book on writing craft in every way. The funny thing is that only probably half of this book is tips on writing. The other half is mainly personal stories and recollections from Stephen's life, particularly his childhood. The reason this book is so much better than other writing books is twofold. The first reason is that Mr. King is one of most successful writers in the world. Other writing books that are out there are not written by people who have had the kind of success he has had, at least for the most part. Reading this book is like reading a book by Michael Jordan on how to excel at basketball. It is straight from the horse's mouth. The other reason this book is so effective is that it cuts straight to the point. He crams a lifetime of tips into probably 100 pages, and they are enjoyable pages to read. He really did an amazing job of communicating a lot of stuff that I would imagine is hard to put down in words. Artistic, somewhat abstract stuff. Writing is an art. Stephen King is successful because he is a world-class artist who knows how to extract the best from himself. I feel liberated as a writer after having read this book. I feel like I can take his advice and let it be my guide for the rest of my career without having to constantly worry about whether I am doing things improperly. Thank you Mr. King. I owe you one."
- Dan Leigh
About The Author
Stephen King is the author of more than fifty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes The Bill Hodges Trilogy, Revival, and Doctor Sleep. His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller as well as the Best Hardcover Book Award from the International Thriller Writers Association. He is the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
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