On Writing by Stephen King
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Book Reviews of On Writing
Book Review: The Subtitle Says it All
Summary: 5 Stars
The first chunk of this book tells King's early struggles in a delightful and often inspiring way. From his mother's early encouragement of his stories (and telling him that he was better than a copying hack)to his first novel that his wife, "Tabby," pulled out of the trash and encouraged him to finish. The problem he was having with the novel was that the main character, "Carrie," was a painful POV for him to immerse himself into. BTW, that manuscript that he was ready to toss brought in 400k in book rights back in the 70's. That part of the story, him going from crappy jobs trying to keep his family afloat and then having enough money to write full time, darn near brought tears to my eyes. The man also acknowledges that he owes it all to his wife, Tabby, his ever faithful "ideal reader."
During the first piece, we find out that his brother, Dave, who seems to be trying to find his one "true north," always gets King to be a part of his latest "super duper" projects. Reading about Dave, one may notice the similarity between King and "Bow Wow" in his short story, "The End of the Whole Mess." Hell, one notices a lot of bits of his childhood are wrapped up within his stories when you read this book.
In the last piece, although it doesn't give you the nuts and bolts of writing fiction as there are plenty of other books dedicated to that, he does give his opinion on the essential process and how he manages it. As he freely admits, his personal process may not be for everyone as many writers have different opinions on things such as drafts, character profiles, and the like, his opinions are most definitely helpful as an inspiration to those who think they may find joy in the art and craft of fiction writing. As King puts it, a fiction writer must dedicate themselves to both reading and writing in order to succeed and I would suggest this be one of the many books that you add to your library. He makes it worth your valuable time and money even if you are not a big fan of his fiction. Personally, I have ALWAYS loved his short stories.
And yes, I am what King calls "constant reader." Enjoy the read :)
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And if you read this review, Mr. King, I would like to give you my opinion on why "The Stand" is an all time favorite of some of your fans. The stand is unique in that it is several short stories that converge to create a novel. The pacing, the POV changes, and the combination thereof are brilliant. Of course, I'm sure it helped that you "killed [some of] your darlings" to make it manageable. You told the damn stories and you did it well :)
Book Review: A Gift Worth A King's Ransom
Summary: 5 Stars
Stephen King's "how to" book, "On Writing..A Memoir Of The Craft", is not your average, run of the mill "how to" book. It reads like one of his novels. What I mean by that, is that it is a page turner. It is the most captivating refrence book I have ever read. If you have ever even had any kind of inkling that you may like to write, or if you already know you love it, by the time you finish this read, you'll be highly motivated to do so. And what's more, you'll have a great idea of how to get started, and with some great advice from one of the masters. The book is geared mostly toward the writer of fiction, but even non-fiction writers will benefit greatly.
Mr King, opens with information on his own background. His memories of specific events from his life that inspired the type of stories he writes(wait till you read where the inspiration for Carrie came from), were enlighting and inspiring. Then on to the "Tool Box" section. The mechanics. Vocabulary, Grammar, Dialouge, and other very important tools of the craft are discussed at length. In "On Writing" you'll get lots of creative advice as well as practical. Read, read, read and write, write write is something King can't seem to say enough. He has even given the start of a story for you to add on to.
He tries to answer the FAQs, and gives some pretty good information on finding an agent and getting published. He also includes a list of books that will give you a nice background for different writing styles.
You can also find this book here:On Writing - so check for best availabiity and deal.
Stephen King's love of writing is contagious. He has given the budding writer a gift. It's a gift worth a King's Ransom....go for it!....Laurie
also recommended:Pulp Writer: Twenty Years in the American Grub Street -
The Writer Within You: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing and Publishing in Your Retirement Years -
and - The Spirit of Writing: Classic and Contemporary Essays Celebrating the Writing Life (New Consciousness Reader)
Book Review: Stephen King Style
Summary: 5 Stars
When one of the best selling authors writes a book "on writing" you make it a part of your collection. Stephen King is a name synonymous with fictional horror writing. But he also wrote a non-fiction book "On Writing" published in 2000. I had to read it. I was not disappointed.
"On Writing" is part memoir and part how I write. It is delivered in Stephen King opinionated style as only he can write it. Stephen King gives tidbits of his life before hitting it "big" and actually getting paid to write. I did notice a lot of beer was included in his early years. Tall boys and writing what a combination! It is nice to read about a very successful author and how it all started for him. They called him Stevie back in those days, but today he is Mr. King. Well, Stephen anyway.
Stephen King started writing this book in December of 1997. It was published in 2000. For him it was a long process. He had to put it in a drawer to hide or marinate, which is not a bad thing he explains. There was a well-documented accident in 1999. Stephen writes what he accounts about the accident. (What he remembers anyway.) I say he is a lucky, lucky man. Stephen's writing account about this accident is well worth the price of the book.
Stephen King gives plenty of his opinion on other authors. Good and bad. But gives the reasons why he feels so. "Great authors are not made, but born" Stephen says. Good authors can be made, like himself. I think he categorizes himself in the good section.
The majority of his writing process is credited to William Strunk's "Elements of Style." Translated with these statements, "The adverb is not your friend" and "It's always about the story." These statements are interjected into many sections of the book. Writer wannabes can take heed to many of his writing habits, I said slowly.
Stephen compares his process of writing to a toolbox. There are many levels in this toolbox. Drawers can be taken out and interchanged. But there should be at least four levels to your toolbox. The top levels include vocabulary and grammar. Style is next. The next levels could include pace, narration, description and dialogue. And many more levels, depending on the author's need. Stephen gives his view on each of these levels. You ask, what about plot? Well, Stephen's opinion on plot is included in the book. Like his novels, I can't give it all away in one review or book!
The most important advice, "Read a lot, write a lot."
Book Review: Read THIS REVIEW!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book never reading a stephen king book in my life. But I am a writer, and I figured that if he is the number one novel seller of all time, there must be a reason.
In the beggining of the book he talks mostly about his early life. About how he started writing and how his mother thought he should have a "backup proffession", about his drinking and drugs (yes! can you believe it?) and then it leads into the on writing part, which explains in great perfection what it takes to be a writer. I thought this book was PERFECT. In the end he even tells you a list of books to read that he liked, and he talks about his accident and writing and afjkl;as;fjkl it's just wonderful. If your reading this review your either one of two people.
TO THE FANS: If your a fan of his work, I definitely think you should read this book. Knowing about how he grew up and his background, about his drinking and wife, about how he didn't give up, is an awesome story, and you'll feel like you really met the real stephen king behind the books.
TO THE WRITERS: DEFINITE definite definite must buy. I have two or three pages with quotes from the book on the walls of my room, and every day I read these and remember to keep writing. Before I read this I was an idealist, I always wanted to be a writer and would write here and there, I had a book I had been working on for three years going nowhere, and I remember reading a part where he says he tries to get 2000 words a day, and that he suggests to new readers to write at least 1000 words a day. At the time I thought this was impossible, but over reading it and following his directions, and reading it over and over, I am now on a new fantastic novel and I write about 2-3000 words a day and feel incomplete if I don't do so. My writing has never been better. This book is like the writing bible, I refer to it frequently and when I feel down about my writing or start to stray, I read two or three highlighted passages and I'm already back, reading and writing again.
I've now read three of his fiction books, and plan to read all of his works. I think there is no other book that can help a writer, and no other book to help you (if your a fan) to know the REAL stephen king. :) 10 out of five. I know you don't know me or where I live, or what I look like, that all I represent to you is a review on the internet on amazon, but I'm telling you this, BUY IT. You won't regret it. Especially if your a writer...
Book Review: Stands out from all the 'how to' writing books
Summary: 5 Stars
I've only read one Stephen King novel-and it isn't in his usual genre, It was a competently written variation on the detective story: Dolores Claiborne. HOWEVER, this book on writing is excellent in every respect. What makes the book different from many 'how to' books on writing is that he places his development as a writer and his writing career within the context of his autobiography. You learn that King, like all writers, are human beings first, then writers. You learn that writing is not some paranormal or preternatural pursuit. Best of all, you learn about writing from all angles--how it grows out of a life--and it could be any life. You don't need an M.F.A.; you don't need writer colonies, you don't need workshops, you don't need a stack of creative writing books. My favorite line in the book is "Write any goddamn thing you want." That may not result in polished prose, but you can learn from it because it came from you. In essence, you become your own writing teacher by critiquing your own writing and studying other writers. King weaves his writing life with his own autobiography--growing up working class in a single-parent household. What impressed me about the tone and perspective of the book is that King seems to have a similar philosophy to Hemingway's (although not the same style), which is that a writer should have a built in shi_ detector. It could also be that he was writing at a place (Maine) and a time when there weren't media blitzes on writers and writing and you could just have your own writing voice and not feel the need to be au courant. And even though he's made a lot of money, King never thought he'd make a lot of money. He relates how when his first full-length manuscript was sold(Carrie), he didn't have a phone. Finally, and this is a plug for the hard scrapple working class life, maybe Stephen King had a vision of what he wanted to write and was undaunted because like many who see the world through the lens of the working class, he wasn't taken in by ephemeral ideas of the romantic or the celebrity life as being roads to redemption. If you think studying Finnegan's Wake for ten years makes you erudite or raving about the Bloomsbury group puts you a cut above the hoi poloi or you are proud of the fact that your tastes and abilities in art reflect the post-modern condition, this just might be a book to remind you that writing is hard work, just as life itself is hard work--famous or not.