On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft Paperback – 2 Jun. 2020

Stephen King's "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" is undeniably the most practical, no-nonsense guide encompassing all facets of the writing process. Beyond offering encouragement to aspiring writers, the book provides invaluable insights and techniques for honing the craft.King, a prolific author with over 200 novels and 64 published ones. What captivates readers is not just his literary achievements but his humor, resilience in the face of life's challenges, and profound love. He loves writing, his wife, his children, and the world. This love, reflected in his works, conveys the message that as long as there is kindness, love, and courage in the world, there's a chance for a triumphant comeback even in the most challenging circumstances.Whether you're uncertain about pursuing writing or in need of motivation to continue, "On Writing" is a must-read. It's not just a guide; it's a source of joy and warmth. King's humor, unique to his style, provides a delightful reading experience. In essence, the book transcends its role as a writing guide; it's a journey into the heart and soul of one of literature's most beloved authors.If you're seeking inspiration, laughter, or a glimpse into the warmth of the human experience, "On Writing" is an indispensable read. The book is a testament to the fact that, as Stephen King himself exemplifies, writing is not just a craft; it's an expression of love and resilience in the face of life's complexities.

This a really useful and entertaining read. It's inspiring how great writers and natural storytellers like Stephen King can produce non-fiction that is as gripping and relatable as their best selling novels.This is an honest account of the writing process - don't expect any miracle tips and you won't be disappointed.

Every January I start to look inward - thinking about what I achieve next year, and what I need to change to make it happen. Every year I come up against the same challenge: I want to be a fiction writer, but I don't write fiction. At all.I tell myself I don't have enough time. Sure, I'm the greatest living novelist to never write a novel, if only I could get time to write the damn thing. Which is why I reached for Stephen King's On Writing. One of the most successful writers in history must know something about his craft, right?Split into two parts, On Writing first tells the story of what made Stephen King a writer. At times hilarious and moving, but always honest, the first section had me laughing out loud (when his older brother tricks him into wiping his ass with Poison Ivy), marveling at his work ethic ("By the time I was fourteen the nail in my wall would no longer support the weight of the rejection slips impaled upon it"), and amazed at his success.I also liked his writing.Now. Here's a strange thing: he's one of the most successful authors of all time, and I hadn't read a single one of Stephen King's books. I pride myself on the eclectic nature of the books I read, and yet I've not so much as flipped to the back cover of the Shining, or even grazed the spine of Carrie. Horror isn't a genre I'd pick up without some serious prompting, so maybe I needed a book like this to show me all the great stuff I was missing out on (straight afterwards I went out and bought a collection of his short stories, so it likely won't be a problem for long). But King's success is no accident - this cat can write.The second section is Uncle Stevie's how-to-guide for writers - a kind of framework for thinking about how you get the words down on the page, what words they should be ("The road to hell is paved with adverbs"), and getting rid of the words that don't belong ("To write is human, to edit is divine").It's this framework that separates On Writing from the rest of the pack; it helps you understand how the small stuff fits in to the big stuff - it reminds you how narrative, dialogue, character, sentence, and paragraph work together to create the whole story, without getting bogged down in the details for too long. I've not read anything else that paints the whole picture in a way that On Writing does, nor anything that fills you with the confidence to sit down in front of a blank page.Inspirational is what it is.Time to boot up the laptop and pop the kettle on again I think...

A great read with sage advice.

This book is certainly great for any one who would attempt writing. It makes the task less daunting.

Not his usual genre, but Steven King has written 'On Writing', a book that will also be an invaluable resource for writers.

Very interesting background to a famous writer

I confess I've read very little of Stephen King's fiction. I dislike horror, and I've been trying to work up the energy to start The Dark Tower series (it is very long). Besides a few short stories, this is the first King book I've read.It seems a strange place to start; a book on writing by an author I don't read. But this book's reputation precedes it. If you want to write, you have to read this book.It is the most unpretentious book on writing that I've ever seen. So much of the advice is common sense or obvious, and King states it simply. He also does not hide how hard it is to live by.The result is revelatory. The reputation is totally justified.

I must have read everything Stephen King wrote when I was a kid (IT remains one of my all-time favourite works for fiction), so it was a delight to read On Writing and learn how he's able to consistently develop such incredible ideas into beloved stories.An easy and insightful read written by a master storyteller, and an absolute must-read for anybody who aspires to write for a living.

EXCELENTE

Livro honesto, de um excelente escritor. Vale a pena a compra.

In his seminal memoir/writing guide On Writing, Stephen King allows readers an unprecedented glimpse into the experiences and disciplines underlying his prolific career through over five decades. Published in 2000, the book interweaves King’s personal story of becoming one of history’s most successful authors with generous wisdom for aspiring writers. It chronicles his journey from unknown writer subsisting on meager earnings to literary superstardom in intimate detail.With heartfelt humor and humility, King outlines the crucial life events, raw talents, and relentless work ethic that enabled him to craft over 60 revered horror and suspense novels, sell over 350 million books, and achieve pop culture icon status. While acknowledging individual creative brilliance cannot be replicated, On Writing insightfully demystifies Stephen King’s methods and reveals his approach to the craft as an act of joy and discovery. Beyond concrete tips, it captures King’s sincerely held belief in writing fiction as a spiritual calling that confers lifelong meaning, not mere acclaim.The memoir portion of On Writing tracks Stephen King’s development from childhood origins through decades of refining his signature horror, fantasy, and supernatural fiction style. In descriptive anecdotes, King pinpoints childhood experiences that sparked his prolific imagination, from adolescent discovery of iconic science fiction and horror creators like H.P. Lovecraft to real-life brushes with death that left an imprint.He traces his earliest beginnings—scribbling short stories on a stolen typewriter—to first getting published in a horror fanzine. King outlines his initial years enduring constant rejection and relying on part-time jobs to scrape by as he slowly forged his unique literary voice. With self-deprecating humor, he confesses it took submitting a story over thirty times before making his first professional magazine sale.Candidly, King also delves into periods of severe substance abuse and personal issues that nearly destroyed his burgeoning career. He is transparent about significant gaps in his memory and output during the 80s due to drug and alcohol issues. King poignantly describes the interventions by family and friends that finally prompted him to get sober, as well as his regret over lost time and productivity. By frankly recounting his struggles, he humanizes the pressures of dealing with spectacular literary success at a young age.King also reflects thoughtfully on the wealth of life experience, both joyful and traumatic, that he channels creatively into his prolific output. Scenes from his Maine upbringing, relationships, parenting, and interests pepper the narrative, affirming how he transforms the mundane into the thrillingly bizarre.Throughout the memoir, King repeatedly underscores that the impetus for writing comes from within, not a quest for fame or riches. He traces his irresistible urge to write fiction back to childhood delight in imagining stories, even before aspirations of being a published author entered the picture. King asserts that he writes compulsively simply because the act brings him happiness and a sense of purpose. In beautifully philosophical passages, he describes writing as a spiritual journey of exploration, both of the human condition and his own subconscious preoccupations. According to King, good fiction originates from curiosity, wonder, and emotional honesty rather than commercial motives. He emphasizes embracing creativity for self-fulfillment first, then refining work to resonate for readers.The second half of On Writing distills the pragmatic lessons Stephen King learned over decades of trial and error into an accessible writing guide. While acknowledging innate talent and inspiration can't be systematized, he offers plenty of concrete suggestions for improving any writer's craft. King stresses that above all, consistent dedication and work ethic separate serious writers from dabblers waiting on inspiration.He advises diligently building writing routines: daily sessions of two to three hours, minimum word count targets, and treating writing like any other job. According to King, volume and repetition are key regardless of mood or muse. He urges writers to power through a first draft without excessive self-editing to get the raw story down on paper. Sensory details, lively dialogue, varied sentence structures, and ruthless editing are other skill areas he covers.King goes beyond nuts-and-bolts techniques to passionately celebrate writing fiction as a noble pursuit driven by intuition, imagination, and childlike curiosity. He urges writers to explore the primal human need for storytelling, beyond surface commercial motives. King sees fiction as a unique path to emotional truth and wresting meaning from chaos. He becomes almost evangelical in advocating fiction writing as a path to purpose and lifelong creative development, regardless of public validation.Throughout the guide portion, King pushes writers to mine their own experiences, quirks, and passions for material, rather than chasing trends. He sums up his advice as: “Write what you like, then imbue it with life and make it unique by blending in your own personal knowledge of life, friendship, relationships, sex and work.”Accessible and generously insightful, On Writing continues to resonate with both aspiring authors and general readers over two decades after publication. Beyond a simple writing manual, it offers unprecedented access into the brilliant, yet utterly human, mind behind some of modern fiction’s most iconic works. For writers, the memoir provides inspiration through King’s stories of early struggles, while his concrete tips provide a flexible toolkit.For fans, it provides a fascinating glimpse at the peculiar obsessions, quirky rituals, and redemptive habits underlying his creative output. Most rewardingly, On Writing explores the purposeful role of fiction writing in processing life’s chaos and horrors into meaningful narratives. Both memoir and guidebook, it reveals the alchemy of raw talent, dogged work ethic, personal experience, and joyful wonder that King channeled into a legendary career. Any reader comes away thoroughly convinced of his assertion that “writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art.”In summary, On Writing by Stephen King remains an unparalleled classic of the writer’s memoir/guide genre by elucidating the many facets behind constructing compelling fiction. King’s intimate wisdom and transparent voice inspire through combining earnest memoir, pragmatic advice, passion for the craft, and philosophical insight. Beyond the secrets of his success, it captures the all-consuming personal fulfilment King derives from writing as his creative outlet.For authors in any stage of development, On Writing provides both practical help and spiritual reassurance needed to nurture a writing life. Two decades later, newer generations of writers continue looking to the book as an essential roadmap and motivational touchstone. More than any formula, they take away King’s guiding principle: dedication to the daily writing journey itself ultimately matters more than any singular work or external measure of achievement.

Great and interesting read