ON
WRITING
STEPHEN
KING
GENRE:
GUIDE/NONFICTION
SYNOPSIS
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.
MY TAKE
On
Writing is not just for the aspiring writer—but for anyone who
loves books and reading. This book will help the aspiring writer spot
key issues in his/her work and how to address them. For the reader,
it will make you appreciate the craft and the work (good) writers go
through from beginning to end. Not only that, but this book will also
help you spot those stories that aren't quite up-to-par (lazy
writing, repetitiveness, lack of character development, useless
words, etc...). This is not a step-by-step guide for aspiring writers
(King makes this clear), but what works for Stephen King himself.
What
I really liked about this book is that King not only discusses
writing, but also key points of his life—which I found very
interesting. He discusses his childhood and the beginning points of
his writing, meeting his wife, the struggles of being an aspiring
writer, selling his first novel (Carrie), drug abuse, and being hit
by a van in 1999.
I
found myself not wanting to put this book down until I was done
(although I eventually had to due to lack of sleep). I practically
hung on every word. I can pretty much guarantee I will never be able
to attend a King seminar, or be able to interview him in person, so
this book was the next best thing. It's written in a way that makes
you feel as if you are listening to him speak right in front of you.
On Writing is amazing stuff!
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