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On Writing (2000)

by Stephen King

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
18,074503263 (4.22)363
Writing. Language Arts. Nonfiction. HTML:Twentieth Anniversary Edition with Contributions from Joe Hill and Owen King
ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S TOP 100 NONFICTION BOOKS OF ALL TIME

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 1999â??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 itâ??fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well
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» See also 363 mentions

English (484)  Spanish (5)  German (4)  French (3)  Catalan (1)  Japanese (1)  Dutch (1)  Danish (1)  Finnish (1)  Portuguese (1)  Italian (1)  All languages (503)
Showing 1-5 of 484 (next | show all)
I'm surprised this book is as popular as it is. There were a few good tips but mostly this is overrated.

King doesn't seem to comprehend that all writers and readers are different - and, therefore, have different motivations for writing and reading. He's very opinionated and very confident that his is always the best way.

There is a lot of profanity, and nearly as much vulgarity. I think this is only a book for those who are already King fans. For those just looking to improve their writing or wanting a behind-the-scenes look at writing, there are other, better books. ( )
  RachelRachelRachel | Nov 21, 2023 |
I loved every single drop of ink in this book. I've never read a Stephen King book and not sure his fiction would be my first choice by this was a great book. ( )
  MsTera | Oct 10, 2023 |
So much fun to read about the beginnings of his career, life with the kids and wife, general advice, too, just pure King fun. ( )
  betty_s | Sep 8, 2023 |
memoir of the craft
  SrMaryLea | Aug 22, 2023 |
"On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" by [a: Stephen King|3389|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1362814142p2/3389.jpg] has had a remarkable, and lifelong affect on my mind and writing life.

I started reading this during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Write Month) 2015. This is when writers around the world are attempting to write a novel of fifty thousand words or more.

A fast reader, I could have polished [b: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft|10569|On Writing A Memoir of the Craft|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1436735207s/10569.jpg|150292] off in a few days.

Instead of gobbling it all down, I took each paragraph, page and chapter as gifts. I would not hurry through this.

"On Writing..." is a needful thing to me.

I want to thank Mr. King for giving us this book.

There is more to say... I have written two short stories and on start of a novel from an exercise in "...Memoir..." thank you. Thank you for this amazing gift.

I have read various reviews some not positive; I feel sorry for those who missed it.

This is a life changer for me. Thanks again. ( )
  ourBooksLuvUs | Aug 20, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 484 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (15 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
King, Stephenprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Hobbing, ErichDesignersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Juti, RikuTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Knudsen, BertilTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kuipers, HugoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rekiaro, IlkkaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
Honesty's the best policy. — Miguel de Cervantes
Liars prosper. — Anonymous
Dedication
This book is dedicated to Amy Tan, who told me in a very simple and direct way that it was okay to write it.
C. V.
First words
I was stunned by Mary Karr's memoir, The Liar's Club.
[Foreword] In the early nineties (it might have been 1992, but it's hard to remember when you're having a good time) I joined a rock-and-roll band composed mostly of writers.
[Second Foreword] This is a short book because most books about writing are filled with bullshit.
[Third Foreword] One rule of the road not directly stated elsewhere in this book: "The editor is always right."
Quotations
"I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs and I will shout it from the rooftops."
"... there is a huge difference between story and plot. Story is honorable and trustworthy; plot is shifty and best kept under house arrest." (page 170)
(p79) Look — here's a table covered with a red cloth. ... Do we see the same thing? We'd have to get together and compare notes to make absolutely sure, but I think we do. There will be necessary variations, of course: some receivers will see a cloth which is turkey red, some will see one that's scarlet, while others may see still other shades. ... and a cat with an 8, clearly marked on its back in blue ink ... This is what we're looking at, and we all see it. I didn't tell you. You didn't ask me. I never opened my mouth and you never opened yours. We're not even in the same year together, let alone the same room ... except we are together. We're close. We're having a meeting of the minds.
(p102) The object of fiction isn't grammatical correctness but to make the reader welcome and then tell a story ...
Last words
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Writing. Language Arts. Nonfiction. HTML:Twentieth Anniversary Edition with Contributions from Joe Hill and Owen King
ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S TOP 100 NONFICTION BOOKS OF ALL TIME

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 1999â??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 itâ??fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well

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Book description
Haiku summary
On Writing tells of

writer's background more than rules

aspirants should learn.

(legallypuzzled)

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