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Stephen King

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft Paperback – July 6, 2010

by Stephen King (Author)

4.7 18,814 ratings

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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.

Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Scribner
Publication date

July 6, 2010
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.8 x 8.44 inches
ISBN-10

9781439156810
ISBN-13

978-1439156810
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Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

“When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story,” he said. “When you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.”
Highlighted by 14,024 Kindle readers
If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.
Highlighted by 9,388 Kindle readers
“When you write a story, you’re telling yourself the story,” he said. “When you rewrite, your main job is taking out all the things that are not the story.”
Highlighted by 8,501 Kindle readers
It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support-system for art. It’s the other way around.
Highlighted by 8,323 Kindle readers

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A one-of-a-kind classic."--The Wall Street Journal

"This is a special book, animated by a unique intelligence, and filled with useful truth."—Michael Chabon

"On Writing had more useful and observant things to say about the craft than any book since Strunk and White's The Elements of Style."--Roger Ebert

“The best book on writing. Ever.”--The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

About the Author

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). 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. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, and Doctor Sleep are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1439156816
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner; Anniversary edition (July 6, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781439156810
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1439156810
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.44 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #58,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #69 in Words, Language & Grammar Reference
- #148 in Fiction Writing Reference (Books)
- #1,402 in Memoirs (Books)

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4.7 18,814 ratings

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Marissa Patterson.

Great stories and advice

Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2023

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I've been a fan of Stephen King, and an aspiring writer, since middle school. Yet somehow I hadn't read this book until now, in my thirties and still too uncertain of my writing skills to attempt to get published. The first part of the book, Mr. King's memoirs, was, as all his writing is, nearly impossible to put down. He can manipulate words to convey not just images, but feelings, in a way that really speaks to me, in everyday language that feels familiar even if we grew up in different times and places (New England in the 50s and 60s versus Ohio in the 90s and 00s.) The second part of the book, the part I was really looking forward to, was surprisingly reassuring. I was afraid I would read this book and come away realizing that writing well took too much natural talent, or too much dedication and dogged pursuit of greatness, and that I'm doomed to remain a mediocre, unpublished writer for the rest of my life. But Mr. King, in his friendly and honest style, reassured me that while it may not be possible to make a competent writer out of a bad one, it is possible to make a good writer out of a competent one. I consider myself competent: at the very least, I have a better grasp of grammar and a wider vocabulary than a lot of people I know, due to my childhood and teenage habit of burying myself in books like a frog hiding in the mud from winter's chill. I was relieved to find that the idea of making an outline of events in a story, something that always felt forced and unnatural to me, is not the way Stephen King writes his stories or the way he recommends to others. He frequently refers to stories as fossils waiting to be excavated, a metaphor that really spoke to my paleontology-obsessed inner child as well as my own experience with writing; I feel that I discover my stories and characters rather than inventing them. Overall, reading this book has given me hope that I'm not wasting my time with my writing, and that the book I'm working on isn't destined to remain a series of documents saved in the notes app of my phone, but might one day have a cover and binding and actual pages I can turn, and maybe, just maybe, more people than just myself and my husband will read it, and if I'm lucky, enjoy it.

11 people found this helpful

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S. Rose

Stephen King is my hero, and this book is a treasure

Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2021

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This is one of my new most favorite books, ever. I adore it so, so much. *ADORE* it. It was an absolute delight to read how Stephen King became the author he is now, and get the jokes that only writers would understand. It was comforting to see that he has struggled with many of the same things that I have as a writer and how he has overcome it all through a wonderful, optimistic, “never give up” attitude, with faith in his love of writing.

I absolutely adore his honesty and how genuine he is. I remember going to a so-called writing “Masterclass” taught by a so-called “pro” and his advice was NOT centered around the craft of writing—it was centered around money. He told everyone to lie about how they got their writing ideas, to embellish it, make it something magical. “And if you want to sell more books,” he said, “write from the perspective of a man. People prefer books where the main character is a man.” And I thought, this is terrible! That’s not how writing works! You don’t twist things to fit other people’s expectations, that’s just wrong! Where’s your integrity?! Where’s your love of discovery? Of the characters?

Anyway, reading this was worth FAR more than that ridiculous class. Stephen King’s whole foundation is that you write because it makes you happy. If you write to make money, you’re just a monkey. You write what’s honest. You be TRUE to your story and to the characters regardless of their gender, race, sexual orientation, etc. (this shouldn’t have to be said, what’s the matter with people?)—you be true to the story you’re unearthing! I literally shouted, “Yes! Exactly!!” so many times while reading this book. It left me with so much hope. His advice is absolutely *priceless.* I marked several passages and I know I’ll be returning to this book again and again.

I read this at a time in my life when I needed it most—funny how that happens. You know those moments that completely derail your mind, and you feel like you’ve been thrown into the middle of a deep well in the dead of night, one that smells of decay and death and of the blood from your head wound. And since the rocks are covered in slime and moss, every time you try to climb out, you slip and fall back in. And since you’ve never been thrown in a deep well before, you wonder if any of it is real—maybe you’re dreaming. And when you finally realize you’re not dreaming, you feel so much pain that you go numb. How exactly are you supposed to be feeling, again? Because at the moment you don’t feel much at all, even though tears are streaming down your face. And then you wonder what the protocol is for this situation. Is there a manual somewhere?

You know those moments? I hope not. I’m so sorry if you do. So very sorry.

Anyway, so—as you’re in that deep, dark well and wondering how to keep your head above water until you make it out, you happen to be listening to Stephen King read about how he was hit by a van. When he was in need of something to keep his head above the waters of pain and despair, his wife set up a space where he could write comfortably while recovering from his severe injuries. And you hear him say, “Writing is not life, but I think that sometimes it can be a way back to life.”

And then you burst into tears, because you know that’s the answer you’ve been looking for. That’s how you’re going to make it. Because, as he says:

“Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. *It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.*”

Yeah, seriously. Stephen King is my hero. He really is. He gets it. Writing is healing. And this book is a treasure.

So write on.

24 people found this helpful

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Ashley W.

This is a must read!

Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2023

Verified Purchase

Read this if you are an aspiring writer.
Read this if you are a Stephen King fan.
Read this if you like to read fiction.
Read this if you are curious about writers.
Read this, read this, read this.

I can’t remember the first SK novel I read, but his stories (it’s always about the story. Thanks SK!) have been woven into the literary journey of my adolescence and adulthood. Reading “On Writing” has given me such a unique glimpse into his personal writing process. It’s satisfying to read his personal stories and see tidbits that are extracted for his writing. Some he explains directly (Carrie for example) and some I saw for myself (read Fairytale and you will see connections to his injuries from a 1999 accident) because the books hadn’t been published at the time this one was.

So glad I picked this one up! I’m sure it won’t be the last time I read it.

4 people found this helpful

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Doobie_gillis

Stephen King is a Boss

Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2023

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Writing advice from Stephen King who churns out solid writing year after year, best sellers. It’s a solid read someone who is at the top of their game.

Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2023

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Unlike other works I've read by Stephen King, this is not fiction. Part memoir and part creative writing manual, it's classic King, imaginative, compelling, always interesting. This book is thoroughly enjoyable, both for insights into the person and author, and also for understanding how he does what he does so well. For fans of Stephen King, a must-read, for others still a fascinating experience.

3 people found this helpful

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a real fan

Learn from a master

Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2023

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This book is easy to read and very well structured so that the main principles King sets forth are easily understood. I just happened to be reading Fairy Tale at the same time I read this book so I could easily see how King makes his magic.

One person found this helpful

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Ryan Millar

An outstanding book in a niche of great books

Reviewed in the Netherlands on July 19, 2023

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Stephen King, perhaps unsurprisingly, really nails it with this book. Part memoir, part how-to this book is so readable and full FULL of wisdom and actionable advice.

Paolo Cattolico

Highly recommended

Reviewed in Italy on September 18, 2023

Verified Purchase

The best book on the art of writing I have ever read.

Kimberley Ann

Not just for education...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2023

Verified Purchase

When I began reading On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, I wasn’t expecting myself to enjoy it as much as I did. I would usually prefer to spend my time reading fiction, but I found myself pleasantly surprised.

Not only is this book informative, it’s also really interesting. Stephen King shares some of the stories of his youth in ways that really made me laugh and shudder…a shared fear of medical professionals who lie about things not hurting is not what I was expecting to come away knowing.

All in all, I would happily recommend this to both people learning to write and also people who might just be interested in what shaped Stephen King as a writer.

2 people found this helpful

Cliente Amazon

This book reminded me of why I liked to read Stephen King so much!

Reviewed in Italy on July 7, 2023

Verified Purchase

If you are a writer or hope to be one, or if you like reading Stephen King, this book is waiting for you:) I loved it all. While I was reading his story of how he's become a writer, between one tip and another for those who would like to become a good one, I recalled the pleasure his novels gave me for the simple reason that he writes beautifully.

ALEJANDRA LORENA RODRIGUEZ DELGADO

LIBRO

Reviewed in Mexico on August 25, 2023

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EXCELENTE

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