Confession: I’ve never read a Stephen King novel. Yes, even though I adore horror stories. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is the first work by this insanely famous author I’ve read.
I picked up On Writing because so many other writers, readers, agents, and editors have recommended it to me as a must-read for aspiring authors. I received a library copy in 2019 during The Great Concussion and couldn’t read it, so I promptly sent it back, then-confident that I didn’t need any writing advice since I’d been writing since I was 6 years old.
Ummmm… My over-inflated ego knows a lot better now.
To be clear: a writer always needs writing advice. Always. You can’t grow as a writer unless you’re learning, reading, writing, and then learning some more.
Somewhere between revising my fourth draft of Desserted and deciding to stop querying my first novel, I realized it might be a good time to work on my craft a little bit. When On Writing arrived from the library a second time, I sat down to read it.
And take copious notes.
If you’re a writer — like, deep in your soul, you’re a writer — then you’re going to love this book. King writes openly and honestly about how he started his career; about how he carved out a little space for himself in the writing world; and about how he became the legend that he is today. On top of all this, On Writing delves into all the struggles he battled while doing this, from poverty to drug and alcohol addiction to a debilitating car accident.
King’s love of the craft is evident in every sentence of On Writing. Yes, he goes into grammar and word choice and editing and all that technical stuff. It’s helpful, even if you know most of it already. But, he also goes into what makes a scene powerful and a character memorable; what makes a sentence unforgettable and an idea unshakeable.
It’s magical and comforting and inspiring all at the same time.
The first part of On Writing is more personal than I expected it to be. It’s an engaging, humorous memoir that reveals King as a devoted husband and family man. I didn’t expect a great love story, but that’s what I found on these pages. King talks lovingly, almost worshipfully of his wife, confidant, and fellow writer of 50 years. As a writer with an incredibly supportive partner, I get it. I get you, Stevie.
And, I agree: my first book, whenever it is published, will be dedicated to my husband.
The second part of On Writing focuses on the craft — how to write, how NOT to write, the tools for writing, and the worst crutches for writing. For example, I found out that King loathes passive voice (a knife to my heart!) and adverbs (another sad blow). These are two elements I’ve had to (mostly) purge from my writing style because, well… they just don’t sell. King advocated their disuse in 2000 (technically, in 1997, when he wrote the book), and 22 years later, his admonishment holds true; agents won’t touch you if you’re using passive voice or adverbs — a.k.a., if you’re “telling” instead of “showing.”
King obviously uses his own works as writing examples, and he gives a really good behind-the-scenes look at his thought process: why he wrote the things he did, in what way, and why it’s important. He recaps, analyzes, and explains everything so well that I got the lessons without having read his books. [note: spoilers abound in said recaps.]
The life of a writer can be a lonely one. We live in worlds that don’t exist, and while we can talk to our friends and family about what we create, it’s never quite the same. For writers, there’s nothing like talking with other writers. There’s no one else who understands the hows and whys, the highs and lows of writing.
And, King? He just gets it. I mean, obviously, he gets it. He’s a frickin’ literary superstar. But it’s nice to see another writer, especially one so famous, wax poetic about the craft. This man has penned over 30 bestsellers, but he talks like “one of us” — the ones who just write for the love of writing. The ones who write because the idea of not writing is simply not an option.
Oh, and if you have any doubts about what an amazing writer King is, just flip to the post script, where he describes how it felt to be mowed down by a van along the side of the road. That happened in 1999; it’s 2022 now, so I obviously know how the whole thing turned out. But, that didn’t matter: I cried and worried and gasped as I read. I became really, really attached to Stephen King over the course of On Writing, I didn’t (don’t) want anything bad to happen to him. Ever.
I opened On Writing not knowing a damn thing about Stephen King or his novels; by the time I’d finished it, I felt like I’d sat down and had a one-on-one chat with one of the greatest writers of our time. If you, fellow writer, are in need of such a chat, pick this book up. Don’t wait as long as I did.
Be sure to check back in for my book-inspired recipe: New England Blueberry Buckle.
I’ve recommended “On Writing” to so many people I’ve lost count.If you want to write fiction, you need this book.
Hey, Trish! Yes! I recommend this one to so many people now. And if people have already read it, I recommend reading it again when you’re feeling lost or uninspired.
I loved this one, too. I borrowed it from my daughter and need to get a copy of my own! Most of Steven’s books would scare the daylights out of me, so I’ll never read them–except The Green Mile. That book is so good and is one that I always think of when someone asks me what my top ten favorite books are.
Janna, I think I need a copy of my own, too. So I can re-read when necessary. I should give The Green Mile a try, actually. I’ve never even seen the movie. I hear so many amazing things about it (the book and the movie).
The writing tips themselves are all excellent. Some of it is well phrased and can cause you to have a small epiphany, but other parts are relatively common advice that you can get from any writer or editor. As always, there is no secret to becoming a great writer or creating a compelling story, and you should never believe anyone who claims there is. However, there are some abilities you can learn and practise. The attraction, in my opinion, lies in King’s candour and straightforwardness; this book is full of excellent counsel and contains no fluff or false hope.
I agree, Daniel — King just lays it out like it is, the good and the bad of writing. His honesty is refreshing. Such a great read.