Will I love On Writing?

King’s practical advice and inspiration guided me in writing my debut historical novel.

As a new swimmer in the waters of creative writing, I appreciated King’s opinion that writers learn best by reading and writing, and that the most valuable lessons are the ones we teach ourselves.

I’ve always considered myself an experiential learner. Writing Of White Ashes was a masterclass in asking, “Wait, how do you do that?” And quirky quotes from King, like “the road to hell is paved with adverbs,” helped me choose strong words, construct them into vibrant sentences, and piece together a story I was… show more.

I loved the voice of this book–it’s the voice of Stephen King, clever, yes, and a brilliant novelist, of course, but also absolutely down-to-earth. King is a perfectionist, continually going back through his writing to hone it–a useful reminder to all of us not to be satisfied with a first or second draft.

The book shows how, in the best writing, both dialogue and plot arise out of character. And I particularly valued his emphasis on cutting, cutting, cutting–dialogue and everything else. He’s made me do that more than ever!

As a writer, I enjoy thinking about and learning about writing. I learned a lot from this book and found it a really enjoyable read.

It’s 2005, and it’s my first day at The Daily Telegraph. I still couldn’t believe they had hired me as a cadet journalist. The smile I was wearing–from ear to ear–suddenly vanished when the Chief of Staff walked over and said, ‘Phelpsy, a bus has just crashed in Egypt. We have been told that there may have been some Australian tourists on board. Punch out 500 words and give it to me in an hour.’ 

I turned to my computer screen, looked down at my keyboard, and suddenly realized that I had no idea what I was doing. I’d… show more.

This book is part instruction manual, part memoir. Yes, he offers lots of tips about the craft of writing (how to set up a scene, go easy on the adverbs, navigate the balance between “world-building” and pacing, etc.) But it was Stephen’s letting us into his process that moved me.

I related to his wrestling with self-judgment (his wife pulled his first draft of “Carrie” from the trash!) and was inspired by his sheer determinism, pushing himself to write a minimum number of words a day. Come for the writing tips, and stay for the compelling memoir!

Yes, the same Stephen King: Carrie, The Shining, Misery, and dozens more. Fiction? Yes–his memoir is among the best books for writing nonfiction, not the best of nonfiction books.

Writers of every genre suffer the same troubles, like doubt, rejections, not enough days when the work “flows”, procrastination, alcohol, and drug abuse, having to bow and beg (until your success reverses the tables), and so on. In On Writing, Mr. King gives us his story: "the good, the bad, and the ugly", of writing. 

Start with chapter 25 of “CV”, right to the meat of King’s… show more.

Stephen King’s book is a masterclass in resilience—an essential character trait for achieving your creative goals. King explains how he was sidelined by a van, yet managed to push through and complete the book.

While King's setback is extreme, it puts my issues of having a tight schedule or budget in perspective. If he can complete his project despite the odds, so can I.

Oh my gosh, Stephen King. He could make a soup label sound entertaining. Imagine this: A manual for writers delivered in the form of hilarious, irreverent, and sometimes scatological memories.

He demonstrates his mastery of storytelling by providing snapshots of the past and glimpses into his life’s highs and lows. Advice about process, craft, publishing, and reviews is offered in a conversational way that makes it sound fresh and exciting. 

I don’t know; when I was reading this, I felt like I was sitting with the Buddha of fiction, and being told, “You can do it, too.”   

As an author, Stephen King's book was a great inspiration to me.

In the first part of the book, I learned the author's biography. Like all great authors who build an empire, he had to build it through perseverance, failures, and setbacks. This is at least the fifth time I've read this book, and I can't wait to read it again, especially the second part, which he calls "The Toolbox".

After explaining the road to his success, Stephen King talks about writing and the tricks of the writer's journey. This giant describes himself as the first reader of his stories.… show more.

This book is a mix of memoir and advice, taking you inside the life, mind, and writing processes of one of the most successful fiction writers of our time. It’s an oldie-but-a-goodie, having come out in 2000, but the advice on craft is timeless.

Much like Everybody Writes, this book also serves as a great case study in making your writing distinctive and leaning into your lived experiences when you write. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of the horror genre, but I’d wager that this quick read is almost as compelling and thrilling as many of his other works.