On Writing - Stephen King

I could waffle on for thousands of words about 'On Writing' and Stephen King but if you haven't got the time or inclination to wade through to the end of this review, just read this bit: if you want to be a writer, READ THIS BOOK. I’m almost tempted to stop there (almost, but not quite!), as I don’t feel any review can do it justice. I have never been a Stephen King fan, as I’m not into horror. When I came home from the library carrying this book, ...
...isn't your usual text book on how to write, this is written almost as a mini-autobiography. It sounds such a cliche, but I did find it unputdownable - I read it cover to cover in 2 days. One of the best snippets I liked (which I have put on a card by my computer) is about writing courses : “It is the dab of grit that seeps into an oyster’s shell that makes the pearl, not pearl-making seminars with other oysters.” Classic. He doesn’t slate other books ...

MichelleScott 22.04.2002 · Read full review
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Review of On Writing - Stephen King

...from! And he actually worked on the kind of machine that takes on an evil personality in one of his stories!' Best of all is the tale of how 'Carrie' came about, his first published novel, the one that launched him into bestsellerdom. A few minor experiences - such as going to school with an oddly-dressed, unpopular girl, and seeing a tampon dispenser in a girl's school toilet ) fused in his mind. He wrote a story draft about a girl experiencing ...
...expanded into a novel, focusing on the telekinetic powers of the abused girl who finally takes terrible revenge on all those who taunted her - the famous 'Carrie'. I loved reading about how Stephen King's mind absorbed details and turned them into 'Carrie' and other stories. Another aspect of his life shocked me. For a long time, he was drug-addicted and alcoholic, and didn't even know. He wrote one novel in which the main character was an alcoholic, ...

queen_rain 27.10.2005 · Read full review
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Review of On Writing - Stephen King

...does exactly what it says on the tin. King has decided to share some of his thoughts on writing, discussing the things which he feels have helped him be successful. Considering the number of books the man has sold, he may be worth listening to! Even if he is dealing with fiction, which I’m sure will still appeal to many writers on Ciao, much of what he says applies to all types of writing, including these here opinions of ours (he typed cheekily! ...
...autobiography, but it covered much on those subjects. It was almost an essay, or perhaps a thesis, considering its length, on writing and fiction in general, and it was fascinating. A few years ago, King thought it was time to put down on paper what he knows about the craft, so he started writing this book, as he says, "about the language". He starts off by mentioning that his early memories are vague in comparison to some, but then manages to dredge ...

Crazy-Christian 04.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of On Writing - Stephen King

...book, King delivers his thoughts on the craft of writing - the hows and whys. It's for this section that many writers worldwide picked the book up. After all, there was a point in the eighties where it was estimated that every one in six paperbacks being bought worldwide had King's name on the cover. If anyone should know the magic formula for success, it's him. Of course, there is no secret formula. Rather we have here a splendid overview on the ...
...if you need a refresher on these points), King engagingly discusses a wide range of issues, from narrative construction, to characterisation, to editing. It's insightful stuff, and so enthusiastically, clearly told that you might well find yourself reading through it even of you have no ambitions at all to put pen to paper. When King gave up teaching, that profession lost an inspired educator, who communicates practical ideas with every bit the passion ...

RichardW 20.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of On Writing - Stephen King

...after finding out about it on Ciao, a review by RichardW (see his excellent opinion on this book) and was thoroughly engrossed with it. I moaned about having to work as I had to put the book down and stop reading, but I managed to sneak a break and have a wee read whilst doing a quick one (bit more info than you needed there). I bought this purely because it gave information on the writing process, and not because I am a fan of Stephen King. I was ...
...the second part giving advice on the writing process, mostly novel writing. The two parts are engrossing and intriguing at the same time and manage to capture the man himself, and not just the tuxedo parts but the parts with his trousers down as well. The first half gives a fragmented account of some of the childhood experiences that led him, possibly, to start writing and they are humorous, moving, and well written. It gives us an insight into ...

aitchison21 23.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of On Writing - Stephen King

...have to consider your thoughts on the author, Stephen King, very carefully. Remember, if you can, your school days. Unless you were a full time rebel or a full time student, there will be lessons in which you remember working hard, and those in which you remember throwing paper aeroplanes and giggling with your friends, yes? For me at least (and I suspect you’re the same), the difference in those two types of lessons always boiled down to how ...
...please or disappoint you, depending on what your reading for. If I could divide you into three types of readers here for a moment, it will be the people wishing to hear about Stephen King that will enjoy this part, and those of you only wanting tips on writing that may find it boring. If like me you’re a bit of both, your particularly lucky. The second third, or the start of the final half of this book, is very different. After around 80 pages ...

Peakly 16.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of On Writing - Stephen King

...if you plan to embark on a writing career. This book gives an insiders account of the publishing world and gives structured advice on how to submit manuscripts as well as sample copies of successful letters to publishers. Following an horrific car accident in which he was nearly killed, King began writing as soon as he was able to sit up, and this book is the result. He wanted to convey his feelings about his 'craft' which doubles up as his livelihood ...
...nature, 'On Writing' spares us the pretentious intellectualism. King is of the mind that you cannot teach someone to be an amazing writer and that creative writing lessons are often more of a hindrance than a help. He gives the reader no illusions of success, like so many other books claim to do and simply provides his readers with the inspiration and motivation to give writing a whirl. It works because he's an interesting guy and his ability to ...

Tadders 18.07.2005 · Read full review
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Review of On Writing - Stephen King

...as well as a book on how to write. The book is split into four sections. C.V Stephen King talks about being brought up single-handedly by his mother, how they moved around often leading to a rather unsettled childhood, how he first began writing stories, especially horror and science fiction, and how the huge success of his novel 'Carrie' put him on the map. Toolbox This covers the nuts and bolts of writing. Remember those boring things that ...
...after all! On Writing This section gives the author's ideas on how those things in the 'Toolbox' can be used to make good fiction. Stephen King highlights the importance of reading, and also the use of narrative, description, dialogue and characters. On Living This section of the book catalogues events following the author's horrific accident in 1999 when he was run down while walking. At the time of the accident he was halfway through writing ...

JoannaPiano 27.04.2008 · Read full review
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Review of On Writing - Stephen King

...Stephen King filling us in on his formative years, which have ultimately shaped him into the charismatic writer that he is today. Stephen takes us all on a roller coaster ride visiting his early days working on Dave’s rag, through to his time working as an English teacher, to the ecstatic moment when he hit the golden trail with the publication of his first novel, Carrie. Of course, the regulation slide into the darker world of substance abuse ...
...half of the book concentrates on filling the reader with lots of technical style writing tips; the kind of things you might need to know if you dream of success, Stephen King Style. Stephen tells us how to fill our writers toolbox with lots of things, which might sound a little obvious at first glance. How many of us actually edit like Stephen does, not many I suspect. How many of us would dare to throw away 90% of our hard work as a load of old ...

TOLDYOU 17.09.2002 (18.09.2002) · Read full review
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Review of On Writing - Stephen King

...memoir and a how-to book on writing, written by a man who damned well knows how it's done. The thing that strikes you most about King is his sense of humour. He tells us about his childhood, how his mother encouraged him to read everything, including trash books, and entertains with anecdotes about babysitters who sat on his face shouting pow! It also tells you how he came to write his first book, how he got it published, and inspiringly, how many ...
...that even Stephen King struggling initially. He also tells you how he writes, and I know from experience his way isn't great for everyone, me for one, but it's fascinating knowing how the pros do it and King's not preachy about it. Overall a brilliant book, the most entertaining how to I've ever read. ...

surveysista1988 10.06.2009 · Read full review
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Review of On Writing - Stephen King