On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

288 pages

English language

Published March 10, 2000

ISBN:: 978-0-684-85352-9

(2 reviews)

"If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write."

In 1999, Stephen King began to write about his craft -- and his life. By midyear, a widely reported accident jeopardized the survival of both. And in his months of recovery, the link between writing and living became more crucial than ever.

Rarely has a book on writing been so clear, so useful, and so revealing. On Writing begins with a mesmerizing account of King's childhood and his uncannily early focus on writing to tell a story. A series of vivid memories from adolescence, college, and the struggling years that led up to his first novel, Carrie, will afford readers a fresh and often very funny perspective on the formation of a writer. King next turns to the basic tools of his trade -- how to sharpen and multiply them through use, …

"If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write."

In 1999, Stephen King began to write about his craft -- and his life. By midyear, a widely reported accident jeopardized the survival of both. And in his months of recovery, the link between writing and living became more crucial than ever.

Rarely has a book on writing been so clear, so useful, and so revealing. On Writing begins with a mesmerizing account of King's childhood and his uncannily early focus on writing to tell a story. A series of vivid memories from adolescence, college, and the struggling years that led up to his first novel, Carrie, will afford readers a fresh and often very funny perspective on the formation of a writer. King next turns to the basic tools of his trade -- how to sharpen and multiply them through use, and how the writer must always have them close at hand. He takes the reader through crucial aspects of the writer's art and life, offering practical and inspiring advice on everything from plot and character development to work habits and rejection.

Serialized in the New Yorker to vivid acclaim, On Writing culminates with a profoundly moving account of how King's overwhelming need to write spurred him toward recovery, and brought him back to his life.

Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower -- and entertain -- everyone who reads it.

--front flap

45 editions

Ramirenko reviewed Mientras Escribo by Stephen King

Mientras escribo

2 stars

Esté libro de Stephen King sobre el oficio de escribir me ha parecido tan interesante como triste.

El autor se muestra sincero a la hora de revelar sus trucos de escritor y los pasos que le han llevado a su abrumador éxito de ventas. Es un tipo inteligente y se expresa con sentido del humor en todo momento. No pontifica y resulta humilde, a la vez que demuestra controlar los resortes del mundo editorial.

Sin embargo, y aquí viene la parte triste, también parece un manual para convertirse en el perfecto escritor de best sellers: esos autores de estilo claro, preciso, de buen ritmo, que manejan un argumento trepidante que van dosificando con inteligencia. El problema es que a muchos todas estas cosas nos resultan tan positivas a priori como anodinas en el fondo.

Me resulta especialmente peliaguda una parte en la que pone como ejemplo de buena práctica de …

Esté libro de Stephen King sobre el oficio de escribir me ha parecido tan interesante como triste.

El autor se muestra sincero a la hora de revelar sus trucos de escritor y los pasos que le han llevado a su abrumador éxito de ventas. Es un tipo inteligente y se expresa con sentido del humor en todo momento. No pontifica y resulta humilde, a la vez que demuestra controlar los resortes del mundo editorial.

Sin embargo, y aquí viene la parte triste, también parece un manual para convertirse en el perfecto escritor de best sellers: esos autores de estilo claro, preciso, de buen ritmo, que manejan un argumento trepidante que van dosificando con inteligencia. El problema es que a muchos todas estas cosas nos resultan tan positivas a priori como anodinas en el fondo.

Me resulta especialmente peliaguda una parte en la que pone como ejemplo de buena práctica de todo aspirante a escritor el mandar de manera compulsiva relatos a revistas amoldando su estilo a lo que cada una de ellas demande; es decir, adaptar tu estilo al de una industria que muchas veces hace gala de una espantosa homogeneidad literaria.

Tony H reviewed On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

More a memoir than a how-to-write guide, but

4 stars

It's probably the closest we'll get to a proper memoir out of a very interesting & likeable guy, who's utterly unique in the publishing world.

Regardless of whether you are a fan of his actual output or not, you can't question his consistency, and as far as his style and approach to writing, he keeps it simple and straightforward, which for a beginning writer is really useful. And like all Stephen King works, it's an easy read that keeps moving.