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Like him, it's a bit quirky but worth every bit of effort reading it may demand. Very autobiographical introduction to the art of writing. Written by a contemporary master, this is very worthwhile for anyone interested in writing, or in how King does what he does.
His friendly style and honesty drew me in as I discovered that On Writing is filled with practical advice. From the book, here are some ideas about what good writing is: * Active and purposeful * Adverse to adverbs * Free of clichés and hackneyed phrases * Clear and concise (cut out extraneous words) * Courageous (take some risks) * Follows grammatical rules, but breaks a few rules once in a while * Honest, plain, and direct * Offers the right amount of description(Mr. The second half of the book is entitled On Writing and centers on how to write fiction (although much of it applies to other kinds of writing as well).
That's a large portion of the day (or night, if you're more nocturnal). King, if I've left anything crucial off this list, please let me know).Read this book if you're serious about your writing. But a serious writer needs to have discipline and work at the craft.King's book reinforced what I learned in school by emphasizing the basics.
Published in 2000, the first part of On Writing is autobiographical, although the whole book is sprinkled liberally with facts from King's own life, pertaining to his childhood, long marriage to novelist Tabitha, struggles with drugs and alcohol, near-fatal accident, and career as a writer. By this King means four to six hours daily. It may even count towards the daily requirement of four to six hours of reading and writing.(From my book blog, Suko's Notebook).
With over 300 million copies of his novels sold, and many stories adapted for film and television, I think King is well qualified to write about writing.Although King says that there's no magic formula for becoming a good writer, he offers solid, down-to-earth advice in an entertaining way. One thing King says, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone who aspires to write, is to "read a lot and write a lot".
Glad I bought it.P.S. I've even bookmarked certain pages to refer back to while I finish up my manuscript. This would make a great gift for someone interested in becoming an author. The advice and insight provided in this book is invaluable. EVERY aspiring writer should read it.
King infuses this book with provocative language that would make a more conservative reader blush.I was not a Stephen King fan until I read this book. For someone curious about the writing life, proceed with caution. It is a must-read for those who want to know the colorful story behind the man. This off-the-cuff memoir and writing guide gives a history lesson about one of the world's most popular authors. If you are a fan, dive in and enjoy.
King also offers touching, unpretentious snapshots of his life starting from childhood all the way through the accident that put him at death's door in 1999. King maintains that the knowledge gained through reading is the best tool in understanding what works in the writing world & in developing your own writing style. Several visual details are given regarding this scene, but there is one detail in particular that draws the reader's attention the most. One such concept is the writer's ability to get the reader to see what they see.
This is a cut to the chase, keep it simple book that is a valuable read for any aspiring writer. Through these snapshots we are able to witness firsthand the journey of a person who is "one of us" to a person who is a famous writer, a journey that doesn't come off as so impossible due to King's humble and honest relating of the events. It is therefore through this detail that a sense of telepathy is created between the writer and reader, and with this tool of "telepathy" the writer can continue to maneuver the minds of readers. Author Stephen King shares a streamlined approach to writing that stems not only from his experience in the business, but from those gut instincts of storytelling that have made him so successful.
King describes a scene in which there is a rabbit in a cage that is sitting on a table. This book is a sort of writer's GPS system that provides a strong sense of direction via the most efficient route. While King offers some tool box basics for being a successful writer, he emphasizes that first & foremost you must LOVE reading & you must love reading A LOT. In addition, King is very adept at conveying writing concepts that might otherwise elude the writer.
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