On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King



                There was a time in my life when, even though I was a huge Stephen King fan, I was not at all interesting in reading this memoir about writing. I was in high school when this book came out and I remember seeing it at the bookstore, being intrigued, flipping through the pages, and then putting it right back on the shelf. I didn’t want a memoir. I wanted horror. I wanted something that would give me chills up and down my spine or nightmares. I was young and I can see now that I simply didn’t appreciate King or his writing. Now, after 2013 and the adventure that was reading all of his novels in their order of publication, I fully appreciate him and the universe he has created. I consider him to be a master storyteller that encompasses much more than the horror genre and I am ashamed of the child I was and how easily I dismissed this amazing memoir. I mean seriously it’s a book about Stephen King and how he writes! What was I thinking?
                In retrospect everything happens for a reason. I was ready for On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft now and can share with you my thoughts. King decided in his memoir to give you a brief history about himself and how he developed his style and became a successful writer. He talks about his upbringing, his relationship with his mother and brother. He candidly talks about his wife and their relationship, including their struggles early on. King also talks about his addiction to drugs and alcohol and how said addiction affected his writing and his family.  Cujo, a novel I enjoyed but found to be one of his most desperate and haunting, King barely remembers writing because of his addictions. Reading his candid reflections on life proves that he is human, has faults and has had to overcome obstacles to succeed. He shares all of this to be encouraging. It works.
                The rest of the memoir focuses on how he writes and what works for him. It may not work for everyone, which he repeats throughout this section, but it works pretty well for him. And he is pretty damn successful! I’m not in the middle of writing a novel but if I were (or when I do try) this is definitely the book I am going to read before I set forth to conquer the literary world. Why? Because everything he says is practical and makes sense! “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.” That is just one essential lesson that he reiterates throughout and it makes sense. King talks about everything from his creative process, his character development, grammar, vocabulary and even getting a literary agent. He wrote a crash course on writing filled with sensible tidbits that you may need if you want to be a writer.

                In conclusion, if you like Stephen King read this book. If you want to be a writer read this book. If you like to read, then read this book. I loved it. It’s full of humor, honesty and it makes you think and consider what it takes to be a writer. I thoroughly enjoyed it and give it 5 out of 5 stars. 

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