What Does A Writing Life Look Like? – King’s ‘On Writing’
On Writing
by Stephen King
“This is not an autobiography. It is, rather, a kind of curriculum vitae – my attempt to show how one writer was formed.”
And it is through his memories and life experiences that noted author, Stephen King, guides us on his writer’s journey. He reflects on snapshots of his life that were pivotal to his development as a writer: from selling his first story to his mother, to his nail so heavy with rejection slips it fell off the wall, to being a poor newlywed and writing Carrie, to writing The Shining about himself without even realizing it. While the subtitle of the book says, “A memoir of the craft,” this is truly a memoir with a message.
Aims
King writes to tell his story, but not merely to craft another spine-tingling yarn. This story is meant to inspire the budding writer within and allow this prolific author to take you under his wing and mentor you from his own personal experiences.
Pros vs Cons
King tells his tale with calm, conversational tone. It almost feels at times as though you are sitting on his livingroom floor sifting through a box of old memories. Before you can be lulled into a trance by this master storyteller, he pulls you back and keeps you focused on the ultimate purpose: to learn what it takes to be a writer.
As much an instructional course as a bedtime story, King weaves his memories in and out of purposeful, often direct instruction like you would receive in a college writing class. He provides a veritable (and literal) toolbox of writing skills you’ll need to follow the blueprints and craft your story. To that end there are moments of dry instruction, but they are interwoven with snarky humor as they return to autobiographical analogies.
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PI Scale*
* Since most writer’s guides vary in a range from practical advice to inspirational wisdom, I have developed the Practical/Inspirational (PI) scale. I feel these qualities rank on a continuum rather than exist exclusively. While a book may certainly have both qualities, the included graphic is meant to illustrate where I personally rate this book on the Practical/Inspirational continuum.
On Writing is overflowing with practical advice and real-life experiences from someone who has been there. Every snapshot shows more about a man and his journey to notoriety. Including both advice from the trenches and grammar-school education, this is a book that belongs in your repertoire.
Conclusion
On Writing has a broad spectrum of information to which writers from every level of experience can relate. If you haven’t read On Writing, you’re way off course.
Stay tuned as next time I’ll take a look at some more grammar tips as I get back to basics with Eats, Shoots & Leaves.
Between his job as a video editor and his hobby as a digital creative, Eric Kuentz thrives on the continuous quest for self-improvement.
Great review Eric! I agree – On Writing is full of practical advice but not weighted down with so much that it becomes boring. Of course the interwoven memories are an excellent “waker-upper”, (did I just create a new word?), and, to me at least, makes On Writing among the best of the best, if not The Best, on the craft. (The only one that keeps me from pronouncing it ultimately The Best is Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones.
You’ve made me want to read On Writing again – thanks!
Thanks, Deanna. I would definitely recommend picking up ‘On Writing’ again if you haven’t read it in a while. Picking it up again was like reconnecting with an old friend.
Thanks for the suggestion on ‘Writing Down the Bones,’ I’ll have to check that out!
I believe you’ll enjoy Writing Down the Bones Eric – it’s much closer to the inspirational than the practical on your scale, (which I love by the way). :)
Thanks, Deanna. I just purchased a copy from Amazon.com and am looking forward to reading it. Perhaps you’ll see a review hear in the near future.
I read “On Writing” several years ago and really enjoyed tapping into the mind of Stephen King and his philosophy on writing. I need to read it again. I recently started reading “Down to the Bones” but put it down when I got “Bird by Bird” and I still need to finish both. I stopped to read a couple of works by Julie Kramer before meeting her in White Bear Lake, MN. Julie gave me a lot of advice on writing mysteries of which I am following as we speak. In the meantime I am reading Deepak Chopra’s “Synchrodestiny: Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence to Create Miracles” which frankly I don’t quite follow. I started reading it on the plane and fell asleep…seems every time I read it I fall asleep…I guess I’m just not that deep. But to quote Stephen King. “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” So I try to read something every day, if not a book, a good article on writing. Thanks to Fuel Your Writing…I get plenty of those!