Book Review: On Writing by Stephen King

The craft of writing never seems to go out of date. While diction, language, and theme change over time, the actual act of sitting down and forming a story of your own is the same now as it was fifty years ago. This is the main reason why I was okay with reading "On Writing" seven years after it was first published.

Stephen King's novels have played a big part in my reading repertoire. Though an admirer, I can admit when something he writes doesn't really turn me on. Yet there's no denying that he's a man of talent. When Stephen King talks about writing, one tends to sit up and listen, even if they're not a fan.

"On Writing" is touted as a memoir of the craft. It is the writing world according to King. With the same honesty I've always enjoyed from his forwards and interviews, he tells of his own journey as a young author, submitting stories to magazines and pegging his rejection letters to the wall above his desk. He takes us through meeting his wife, struggling with drugs and alcohol, and facing death in a near fatal accident. The autobiographical aspect of this book might strike some as odd. King uses it to make his reader feel comfortable. He's not saying "I'm a bestselling author, so I know what I'm talking about." Instead, he's saying, "I've been there. I know how hard it can be. This is how I did it."

Beyond the autobiographical part, King talks of the toolbox every writer should carry, one filled with the technicalities of the sentence and the know-how to use them. Not only does he point out some of the things that should be avoided by a writer, such as passive verbs and adverbs, he also reveals his own tendencies to use them. The tips he gives are simple. Write what you know. If you don't know it, make it up. Have an "Ideal Reader" who'll be honest with you about everything you write. You might not agree with all of his ideas, but you have to admit he makes a good case for everything he says.