On Writing (Stephen King)
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is a memoir by American author Stephen King, that documents his practices as a writer and relays his advice for aspiring writers. Very first published in two thousand by Charles Scribner’s Sons, On Writing is King’s very first book after the car accident a year earlier. In 2010, Scribner republished the memoir as a 10th anniversary edition, which featured an updated reading list from King.
- 2000 (Scribner)
- 2010 (10th anniversary edition)
On Writing is organized into five sections: “C.V.”, in which King highlights events in his life that influenced his writing career; “What Writing Is”, in which King urges the reader to take writing gravely; “Toolbox”, which discusses English mechanics; “On Writing”, in which King details his advice to aspiring writers; and “On Living: A Postscript”, in which King describes his van accident and how it affected his life.
In 2008, Entertainment Weekly included On Writing on their “The Fresh Classics: Books – The one hundred best reads from one thousand nine hundred eighty three to 2008” list. [1] Both Sharon Johnson in The Patriot-News and Julie Woo for the Associated Press, in separate reviews, praised King’s advice as “solid”. [Two] [Trio] John Mark Eberhart, writing in the Sunday Free Lance-Star, called King’s writing advice “pedestrian”, but ultimately concluded that On Writing was “a slight but transitionally significant work that should lead [King] to better things.” [Four]
Contents
Stephen King began composing On Writing in 1997. [Five] :265 After completing the “C.V.” and “Toolbox” sections, King set aside the manuscript in February or March 1998, explaining in the final section of On Writing that he was uncertain on how or whether he should proceed with the book. In June 1999, King reread the uncompleted draft and became determined to finish it. [Five] :265 However, on June Nineteen, King was hit by a van while walking along Maine State Route Five. [6] [7] Following the incident, King struggled to come back to writing, uncertain whether he would be able to publish another novel. In an interview with NBC, King stated, “After the accident, I was totally incapable of writing. At very first it was as if I’d never done this in my life. . It was like beginning over again from square one.” [6] In January 2000, King wrote on his website that he had finished On Writing and was more optimistic about his career: “My stamina is much less than it was and my output has been cut in half, but I am working.” [8] The final section of the book is titled “On Living: A Postscript”, and it reflects on the accident and details his comeback to writing, stating “things have continued to get better.” [Five] :269 On Writing was the very first book King published following his accident. [9]
On Writing is divided into five sections, each with a different concentrate. Albeit the very first section narrates his life, King states that the section is not an autobiography, but more a curriculum vitae, owing to the sporadic nature of his memories. [Five] :17-18 Titled “C.V.”, the section discusses events in King’s life that contributed to his development as a writer, such as his early exposure to writing, [Five] :27-29 his early attempts to get published, [Five] :35-36 his relationship with his wifey, [Five] :61-66 the death of his mother, [Five] :92-94 and his history of drug and alcohol manhandle. [Five] :94-100 The 2nd section is titled “What Writing Is”. Comparing writing to telepathy, King shortly reintroduces himself and includes an example of literary description. King urges the reader to take writing and his advice earnestly. [Five] :103-107 The third section, titled “Toolbox”, discusses English mechanics and the importance of vocabulary, grammar, and style in writing. [Five] :111-137 The fourth section, “On Writing”, details King’s advice on writing. The fifth and final section, “On Living: A Postscript”, discusses the accident in one thousand nine hundred ninety nine in which King was struck by a van while walking down Maine State Route Five. In the United Kingdom paperback version, a brief story by Garret Adams entitled “Jumper” was included at the end of the book. The story won the On Writing competition.
In 2008, Entertainment Weekly listed On Writing 21st on their list of “The Fresh Classics: Books – The one hundred best reads from one thousand nine hundred eighty three to 2008”, making it King’s only entry. [1] Sharon Johnson, in a review published by The Patriot-News, wrote that King survived his car accident “with his skill intact”, calling King’s advice “solid” and “an unexpected bounty to writers and readers.” [Two] Julie Woo for the Associated Press also called King’s advice “solid”, specifically about dialogue and plot. However, Woo also observed that “many other books about writing suggest such advice and some are more inspirational and ambitious,” noting how “King cannot replicate a formula for his success so he does the next best thing by describing his work habits and environment urging that consistency in those areas can be conducive to good writing.” [Trio] Peter Sobczynski, a correspondent for the Post-Tribune, called the book “a joy, incisive read”, specifically highlighting its emotional power: “In writing candidly and honestly about his recovery from a trauma that should have killed him, King has never been more affecting. Obviously, it is a good thing he was able to sustain and get back into form on a physical and emotional level.” [9] John Mark Eberhart wrote a mixed review in the Sunday Free Lance-Star. Criticizing King’s recommendations on writing, Eberhart remarked that they were “so pedestrian that I can’t recall when I very first ran across any of them.” On the other forearm, Eberhart praised On Writing’s discussion of King’s private life, stating that “King’s writing about his own alcoholism and cocaine manhandle is among the best and most fair prose of his career.” Eberhart ultimately characterized the book as “a slight but transitionally significant work that should lead [King] to better things.” [Four]