Has anyone read 'On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft'?

[Arkenstone]

I'm currently reading a book by James Scott Bell called Plot & Structure. I found it listed on some blog, with a decent list of books to read for aspiring writers.

On this site, I also came across Stephen King's On Writing. I'd like to know if anyone here has read it. I haven't yet, but it appears to dive into King's experience as a writer and also some advice for aspiring writers.

I'd love to know what you personally got out of this book and if you'd recommend it as well.

 

[Brian G Turner]

It's interesting, but as a book about writing it's more biographical then technical. IMO the best book about the technical issues of writing is Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer.

Welcome to chrons, by the way.

 

[Boneman]

I have read it, and I enjoyed it immensely. Hearing Stephen's personal journey alongside his 'no bullsh*t' advice was very refreshing.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Yeah, it's brilliant. The only book on writing I've ever been able to read and stay awake to.

I'm a pragmatist so I don't learn anything from books but by doing. Because King explained how to write by how he did it, I found it really useful.

 

[tinkerdan]

I read and enjoyed it: even learned a few things.
Definitely full of anecdotal reminiscence.

 

[Toby Frost]

One of the best books available, in my opinion. While there is a fair amount of autobiography, King's advice is very clear and written to instruct as much as entertain. Personally, I found it easier to read than Wonderbook, because its layout is more conventional, but you may disagree. Definitely worth looking at.

 

[Arkenstone]

It's interesting, but as a book about writing it's more biographical then technical. IMO the best book about the technical issues of writing is Wonderbook by Jeff Vandermeer.

Welcome to chrons, by the way.

Thanks! I'll be adding Wonderbook to my list.

 

[biodroid]

Yip as Brian said it's more biographical, starting with his childhood and some insights to his writing process. I was more interested in the biography part mainly and found it interesting as to his approach to writing. I did read it almost 18 years ago

 

[Finch]

On Writing is an enjoyable book to read , if your interested in writing and writers . But you will not become a writer reading it. In fact Stephen King sort of points this out himself. If your interested in writing you might like to read , David Kaplan's Rewriting . It is book the describes the process that helps you develop the first draft to the finished work .

 

[scififan]

I read this book many years ago. I learned a lot from it. It was very informative and honest.

 

[The Big Peat]

I'm a big fan of it. It might not teach you as much about writing as some - although what it does teach on that, it teaches well - but it's a great insight into being a writer and what that means.

 

[Steven Sorrels]

I rather loved it. I think it gives you a really good idea of what the feel of writing is like, which I think is more important than the technical processes.

 

[Night_Eternal]

I read it a long time ago. Thinking about buying it again and giving it another round now that I'm Old & Mature™. For some reason I don't recall very much from it, hence my desire to reread it.

 

[Mark Turnbull]

I loved it. If you're a writer I would say the advice is given to a similar kind of writer to Stephen King (often called a gardener) with advice like you should always cut your first draft by 20%. I'm more of an architect, but I still found it very enjoyable and useful.

 

[Tanith]

How about Secret Windows, this book's companion volume? I had no idea the book existed until I stumbled across it in my library's catalog. It seems to be something of a rarity, but the copy I put on hold came in this week so I'm looking forward to getting started.

 

[Boneman]

Ooh... let us know!

 

[Randy M.]

Rereading Ursula K. Le Guin's "Dreams Must Explain Themselves" I found it interesting that her way of writing coincided with King's as stated in On Writing. Where some writers plan out a book -- especially in sff, where it's not unusual for a writer to have copious notes, sketched maps, detailed character descriptions, etc., before beginning to write the story -- both Le Guin and King say they reach their story by starting to write, usually with a character or scene that comes to them. It's an act of discovery for them, rather than of creation. (It's also not surprising that she stated it much more succinctly. )

As for On Writing, it is a guide to writing and one I found pleasantly grounded in a writer's day to day life as opposed to some of the artsier writing guides I've come across, and a memoir. King guides the reader to how he came to his conclusions through his life story.

Randy M.