On Writing by Stephen King

On Writing by Stephen King

2002, Pocket Books

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Synopsis: Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer's craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King's advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported near-fatal accident in 1999 -- and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery.

The Good: On Writing is a 2 part book. The first part consists of short autobiographical stories about Stephen King's live. King is a fantastic writer and an interesting man, so it goes without saying that these stories are a lot of fun. The second half of the book is writing advice. Obviously, King knows what he's talking about here and the advice is logical and easy to understand. More importantly, King doesn't spew on pretentiously, as many other books about writing do. He gives you the facts, often tying them into his own experiences. There is an honesty here, without promises of fame and fortune, but rather a realistic look at the possibilities you may encounter. Even those not interested in writing themselves will enjoy this book and I can't imagine someone reading On Writing and not falling in love with King just a little bit more.

The Bad: Nothing at all.