“On Writing” by Stephen King
Learning the craft from the King.
I learned to read when I was only three years old and have been reading ever since. Growing up, I always had a book with me — in the car, walking down the stairs, and even waiting for my food at restaurants (which used to get me into trouble, as my mom reminded me over and over again that it was rude to read at the table).
Since then, one of my favorite authors has been Stephen King. Carrie, Pet Sematary, Misery, and of course It were some of the Stephen King books I read when I was almost a teenager. And, of course, I had my fair share of nightmares, which to me is a result of how good an author King truly is.
Written by Stephen King, you would think On Writing is a horror book, but it’s actually far from it. Reading it was actually fun and refreshing — it’s a memoir in which, through his unique writing style and sense of humor, King shares memories of his childhood, his early writing days, and how he built his successful career. An example of resiliency and perseverance, he takes readers through his first writing experiences and how he bounced back from rejection — yes, hard to believe, but at first his stories were rejected a number of times. I won’t spoil this for you, but his story about the nail on the wall, which he later replaced with a spike when it could no longer hold more rejection slips, is a true demonstration of how perseverance and hard work pay off.
If you’re a writer or would like to become one On Writing is definitely a book you should read. It’s not only about Stephen King’s beginnings, but in it he also provides advice on the tools you need to have in your “toolbox” to become a writer. He also shares thoughts and insights about the craft that are absolutely worth reading. Among these, one that really stuck with me is his advice on “if you want to be a writer, you need to both write and read a lot” (not his exact words, but that’s the idea). I’ve usually found some time to read, but now I’m really working hard to find time to write, as well.
Even if you’re not planning on becoming a writer, this is an entertaining and very enjoyable read, which I highly recommend. Stephen King has been described as the master of horror, but trust me, there is nothing horrific in this one.
In the book’s final section, King shares in detail the accident he had in June 1999, when he was hit by a van while taking a walk near his summer house in Maine. With the same conversational and refreshing tone that he used in the previous chapters of the book, this final section is a heartfelt and emotional description of the events of that day and of the subsequent months, sharing how writing and the unconditional love of his wife, Tabitha, helped him recover.