My favorite Stephen King book, however, is a non-fiction work -- his 2000 book about the craft of writing and his personal journey to being one of the most recognizable names in modern fiction: "On Writing."
On Writing is divided into two parts. The first is a memoir about King's early writing days, his rise to national attention with Carrie in 1974, and his battles with alcohol. This is no boring tale of a "life well lived"; it's the very readable story of a writer still at the top of his game. This section alone is worth buying the book, but it's the second section that's priceless.
The later pages of On Writing are a master class on the craft of writing, as taught by Stephen King. For any would-be writer or seasoned professional, King's insights are thought-provoking and extremely useful. I've read this book three times and always take something new away from it. King advises, for instance, to be judicious with the use of adverbs ... and continues to say he doesn't always follow his own advice. Still, it's wise to avoid saying anything "cautiously" or dancing "joyously." King offers that if you can't describe an event well enough, no amount of adverbs is going to help your prose. Well said.
King continues by offering his thoughts on setting up a writing work space, on finding time to write -- especially before one has been published, and on what makes a good novel.
On Writing is an intimate look into the life of a writer. It's fun, thoughtful, and educational.
Related Links:
- To read an excerpt of "On Writing," click here.
- For more about Stephen King, visit his website.
- For a review of King's latest novel, Lisey's Story, click here.
- Shop for your own copy of On Writing.
- Review of How I Write by Janet Evanovich
