When you hear the name Stephen King, you think of horror novels. Maybe a little fantasy and science fiction thrown into the pot but overall, you think of frightening, creepy stories that make your hair stand on end.
Normally, I'm not a big fan of these novels. There's nothing wrong with them. The genre just isn't for me. However, I have always respected Stephen King as a writer. When I saw that On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft had rolled off the presses, I was very excited. I knew it was something I had to read.
Though On Writing opens in King's youth, this is by no means an autobiography. Rather, it is one author's discussion of how he was formed as a writer. He gives practical advice on the craft and shares parts of his life to boot.
We learn of his mother, brother and absent father. We learn of his early fiction submissions to various magazines. By the time he was fourteen, King had collected so many rejection slips that he posted them with a spike on the wall above his desk. That statement alone is encouraging to any potential writer.
The author also shares early adult years, as he juggled his writing career with college and later a teaching job. He got married and his wife became his biggest fan and toughest critic. Though he makes millions now, it appears King still remembers and appreciates the excitement of selling his first stories for small amounts of money.
King is to be commended for his honesty in discussing the path of his career. As he gradually gained success, he also gained drinking and drug problems. He doesn't gloss over these problems, but he doesn't make excuses either. This is not a story of overcoming obstacles. It is a discussion of writing. King acknowledges how drug use affected his writing and then moves on to other topics.
Die-hard fans of Stephen King will like this book because it sometimes reads like a personal conversation with the man himself. Personally, I felt like I had just attended a discussion with the author at a college or other meeting hall. I've had a great deal of respect for the man for a while, but reading On Writing has made me see that he's very cool as an ordinary guy as well.
Aspiring writers should read this book, as well. It is not a "how to" manual. Rather, King combines practical writing advice with his own experiences. There is a writing exercise, a few examples and even an offer from the author himself to read what you create with the tools you've been given. How many big name whoozits do you know who will do that? Pretty cool, if you ask me.
Toward the end of the book, King discusses the accident that almost took his life. In June of 1999, while walking along a Maine highway, King was struck by a speeding van driven by a distracted man.
King talks about his thoughts and blackouts after he was hit. He also details his extensive injuries and rehabilitation plan, including having to return to writing in a wheelchair.
What disappointed me most about this section was King's discussion of the driver who hit him. It's probably safe to say the guy shouldn't have been driving based on his record. However, King's whole discussion of that fact and his opinion of the matter seem to distract from the main purpose of the book.
King ends the subject by saying "It is conceivable that Bryan Smith could be legally back on the road in the fall or winter of 2001." Of course, this won't be happening since Mr. Smith has since passed away, but why did it need to be said at all in a book about writing?
On a more positive note King also includes a scene first unedited, and then how it looks after editing. It is a great way to see how one's writing can be shaped. As an added bonus, King includes an extensive list of some of his favorite books. Many I have heard of, some I have not. Either way it was interesting to see the reading preferences of America's foremost king of horror.
As I stated before, On Writing should not be considered a lesson on how to write. King gives practical advice, but completion of this book is not a guarantee that you will be published. In the Second Foreword of this book, King recommends The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White as a good reference book. On top of that, I'd like to recommend Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. While On Writing will inspire you to become a famous writer, Bird by Bird will bring you back to Earth with the gentle but firm reality of writing as a career choice.
All things considered, I recommend On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft to all readers across the board. You do not have to be a horror fan to enjoy the book. You do not have to be an aspiring writer to find some helpful tips on writing and life in general. On Writing is a funny, useful, unique book by a truly gifted writer. It shouldn't be missed. Enjoy!
