If you’re wondering at the thumbnail for this post, considering it has nothing to do with the title, it’s because there needs to be a drum roll for this review, which has been pending for quite some time. I think this is the only book I’ve ever read in my life, which took me this long to finish. I read 5 other books in-between and reviewed one of them. Don’t get me wrong; it’s far from being a boring book. I just had so many things I was trying to swallow at once, it kept taking a back seat to everything else but I finally finished it and here follows the review.On Writing isn’t a step-by-step guide on how to become a writer or a better writer, and thank goodness for that. I’ve seen more than enough of those in the marketplace. Instead, the book is laid out in 3 parts. In part 1, we become familiar with who Stephen King is, how he got into his craft, his family, his struggles and how he became a renowned writer. He also mentions how having his wife believe in him made a huge difference during the tough years. She was and still remains his biggest supporter. The seriousness of the memoir is sprinkled here and there with humorous tales from childhood to adulthood. We also get a glimpse of his descent into alcoholism and drugs during which he created some of his greatest work. In part 3, he wrote about the car accident, which nearly ended his life, the painful road to recovery and getting back into writing. He describes it in a matter of fact way without complaint or name-calling.
Part 2 is where the good stuff is – about writing. I was surprised to discover a lot of similarities as related to my own writing processes/practices but not to worry, I dare not compare myself to Stephen King. If I did, who would be Anna Fani then? :). Anyway, at the start of the chapter, he recommends Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style
and refers to it a few times. Needless to say, I ordered it before I’d even finished reading On Writing. In the grammar section, he expresses his distaste for adverbs (words that end in –ly), discussing it at length. I have to agree with him. Using adverbs can turn a writer into a lazy writer because it prevents you from thinking up a better word. Nevertheless, I’m still guilty of it. I presume this is something every writer tries to eliminate in the second or final draft of a book.
He goes on to outline the backbone of writing – read a lot and write a lot, the 3 parts of a novel (narration, description & dialogue), writing the first and second draft, research and where it belongs, grammar, passive voice, theme, symbolism, writing tightly, agents & publisher and his views on attending writing classes and seminars. Finally, he advocates writing for you. Expectation of fame and fortune shouldn’t be the reason you write. This was well said. It would be nice to become a bumpkin billionaire from writing but if I don’t become one, it’s perfectly fine. At the end of the day, I will always have a pen, a piece of paper and the crazy lady in the blue tunic, which is what really fires up my soul when it comes to my writing.
It
, Carrie
, The Shinning
, Pet Sematary
and Misery
scared the bejesus out of me and cured any desire I had to read horror books but I have a newfound respect for Stephen King and his skills. I will be looking into a few of his non – horror books after this.
It was a fast and easy read and I highly recommend it to new as well as established writers. Click On Writing
or on the link to the left to get a copy of the book.
Part 2 is where the good stuff is – about writing. I was surprised to discover a lot of similarities as related to my own writing processes/practices but not to worry, I dare not compare myself to Stephen King. If I did, who would be Anna Fani then? :). Anyway, at the start of the chapter, he recommends Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style
and refers to it a few times. Needless to say, I ordered it before I’d even finished reading On Writing. In the grammar section, he expresses his distaste for adverbs (words that end in –ly), discussing it at length. I have to agree with him. Using adverbs can turn a writer into a lazy writer because it prevents you from thinking up a better word. Nevertheless, I’m still guilty of it. I presume this is something every writer tries to eliminate in the second or final draft of a book. He goes on to outline the backbone of writing – read a lot and write a lot, the 3 parts of a novel (narration, description & dialogue), writing the first and second draft, research and where it belongs, grammar, passive voice, theme, symbolism, writing tightly, agents & publisher and his views on attending writing classes and seminars. Finally, he advocates writing for you. Expectation of fame and fortune shouldn’t be the reason you write. This was well said. It would be nice to become a bumpkin billionaire from writing but if I don’t become one, it’s perfectly fine. At the end of the day, I will always have a pen, a piece of paper and the crazy lady in the blue tunic, which is what really fires up my soul when it comes to my writing.
It
, Carrie, The Shinning, Pet Sematary and Misery scared the bejesus out of me and cured any desire I had to read horror books but I have a newfound respect for Stephen King and his skills. I will be looking into a few of his non – horror books after this. It was a fast and easy read and I highly recommend it to new as well as established writers. Click On Writing
or on the link to the left to get a copy of the book. Upcoming Book Reviews sometime this decade – Tuesdays with Morrie
by Mitch Albom, Immediate Fiction
by Jerry Cleaver & The Elements of Style
by Strunk & White.
by Mitch Albom, Immediate Fiction by Jerry Cleaver & The Elements of Style by Strunk & White. 
