(This review originally appeared on One Flew Over the Church)
Since One Flew Over the Church has such a contingent of writers, both as contributors and as users, I thought that a review on a book about writing was appropriate for the site.
Since One Flew Over the Church has such a contingent of writers, both as contributors and as users, I thought that a review on a book about writing was appropriate for the site.
A few weeks ago, I picked up a copy of "On Writing" by Stephen King. It came with a recommendation from my wife, an English and writing teacher and a pretty good writer, if I do say so myself. She mentioned this book in the same breath as "One Writer's Beginnings" by Eudora Welty. If you knew how my wife feels about Welty, you would know what an endorsement this was.
I had already heard of the quality of the work from a good friend who is also a writer. He had shared the recommendation with a mutual friend of ours who was trying to get started in serious writing. Having heard recommendations from two people who I respect as writers as well as being good friends, (yes, I'm one of those guys who considers his wife to be his best friend. And after reading this book, I'd say that Stephen King feels the same way about his wife, Tabitha.) I just had to check this one out for myself. So, I borrowed my wife's personal copy and dove in.
More often than not, the name Stephen King on a book is a big enough endorsement to judge the quality of a book by it's cover but this was non-fiction. I was interested to see what King was going to do in the real world and away from horror and fantasy. I was not disappointed.
King starts out his book with an excellent autobiographical piece that provided answers to the question that I have always had when enthralled in one of his plots - "What kind of sick, twisted nut case would even think of such things?". Well, now I know. His candor about several events from his childhood, college years as well as adulthood gives the reader an insight into the mind of this genius. It was enlightening, if not encouraging, to see the difficult time that he had trying to just get his early work published.
After the reader gets to know King a little better, the author then opens the door of his study and offers a glimpse of the process he goes through to go from a simple idea for a story all the way to walking to the mailbox to get the royalty checks as they begin coming in. There is advice on the writing process, editing, building a respectable writing resume, finding a literary agent, seeking a publisher and how to get their attention. There is even a writing exercise and an example of King's own editing process - his actual manuscript and editing notes from the opening of "1408".
King makes enough references to "The Elements of Style" by William Strunk and E.B. White (yep, that E.B. White) that if you have a copy, it can almost be used as a companion piece. Strunk and White, as well as several other people who impacted King's writing, receive grateful appreciation for their contributions throughout the book.
The autobiographical portions of the book are very interesting and a good read. The writing portion of the book is a little more work to read but delivers information that makes the effort worthwhile and King sticks to his promise to keep this portion brief.
So, now you are thinking "Wow, Sam, are there any negatives to the book?" And my answer to you is "That depends on you". Let me say it this way. If you are a person that cannot look over or tolerate profanity, save your money. If you a not willing to "read a lot, write a lot", give up a little TV, and aren't interested in a sideline career as an adverb assassin, you are wasting you time reading this book. If you are not interested in writing, the writing part will not be enjoyable.
On the other hand, if you can let the "F-bomb" go in one ear and out the other (with any luck whacking Sister Bertha Better-Thanyou upside the head), if you love to read and love to write, if you think the book is better than the movie and you are willing to seek out and kill adverbs without mercy or remorse, then by all means, get to a library, a book store or your favorite on-line book seller and get your hands on a copy of this book.
King makes enough references to "The Elements of Style" by William Strunk and E.B. White (yep, that E.B. White) that if you have a copy, it can almost be used as a companion piece. Strunk and White, as well as several other people who impacted King's writing, receive grateful appreciation for their contributions throughout the book.
The autobiographical portions of the book are very interesting and a good read. The writing portion of the book is a little more work to read but delivers information that makes the effort worthwhile and King sticks to his promise to keep this portion brief.
So, now you are thinking "Wow, Sam, are there any negatives to the book?" And my answer to you is "That depends on you". Let me say it this way. If you are a person that cannot look over or tolerate profanity, save your money. If you a not willing to "read a lot, write a lot", give up a little TV, and aren't interested in a sideline career as an adverb assassin, you are wasting you time reading this book. If you are not interested in writing, the writing part will not be enjoyable.
On the other hand, if you can let the "F-bomb" go in one ear and out the other (with any luck whacking Sister Bertha Better-Thanyou upside the head), if you love to read and love to write, if you think the book is better than the movie and you are willing to seek out and kill adverbs without mercy or remorse, then by all means, get to a library, a book store or your favorite on-line book seller and get your hands on a copy of this book.
Stephen King
On Writing, a Memoir of the Craft
ISBN: 0-7434-5596-7
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