On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An exceptional book from one of the best writers. Even if you despise horror, Stephen King is a talented writer. He starts the book by describing his life, childhood up to adulthood. I believe he does this to help you understand that he is by no means special. His life experiences did not make him a good writer, but rather he cultivated the gift from a young age. The middle section of the book is about writing. Writing the first draft as fast as you can scribble on paper with the door closed. Editing the second with the door open. Killing your darlings to make a book even better. Scratching out adverbs. They make for lazy writing, he says. There is an example of his editing work in the book. King finishes the memoir with his near-death experience and also with an underlining theme that writing is not life. It should not take over your life. Your family and kids are life.
Since I had only read one of Stephen King’s books prior to this, I was leery of reading this one. I don’t like horror and Carrie was enough for me. By end of the first chapter, none of that mattered. Stephen King is a talented writer regardless of his genre. His telepathic ability to turn written words into the image in your brain is flat out talent. A talent that comes from lots of writing and editing his own work. This book has a permanent place on my bookshelf. I will return to it even if it is only to remind myself, writing is not life.
Whitney Buckley 