On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is a memoir by American author Stephen King that describes his experiences as a writer and his advice for aspiring writers. Originally published in 2000 by Charles Scribner's Sons, it was King's first book after he was involved in a car accident a year earlier. Scribner has published two expanded editions: The 10th Anniversary Edition (2010) has an updated reading list from King; and the 20th Anniversary Edition (2020) adds contributions from King's two sons, Joe Hill and Owen.
The book is organized into five sections: "C.V.", where King highlights events in his life that influenced his writing; "What Writing Is", where King urges the reader to take writing seriously; "Toolbox", discussing English mechanics; "On Writing", where King details his advice to aspiring writers; and "On Living: A Postscript", where he describes his roadside accident and how it affected his life.
In 2008, Entertainment Weekly included On Writing on their "The New Classics: Books – The 100 best reads from 1983 to 2008" list.[1] In their reviews, Sharon Johnson of The Patriot-News and Julie Woo of Associated Press praised King's advice as "solid".[2][3] John Mark Eberhart of the Sunday Free Lance-Star called King's writing advice "pedestrian", but ultimately concluded that On Writing was "a slight but transitionally important work that should lead [King] to better things."[4]
Stephen King began composing On Writing in 1997. After completing the "C.V." and "Toolbox" sections, he set aside the manuscript in February or March 1998, explaining in the final section of On Writing that he was uncertain how or whether he should proceed with it. In June 1999, he reread the uncompleted draft and became determined to finish it.[5]: 265
On June 19, 1999, King was hit by a van while walking along Maine State Route 5.[6][7] He subsequently struggled to return to writing, uncertain whether he could publish another novel. In an interview with NBC, he said: "After the accident, I was totally incapable of writing. At first it was as if I'd never done this in my life. ... It was like starting over again from square one."[6]
In January 2000, King wrote on his website that he had finished On Writing and was more optimistic about his career, stating, "My endurance is much less than it was and my output has been cut in half, but I am working."[8] In the final section of On Writing, "On Living: A Postscript", King reflects on the accident and his return to writing, stating "Things have continued to get better."[5]: 269 It was the first book he published following his accident.[9]
Summary
On Writing is divided into five sections, each with a different focus. Although the first section, "C.V." narrates his life, King said that it is not an autobiography, but more a curriculum vitae, owing to the sporadic nature of his memories.[5]: 17–18 It discusses events in King's life that contributed to his development as a writer, such as his early exposure to writing,[5]: 27–29 his early attempts to be published,[5]: 35–36 his relationship with his wife,[5]: 61–66 his mother's death,[5]: 92–94 and his history of drug and alcohol abuse.[5]: 94–100
In the second section, "What Writing Is", King compares writing to telepathy. He briefly reintroduces himself and includes an example of literary description. He urges the reader to take writing and his advice seriously.[5]: 103–107
The third section, "Toolbox", discusses English mechanics and the importance of vocabulary, grammar and style in writing.[5]: 111–137
The fourth section, "On Writing", details King's advice on writing.
The fifth section, "On Living: A Postscript", discusses the accident in 1999 where King was struck by a van while walking down Maine State Route 5. The book's United Kingdom paperback edition concludes with "Jumper", a short story by Garret Adams that won the On Writing competition.
Reception
In 2008, Entertainment Weekly listed On Writing 21st on their list of "The New Classics: Books – The 100 best reads from 1983 to 2008".[1]
Sharon Johnson, in a review published by The Patriot-News, wrote that King survived his car accident "with his skill intact", calling King's advice "solid" and "an unexpected gift to writers and readers."[2] Peter Sobczynski, a correspondent for the Post-Tribune, called the book "a fun, incisive read", specifically highlighting its emotional power: "In writing candidly and honestly about his recovery from a trauma that should have killed him, King has never been more affecting. Obviously, it is a good thing he was able to survive and get back into shape on a physical and emotional level."[9]
Julie Woo for the Associated Press also called King's advice "solid", specifically about dialogue and plot. However, Woo also observed that "many other books about writing offer such advice and some are more inspirational and ambitious," noting how "King cannot replicate a formula for his success so he does the next best thing by describing his work habits and environment urging that consistency in those areas can be conducive to good writing."[3] John Mark Eberhart wrote a mixed review in the Sunday Free Lance-Star. Criticizing King's recommendations on writing, Eberhart remarked that they were "so pedestrian that I can't remember when I first ran across any of them." On the other hand, Eberhart praised On Writing's discussion of King's personal life, stating that "King's writing about his own alcoholism and cocaine abuse is among the best and most honest prose of his career." Eberhart ultimately characterized the book as "a slight but transitionally important work that should lead [King] to better things."[4]
^ ab"The New Classics: Books: The 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008" Entertainment Weekly, issue #999–1000, June 27, 2008.
^ abJohnson, Sharon (October 1, 2000). "King terrifies with account of accident". The Patriot-News. p. E04 – via Access World News.
^ abWoo, Julie (October 29, 2000). "It's great to be the king – THE MASTER SPEAKS: Stephen King 's writing is his life and his life is writing". Ventura County Star. Associated Press. pp. J05 – via Access World News.
^ abEberhart, John Mark (October 15, 2000). "Not exactly the King of instructors". Sunday Free Lance-Star. Vol. 114, no. 289. Fredericksburg, Virginia. p. F7. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
^ abcdefghijKing, Stephen (2010). On writing : a memoir of the craft (Scribner trade pbk. ed., 10th anniversary ed.). New York, NY: Scribner. ISBN9781439156810.
^ abSharp, David (October 29, 1999). "King admits difficulties since accident". Bangor Daily News. No. 115. Bangor Publishing. Associated Press. p. B1. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
^"Stephen King: The 'Craft' Of Writing Horror Stories". NPR Books. NPR. July 2, 2010. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
^Kresse, Jim. . The Spokesman-Review. McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
^ abSobczynski, Peter (October 15, 2000). . Post-Tribune. Sun-Times News Group. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2015 – via Highbeam Research.
Audiobook
2000: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (read by Stephen King), Simon & Schuster Audioworks, ISBN978-0743506656
External links
Wikiquote has quotations related to On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.
writing, memoir, craft, memoir, american, author, stephen, king, that, describes, experiences, writer, advice, aspiring, writers, originally, published, 2000, charles, scribner, sons, king, first, book, after, involved, accident, year, earlier, scribner, publi. On Writing A Memoir of the Craft is a memoir by American author Stephen King that describes his experiences as a writer and his advice for aspiring writers Originally published in 2000 by Charles Scribner s Sons it was King s first book after he was involved in a car accident a year earlier Scribner has published two expanded editions The 10th Anniversary Edition 2010 has an updated reading list from King and the 20th Anniversary Edition 2020 adds contributions from King s two sons Joe Hill and Owen On WritingFirst edition coverAuthorStephen KingCover artistLisa LitwakCountryUnited StatesSubjectsAutobiography writingPublished2000 Scribner original 2010 10th anniversary edition 2020 20th anniversary edition Pages288 2000 The book is organized into five sections C V where King highlights events in his life that influenced his writing What Writing Is where King urges the reader to take writing seriously Toolbox discussing English mechanics On Writing where King details his advice to aspiring writers and On Living A Postscript where he describes his roadside accident and how it affected his life In 2008 Entertainment Weekly included On Writing on their The New Classics Books The 100 best reads from 1983 to 2008 list 1 In their reviews Sharon Johnson of The Patriot News and Julie Woo of Associated Press praised King s advice as solid 2 3 John Mark Eberhart of the Sunday Free Lance Star called King s writing advice pedestrian but ultimately concluded that On Writing was a slight but transitionally important work that should lead King to better things 4 Contents 1 Background 2 Summary 3 Reception 4 Reading list from King 4 1 Books from the first edition 2000 4 2 Books from the 10th Anniversary Edition 2010 5 References 6 Audiobook 7 External linksBackground EditStephen King began composing On Writing in 1997 After completing the C V and Toolbox sections he set aside the manuscript in February or March 1998 explaining in the final section of On Writing that he was uncertain how or whether he should proceed with it In June 1999 he reread the uncompleted draft and became determined to finish it 5 265 On June 19 1999 King was hit by a van while walking along Maine State Route 5 6 7 He subsequently struggled to return to writing uncertain whether he could publish another novel In an interview with NBC he said After the accident I was totally incapable of writing At first it was as if I d never done this in my life It was like starting over again from square one 6 In January 2000 King wrote on his website that he had finished On Writing and was more optimistic about his career stating My endurance is much less than it was and my output has been cut in half but I am working 8 In the final section of On Writing On Living A Postscript King reflects on the accident and his return to writing stating Things have continued to get better 5 269 It was the first book he published following his accident 9 Summary EditOn Writing is divided into five sections each with a different focus Although the first section C V narrates his life King said that it is not an autobiography but more a curriculum vitae owing to the sporadic nature of his memories 5 17 18 It discusses events in King s life that contributed to his development as a writer such as his early exposure to writing 5 27 29 his early attempts to be published 5 35 36 his relationship with his wife 5 61 66 his mother s death 5 92 94 and his history of drug and alcohol abuse 5 94 100 In the second section What Writing Is King compares writing to telepathy He briefly reintroduces himself and includes an example of literary description He urges the reader to take writing and his advice seriously 5 103 107 The third section Toolbox discusses English mechanics and the importance of vocabulary grammar and style in writing 5 111 137 The fourth section On Writing details King s advice on writing The fifth section On Living A Postscript discusses the accident in 1999 where King was struck by a van while walking down Maine State Route 5 The book s United Kingdom paperback edition concludes with Jumper a short story by Garret Adams that won the On Writing competition Reception EditIn 2008 Entertainment Weekly listed On Writing 21st on their list of The New Classics Books The 100 best reads from 1983 to 2008 1 Sharon Johnson in a review published by The Patriot News wrote that King survived his car accident with his skill intact calling King s advice solid and an unexpected gift to writers and readers 2 Peter Sobczynski a correspondent for the Post Tribune called the book a fun incisive read specifically highlighting its emotional power In writing candidly and honestly about his recovery from a trauma that should have killed him King has never been more affecting Obviously it is a good thing he was able to survive and get back into shape on a physical and emotional level 9 Julie Woo for the Associated Press also called King s advice solid specifically about dialogue and plot However Woo also observed that many other books about writing offer such advice and some are more inspirational and ambitious noting how King cannot replicate a formula for his success so he does the next best thing by describing his work habits and environment urging that consistency in those areas can be conducive to good writing 3 John Mark Eberhart wrote a mixed review in the Sunday Free Lance Star Criticizing King s recommendations on writing Eberhart remarked that they were so pedestrian that I can t remember when I first ran across any of them On the other hand Eberhart praised On Writing s discussion of King s personal life stating that King s writing about his own alcoholism and cocaine abuse is among the best and most honest prose of his career Eberhart ultimately characterized the book as a slight but transitionally important work that should lead King to better things 4 Reading list from King EditBooks from the first edition 2000 Edit Abrahams Peter A Perfect Crime Abrahams Peter Lights Out Abrahams Peter Pressure Drop Abrahams Peter Revolution 9 Agee James A Death in the Family Bakis Kirsten Lives of the Monster Dogs Barker Pat Regeneration Barker Pat The Eye in the Door Barker Pat The Ghost Road Bausch Richard In the Night Season Blauner Peter The Intruder Bowles Paul The Sheltering Sky Boyle T Coraghessan The Tortilla Curtain Bryson Bill A Walk in the Woods Buckley Christopher Thank You for Smoking Carver Raymond Where I m Calling From Chabon Michael Werewolves in Their Youth Chorlton Windsor Latitude Zero Connelly Michael The Poet Conrad Joseph Heart of Darkness Constantine K C Family Values DeLillo Don Underworld DeMille Nelson Cathedral DeMille Nelson The Gold Coast Dickens Charles Oliver Twist Dobyns Stephen Common Carnage Dobyns Stephen The Church of Dead Girls Doyle Roddy The Woman Who Walked into Doors Elkin Stanley The Dick Gibson Show Faulkner William As I Lay Dying Garland Alex The Beach George Elizabeth Deception on His Mind Gerritsen Tess Gravity Golding William Lord of the Flies Gray Muriel Furnace Greene Graham A Gun for Sale aka This Gun for Hire Greene Graham Our Man in Havana Halberstam David The Fifties Hamill Pete Why Sinatra Matters Harris Thomas Hannibal Haruf Kent Plainsong Hoeg Peter Smilla s Sense of Snow Hunter Stephen Dirty White Boys Ignatius David A Firing Offense Irving John A Widow for One Year Joyce Graham The Tooth Fairy Judd Alan The Devil s Own Work Kahn Roger Good Enough to Dream Karr Mary The Liars Club Ketchum Jack Right to Life King Tabitha Survivor King Tabitha The Sky in the Water unpublished Kingsolver Barbara The Poisonwood Bible Krakauer Jon Into Thin Air Lee Harper To Kill a Mockingbird Lefkowitz Bernard Our Guys Little Bentley The Ignored Maclean Norman A River Runs Through It and Other Stories Maugham W Somerset The Moon and Sixpence McCarthy Cormac Cities of the Plain McCarthy Cormac The Crossing McCourt Frank Angela s Ashes McDermott Alice Charming Billy McDevitt Jack Ancient Shores McEwan Ian Enduring Love McEwan Ian The Cement Garden McMurtry Larry Dead Man s Walk McMurtry Larry and Diana Ossana Zeke and Ned Miller Walter M A Canticle for Leibowitz Oates Joyce Carol Zombie O Brien Tim In the Lake of the Woods O Nan Stewart The Speed Queen Ondaatje Michael The English Patient Patterson Richard North No Safe Place Price Richard Freedomland Proulx Annie Close Range Wyoming Stories Proulx Annie The Shipping News Quindlen Anna One True Thing Rendell Ruth A Sight for Sore Eyes Robinson Frank M Waiting Rowling J K Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Rowling J K Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Rowling J K Harry Potter and the Sorcerer s Stone Russo Richard Mohawk Schwartz John Burnham Reservation Road Seth Vikram A Suitable Boy Shaw Irwin The Young Lions Slotkin Richard The Crater Smith Dinitia The Illusionist Spencer Scott Men in Black Stegner Wallace Joe Hill Tartt Donna The Secret History Tyler Anne A Patchwork Planet Vonnegut Kurt Hocus Pocus Waugh Evelyn Brideshead Revisited Westlake Donald E The AxBooks from the 10th Anniversary Edition 2010 Edit Abrahams Peter End of Story Abrahams Peter The Tutor Adiga Aravind The White Tiger Atkinson Kate One Good Turn Atwood Margaret Oryx and Crake Berlinski Mischa Fieldwork Black Benjamin pseudo Christine Falls Blauner Peter The Last Good Day Bolano Roberto 2666 Carr David The Night of the Gun Casey John Spartina Chabon Michael The Yiddish Policemen s Union Child Lee The Jack Reacher novels starting with Killing Floor Connelly Michael The Narrows Costello Mark Big If Cunningham Michael The Hours Danielewski Mark Z House of Leaves Diaz Junot The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao Dooling Richard White Man s Grave Downing David Zoo Station Dubus Andre The Garden of Last Days Enger Leif Peace Like a River Exley Frederick A Fan s Notes Ferris Joshua Then We Came to the End Franzen Jonathan Strong Motion Franzen Jonathan The Corrections Gaiman Neil American Gods Gardiner Meg Crosscut Gardiner Meg The Dirty Secrets Club Gay William The Long Home Goddard Robert Painting the Darkness Gruen Sara Water for Elephants Hall Steven The Raw Shark Texts Helprin Mark A Soldier of the Great War Huston Charlie The Hank Thompson Trilogy Johnson Denis Tree of Smoke Keillor Garrison ed Good Poems Kidd Sue Monk The Secret Life of Bees Klosterman Chuck Fargo Rock City Larsson Stieg The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Le Carre John Absolute Friends Lehane Dennis The Given Day Leonard Elmore Up in Honey s Room Lethem Jonathan The Fortress of Solitude Lippman Laura What the Dead Know Little Bentley Dispatch Malamud Bernard The Fixer Martel Yann Life of Pi McCarthy Cormac No Country for Old Men McEwan Ian Atonement Meek James The People s Act of Love Niffenegger Audrey Her Fearful Symmetry O Brian Patrick Aubrey Maturin series O Nan Stewart The Good Wife Oates Joyce Carol We Were the Mulvaneys Pelecanos George Hard Revolution Pelecanos George The Turnaround Perrotta Tom The Abstinence Teacher Picoult Jodi Nineteen Minutes Pierre DBC Vernon God Little Proulx Annie Fine Just the Way It Is Robotham Michael Shatter Roth Philip American Pastoral Roth Philip The Plot Against America Rushdie Salman Midnight s Children Russo Richard Bridge of Sighs Russo Richard Empire Falls Simmons Dan Drood Simmons Dan The Terror Sittenfeld Curtis American Wife Smith Tom Rob Child 44 Snyder Scott Voodoo Heart Stephenson Neal Quicksilver Tartt Donna The Little Friend Tolstoy Leo War and Peace Wambaugh Joseph Hollywood Station Warren Robert Penn All the King s Men Waters Sarah The Little Stranger Winegardner Mark Crooked River Burning Winegardner Mark The Godfather Returns Wroblewski David The Story of Edgar Sawtelle Yates Richard Revolutionary RoadReferences Edit a b The New Classics Books The 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008 Entertainment Weekly issue 999 1000 June 27 2008 a b Johnson Sharon October 1 2000 King terrifies with account of accident The Patriot News p E04 via Access World News a b Woo Julie October 29 2000 It s great to be the king THE MASTER SPEAKS Stephen King s writing is his life and his life is writing Ventura County Star Associated Press pp J05 via Access World News a b Eberhart John Mark October 15 2000 Not exactly the King of instructors Sunday Free Lance Star Vol 114 no 289 Fredericksburg Virginia p F7 Retrieved September 13 2015 a b c d e f g h i j King Stephen 2010 On writing a memoir of the craft Scribner trade pbk ed 10th anniversary ed New York NY Scribner ISBN 9781439156810 a b Sharp David October 29 1999 King admits difficulties since accident Bangor Daily News No 115 Bangor Publishing Associated Press p B1 Retrieved September 13 2015 Stephen King The Craft Of Writing Horror Stories NPR Books NPR July 2 2010 Retrieved September 18 2015 Kresse Jim He s only working at half of his usual dizzying pace The Spokesman Review McClatchy Tribune Information Services Archived from the original on February 25 2016 Retrieved September 18 2015 via HighBeam Research a b Sobczynski Peter October 15 2000 King s latest work is On Writing Post Tribune Sun Times News Group Archived from the original on February 24 2016 Retrieved September 18 2015 via Highbeam Research Audiobook Edit2000 On Writing A Memoir of the Craft read by Stephen King Simon amp Schuster Audioworks ISBN 978 0743506656External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to On Writing A Memoir of the Craft On Writing at Google Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title On Writing A Memoir of the Craft amp oldid 1135050932, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
