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A review by jlennidorner
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
5.0
I enjoyed the book, especially toward the end when Stephen King went into details about being hit by a van and the long road to his recovery. That made the book, for me, even more relatable and real. That's also when I felt the most hope.
The book is by Stephen King, so obviously, conservative readers, there's going to be adult language, a few sexual situations, and even a bit of violence. (You've been given a heads up.)
CV 22 and 23-- when he discusses meeting his wife-- that's great stuff.
The 10th Anniversary Edition still has a mention of "fresh disks (computer disks." So those born after 2000 might need to Google search some of On Writing- Section 14 (page 237 in paperback). Life before "clouds"! In the next part, Section 15, there's a view of what a good query looked like in 1999. I wonder what today's literary agents would make of it. (page 245)
There's a fantastic, informative part about why adverbs in dialogue attribution are dangerous.
A story about his son, Owen, illustrates the difference between determination and passionate desire. (A determined person will do all the required work with diligence. A person overflowing with passionate desire will go above and beyond joyfully, perhaps even to the detriment of other bits of life.)
King discusses why he's a "pantser" not a "plotter" (NaNoWriMo folks know the terms). (Why isn't there an "Edgar Wallace Plot Wheel" app?)
Quotes I loved:
"telling an alcoholic to control his drinking is like telling a guy suffering the world's most cataclysmic case of diarrhea to control his s**tting."
"(Writing) is about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well."
The book list at the end does not include every book mentioned in this memoir of the craft, so you may wish to take notes on those titles as you read.
Now please excuse me-- I have to write a six-page story about Jane breaking out of jail to take her child back from Dick. And then I have to cut 10 percent of it.
The book is by Stephen King, so obviously, conservative readers, there's going to be adult language, a few sexual situations, and even a bit of violence. (You've been given a heads up.)
CV 22 and 23-- when he discusses meeting his wife-- that's great stuff.
The 10th Anniversary Edition still has a mention of "fresh disks (computer disks." So those born after 2000 might need to Google search some of On Writing- Section 14 (page 237 in paperback). Life before "clouds"! In the next part, Section 15, there's a view of what a good query looked like in 1999. I wonder what today's literary agents would make of it. (page 245)
There's a fantastic, informative part about why adverbs in dialogue attribution are dangerous.
A story about his son, Owen, illustrates the difference between determination and passionate desire. (A determined person will do all the required work with diligence. A person overflowing with passionate desire will go above and beyond joyfully, perhaps even to the detriment of other bits of life.)
King discusses why he's a "pantser" not a "plotter" (NaNoWriMo folks know the terms). (Why isn't there an "Edgar Wallace Plot Wheel" app?)
Quotes I loved:
"telling an alcoholic to control his drinking is like telling a guy suffering the world's most cataclysmic case of diarrhea to control his s**tting."
"(Writing) is about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well."
The book list at the end does not include every book mentioned in this memoir of the craft, so you may wish to take notes on those titles as you read.
Now please excuse me-- I have to write a six-page story about Jane breaking out of jail to take her child back from Dick. And then I have to cut 10 percent of it.