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5 Books That Will Make You a Better Writer

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On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (Scribner Classics) Shoes – Special Edition, July 6, 2010

by Stephen King (Author)

4.8 1,113 ratings

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Immensely helpful and illuminating to any aspiring writer, Stephen King’s critically lauded, “one of a kind” (Wall Street Journal) classic bestseller shares the experiences, habits, and convictions that have shaped him and his work.

"Long live the King" hailed Entertainment Weekly upon publication of Stephen King’s On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King’s advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999—and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it—fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.

Editorial Reviews

Review

""On Writing" had more useful and observant things to say about the craft than any book since Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style"."--Roger Ebert

"A one-of-a-kind classic."--"The Wall Street Journal"

"The best book on writing. Ever."--"The Plain Dealer" (Cleveland)

"This is a special book, animated by a unique intelligence, and filled with useful truth."--Michael Chabon

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner; Classic edition (July 6, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Shoes ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1439193630
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1439193631
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1110L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.44 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #91,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #91 in Words, Language & Grammar Reference
- #182 in Fiction Writing Reference (Books)
- #2,854 in Memoirs (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.8 1,113 ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides useful writing advice for aspiring writers and novelists. They find it an enjoyable memoir that is effective and easy to follow. Readers appreciate the humor, sarcasm, and straightforward common sense. The history and authenticity are also appreciated. However, some customers dislike the learning quality.

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Writing advice Readability Effectiveness Encouragement Humor History Authenticity Learning quality

89 customers mention "Writing advice"84 positive5 negative

Customers find the book provides useful writing advice for aspiring writers and novelists. They appreciate the clear guidance on how to increase word count, craft stories worth reading, and get to the core of language. The book conveys detailed information about the writing process and is beneficial for both beginners and fans of the craft.

"...Especially of note is the detailed description of when Stephen was hit by a van in 1999...." Read more

"...You cannot find a *better book to inspire, inform, and motivate aspiring, developing, up and coming, and established but always wanting-to-learn-and..." Read more

"...He was right, it is devoid of useless advice and gets to the core of the language..." Read more

"...writer experienced or otherwise in my humble opinion should read this unique and informative book. Even if you hate King you cannot deny his logic." Read more

76 customers mention "Readability"76 positive0 negative

Customers find the book an enjoyable memoir and writing guide. They find it informative and entertaining, with personal stories and tips for improving writing skills. Readers describe it as a must-read for fans and aspiring writers.

"I already know this book is a classic!..." Read more

"Very enjoyable memoir/writing guide. Quite comforted by the advice that you don't have to have an ending plotted out before attempting a story...." Read more

"...lad Stephen grows up to become one of the most popular and prolific writers of our time...." Read more

"...Not only does he tell his story that I found both interesting and humorous at the same time, he lays out what good writing is, how to become a good..." Read more

15 customers mention "Effectiveness"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book useful and helpful for writing. They describe it as a practical guide that is easy to follow and devoid of useless advice. Readers appreciate the valuable information provided in the book, which improves over time.

"This is a great, pick-your-own-style, book full of advice for writers...." Read more

"...He was right, it is devoid of useless advice and gets to the core of the language..." Read more

"...Direct. To the point. Very engaging and above all, helpful!..." Read more

"This book is so approachable and practical and humble all at the same time...." Read more

10 customers mention "Encouragement"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book encouraging and helpful. They appreciate the author's good-heartedness and helpful advice. The book is described as poignant, informative, and emotional, with personal insights.

"...It is so insightful and encouraging. I didn't realize how many of his books were adapted into movies...." Read more

"...his journey up to this point in his life is interesting, funny and emotional...." Read more

"I’m really liking it. Glad it’s my first real read, inspiring and encouraging. *high five*" Read more

"Amazing, how he can make even nonfiction suspenseful. Cant say anything others haven't said already. If you dont want to read this, dont. Hi Amazon." Read more

8 customers mention "Humor"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's humor. They find it interesting and humorous, with sarcasm and straightforward common sense.

"...He does so with humor, sarcasm, and straightforward common sense...." Read more

"...Not only does he tell his story that I found both interesting and humorous at the same time, he lays out what good writing is, how to become a good..." Read more

"...The story of his journey up to this point in his life is interesting, funny and emotional...." Read more

"The book is surprisingly humorous! I like how On Writing is organized! It has the right amount of biography and information about writing techniques...." Read more

7 customers mention "History"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's personal history and childhood memories. They find the memoir helpful in understanding the author's writing process. The book is described as a modern classic by readers.

"...The beginning of the book is his memoir and it helped me to understand why he wrote The Shining, and the latter part of the book discusses his..." Read more

"...the book is about what inspired him to become a writer and a little personal history...." Read more

"This was a great book, he talks about the early years, and reviews his process...." Read more

"...Love the childhood memories and the practical advice." Read more

4 customers mention "Authenticity"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the authenticity of the shoes. They say the style is genuine and honest.

"...that he would normally use....he leaves them in and in doing so remains authentic...." Read more

"In true King style, little bulls*** and a lot of real!..." Read more

"Generous, honest and unselfish. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Perhaps I should have dropped the adverb." Read more

"...Clear, concise, entertaining, and honest." Read more

4 customers mention "Learning quality"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the book's learning quality disappointing and boring. They also mention it gets less helpful as it goes on.

"...there is some info for the novice writer, I found the book getting boring a bit farther on...." Read more

"I am very disappointed in this book...." Read more

"not really helpful but I still enjoyed reading it....would not have been as happy had I paid the list price but for a few dollars second hand it was..." Read more

"There is not much high quality learning." Read more

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P.D.Cap
A Great Read Even for Non-Writers
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2024
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This is a great, pick-your-own-style, book full of advice for writers. Non-writers (who love Stephen King) will find his personal journey fascinating. Especially of note is the detailed description of when Stephen was hit by a van in 1999. Like all of his writing, this account takes you into the accident with excrutiating detail. A MUST for a SK fans!

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Make Learning Fun Teacher
Inspirational for Aspiring Writers
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2020
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I already know this book is a classic! You cannot find a *better book to inspire, inform, and motivate aspiring, developing, up and coming, and established but always wanting-to-learn-and -improve writers. (*Which is saying a lot, because there are some other great writing books out there! We need them to grow too.) I somehow parted with my first one and had to replace it. My niece is a writer and I just had to get her a copy! There is just something about this book that sets a writer on fire and gets your seat in the chair, the first step and gets you regularly writing (and reading) the second step, and opens the door to possibility and potential or to paraphrase Stephen King, ushers in the muse - a third and magical step. My niece is enjoying it and once again Stephen King's masterpiece on the craft is inspiring a young talented author. Please note, the book is for all writers regardless of genre. The book arrived promptly as scheduled in perfect (new) condition. You'll want to refer back to it, so I recommend hardback for durability. MFA not in the cards right now? Finished your manuscript, yet need a fresh spark? No authors' club in town? (Or even if you have all that....) Get this book:)

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Rolando V. Arango
boring. The first thing Mr
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2014
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A most unusual teaching book and a most effective, I may add. My bookcase has many "English" grammar and writing books but they remain unused or even briefly consulted. I find those textbooks are dry, sterile, devoid of life and, yes, boring.

The first thing Mr. King tells you is that he used Professor William Strunk's "Elements of Style" as a guide in his writing, and explains why it is so valuable a writing tool. So, I reached into my bookcase, dusted it off and read it. He was right, it is devoid of useless advice and gets to the core of the language (after a moment of reflection, I asked myself why did it take Mr. King's advice for me to find the "Elements of Style" useful...quien sabra?).

"On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" is exactly that, a memoir; and a fascinating one at that. It shows how he arrived at a particular way of expressing an idea, how to first ask yourself where are you going? How are you going to get there? Is the idea unnecessarily complex and, if so, how to fix it, erase it and to start over. This type of advice you cannot find elsewhere because no one, that I know, who has the command of the language and published successfully has ever written such a manual...oops, memoir.

I would suggest to buy both then, read "The Elements of Style" first.
Saludos,
Rolando

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P. O'Donnell
Great read
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2024
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Very enjoyable memoir/writing guide. Quite comforted by the advice that you don't have to have an ending plotted out before attempting a story. You can see where the narrative takes you.

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Elizebeth
A Writing Book w/Common Sense & Heart...
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2013
Verified Purchase
As a what I call a "writer in progress" I've read a few books on writing. The one thing I've noticed about most of these books is the pretentious and repetitious way they are written. They often claim anyone can be a bestselling writer if only they follow certain rules, take writing classes, and "do" as the writer of said book says. It's unfortunate that is the case, because then you have people who believe there is no other way to accomplish their dreams. When they fail they beat themselves up about it.

Stephen King though has written a book that brings the craft of writing down from the lofty heights of academia and within reach of the common man/woman who has a reasonable dream of being a writer. I read my first King novel at fourteen and was mesmerized. Over the years he became an influence on my writing in a way I could not fully explain until I read this book.

The first half of the book is a grouping of snapshots of King's childhood; moments he believes shaped his craft. In reading this I laughed and even cried because I realized King and I had a connection on a more personal level. The second half is a no nonsense guide to how to improve your writing in his humble opinion. He does so with humor, sarcasm, and straightforward common sense. More a fluid guide than an unbending rule book "On Writing..." gives a fresh perspective on the craft of writing from a successful writer whose roots are firmly imbedded in poverty and determination. King does not portray himself as an academic or flawless. He bears his heart and soul, ugly warts and all.

Any writer experienced or otherwise in my humble opinion should read this unique and informative book. Even if you hate King you cannot deny his logic.

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unlistedandtwistedblog
Stephen King is a Great NOVELIST...
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2024
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... as for memoirs, I can't say I was overly impressed. I had to buy this after forgetting it in a Lyft. I was really into the book initially. He does hand out some handy writing advice for aspiring writers/novelists. However, it was hard for me to relate. While I could relate to aspects like having a mother that was sort of out of sorts, too, it just didn't grab my attention the same way this time.

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Amazon Customer
Good tips for even nonfans of Stephen King
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2020
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You do not have to be a Stephen King fan to get a lot of writing tips from his book, On Writing. While he does share his childhood and personal history, its actually quite telling to read how a young lad Stephen grows up to become one of the most popular and prolific writers of our time. He isn't so overly guarded to edit out the profanities that he would normally use....he leaves them in and in doing so remains authentic. He covers resources in a chapter called "Toolbox", and tells the whole story of getting hit by a vehicle during the period of his life while he was writing this book. In fact, for those who do not consider themselves fans of Stephen King, you might actually become one after reading On Writing.

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Sherry Leclerc
"On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" - New and aspiring fiction authors will enjoy this book
Reviewed in Canada on January 26, 2019
Verified Purchase

I loved the conversational tone of On Writing. It was almost like sitting and listening to King talk. The tone was relaxed and engaging, proving the point he makes in the book about the importance of language.

The first part of the book was a memoir outlining King’s early life and his beginnings as a writer. As a new author myself, it was enlightening to read that even the great Stephen King was not an overnight sensation. He had many rejections, sold a few stories here and there. But he struggled for years: holding down a day job, raising a family and reading and writing whenever he could before he started making enough to live off his work. But he never gave up.

The second half of the book gives many insights for writing, editing and publishing. He gives a lot of useful information from the point of view of someone who’s been there. It was encouraging for me to see that there were a couple of things he said that meshed with what I instinctively felt when I started writing with the intention to publish.

I don’t want to give too much away. It’s better if you read these things from King himself.

I’ve never been a big memoir fan in the past, but it was really helpful for me to read the memoir of another writer. Not just any writer, but Stephen King. I appreciated the personal stories he chose to share, as they showed that even the most sucessful writers start somewhere. Even the most successful writers struggle sometimes. But if you’re writing from the right place with the right intentions, the struggles won’t (or shouldn’t) discourage you.

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Sharath Srivatsa
A classic must read to change oneself
Reviewed in India on June 24, 2019
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It is difficult to write about such a masterpiece. Never ever imagined an autobiography be written so terse, motivational and would make the reader to change for good. Blessed to have read this book and happy that such an author is there in my lifespan. Zillion gratitude of all kinds to Stephen King, God bless you and have an amazing life.

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Febriyanto Y.
Second hand book sold as new
Reviewed in Australia on June 24, 2024
Verified Purchase
I’m waiting around 2 weeks for this book and at the end, it’s been own by another person. I found some these lines in the book itself when I was examining the pages as soon as it arrived.

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Febriyanto Y.

Second hand book sold as new

Reviewed in Australia on June 24, 2024
I’m waiting around 2 weeks for this book and at the end, it’s been own by another person. I found some these lines in the book itself when I was examining the pages as soon as it arrived.

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Carsten Kukla
Brilliant and helpful
Reviewed in Germany on November 17, 2015
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This was not only a very easy and entertaining read in the best possible sense, but also very comforting. Mr. King puts his finger on the right spots, as he writes from experience. It made me take my chin up and remember what it means to be a writer: go ahead an DO IT! Thanks, Mr. King. I appreciate that kick in the rear ... :-)

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manu
King. just another rich guy who forgot how common people live
Reviewed in France on June 17, 2014
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I've to say I'm a King's fan and what i found out reading this book really disappointed me. In my imaginary world i always believed King was an humble and very talented person. Reading this book, unfourtnatly, my vision of the writer totally changed. And not in a positive way.
I discovered the arrogance of the writer. His present luxury life totally blow his mind off by his wannabe poor orignins. King is this book tries to introduce us to his early ages and to all what makes the writer and the man who is today.
Reading his words and seeing between the lines you can see the real man. Who is not the one he wants us to believe. The best example is when several times he suggest us to read and write a lot in order to be a better writer. Telling us he is the guy reading around 80 books per year. I mean, really? Only a billionaire like him can pretend to read like 6 or 7 book per month and find the time to write also 20 pages per day. Obviously he got money and he doesn't have to deal with family problems, regular or double job !!
So, as i said, i'm very disappointed by the book and by all the rich ass crap he bounced in this 'memoire'.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read Even for Non-Writers

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational for Aspiring Writers

5.0 out of 5 stars boring. The first thing Mr

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read

5.0 out of 5 stars A Writing Book w/Common Sense & Heart...

4.0 out of 5 stars Stephen King is a Great NOVELIST...

5.0 out of 5 stars Good tips for even nonfans of Stephen King

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" - New and aspiring fiction authors will enjoy this book

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic must read to change oneself

1.0 out of 5 stars Second hand book sold as new

Second hand book sold as new

Images in this review

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant and helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars King. just another rich guy who forgot how common people live

A Great Read Even for Non-Writers

Inspirational for Aspiring Writers

boring. The first thing Mr

Great read

A Writing Book w/Common Sense & Heart...

Stephen King is a Great NOVELIST...

Good tips for even nonfans of Stephen King

"On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft" - New and aspiring fiction authors will enjoy this book

A classic must read to change oneself

Second hand book sold as new

Brilliant and helpful

King. just another rich guy who forgot how common people live