by C de Burlet

Created on: April 15, 2009

Two quotations at the very start set the tone of this book: "Honesty's the best policy", "Liars prosper". In case you have not grasped it: this is not an ordinary "how to" guide. The quotations are followed by several forewords and roughly 200 pages containing a memoir of how Stephen King became a writer and what he thinks is important for other writers to know.

His memoirs form the first part of the book, titled C.V. In case you think you'd better skip that bit: please don't! The memoir is often funny and already contains examples and advice. You can learn a lot from scenes described by Stephen King. The death-bed scene of his mother is full of emotion, economic with words. Compare it with William Faulkner.

Part of King's message is that writing is a craft. Even if you have talent, you will have to work hard to develop it. He wrote from an early age. Even during the period that he was an alcoholic and addict, he wrote. Even while having several jobs to try to support his family, he wrote. Even after getting one rejection after the other, he continued writing.

He also advises to read a lot. Stephen King's preferred reading material helped form his style and find him his niche. So he not only advises to read and learn from other writers, bad or good, but also to notice what you like reading. This may help you decide what you like to write and what your niche may be.

C.V is followed by Toolbox, which describes what tools a writer will need. It helps you think about your own toolbox and contains remarks on grammar, vocabulary, and more. As Stephen King points out: you may detest grammar, but a writer can't live without it.

After Toolbox comes the part that gave this book its title: advice on what else may help you write. This deals with subjects like Virginia Woolf's "Room of one's own", finding out your best work-schedule, and even some advice on agents.

Though aimed at (aspiring) writers, for fans of Stephen King this is a funny book on how he became such a good writer. For writers, it's crammed with useful advice, handed out in an irreverent, funny and cheerful manner. It is the kind of book you will keep coming back to. It's already influencing my writing.

As for the quotations: Stephen King's advice throughout is, to be as honest as you can be. Or as Jane Austen more or less put it: stick to what you know and are familiar with. But also remember: writers are "liars"; they're compulsive benders of the truth creating the most fantastic stories. Some prosper.

"On Writing, a memoir of the craft", by Stephen King, published by Hodder and Stoughton, 2000, pp 238

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