Search Helium

Home > Arts & Humanities > Literature > Horror, Mystery & Suspense

Book reviews: On Writing, by Stephen King

by Rebecca Laffar-Smith

Created on: March 24, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

With lighthearted humor, Stephen King expresses anecdotes of his life and offers insight into his writing process and the journey of his career in his memoir, "On Writing". Stephen shares the light and the darkness that molded him through his life in a courageous, empowering voice that is inspiring and motivational.

The book evolves as events in his life continued to alter his outlook and the second half of On Writing has a distinct intensity. His voice carries a deep integrity as he expresses key thoughts on writing and how he approaches his work. One of the most vital of these is the need to give ourselves permission to write. For Stephen King, permission to write came at an early age with his mother's encouragement, "Writing one of your own, Stevie."

This book is a wonderful read for all writers and entertaining for non-writers. Stephen King has a fluid hand that is a delight to read. The second half of the book contains helpful advice, but I felt a writer would find the first half more inspiring. I did find the profanity scattered across the book grating, but he has a section where he speaks of that also. It says a lot about who Stephen is and how he was raised. The entire book opens him up. Readers are given the opportunity to 'know' him, and that connection of minds shows the truth he shares of writer's telepathy.

Despite all he has suffered in life Stephen comes out a stronger man. In "On Writing" he offers aspiring writers a wealth of advice the most significant being, "Read a lot, Write a lot." You can only learn your subject by immersing yourself in it and as with all artistic desire to reach perfection the Carnegie hall anecdote comes to mine, "Practice, practice, practice".

Title: On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft
Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Pocket (July 1, 2002)
Find Out More: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0743455967/ip seitys-20

Learn more about this author, Rebecca Laffar-Smith.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

Was theTwilight novel better than the movie?

Click for your side.

101711

Featured Partner

The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR)

The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) is a national forum that promotes the development, implementation and evaluation of efforts to avoid, eliminate or reduce waste generated to air, land and water. The sustainable and ef...more


CONNECT WITH US

Read
our blog
Helum for writers

Write and get published
Share with other writers
Polish your freelancing skills

Join our active writing community
Helium Content Source for Publishers

Quality articles from proven freelancers
Exclusive rights, fast turnaround
Brand engagement, business blogging -- our writers do it all

Get custom content today!

INFORMATION


Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA
#