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"On Writing" is, like most of King's work, a journey toward discovery. It is a down-to-earth, no-nonsense type of book on the craft of writing. Too many writing books are full of needless, and oftentimes confusing, rhetoric. "On Writing" is short and to the point.

In several places, King shows examples of others' work, giving his take on where they fail or succeed. Whether one agrees with his opinion or not, it is a nice tool in evaluating what you read. Writers, after all, learn from the authors they read.

A writer's treat, an excerpt of the rough draft of the short story, "1408," complete with proofreading marks, was included in the book. It shows that even the master of suspense doesn't always get it right the first time. Studying the changes he made to the rough draft of that story could help many in their own revision work.

(I read the rough excerpt from "1408" as a stand-alone piece; in other words, I read it as I would the final draft. And I'm glad, as a fan of "1408," that King made those changes.)

If one is looking for a grammar guide, or seeking secrets on how to write a bestseller, this book seemingly might not be appropriate. But it is appropriate. To state the rules of grammar is not the book's intention, and King has said many times throughout his career that there are no secrets to writing bestsellers. "On Writing" is a testimony of the most celebrated writer of our time, and he gives practical advice that goes beyond such things as grammar, structure, and such, though he does touch on the mechanics at certain points of the book.

For many up-and-coming writers, Stephen King may seem like a god. But this book shows that he is as human as the rest of us, only possessed of extraordinary talent. "On Writing" describes how he grew up, how the events of his life affected him, including the influence of others, and thus, how he became the writer he is. (The sister book, "Secret Windows," takes this further, and includes a short story written by a young Stephen King for his school's newspaper.)

"On Writing" also details, through the victim's eyes, Stephen's brush with death when he was hit by a van in '99. It is the story of what one can do when one refuses to give up. It was during his recovery that he wrote "Dreamcatcher," and the testimony of his ordeal in "On Writing" is yet another source of inspiration, and a look at how writing can see you through the bad times.

As a writer, though, I believe that one of the most important bits of advice in "On Writing" is to make sure your work is appropriate for its intended audience. This is often overlooked (or so it seems to me), and I see far too much writing that is inappropriate for the market it is targeting.

For writers, the book should be seen as one man's memoir and a set of suggestions (not rules) that one can try to enhance one's craft. King makes no bones about calling it work, for it is work. And he outlines, by showing you his routine, how you must treat it as such if you're going to get anything done.

As a writer and a reader, I hear the question in my head, "Who better to ask for advice on writing than Stephen King?" And the humbleness he shows in "On Writing" (and in other nonfiction works) is amazing for one who is the most-read author in the world.

Learn more about this author, Jason Lusk.
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