“On Writing”

We all know Stephen King writes horror novels, a few of which have revolutionized and redefined the genre forever. After reading On Writing, I can say that King’s take on writing a memoir feels revolutionary as well. The book is uniquely separated into three forwards, a memoir, a guide to the craft of writing fiction, more memoir, a look into King’s editorial process and three book lists. If you get the twentieth anniversary edition like I did, the book also includes contributions from King’s sons Joe Hill and Owen King. 

I approached this book having never read a King novel before, and I left it inspired to write professionally and with a new respect for King as an author. The second forward talks about how most books on writing are bad with the exception of The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White. The Elements of Style was the only book on the fundamentals of writing I owned before On Writing, and even though I’d only read five pages of it, King affirmed my taste in books, so I was determined to hear him out. 

In On Writing, King demystifies the publishing industry for aspiring writers and uses the memoir portion of the book to recount his struggle making writing a viable career. In terms of prose, I found King relatable, if a little dated. It’s clear that he’s a product of the 1970’s and 80’s, but I’m not here to complain.What’s important is that each sentence feels candid; something you’d hear in a conversation with King in his living room. In fact, the last portion of the book is a transcription of a conversation between Joe Hill and his dad from 2019.  

The part of King’s personal journey that I found most endearing was his attachment to his wife and family over his career. King specifically states on page 101, “Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other way around.”  

I believe the message throughout his memoir section shows readers it is possible to put family and values first and have a successful career. The memoir focuses mostly on his career journey that started as a lowly no-name, but also includes large portions on family life, addiction, and the time he got hit by a truck. I don’t want to spoil anything for those interested in reading, but like all good memoirs, King’s life is filled with emotional intrigue, pain, and restoration.

Going into this memoir, I was unaware how comedic King was. As someone who hasn’t read any of his novels, King’s jokes and tales of childhood antics caught my attention. In my opinion, a good sense of humor goes a long way in the realm of non-fiction. King’s humor also helps to pad his brutal honesty at times when he talks about bad writers. Nothing is meant to personally attack, but aspiring writers may feel convicted on a few occasions when King discusses all the habits authors should avoid.

Unlike other books I’ve read on the writing process, On Writing doesn’t make objective statements about how to write well. There are some guidelines King strongly suggests and provides evidence for his reasoning, but most of his advice boils down to, “this works for me, and I have reason to believe this might work for you too.” I’m paraphrasing of course, but it felt like a more enjoyable read than other authors who talk about their craft in hard and fast rules. 

For college students, I recommend On Writing to anyone who has to write papers frequently. King’s advice leans toward writing fiction, but many of his principles for writing well can be used universally. As an English major with a concentration in writing, I am strongly motivated to learn good writing techniques. But for those who aren’t in my situation, King has writing tips that can improve just about anything, even emails.

I’d also recommend this book to those who enjoy reading fiction, even if they have no plans to write in the future. King gives a glimpse into the mind of an author, and helps to dissect what makes a story worthwhile. As a reader, I like to read good books, plain and simple. Understanding what authors are attempting to do helps me know why a book is well written or not, and King does just that in his “On Writing” section. 

I was given On Writing by my summer internship boss, and I finally got to sit down with it after a busy fall semester. I felt tired of writing, tired of reading, and quite frankly drained from finals week. But I encouraged myself to finish at least one book over the break, and I’m thankful I did. King’s easygoing prose made the act of reading enjoyable and the contemplation of writing exciting again. I have King to thank for reinvigorating me to write, especially going into my senior project. If you pick up On Writing, King can hopefully encourage you on your writing journey too.