On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Name: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Rating: 4.261904716491699 (126 reviews)

Stephen King

Sep 2001 · Hachette UK

4.3

126 reviews

Ebook

384

Pages

Eligible

Ratings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More

Switch to the audiobook

About this ebook

There is a reason why Stephen King is one of the bestselling writers in the world, ever. Described in the Guardian as 'the most remarkable storyteller in modern American literature', Stephen King writes books that draw you in and are impossible to put down.

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 the 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.

Ratings and reviews

4.3

126 reviews

Agent M

January 17, 2013

I just read this as I was about to embark on the second draft of my first novel. So glad I did. Short, sharp, full of no nonsense advice and fully appreciative of my own writing experiences. I suddenly felt less alone in my journey of writer self discovery as King paints an accurate description of every doubt, creative block and turmoil you go through creating your masterpiece. Riveting reading I devoured in a day because I couldn't put it down

6 people found this review helpful

DaveL

December 13, 2012

'The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.' - Stephen King. Whether you're just starting out or have been writing for some time this book oozes with passion for the craft you love. The writer's toolbox section pointed out my flaws which I admitted to while reading (and can now rectify), but it also surprised me by encouraging methods I've always considered to be frowned upon by others yet have always done myself. A great read!

Shona McCarthy

October 2, 2016

There is one thing Stephen King knows and knows well: Writing, and here in these pages you have a chance to learn the techniques and secrets he has to share. But it isn't a dull textbook of dos and don'ts. It is also an amusing insight into King himself: Rather intimately, you also get to experience his mind.

7 people found this review helpful

About the author

STEPHEN KING is the author of more than seventy books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His crime thrillers featuring Holly Gibney include Mr Mercedes, winner of the Edgar Award for best novel, and The Outsider, both of which were adapted into successful TV series, as well as Finders Keepers, End of Watch and the title story from If It Bleeds. Many of his titles are the basis for major motion pictures including IT, Stand By Me (adapted from The Body) and The Shawshank Redemption, which is IMDb's top-rated movie of all time. King is the recipient of The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence 2022, the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

Rate this ebook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets

Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.

Laptops and computers

You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.

eReaders and other devices

To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.

Report illegal content