On Writing

A Memoir of the Craft

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Stephen King, Joe Hill, Owen King

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Twentieth Anniversary Edition with Contributions from Joe Hill and Owen King

ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S TOP 100 NONFICTION BOOKS OF ALL TIME

Immensely helpful and illuminating to any aspiring writer, this special edition of Stephen King’s critically lauded, million-copy bestseller shares the experiences, habits, and convictions that have shaped him and his work.

“Long live the King” hailed Entertainment Weekly upon publication of Stephen King’s On Writing. 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 his 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. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it—fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.

The twentieth-anniversary audio edition includes Owen King reading his essay, “Recording Audiobooks for My Dad, Stephen King,” and a recorded conversation with Joe Hill and Stephen King.

©2000 ©2000 Stephen King, All Rights Reserved; (P)2000 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Critic reviews

"These rare glimpses into King's personal life - as related in his earnest tone and real (thank God) Maine accent - are fascinating.... If you write - or want to - get this book." (AudioFile)

"Spunky, vivid prose are the prime ingredients of what must be considered not at all the usual writer's guide." (Booklist)

"On Writing contains some of the most harrowing pages he has ever written." (Salon.com)

Wow! A page turner!

I have never read Stephen King book, nor watch the Stephen King movie, because I’m not a fan of horror and I don’t like feeling afraid. Basically I’m a wimp. So this book is my first introduction to Stephen King and his work.
I probably still won’t read his other books or watch his movies, but this book was such a joy to read, and has me wishing that his genre and my nerves were more compatible.
When I told my nephew I was listening to this great book by Stephen King called oOn Writing, he said, “I read that! Who knew that a book on writing could be a page turner!”
Thank you Mr. King for sharing your humor, your talent and your heart.

just read/listen to it

lovely in his voice. and, yes, the stand is my favorite novel. he is encouraging.

A Must-Read For Any Writer - Or Reader

As one of at least a billion would-be writers, I will take good help where I can get it.

I spotted this book on the bookshelves at a local store and immediately dialed it into my phone (don't you just love tech?) for a later listen. I put off listening to the book, listening to two others first for fear that a book on writing would be bland and dry and a struggle to get through.

Silly me.

Stephen King is as honest in his instruction as he is with his fiction. He speaks candidly to his readers, sometimes baring more than I would feel comfortable with were I in his shoes, but always driving home his point with an elegance of simplicity to his words.

Mr. King's comfortable use of a conversational voice has made the beginner's mantra of "just write" less intimidating and more feasible.

Will everyone like his tendency to use profanity to drive his points home? No, not everyone. But I enjoyed every word, even the "bad" ones. It was like sitting down with a good friend over a coffee and having a discussion on a topic favored by both.

I intend to read this one again, if only to better cement some of the concepts into my working mind. Highly recommended.

Thank you, Stephen

I found myself at a crossroads after writing and publishing my first novel, and finding a nominal amount of success, as to whether or not I would be able to do it again. This book was recommended to me by a friend and owner of my local indie bookstore. It served as a roadmap back to the place that made writing my first book such a joy. So thank you, Stephen. Books two and three are nearly finished and I have no doubts they will both go on to accomplish what I originally sat down to write them for in the first place. To make myself a happier person and give my kids a reason to believe that they are capable of doing anything.

MUST READ for aspiring writers!!!

On Writing not only provides insight into many of Stephen King's stories and his personal life, but he takes listers through a wonderful journey which conveys a "you can do it too message". Excellent is strong enough of a word!! Thanks Stephen!! And thank you for reading this yourself; books read by the author, as this one is, add such a rich dimension!

Recommended reading not only for writer

Not really interested in writing, but still enjoyed this book a lot. I think Stephen greatly describes process for any creative work and how to get the most put of your ideas.
5 out of 5. Loved it.

Rich memoir

I highly recommend this memoir to any Stephen King fan. I appreciated learning about his childhood and his life. It adds so much to my reading experience to know the background stories! Also I don’t usually like when authors narrate their own books but Stephen King is the exception.

Honest and Encouraging

Having never read any of King's novels, I wasn't sure quite what to expect. Was this to be a dry practical tome about style and grammar? A personal recollection of his greatest hits? Fortunately, it's nothing so pretentious or bland. This seems like honest advice from a man who's enamored with his craft. That by itself makes this worth a read, whether or not you aspire to write.

One hell of a good manuall for storytelling

Stephen King gives an honest and self-experienced deep dive into what makes good storytelling.

great book!!

Finding out about Stephen's past and his insights on writing makes this a great listen. Stephen is a great.