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On Writing
- A Memoir of the Craft
- Narrated by: Stephen King, Joe Hill, Owen King
- Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
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On Writing
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Editorial reviews
Hearing this unique combination of anecdotes and insider's advice told in King's charmingly nasal voice makes an already insightful narrative even more personal and powerful. If you want to write, this audiobook will quickly become a treasured resource, because it will improve your writing. But even if you have no interest whatsoever in writing, King's anecdotes and instructions into the art and process will probably make you a better, more informed reader.
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.
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)
Featured Article: 35+ Quotes About Books That Truly Speak to Bibliophiles
Novels, memoirs, short stories, essay compilations, and more continue to shape who we are and how we view the world, no matter what format—physical book, ebook, or audiobook—we use to absorb and enjoy them. Books are pathways into different worlds and different lives, and one can never be truly bored with a good book. Celebrate your literary love with these quotes about books that will inspire you to dive into your next story.
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By: Ann Patchett
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The Memoir Project
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 163
Whether or not one has lived an exceptional or dramatic life, we inherently understand that writing memoir—whether it’s a book, blog, or just a letter to a child - is the single greatest portal to self-examination. Stop treading water in writing exercises or hiding behind “writer’s block” and learn how to write with intent. Marion Roach Smith’s disarmingly frank but wildly fun tactics offer you simple and effective guidelines that work. Your legacy beings now.
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amazing what you can learn from brevity
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Jake Mishkin's seemingly innocent job as an intellectual property lawyer has put him at the center of a deadly conspiracy and a chase to find a priceless treasure involving William Shakespeare. As he awaits a killer (or killers) unknown, Jake writes an account of the events that led to this deadly endgame, a frantic chase that began when a fire in an antiquarian bookstore revealed the hiding place of letters containing a shocking secret, concealed for 400 years.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Not your average story.
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By: Michael Gruber
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Young Hearts Crying
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- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
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- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 60
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 49
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Story4 out of 5 stars 50
Yates movingly portrays a man and a woman from their courtship in the 1950s to their divorce in the '70s, chronicling their heartbreaking attempts to reach their highest ambitions. Michael Davenport dreams of being a poet after returning home from World War II, and at first he and his new wife, Lucy, enjoy their life together. But as the decades pass and the success of others creates a fear of failure in both Michael and Lucy, their once bright future gives way to a life of adultery and isolation.
By: Richard Yates
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Dear Fahrenheit 451
- Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks
- By: Annie Spence
- Narrated by: Stephanie Spicer
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 77
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 67
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Story4 out of 5 stars 67
Librarians spend their lives weeding - not weeds, but books - books that have reached the end of their shelf life both literally and figuratively. They remove books that patrons no longer check out, and they put back books they treasure. Annie Spence, who has a decade of experience as a Midwestern librarian, does this not only at her Michigan library but also at home, for her neighbors, at cocktail parties - everywhere. In Dear Fahrenheit 451, she addresses those books directly.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Totally captivating
- By Grace Smith on 03-24-18
By: Annie Spence
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Thunder and Lightning
- Cracking Open the Writer's Craft
- By: Natalie Goldberg
- Narrated by: Natalie Goldberg
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- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 56
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 45
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Story5 out of 5 stars 45
The challenge we face as writers, Natalie Goldberg says, begins with the process of turning inward and then trying to communicate what we find. From the secret of letting characters and stories "write themselves" to finding mentor sources and responding to criticism to writing's one essential ingredient, which is the mind - here are all-new Zen-based lessons and reflections, refined and proven at Natalie's acclaimed national writers' workshops.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Inspiring
- By StoryDtechtive on 02-11-17
By: Natalie Goldberg
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Bright Lights, Big City
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 332
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 273
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The tragicomedy of a young man in New York City, a writer, never named, who works as a fact-checker for a prestigious magazine. He struggles with the reality of his mother's death, alienation, and the seductive pull of drugs and a vibrant nightlife.
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Curiously, mundanely real
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What do the lives of Lincoln, Helen Keller, Joan of Arc, and other historical figures have in common with Paula Poundstone? In the hands of this wryly observant and self-deprecating comedian, the answer is outrageously funny and unexpectedly touching. Poundstone compares her crazy life to theirs, as she holds forth on her children, her career, and the time in her life when it appeared she would lose them both.
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More!
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Learning to Die in Miami
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 55
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 48
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 48
Carlos Eire's story of a boyhood uprooted by the Cuban Revolution quickly lures us in, as eleven-year-old Carlos and his older brother Tony touch down in the sun-dappled Miami of 1962 - a place of daunting abundance where his old Cuban self must die to make way for a new, American self waiting to be born. In this enchanting new work, narrated in Eire's inimitable and lyrical voice, young Carlos adjusts to life in his new country.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent memoir of a forgotten time in history
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Wild Mind
- Living the Writer's Life
- By: Natalie Goldberg
- Narrated by: Natalie Goldberg
- Length: 2 hrs and 56 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 82
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 54
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 55
Writer, poet, and teacher Natalie Goldberg shows you how to unleash your "wild mind" - the true source of your creative power. In this crisp mix of memoir, teaching guide, nonfiction and poetry, Goldberg strips creativity to the essential mind that is "raw, full of energy, alive, and hungry." Natalie is compassionate, practical, and humorous. "Even if it's just a leg hanging out the window, she says, "write it down." Highlights include: provocative "try this" exercises to compel you into action, advice on how to find time to write, how to discover your personal style, how to make sentences come alive, and how to overcome procrastination and writer's block. She'll also explore the larger vision of the writer's task: knowing when to take risks as a writer and a person, learning self-acceptance in life and art.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Get to know Natalie Goldberg
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By: Natalie Goldberg
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Humboldt's Gift
- By: Saul Bellow
- Narrated by: Christopher Hurt
- Length: 18 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 229
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 156
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Story4 out of 5 stars 155
For years, they were the best of friends: the grand, erratic Humboldt and the ambitious young Charlie. But now Humboldt has died a failure, and Charlie's success-ridden life has taken various turns for the worse. Then Humboldt acts from the grave to change Charlie's life: he has left Charlie something in his will.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great Book, Great Reader
- By Scott on 05-10-08
By: Saul Bellow
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Reading Like a Writer
- By: Francine Prose
- Narrated by: Nanette Savard
- Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 230
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 147
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Story4 out of 5 stars 142
In her entertaining and edifying New York Times bestseller, acclaimed author Francine Prose invites you to sit by her side and take a guided tour of the tools and the tricks of the masters and discover why their work has endured. Written with passion, humor, and wisdom, Reading Like a Writer will inspire listeners to return to literature with a fresh eye and an eager heart.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Practical, literate, generous
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By: Francine Prose
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My Life with Bob
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- By: Pamela Paul
- Narrated by: Eileen Stevens, Pamela Paul
- Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 66
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 62
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Story4 out of 5 stars 62
Pamela Paul has kept a single book by her side for 28 years - carried throughout high school and college, hauled from Paris to London to Thailand, from job to job, safely packed away and then carefully removed from apartment to house to its current perch on a shelf over her desk - reliable if frayed, anonymous-looking yet deeply personal. This book has a name: Bob. Bob is Paul's Book of Books, a journal that records every book she's ever read.
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5 out of 5 stars
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An uncanny mirror and a celebration of book love
- By Cherilyn Parsons on 07-28-19
By: Pamela Paul
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Manhood for Amateurs
- The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son
- By: Michael Chabon
- Narrated by: Michael Chabon
- Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 238
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 147
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Story4 out of 5 stars 147
As a devoted son, as a passionate husband, and above all as a father, Chabon's memories of childhood, of his parents' marriage and divorce, of moments of painful adolescent comedy and giddy encounters with the popular art and literature of his own youth, are like a theme played by the mad quartet of which he now finds himself co-conductor. At once dazzling, hilarious, and moving, Manhood for Amateurs is destined to become a classic.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Terrible
- By Ken on 10-14-09
By: Michael Chabon
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Baltimore Blues
- Tess Monaghan, Book 1
- By: Laura Lippman
- Narrated by: Deborah Hazlett
- Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,490
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 1,192
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Story4 out of 5 stars 1,184
Unemployed at 29, Tess Monaghan is willing to take any freelance job to pay the rent—including a bit of unorthodox snooping for her rowing buddy, Darryl "Rock" Paxton. In a city where someone is murdered almost every day, attorney Michael Abramowitz's death should be just another statistic. But the slain lawyer's notoriety—and his noontime trysts with Rock's fiancée—make the case front page news...and point to Rock as the likely murderer. But trying to prove her friend's innocence could prove costly to Tess.
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4 out of 5 stars
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I'm on #8 - This series is almost unique
- By connie on 02-19-12
By: Laura Lippman
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Schadenfreude, a Love Story
- Me, the Germans, and 20 Years of Attempted Transformations, Unfortunate Miscommunications, and Humiliating Situations That Only They Have Words For
- By: Rebecca Schuman
- Narrated by: Christa Lewis
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 22
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 19
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 19
Schadenfreude is the story of a teenage Jewish intellectual who falls in love - in love with a boy (who breaks her heart), a language (that's nearly impossible to master), a culture (that's nihilistic but punctual), and a landscape (that's breathtaking when there's not a wall in the way). Rebecca is an everyday, misunderstood '90s teenager with a passion for Pearl Jam and Ethan Hawke circa Reality Bites until two men walk into her high school civics class: Dylan Gellner and Franz Kafka, hitching a ride in Dylan's backpack.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A humorous, delectable read
- By Amazon Customer on 07-13-17
By: Rebecca Schuman
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Story4 out of 5 stars 106
Have you ever had an idea and thought to yourself "this would make a great movie?" Of course, storytelling is engrained in us all and movies have become our modern means to tell them. Recent innovations in film technology have made it easier than ever to get your ideas put onto the big screen. So what's stopping you from writing that award winning screenplay? Screenwriting for Anyone is a four book box set that is a comprehensive guide to writing your script starting from the ground up. Each book will detail different aspects of the writing process beginning with the first book. Book One outline how to develop your idea into a feature length screenplay. Book Two gives you a detailed schedule to complete the first draft within 30 days and Book Three is a comprehensive guide on the dos and don'ts when creating a modern masterpiece. Book Four dives into the business side of screenwriting with proven methods on how to pitch your script and negotiate a deal. Screenwriting for Anyone is a one of a kind four book box set that will help you finally get that idea on paper and up onto the silver screen.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Ripoff
- By Jay on 04-07-16
By: George Lucas
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Zen in the Art of Writing
- By: Ray Bradbury
- Narrated by: Jim Frangione
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 444
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 389
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 387
"Every morning I jump out of bed and step on a land mine. The land mine is me. After the explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces back together. Now, it's your turn. Jump!" Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities every writer must have, as well as a spirit of adventure. In this exuberant book, the incomparable Ray Bradbury shares the wisdom, experience, and excitement of a lifetime of writing. Here are practical tips on the art of writing from a master of the craft - everything from finding original ideas to developing your own voice and style.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Evocative fuel for any Muse!
- By Amazon Customer on 03-22-18
By: Ray Bradbury
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Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story
- By: Angus Fletcher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Angus Fletcher
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 574
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 485
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 476
Whether you want to write your own scripts or simply gain a deeper appreciation for the great stories you see unfold on the screen, Professor Angus Fletcher is here to show you the way in Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story. Professor Fletcher, Professor of English and Film at The Ohio State University, brings both a personal and scholarly perspective to this craft. As a screenwriter himself, he has experienced the ins and outs of the process first-hand.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Screenwriting 101 - Angus Fletcher
- By Siobhan Sands on 04-14-18
By: Angus Fletcher, and others
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Ernest Hemingway on Writing
- By: Larry W. Phillips - editor
- Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd
- Length: 2 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 112
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 93
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 91
An assemblage of reflections on the nature of writing and the writer from one the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Throughout Hemingway’s career as a writer, he maintained that it was bad luck to talk about writing - that it takes off “whatever butterflies have on their wings and the arrangement of hawk’s feathers if you show it or talk about it”.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Smart book, good idea, good narrator, annoying
- By brendan f kelly on 08-04-21
What listeners say about On Writing
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mr Dangerous
- 03-02-20
Delightful...
King is wonderful. This is not heavy handed when it comes to advice or insight. Just enjoyable.
King gives a great read.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joe
- 01-10-12
Intriguing and Insightful
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
If you are a fan of Stephen King, an aspiring author, or both,, this is a must read. As the title suggests, this is a combination auto-biogrophy/ writing workshop and is terrific in both aspects. Hearing Mr.King recount his life as a child and the trials and tribulations that come along with writing is a treat that any King aficionado can not miss.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 07-14-17
I was sad when it was over...
Such a great book on writing. Stephen King does an incredible job with the narration.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sara
- 12-05-11
Wicked Awesome!!!!!
I have read a bunch of books on the craft of writing, and this one was by far the best. I think it's because Stephen King takes you into his personal journey.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lizzie Askew
- 06-20-13
Very useful, yet also very entertaining!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes! I'd recommend it if I knew someone who either just adored Stephen King, or was a writer, at any stage of their career at all.
Any additional comments?
This is a realistic, yet encouraging account of what a writer's life can be like, and some of the knowledge that a writer will need to reach their full potential, and it comes straight from the source of one who lives off of his writing. King's taking on the reading of the audiobook himself turned out to be a good thing, as I can't imagine anyone knowing what tone to use when, and where to place emphasis in such a personal story's narration more than the writer himself. King understands his memories and life lessons better than any other narrator could, and he brings a sense of who he is to his words. A warm, entertaining, educating, and thoughtful read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Robert
- 01-01-14
very intresting, even if you're not a King fan.
Would you listen to On Writing again? Why?
Yes, the second half of the book is a clinic on the craft of writing, very informative.
If you’ve listened to books by Stephen King before, how does this one compare?
I am not normally a Steven King fan, and for the first half of this book I was worried this was just going to be him recounting his childhood but wait for it - the second half is worth the wait.
What about Stephen King’s performance did you like?
He is an incredibly prolific writer and hearing his views on writing is worth a listen.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
King sits as his desk for hours! WHY IN GODS NAME WOULD YOU WATCH THIS MOVIE!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- D.Montville
- 03-04-17
Loved it
I thoroughly enjoyed this book in its entirety. I loved the real life stories mixed in making it a pleasure to get through. Will definitely be a repeat listen for me!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Diane
- 09-04-12
Delicious Stephen King without the scary.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Stephen's creative perspective comes through so powerfully in this book. His background story and life experiences folded in amongst the knowledge he shares on the writing process make this book a very entertaining as well as informative read.
What other book might you compare On Writing to and why?
I don't know if comparison is the right word but "On Writing" makes me think of "The Dancing Mind" by Toni Morrison. Toni's book makes me think of why I'd want to write. Stephen's book points me to the how. Both books I reread or re-listen to often. Toni's is only ten pages so rereading is easy and quick. Stephens I have on my MP3 player so easy access on the train or wherever.
What about Stephen King’s performance did you like?
The poetic pauses just before a particularly funny line like, "I have to push." are very well done. But his general delivery was delightful. I was walking into a CVS while listening to "On Writing" for the first time. Stephen was relaying the babysitter, "Eula/Beulah" story. I had to pull my earbuds out of my ears because I was howling so loudly. I wasn't just looking like the crazy lady that talks to herself as she wanders through the store. More like the "grab the kids and move away from, off her rocker" kind of lady. It was hysterical.
Even the story about dropping the cinder block on his toes as a two year old was a really enjoyable story to listen to. I could see the small child's determination to place that cinder block in preparation for his really big show.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
"I have to push." No no just kidding. "It's about the day job. It's about the language."
Any additional comments?
Loved it!
I'd like to say that when I grow up I want to write just like Stephen King (and Toni Morrison). I'm 52 now so I'm going to work on it but it might be the next life time.
Very Entertaining.
How about an online course Stephen? Non accredited of course unless that's something you're in to. But wow oh wow I would love to take that course. It would have to be the basics for someone like me but I'd sign on for whatever you'd decide to share on the writing process.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- J. Fleming
- 02-25-15
more than a craft book
The narration by Steven King really added to this inspiring story of the writing life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Chase
- 05-05-18
Treasured Favorite
A story and a lesson all-in-one. Great work By Stephen King. I am truly inspired.
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