On Writing

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Stephen King

Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

In June of 1999, Stephen King was hit by a van while walking along the shoulder of a country road in Maine. Six operations were required to save his life and mend his broken body. When he was finally able to sit up, he immediately started writing. This book is the extraordinary result.

©2000 Stephen King (P)2000 Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"This is the written equivalent of Delia Smith's How To Cook. And, like British home cooking, the world of popular fiction will be better off for it." (The Times)

"Not since Dickens has a writer had so many readers by the throat.... King's imagination is vast. He knows how to engage the deepest sympathies of his readers.... It is part biography, part collection of tips for the aspiring writer. In the final chapters, King tells, in graphic details, the story of his recent accident...a bizarre and absorbing story, told brilliantly by one of the great storytellers of our time." (Guardian)

Lovely, Honest, Inspiring

What did you like best about this story?

Stephen King's honesty and incredibly fun, light-hearted way of telling his story.

Which scene was your favorite?

Stephen King definitely gives some incredible tips, very practical ones even, for the aspiring writer. A must-read for everyone who wants to get creative between the sheets... of paper.

Wonderful, in entirety.

This was, for me, a delightfully insightful look into the internal struggle, triumph, and wisdom of one of the most prolific fiction writers today.

Aspiring writers can do far far worse than than set aside the time to take this in.

Glad I got it

I enjoyed listening to this book, apart from the intermittent use of obscene language. will pick up a hard copy as well and go through again.

Loved it.

It took me a while to get through this but I considered it like delicious nips of fine chocolate. I didn't want to gorge all at once.

Although it wasn't a book on craft like I assumed, it was more motivational and inspiring. Reaffirming.

I'm embarrassed to admit I've never read anything by the King before but I definitely will in the future.

Rather than a How-To Book, this is a How-I-Did.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. He's not condescending or all-knowing, but he is informative. He tells you what worked for him, but also the other options available if that's not for you.

What does Stephen King bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It made it even more personal. It was a nice touch that he read it himself - and I think it just brings home everything he said.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

candid, insightful & entertaining -King's way

Right from the start, it was humourous and King never drifted away from the most important topic and his real life experiences and other examples were really helpful...a great and insightful for aspiring writers like me...thanks King..your narration was as entertaining as your writing.

Helpful

First half was more autobiographical and the second half is really good.
I learnt a lot.

A Must Have

That some people still refuse to think of King as anything other than simply a horror writer baffles me. Even at his worst he's considerably more entertaining, inventive and downright readable than most authors are at their best.

On Writing is simply King advising authors how to improve their skills. It's a nuts and bolts 'how to' guide really but, as with most things King writes, there's way more to it than that. Yes he deals with everything from punctuation and vocab to finding an agent and getting published, but along the way he talks openly about his own journey.

From his first big payday to alcoholism, from drug abuse to being almost killed by someone who might have been a character from one of his own books, On Writing is tightly written and yet never feels lightweight. And King's account of the aftermath of being hit by a van whilst out walking is some of the most wince-inducing horror I've ever read.

Faultless.

I enjoyed this book as much as I learned from it.

I enjoyed this book as much as I learned from it. Thank you Mr Stephen King

Don’t write until you read this

I have just completed my second novel started my third written a film script and I am in the process of writing a TV seriesx3 my work has improved immeasurably because Stephen wrote this book to help. Can’t recommend it enough