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On Writing  By  cover art

On Writing

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Stephen King, Joe Hill, Owen King
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Editorial reviews

To begin with, you've got Stephen King, a writer so talented in the art of thrill-generation that he could insert excitement into the assembly instructions for a bookshelf. Or, say, a book about writing and grammar. And that's precisely what King does in On Writing, an improbably fascinating, relentlessly compelling trip through the mind, style, life, and work of one of our greatest popular writers.

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.

©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)

Featured Article: We All Quote Down Here—50+ of the Best Stephen King Quotes


It is King's versatility, his skills as a writer, and his ability to tap into our fears that makes Uncle Stevie so eminently quotable. Even though King writes mainly terrifying books, his works are also full of wisdom, heart, humor, and compassion. He can be scaring your pants off one minute, and really making you think about humankind the next. Here are the best quotes from the master of the macabre: Stephen King.

What listeners say about On Writing

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Loved it!

Down to earth, very helpful, and also a fun read! I'm glad I read it!

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Great Book

Stephen King is a master of the writers craft. I loved it. God Bless Stephen King

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Brilliant memoir

wow! Is all I can say. Stephen is wise and hard working! totally recommend this to anyone who needs that boost!

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Great book

I love this book. Stephen King's On Writing is part memoir, part craft book, and pure inspiration.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Great listen.

This was honestly a great story along with great instruction. I will listen to this again and again.

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King Reads Aloud!!!

all around good, even for non-writing types. great advice for scribblers and an easy going approach. This is a book on writing, as the title says, not another how-to that just rewords the same old platitudes.

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Great book

I like everything about this book I didn’t really know many books by Stephen King and I didn’t really know of him as an author so now that I got a chance to know more of his writing I have come to like it.

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What’s not to like.

I couldn’t believe I was taking a class in writing from Stephen King. I got a lot out of it.

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Very enjoyable!

I enjoyed listening all 8 hours of it. I felt like Stephen King was in the car and I enjoyed hearing what fed his creative efforts. I liked hearing his pet peeves about writing too. I might like to pick up the book and reread that portion because I enjoy hearing people's suggestions for good writing.

Enjoy!

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Very Interesting, well written and well performed

The story was not what I expected, but true to his ability, Stephen King delivered an interesting and enjoyable book. I learned more about Stephen, about writing and enjoyed hearing the writer's voice. I highly recommend the book for entertainment as well as for knowledge about writing.

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