On Writing

A Memoir of the Craft

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Stephen King, Joe Hill, Owen King

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF WRITING with fresh testimonials from fellow writers about why they love Stephen King and On Writing—and a few new words on the joy of writing from King himself.

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

Critic reviews

"Twenty years after this audiobook came out, it remains as fresh as it was in 2000—a combination of memoir, observations on literature and authorship, craft tips for writers, and an emotional concluding segment on the 1999 near-fatal accident that put King's career on hold. King presents his work in a conversational storytelling voice with excellent timing. This new edition sports two bonuses, both of interest to audiobook listeners. There's a New Yorker essay written and read by Stephen's son Owen, explaining how his father paid him to record books on cassette tapes back when most audiobooks were abridged. Also included is an hour-long conversation on writing between Stephen King and his son Joe Hill, which features father and son reading from each other's works."

Ah Stephen, just what I thought it would be...

For the entire weekend my family and neighbors though I had gone mad. Yes, she finally had done it I am sure they all were thinking. Our in the yard working, my Audible Otis strapped to my side, earphones on, and laughing as Stephen King entertained me. So personal, that New England voice of his. My delight came from a combination of his characteristic wit, his ability to tell a good yarn, and the similarities in our past. I would have liked The Vomit.

Ah Stephen, you didn't waste your talent. Your right were you should be.

You'll Never Look at Adverbs the Same Way Again

Really fun to listen to and I'm glad King actually read the book too. Sometimes books read by the author are a huge mistake, but King does a great job with this. The first half of this book was a bit of a biography, at least of the parts of King's life that led him to writing. The second half wasn't so much a how-to-write book, as a way to think about writing. He gives an overview of what he thinks are the important parts of writing a story and some advice based on his own experience. I would recommend this even if you have no wish to be a writer, but would simply like a behind the scenes look at the world of writing.

Insights abound

The text is valuable. The subtext is telling. One of the best books on writing available, by one of the best writers.

Steven King's Memoirs read by Steven King!!

Quite often we encounter in reviews the opinion that writers are not skilled enough to narrate their own work. If that is true, here is the exception that proves the rule! If Steven King had not been a best selling author, he surely could have done this for a living. What a treat to hear him give voices to the various characters he reads for in the writing lesson portion of this work. It surely would have been acceptable for him to read them in his own voice, but he goes the extra mile.

Witty, self-effacing, not afraid to reveal even the most embarrassing episodes from his youth, he has created a book on writing that is also the story of his own journey to becoming a writer, as interesting as any autobiography out there. He also offers a lot of good advice to would-be writers, useful stuff whether you are actually an aspiring novelist or just have to do routine writing for work.

I think it's one of his best books, and I will listen to it multiple times.

The master shares his secret...and it is...

...that there is no secret. This is a wonderful blend of memoir and guidebook. I found his observations on the craft refreshingly down to earth and pragmatic. Highly recommended!