I would recommend Stephen King's memoir "On Writing" to almost anyone! Fan or not, Stephen King's memoir is entertaining and full of relatable material. King maintains a very casual tone, allowing his humor and sarcasm to shine through.
One of the most
interesting and surprising things I've learned so far about Stephen King would
be his struggle with addiction and the intervention his family staged to save
his life. I think his candid recollection of such a sensitive personal issue,
like many other memories he shares, makes him a trustworthy and reliable source
of information.
King shares a piece
of advice with the reader that he was given by Editor John Gould- "write
with the door closed, rewrite with the door open." King claims Gould
taught him more in ten minutes than all his college courses.
Right before we
get to the "Toolbox" section of King's memoir, he reminds the reader
that writing "isn't a popularity contest, it's not the moral Olympics, and
it's not church."
King's Toolbox
has been insightful. As a class we were able to discuss the different tools King shares. The ability to discuss the tools as a group helped me further solidify King's advice.
For me, King's insight on sentence structure will stick with with me and
my writing. King reminds us that simple sentences are just as relevant as long
ones. Any noun and verb will do! "...simple sentences provide a path
you can follow when you fear getting lost in the tangles of rhetoric-" Stephen King (pg. 121)
Another bit of
advice Stephen King brings to light is the use of passive verbs. King states
that writers should avoid using them. Don’t make the subject a victim. King says
to avoid the passive tense.... and he's "not the only one who says so."
There's a
mountain of informational wealth in this book. I believe this has been the best
book I've been required to read. I am looking forward to reading the rest of
"On Writing", while tucking some more tools in my box.
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