On Writing
by Stephen King
Half memoir, half manual, King's book covers his childhood, his addiction, the accident that nearly killed him, and the craft: write every day, read constantly, cut adverbs, close the door for the first draft. It is the writing book people who do not write also love, because it is about work and honesty.
Read it if…
you write anything, or want to, and need both permission and discipline.
Skip it if…
you dislike King's fiction and will not look past it; you would miss a good book.
Three things you will actually use
- Read a lot, write a lot; there is no shortcut.
- Write the first draft for yourself, the second for the reader.
- Kill your darlings.
Do this first
Write a thousand words tomorrow with the door closed, no editing.
Our verdict
Candid and useful; the writing book to read first.
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