- Stephen King's approach to writing is down-to-earth and often funny.
- Like his fiction, the memoir is highly readable.
- King is passionate both about writing and about conveying what he has learned about it.
- There are better-written books on writing, but his insights are always worth reading.
- One of the better books on writing in the past decade.
- Insightful and down-to-earth.
- Worthwhile for both beginning and professional writers.
Though King credits his profligacy to good health and a stable relationship, I imagine that his down-to-earth approach to writing also helps. This healthy attitude toward craft comes through in the second section of the book, which includes advice on everything from grammar to choosing an agent. My favorite bit of advice, and the most surprising, considering his prodigious output, was, "Put your desk in the corner, and everytime you sit down to write, remind yourself why it isn't in the middle of the room. Life isn't a support system for art. It's the other way around." The toolbox metaphor that pervades this section further speaks to his humble approach to his calling.
It's obvious from reading On Writing that King loves to write and feels lucky to have done it for a living all of these years. This joyful approach to writing, and his real insights into craft, more than make up for a somewhat clunky writing style.




