Review: Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

The Bottom Line

Stephen King's On Writing provides insight into how a writer is formed and how one persists over time. King's ideas on craft and technique are astute and down-to-earth.

  

Pros

• Stephen King's approach to writing is down-to-earth and often funny.
• Highly readable with much useful advice on writing.
• King is passionate both about writing and about conveying what he has learned about it.

Cons

• There are better-written books on writing, but his insights are always worth reading.

Description

• One of the best, and most well-known, books on writing in recent years.
• Insightful and down-to-earth.
• Worthwhile for both beginning and professional writers.

Guide Review - Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Though Stephen King may not be the all-time best writer out there, he is certainly one of the most prolific, and for that alone, this book warrants attention. The first section of the book is exactly what the subtitle leads one to expect: a memoir of one writer's life, from childhood experiences that shaped him as a writer to the experiences that hindered him in adulthood, in particular King's struggle with alcoholism.


Though King credits his prolificness 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 somewhat surprising considering his prodigious output, was,  

"Put your desk in the corner, and every time 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 sometimes-clunky writing style.


 You will find an even better review here by Mameve Medwed.

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Review of Oxford American Writer's Theasaurus

The Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus, billed as "the first thesaurus for writers, by writers," attempts to adapt and augment the standard dictionary-style thesaurus to better serve writers. Additions include excerpts from Garner's Modern American Usage, an overview of basic grammar, and lists of words, in spectrums and toolkits, to help you choose the best one.

Essays from Contemporary Writers

The biggest difference between the Writer's Thesaurus and others are the mini-essays on selected words written by eleven contributing authors, including David Foster Wallace, songwriter/musician Stephin Merritt, Francine Prose, and Zadie Smith. Whether or not these essays add value to the standard reference book will depend on the reader. Fans of the writers will be curious to read their take on certain words. Teachers and librarians, trying to persuade students to use books rather than the Internet, will recognize the value of having famous — even celebrity — writers on board. How better to seduce young people into using a reference book than by including indie musicians and trendy novelists?

Older versus Younger Thesaurus Users

However, for older writers, these essays will be interesting, but gratuitous. Most people only buy one thesaurus in their lifetimes; over the long run, pieces like these only take up valuable pages. While the Writer's Thesaurus has the same number of synonyms as the gold standard Roget's International, the entries are shorter and the price higher. (The Writer’s Thesaurus only comes in hardcover.) As for the usage notes, experienced writers will probably have picked up a usage book in the course of their educations. Young writers, on the other hand, might appreciate having everything between two covers. Given the current pressures on the book industry, these features are smart for marketing; whether or not they’re as valuable for the consumer is another matter.

Conclusion

If you don't own either a thesaurus or a usage book, or if you're a fan of one or more of the contributing authors, then the Writer's Thesaurus is a worthwhile investment. The entries for synonyms are as good as most thesauri, and you'll enjoy having everything in one place. For writers who seek the best thesaurus, don’t need a usage guide, and don’t mind veering from the standard dictionary format, the classic Roget's International will be more satisfying in the long run.

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Review of The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

 When I picked up The Artist’s Way a year ago, I very much resembled the skeptics Julia Cameron describes in her opening chapter. And like them, I found that despite my cynicism, her technique worked, helping me unpack the life experiences that led to that particular moment of writer’s block and build new habits to overcome it. 

A recovering alcoholic, Cameron provides a 12-step program to help readers through a process of “creative recovery.” Readers study one chapter a week and then respond to questions such as “Time Travel: List three old enemies of your creative self-worth. . . . Your historic monsters are the building blocks of your core negative beliefs.” In addition, the 12-week course supplies readers with daily and weekly assignments — morning pages, artist dates, and exercises — that help them to develop creative habits.

 

This book is an absolute must for beginners.

(You can find the book  here)

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