ON WRITING: A MEMOIR OF THE CRAFT by Stephen King ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

(Original review written December 22, 2020)

This writing business is tricky. Even the short blurbs like this one I’m doing now can be daunting. I’m almost the furthest thing from a knowledgeable or even legitimate writer right now, so I can’t give much authoritative insight on the craft myself, let alone review a book that does. But I can say that this energized me, and also calmed some of my fears. Still kind of intimidated me, but I guess we should all feel like that in the beginning to know we are taking it seriously.

Along with the chapters on his life, King throws some simple and hard truths at you about what he does. But really, it’s the simplicity that should be focused on. Amongst the points and anecdotes and advice, it all boils down to one thing: just sit down and do the dang thing. Worry about the rest once you’ve managed that.

He also recommends reading just as much as you write, completing the first draft with the door closed and the second draft with it open (I never get tired of hearing “the first draft is telling yourself the story”), and powering through even when it stinks. He does dive into specifics, though he acknowledges that no, you won’t find the Secret Definitive Answer to becoming a bestseller or to crafting an opening paragraph. This is just what he believes, and what led him to believe it.

After his fifty year career and counting, I’m willing to believe it to.