On Writing question

Probably not as much as his own writing has shaped mine--simply because my formative years were spent devouring his books--but yes. Probably more so than any other writing guide this side of ELEMENTS OF STYLE. In particular, since reading ON WRITING, I have been most distrustful of adverbs. That awarness--is my point made WITHOUT the adverb?--affects how I view every component of a sentence. I don't think I fully understood this until I read ON WRITING.

And now I wanna read it again...

I agree that Stephen King's book is one of the best books on writing. He is inspiring and a true talent. His quote, "By the time I was fourteen (and shaving twice a week whether I needed to or not) the nail in my wall would no longer support the weight of the rejection slips impaled upon it. I replaced the nail with a spike and went on writing," has kept me going. Thank you, Stephen King.

Yes, On Writing is one of the best books about the writing process. A fascinating insight into Stephen King's process but loads of useful tips too. It hasn't really shaped my writing but I like the way King describes stories as found objects. Writing a story is like archaeology - you have to dig up the bones and then put them together to make your story, but you don't find the bones in an obvious order. It's a puzzle you have to figure out and build, bone by bone.
Looking at all these comments makes me want to re-read the book.

I had just finished my first novel when the Audiobook narrator I'm working with suggested I give it a read. It makes me want to have a beer with the guy and break out my guitar an jam with him! (I'm much better at guitar than writing, but I'm working hard to improve)

It was surprising that we had a lot of things in common, and helpful to read that the long shadow of doubt also reaches him. As a newbie, it was nice to hear that a master of the craft isn't immune to questioning his work, and it also makes it easier to kick doubt to the curb.

He also made me feel better about the shape of the draft I send to the editor I hired. I was fortunate to have hired a seasoned pro who was able to shine a light on some things I had never considered. Seeing all of those notes in the margin took the air out of my sails initially. There were changes that brought with them serious consideration (POV/setting etc.), but also made me a better writer. Once I sorted out the path forward it really helped the book to shine. King's humble admission of his first drafts with the red pen of doom made me feel better about the fresh perspective (read: reality that I had a LOT to learn) and embrace the growing process.

Number two in the series will be much easier now having his perspective.

It helped me feel calmer about the whole process.

By the time I read On Writing Stephen had already taught me enough that my writing style had emerged. For me, it was a reflection and confirmation of things I already understood, but I would not minimize its importance to a fledgling writer. An unwitting mentor is essential and they don't come better than Stephen King.

Being honest, this book for me has helped me pin point what Indie authors have not read this book. I see a lot of Indie authors that don't understand the "ly" rule. They use the word suddenly, frequently and don't understand how it slows the pace of the story. They overly use exclamation points.

I'm putting that out because if we as authors don't help clean this up, it will help justify a price gap. Some self-published books are just as good as traditionally published but the self-pub won't be able to command the same price.

I loved this book, for its authentic, experience-based advise on writing and for the memoir aspect to it. I bought it when it first was published and still return to it for a little pick me up and commiseration when times call for it.

I've read this work twice. I've just published my first fiction and used his philosophy on letting the characters dig up the story. The process worked well. I had the general situation figured out but no details until "my guys (and gal)" figured out how to handle the situation and where to take it.

Sometimes Stevie seems to drop the ball when it comes time to write the ending. The first time I read this book I was very curious to read what he suggested about this phase, and of course it was absent. But I think it just fits with his method of letting his characters fletch the arrows flight.

So in my recent work, I just let my protagonist figure out how he'd rise to the occasion and frankly, I'm proud of him!

Thanks, Stevie! - Tony Latham

Understatement, I have a new lease of life with writing, especially doing Nano at the same time. I am not following everything he said, down to the fact we are genres apart, therefore I think there are certain elements that can be done in his and not in mine. Overall, I loved the book. Loved it so much, plan to be reading it again at some point.

I love Steven King's On Writing. He influenced my writing by reminding me to use adverbs sparingly. Through sharing his candid honesty about his life he inspired and motivated me to follow my dream to become a writer.Running for Yellow

Sounds like I need to read it again. I totally was turned off in the beginning. I thought it was like any other autobiography. If I stayed with it longer, I may have actually enjoyed it. I was hoping to get encouraged in this frustrating road of freelance writing. Well, one thing I learned is to get your readers interested in the first chapter & keep them interested throughout the book.

I adore this book. I don't use the term loosely; it's on my favorites page. I have never published anything other than my thesis, but if anything, his advice gave me confidence. If you can write, go write. Just do it. And now that I am not teaching every day, that's what I do.

Only Stephen King could make an instruction on writing an integral part of a larger story in this way.

I didn't learn many new things, but as a demonstration of the art On Writing is an enormous inspiration - an all time favorite that I think about often.

His advice to just keep going while drafting instead of rereading was possibly the most helpful writing advice I ever got.

As someone who teaches literature, I also just found it fascinating to see how his life informs his fiction.

King's views on creating compelling characters and letting them act naturally should be read several times a year to stay fresh in your mind.

Stephen King teaches a lesson in patience and persistence in this book (the nail in the wall for rejection letters becoming a spike). There's also insight into how he turned some of his pain and shame (addiction) into metaphors (Tommyknockers). I like his writing style, so much that I can't read any of his fiction: After reading "Night Shift" I turned out the light and watched my closet for a half-hour to make sure the Boogeyman wasn't going to emerge.
He says keep going, keep writing and he lives his advice.

I'd always wanted to write a novel, but kept postponing it because, well, there were always other things to do. Then I read this book and it was the kick in the posterior I needed to actually go for it. So I did. And it took years of rewriting and working with my agent to find a publisher, which finally happened last year.

It shouldn't be surprising that I hold this book in very high regard. So thanks, Steve. You helped another wannabe writer become a novelist, and I am deeply indebted to your wisdom and this superb book.

I read this book when it first came out. I wasn't a big Stephen King fan then but I thought it was a great story. Then I did some of the ings he suggests in the book. I started sending out short stories to magazines and anthologies and lo and behold I got one published- Oh Happy Day! Then I got a few more published. Then I sent out a manuscript that I had been working on for 3 years. After several rejections, The Choice was published in 2007.
On Writing is my go to book when I need inspiration to keep going when I get stuck. Hearing that even Stephen King ( Now I am a huge fan- read all of his books) had difficulty in the beginning but didn't give up is enough to keep me going.

I've been studying Stephen's writing since I was in high school. This book topped it off. One of the things I appreciated about "On Writing..." was its honesty. Stephen talks about “honest writing” – a kind of genuine resonance in the characters, setting, dialogue, and plot. It’s fascinating to watch him put it all to use. My copy of Under The Dome, The Green Mile, and The Shawshank Redemption are dog-eared with sad strips of post-it notes fringing the pages. What I see is character development at its finest – you can see the freckles, smell the sweat, taste the fear, and see the world through the eyes of the main character so deeply you can almost feel his or her pulse. I also see small town/group mentality that rises to the level of almost being another character in the story. Even the setting he filters into his work speaks volumes about the characters. Mr. King is a master at foreshadowing and setting up scenes. Another technique I’ve notice is that when he hits you with something nasty enough to through you back in your chair, it’s quickly followed by something that tugs on your compassion or sense of humanity just enough to keep you in the story. He guides the reader through every step from inciting incident to final resolution and his pacing of when he delivers just what the reader needs to know at any given time is perfection. The impact this writer has had on my writing is beyond words and I’m still learning. "On Writing..." made me smile about the journey from the first rejection to worrying if what you just wrote is crap to being stunned when great reviews come in. I wish I could tell Stephen “thank you” for all that he has taught me – especially the part about taking your craft seriously, but not yourself. If you are a writer and haven’t read this book, do so – now.

Absolutely loved this book! Stephen King is a very good writer. He clarifies concepts and makes things so crystal clear even I can understand them and apply them to my daily writing life. Yes, this book gave me confidence. I will read it again during one of those lulls when I'm having difficulty putting pen to paper (or keyboard to screen).

Not only is this a book on writing, it feels like King's memoir. It was very inspiring to read about how he didn't want to share his writing with others at first and the trials and tribulations he went through. For me, it wasn't as much of a book on how to write as it was an inspiration to keep writing when I thought I'd give up. I love this quote: "your job isn't to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up." And oh so many! It did change my life in that I continued to write through the worst of my wanting-to-give-up-writing days.

As a writer struggling to get her first book out there, this book was such an inspiration to me.

The biggest lessons I took from it were:
1) Read widely and incessantly
2) Ensure your second draft has fewer words than your first
3) Don't give up.

I'm not very satisfied with where my life is right now, and it's a comfort to think that even Steven King had all those unpleasant jobs before he hit it big. I'm glad he shared that with us.

I believe there is no greater book on writing. It speaks on a totally different level than most other writing "how to's". King is almost using writing as a metaphor for life. Even if you don't write, its a must read.

I actually read this after the first draft of my novel, and was very happy to see that I was doing at least some things right. I took his advice on how long to take a break from it, and the adverb thing, plus other ideas and techniques--even bought the grammar book, which is super helpful. Did your version have the "On Living" afterward? That was insane.

I don't know if the book so much shaped my writing style, but I think it gave me a lot more confidence as a writer in terms of trusting myself and recognizing when a story is coming to me in my mind.
Also, I think it taught me that there are really no excuses: you have to read a lot and write a lot, and if you can't do that, then you really don't want to write.
And finally, don't give up. How many rejections did he go through and never gave up? That's a lesson for everyone. It's definitely one of the best books on writing.

Boy, I can't even start to answer this question. I honestly couldn't have gotten published without this book.

I tried to write a novel on and off for most of my adult life. Then I read King's On Writing (and to a lesser extent Sol Stein's On Writing) and I got my first novel published maybe eight months later.

I should send half of my royalties to Mr. King, but I'm sure he could do without the $34.18.

From my review:
Stephen King is my writing coach--even though I've never read more than two of his books. Here's why: it's Christmas day, and I'm writing--both on my novel and this blog post--and I love King because he gives me permission for this singularly obsessive behavior and lifestyle.
In his autobiographical opus, On Writing, he tells an interviewer that he writes every day "except Christmas, Fourth of July and birthdays" and in this book he confesses, "Actually, I write on Christmas, the Fourth and my birthday too. I just didn't want to sound like a workaholic dweeb."
Thank God I'm not alone! As I become a more experienced and disciplined writer, I get new insight out of it.
The first time I read On Writing, I mulled over King's f*cked-up childhood, as any good therapist will, and concluded it was why he was a horror writer, and liked his downhome "you can do it, just keep falling forward" tone.
The second time I read it, I was amazed at the fact that he could write such a wonderful, honest, humorous and helpful book practically on his deathbed after getting mangled in a hit-and-run.
The third time I read it, I mulled over his premise, that ideas pre-exist in space/time and the writer only unearths them "like fossils." I think stories (and especially archetypal characters) exist in the collective unconscious, an intuition based on Jungian psychology. Writers are the telepaths and scribes of the dreaming world's stories, not the inventors of them.
On the fourth reading, I was reminded about the Elements of Style and bought it. Discovered I didn't really need it (with relief) but it was a good reminder of basics. I also went on an adverb and attribution hunt in my latest WIP, and was glad I did.
In this, my fifth reading, I finally really get what King says about the discipline of daily writing. I still admire and aspire to his daily goal of 2,000 words. I find his admission that he virtually never takes time off from writing validating. (It's put paid to my worries I'm becoming over-obsessed, even bipolar about my writing, surging up and down in my emotions with my characters and their plights.)
King is unapologetically prolific and I am too, six books in. Even in my daily life, my stories go on behind the backs of my eyes. I can feel my busy brain working all the time, and a longing to return to the page is always there, a sort of nagging hunger like an addict must feel. As a mental health professional, I'm investigating what's happening to me--and part of me has been frightened by the transformation.
King says it's okay, and even necessary.
King's not "normal"--but whoever in the world has followed a passion and been normal? I just want to write every damned day, even Christmas--because the stories I'm meant to write burn to be found and unearthed and shared like the preformed imaginary fossils they are.
Normal is overrated."