On Writing / by Stephen King

Known as master of the macabre, Stephen King is more than just a superior storyteller, he's literally the embodiment of a life spent writing very entertaining and provocative fiction. His books just seem to have a way of attaching themselves to the reader. It’s irrelevant if you’re an aficionado of the horror genre, a casual fan of contemporary scare-thrillers or just a once-in-a-while reader, his prose is as accessible as it gets; his characters, their confrontations, the stories' settings, narratives and plot dynamics at once poignant, vivid and captivating. In this, his 2000 memoir detailing the how and why of his craft, King briefly describes his life as a writer beginning with his modest New England boyhood, his teaching days, initial attempts at publication, breakthrough novel Carrie and, finally, his over three decades of success as America’s premier horror novelist, not to mention one of the publishing world’s most marketable talents.

Describing his own relationship with the process of creating fiction in frank, succinct fashion and with open candor, King basically just tells it as he’s always viewed it, citing that writing is his “drug” and the reason he often spends weeks engrossed in nothing else but polishing his latest thriller. He also elaborates on some of the finer points of style and composition; things like creating characters, fashioning dialogue and manifesting original, provocative stories are thoroughly explained. Additionally highlighted are some of his own personal and surprisingly simple fundamentals to being a writer: writing well requires that you read a lot, “slay your darlings”, and that Strunk & White’s Elements of Style is still one of the most relevant guides to writing. (B KING)