Book Review: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

I rated it 5 out of 5 stars.

Overview: “Long live the King” hailed Entertainment Weekly upon publication of Stephen King’s On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King’s advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999—and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it—fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.

Review: I have never read any of Stephen King's books. This was my first. You see, I can't do horror or anything remotely scary. I'm such a big baby when it comes to that kind of stuff. Last week, however, I was perusing Barnes and Noble's writing section when I came across this book. I've always heard about what a great writer King is so I picked this one up relieved that it didn't have anything that would freak me out.

After the first few pages, I could see what all the raving was about. He is no doubt an amazing writer and because I knew little about him, the tales of his childhood to adult hood were extremely captivating. I gave it five stars because I was hooked all the way through, reading it in just two days. It had a great story feel and down to earth advice with a unique perspective. It's a book that I'll constantly refer to and continue to be inspired by. This is a book that every aspiring writer should read or anyone who has a dream and the courage to chase it.