Mastering the Craft in 12 Lessons: A Review of Stephen King’s “On Writing”

“On Writing” by Stephen King is a must-read for any aspiring writer. Through a combination of memoir and writing advice, King shares his own journey to becoming a successful author and the lessons he has learned along the way. These are the 12 lessons that resonated most with me.

1. The importance of daily writing practice. The only way to get better is to read more and to write more.
2. Taking risks and experimenting with different styles and techniques. By reading different styles of writing, will likely influence your writing. But this is why you should read a wide variety of books, taking a lesson away with each one.
3. Having a thick skin and not taking rejection personally. King talks about the nail in his room where he hung all his rejection letters. In this business, rejection is inevitable, don’t let it get you down.
4. Being honest with oneself about one’s own writing. Do you like it? If not, revise it until you like it or throw it out. No one needs to know.
5. The power of simplicity in writing. There is no need to over-explain things. If a girl in school is poor, the reader has an idea of what that looks like based on experiences. There is no need to describe what she is wearing and how she looks.
6. The importance of reading widely and frequently. Again, the only way to become a better writer is to read more and to write more.
7. The importance of having a specific place and time to write. Before Stephen King was Stephen King, as we know him today, he sat in a corner of a trailer writing. This worked for him. What was important is that he had a quiet place to work with no interruptions. It was a place he knew he could concentrate because he had written there many times before.
8. The power of using real-life experiences and emotions in writing. The piece of advice, write what you know, is somewhat true. Take elements of what you know and apply them to fictional situations and places. The example King gives is, if you are a plumber, write about a plumber on a rocket ship.
9. The need for a clear understanding of grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. Although King gives some examples (reduce adverbs, don’t use passive verbs, etc.) the real gold is in The Elements of Style. Read and live by that, and you will have that piece down.
10. The need to understand the audience and the market. You can’t entertain all the people some of the time, some of the people all the time, but you can entertain some of the people some of the time.
11. The importance of limiting research. Although research can be important, it can also be a tactic to stall starting a story. Facts can change later in editing or by giving it to a Beta reader who knows more about a subject.
12. The need to be open to feedback and criticism from others. It is better to get feedback from a few people you trust than the world. Be open to the feedback and criticism, and if there is a tie on a change, the writer wins.

Final Thoughts

Overall, “On Writing” is a comprehensive guide to the craft of writing, packed with valuable advice and insight from one of the most successful authors of our time. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills and take their writing to the next level.