I’ve blogged from time to time about the importance of Stephen King‘s On Writing. It is a funny, moving, flawed, and priceless resource for those who dream of having their journal sketches become hardcover books.
On Writing is one of the books that changed my life.
It is also, I think, a pretty good resource for anyone who taps out their living on a keyboard–from storytellers to journalists, from preachers to teachers, from bloggers to speechwriters, from scholarly researchers to policy writers.
In preparing for my previous post on Stephen King and Danse Macabre I stumbled across this poster. Though it has the kind of professional staleness you’d expect from a publisher–boy, I’d love to see a good edgy graphic novelist or digital designer get ahold of this book–I think it is a great reminder of some of the bright practical points of On Writing. It wasn’t these 14 things that meant so much to me but the book as a whole, warts and zippers running up the back of the monster’s back and everything. But I rarely forget these 14 points, which make a great addition to the writing rules from L.M. Montgomery, Olivia Butler and Robert Heinlein that we’ve already discovered. It’s true, these are all writing hacks compared to many other elegant writers of writing books. Still, you know who I am talking about, and I think these rules go a long way to transcending genre and the limitations of labels.
I hope this little post from A Pilgrim in Narnia helps you along your way, whether your destination is the bestseller shelf or the bargain bin, the lectern or the pulpit, a product user or the legislative assembly, your little writing circle or the entire twitterverse.
Reblogged this on James' Ramblings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always love reading from “On Writing.” It helps me focus as a writer and makes me thing I can do it.
LikeLike
Me too. This post was practical, but I found it more inspirational than anything else.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a great book. I read it quite a long time ago – it’s great to have these tips all in one spot. I do love his description of his cranky muse in the basement. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post and information. I’ll be reading the book next!
LikeLike
Thanks much! I loved the book.
LikeLike
Great and practical info👍
LikeLike
Loved this book so much. I actually just got it on audible read by the man himself to hear it in his own voice. Literally.
LikeLike
Yes, I’ve read it that way too. Very cool, hey?
LikeLike
Pingback: Writing Tips by Stephen King — A Pilgrim in Narnia – TheBlurbAuthor.com
Really interesting
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great tips! I’m just trying to figure out how to write that many words with a 1-year old, a job, managing the house, exercising, making time for my husband and having a life outside of writing! Stephen King seemed to sacrifice a lot to become the writer he is – much like any professional at a craft. It take much time, effort, sacrifice and talent to break the big time.
LikeLike
Jeepers, yes I know the challenge. And I have taken a couple of years off of fiction to finish other projects. I do, however, hang on to people who have written a page a day–or a paragraph–working in the 15 minutes segments to eke out a story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s exactly what I’m planning to do, Brenton. Great advice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love Stephen King’s books and thankyou for blogging some tips of him that could help every writer including me.
LikeLike
Thanks for the note!
LikeLiked by 1 person
you’re welcome
LikeLike
Pingback: Writing Tips by Stephen King – The Writer's Desk
Reblogged this on A safe place.
LikeLike
Pingback: 2018: A Year of Reading: The Nerd Bit | A Pilgrim in Narnia
Pingback: The First Cut is the Deepest: Thoughts about Editing, the Morning After #writingwednesdays | A Pilgrim in Narnia
Pingback: Lessons on Christian Culture from Good Omens, and Why the Protests Make Weird Sense | A Pilgrim in Narnia
Pingback: O Foolish Writer: The Living Reality of an Author’s Work, with C.S. Lewis, Stephen King, and Ursula K. Le Guin (Throwback Thursday) | A Pilgrim in Narnia
Pingback: 2019: A Year of Reading: The Nerd Bit, with Charts | A Pilgrim in Narnia