final blog

I found the story of King's accident really moving. I wasn't at first sure why he was including it in the book, because it didn't seem very relevant at first, but after a while it became clear to me. He wanted to show us how writing had become a coping device, something to fuel him through the hard times. I find it really amazing that writing means that much to him and am really glad he shared that story with the readers.

one last thought

Writing for Steven King is more than just a job and making money, it fulfills him and its what he loves to do.

Blog #4

Stephen King's book, On Writing, was not what I expected. I expected a book just teaching many different ways of becoming a good writer, what good writing is, and why writing is important. Instead it was more about how he became a good writer himself and what he had to go through to get there. This book was definitely more interesting and had better advice for more than just writing then I thought it would have.

Blog #3

Stephen King creates an interesting example using Uncle Oren's toolbox. He takes an actual toolbox and applies it to a literary toolbox. King uses it as an example to show how important it is to build your skills as a writer and to carry them around with you the rest of your life. It is good advice for anything you learn through out life because you never know when you might have to use it.

Blog #2

One thing I respect Stephen King for is how serious he is about his work and his buckle down and do it attitude, like my mom says shit or get off the pot! "But its writing, damn it, not washing the car or putting on eyeliner. if you can take it seriously, we can do business. If you can't or won't, it's time for you to close the book and do something else"[107]. I also thought it was very interesting how Stephen King sees writing as telepathy, I never thought of it that way and it makes you think what else could be right in front of us.

MasyDazy #3

    "Before beginning to write, I'll take a moment to call up an image of the place, drawing from my memory and filling my mind's eye, an eye whose vision grows sharper the more it is used."

We all use our minds to paint pictures when there is something descriptive to think about. But Stephen King uses his mind as his eye even though he cant see it then he remembers it. We use our memory more than we think we do and that is what the author is trying to say here.

And Now, About Writing...

I realize I haven't actually spoken much about what seems to be the main focus of the book: How to write. Or at least, what works for Stephan King's writing. Part of what I like about this is he never says you have to do what he does. He just gives you tips he's accumulated over his years of experience, nothing more, nothing less.

One of the tips he gives is to not make any conscious attempt to improve your vocabulary, and to just use the first word that comes to your mind. Sometimes I have problems with this because I always like using large words, so I go out of my way to find them. But I think part of the reason I use big words is because I don't want to repeat myself, and I want to be specific, instead of using many words to express what one would suffice to do.

Another tip King gives is to have good grammar. I quite agree with this. Personally, I get very distracted when something is written with incorrect grammar or spelling. If it's intentional, such as in dialogue, it's acceptable, and makes the point about the speaker.

King also has a little to say about simple sentences, that need only have a noun and a verb. They are indeed useful things to use if your prose is getting too cluttered with long compounds sentences and such. Some examples he uses are "Rocks explode. Jane transmits. Mountains float... Plums deify!" These are lovely little simple sentences, that give the reader a resting point, to get a break from the complexities of the written word.

He also mentions that you shouldn't include so many details as to overwhelm the reader, which I sometimes have trouble with because of my tendency to get carried away with sharing everything about everything in my writing. Often times I hear other students complaining about how a book had too much description and was too boring. Honestly, I don't find that I'm as bored with description as other people seem to be, but still, you don't only write for yourself, you write for others to enjoy too.

All in all, there is much more I could write about this book. I could reiterate every tip and story shown, but I won't because then you may as well just read the book (again, I hope). This book has been very helpful to me, and my mindset about writing.

~Cafferty Frattarelli