What I learnt from Stephen King

I’m about eighty pages into “On Writing” so this isn’t a book review, because I’m still reading. However, I had to write something, because I feel like I’ve learnt loads already. Some of it I already knew, but that tells me I’m doing something right. Maybe it would be better to say, it reminded me of what I already knew. Don’t we all need a reminder every now and again?

First, I’ve looked at some one-star reviews, because that’s something I do. I like to find out why people like a book I hate — or hate a book I love. Here, I think some readers have missed the point. Many of the negative reviewers suggest this is just an autobiography/memoir and is egotistic, rather than about writing. I have no way of knowing whether Mr King wrote this inspired by his ego.

Yes, it’s a memoir. The subtitle “A Memoir of the Craft” suggests that. It’s a series of interconnected stories about his life, starting from when he was a child, but there are crucial bits of information contained within the pages. Some of the writing tips in the book are more obvious. For other bits you need to read between the lines.

Out of what I’ve read so far, I found it refreshing to read how a well-known author was once like me in some ways. His childhood was different to mine, because he spent the first part of his life without a television. But for me, I liken that to me…