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Nonfiction Books » Language

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

by Stephen King

Recommendations from our site

“It is a surprise to a lot of people that this book is so widely read on university campuses and so widely recommended by teachers of writing. Students love it. It’s bracing: there’s no nonsense. He says somewhere in the foreword or preface that it is a short book because most books are filled with bullshit and he is determined not to offer bullshit but to tell it like it is.” Read more...

The best books on Creative Writing

Andrew Cowan, Novelist

“What I love about it is that King really takes you into his own process, and then leaves you these little titbits of ‘how to’ stuff…’Good description usually consists of a few well-chosen details that will stand for everything else. In most cases, these details will be the first ones that come to mind.’ That struck me. A lot of writers pile on details. This notion, just pay attention to your own thought process. What are the first details that come to mind? Those may be the best. That’s tremendously helpful advice. It had never occurred to me before, and I’ve been writing for 30-odd years. This book is full of little things like that about how he works, just tossed off.” Read more...

The best books on How to Write

Eric Olsen, Journalist

Stephen King is best known for his horror books, but even if that’s not your preferred genre, it’s hard not to be blown away by his memoir, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. King is a big audiobook fan, and he reads this book—part story of his life, part really useful tips on how to write—himself.

Narrator: Stephen King

Length: 7 hours and 59 minutes

Great Audiobooks Narrated by Their Authors

Other books by Stephen King

Later by Stephen King

Later
by Stephen King

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11/22/63: A Novel
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The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
by Stephen King

The Talisman: A Novel by Peter Straub & Stephen King

The Talisman: A Novel
by Peter Straub & Stephen King

The Long Walk by Stephen King

The Long Walk
by Stephen King

Carrie by Stephen King

Carrie
by Stephen King

Our most recommended books

  • On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
    by Stephen King

  • Becoming a Writer
    by Dorothea Brande

  • The F-Word
    by Jesse Sheidlower

  • Garner's Modern English Usage (5th edition)
    by Bryan A. Garner

  • The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window into Human Nature
    by Steven Pinker

  • Themes from Kaplan
    by Joseph Almog, John Perry and Howard Wettstein

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