On Writing by Stephen King #2282

Today’s book: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King — half memoir, half master class. King doesn’t just tell you what makes great writing; he shows it through his life, work, routines, and relentless commitment.

Here’s your 1-minute summary:

• Write like it’s telepathy. King believes good writing transmits your thoughts so clearly that readers see exactly what you see. Practice this clarity with every sentence.

• Keep the toolbox sharp. Vocabulary, grammar, style — simple tools, but they matter. Avoid adverbs, use strong verbs, write clean.

• First drafts are about telling the story. Don’t overthink. Get the story down. Fix what’s wrong in second drafts. The idea is to finish, not perfect in one go.

• Read a lot. Write a lot. To write well, you need exposure to what works and regular practice. Both feed the craft.

• Life shapes your stories. King’s journey—his successes, failures, even his near-fatal accident—became part of how he writes and what he teaches. The vulnerability lends truth to craft.

You’re not born a writer — you become one through attention, courage, and persistence. What will you write today, to tell your truth?

Other fun fact that didn’t make it into this: he tells the brilliant story of how, when he was a young man writing, he got a rejection slip. He took it, wasn’t embarrassed by it, and pinned it up on his wall — he used a little nail. Then he proceeded to get so many rejection slips that he had to have this huge spike in his wall. He embraced the failures and kept on showing up. How about you?