Whether or not you’re a fan of horror, suspense, fantasy, crime, or science fiction novels, there’s no denying the talent held by Stephen King. Throughout his life, he’s written over 60 books which have sold over 400 million copies. The man understands how to craft a story that keeps readers engaged from cover to cover. Lucky for the world, he decided to give us all a peek behind the curtain.
In his book, On Writing, King shares the ins and out of his life and journey as a writer. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into the creation of a novel (how a human mind thinks up the characters, dialogue, situations, and details), this book reveals it all. Read on to find 15 quotes from the book that stood out for one reason or another.
Stand-out quotes from Stephen King’s “On Writing”
If you’ve read the book, I hope you enjoy these flashbacks.
If you haven’t, here’s a preview of its gems.
1.
“Grammar is not just a pain in the ass; it’s the pole you grab to get your thoughts up on their feet and walking.”
2.
“I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops.”
3.
“Good writing is often about letting go of fear and affectation.”
4.
“Writing is refined thinking.”
5.
“Almost everyone can remember losing his or her virginity, and most writers can remember the first book he/she put down thinking: I can do better than this.”
6.
“You cannot hope to sweep someone else away by the force of your writing until it has been done to you.”
7.
“Book buyers want a good story to take with them on the airplane, something that’ll first fascinate them, then pull them in, and keep them turning the pages. This happens, I think, when readers recognize the people in a book, their behaviors, their surroundings, and their talk.”
8.
“What you know makes you unique in some way. Be brave. Map the enemy’s positions, come back, tell us all you know.”
9.
“I want you to know that my basic belief about the making of stories is that they pretty much make themselves. The job of the writer is to give them a place to grow.”
10.
“A strong enough situation renders the whole question of plot moot.”
11.
“You can learn only by doing.”
12.
“If you want to be a successful writer, you must be able to describe it, and in a way that will cause your reader to prickle with recognition.”
13.
“When a simile is on target, it delights us in much the same way meeting an old friend in a crowd of strangers does.”
14.
“The job (dialogue) boils down to two things, paying attention to how real people around you behave and then telling the truth about what you see.”
15.
“If you intend to write as truthfully as you can, your days as a member of polite society are numbered.”
Book recommendations by Stephen King
Stephen King also recommends a variety of books and authors throughout On Writing for different reasons. Below is a list of some of those recommendations:
- Warriner’s English Grammar and Composition to learn the basic grammar rules.
- The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White for guidance on style.
- Larry McMurthy for great examples of dialogue attribution.
- Josh Grisham’s, The Firm, for a great example of telling the truth through your story.
- Read Chandler, Hammet, Ross, and MacDonald for examples of descriptive vocabulary.
- Read George V. Higgins, Peter Straub, and Graham Greene for good examples of dialogue writing.
I greatly enjoyed this book and 100% understand why so many writers were raving about it. It’s a must-read for all types of writers IMO. But beware, it may absorb your whole weekend and get you thinking you want to write a novel of your own!
Anyhoo, which quote did you like best?
P.S. Looking for other good reads? We have a growing list of books for honing the writing craft, improving creativity, and sharpening your business skills.