On Writing A Memoir of the Craft

The publisher offers different covers to select from that are less subtle than this one but personally I like the cover shown here because it was the one I bought years ago when this memoir first came out. I like its bright shiny lightness and dark storm cellar suggestiveness. A style he perfected. Cheery mixed with diabolical. Or just optimistic with fantastical like in “Elevation”.

Along with a million tips, thoughts and gadgets about writing he perfected the book is a great gift to anyone who is serious about writing, want to know more about him, his life and process. If writing defines him, as it does for most his fans, then you’ll like this book as it covers the subject broadly, in detail, and anecdotes about him.

The sausage making is discussed in all it’s King-glory. It should be required reading from grade school to grad school. It’s a highly accessible masterclass resource for your permanent collection and a glimpse into the mind of a certifiable iconic genius, a writer without peer and worldwide treasure.

It’s like if Rembrandt wrote about tips, tricks, and anecdotes on his process painting Night Watch. Besides suggesting some rules to follow he allows the reader in, writing about writing, how he views his art and how to be more effective. But King being King he is not going to write a textbook. He talks about the writing business, his personal life, all in the first-person without an intervening mythical character (as far as I can tell).

He talks about how he almost gave it all up before his career started as his part-time teaching gig bucks barely paid the expenses of his financially struggling young family. But thanks to his wife picking the first few crumpled up pages out of the trash she thought he had something with the Carrie, a concept he abandoned doubting his ability to pull  off high school girls inner lives and adolescent neurosis. And it turned into a rocket-ship that launched his career into the stratosphere.

We are graced with this rare non-fiction because he still carries the teacher he started in life within in him. He believes it’s important to share his thoughts on writing for all of us.  He knows more than any author about writing in the history of mankind if his prolific library of literature and record setting sales are any indication. But he’s also a student of the craft respectful of its magic. And teacher. Writing has been his salvation and continues to pour it on, and never looked back.

Just because you’re limber doesn’t make you a gymnast and just because you can write doesn’t make you a writer. It takes a ton of work, never giving up, and luck. He proved formidable challenges in life takes massive effort, years of suffering, and a lifetime to take readers to the dark places King took modern literature. You fall, you fail, you tighten your laces, sharpen you pirouettes, engage your imagination an                 d follow your dreams. And jot down your nightmares. Yes, with enough practice and patience you too can be a limber back-flipping, twirling writer sticking the landing your unique voice.

As a new reader to King or a longtime fan, you’ll like this book to learn about King, his craft and his extraordinary life.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               .