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  • On Writing

  • By: Stephen King
  • Narrated by: Stephen King
  • Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (2,787 ratings)

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On Writing

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Stephen King
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Summary

In June of 1999, Stephen King was hit by a van while walking along the shoulder of a country road in Maine. Six operations were required to save his life and mend his broken body. When he was finally able to sit up, he immediately started writing. This book is the extraordinary result.

©2000 Stephen King (P)2000 Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.
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Critic reviews

"This is the written equivalent of Delia Smith's How To Cook. And, like British home cooking, the world of popular fiction will be better off for it." (The Times)

"Not since Dickens has a writer had so many readers by the throat.... King's imagination is vast. He knows how to engage the deepest sympathies of his readers.... It is part biography, part collection of tips for the aspiring writer. In the final chapters, King tells, in graphic details, the story of his recent accident...a bizarre and absorbing story, told brilliantly by one of the great storytellers of our time." (Guardian)

What listeners say about On Writing

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200 stars worth of amazing knowledge.

even if i never write this book has helped me to read with more skill.

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A must read for lovers of writing and reading.

Narration is perfect as it's by the author who has an easy to listen to voice and great sense of humour, I'm not currently a writer nor am I an aspiring one and this book has been a superb listen that's full of interesting information, wit and inspiration. a Must listen.

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Interesting and useful

For the aspiring writer, King's book is considerably more helpful than he thinks it is. His recounting of his own life story is compelling -- no surprise there -- but his advice for developing writers also manages to balance abstract concepts to ponder about with actually applicable, practical information. This book is unlikely to magically turn you into a bestselling author, but you could find plenty of worse uses for your time, and it might actually help.

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Inspiring resonance

Loved this and listened in just two sessions. Great for King fans and writers who aren't necessarily so. Will revisit very soon!

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Inspiring

Stick with it. Stephen ends the book with more personal content and I felt enriched for having finished it.

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When it got going it was excellent

I heard this was a good resource for writers. I'm pleased to say, once it got going, the only thing I can takeaway from this is that I want to write and both Stephen's words and wonderful narration has lifted me up in ways I didn't think possible.

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great

if you are a writer this is a must read. interesting background to King and his approach to writing. I especially enjoyed the bit in style - straightforward and easy to understand. The bit on the getting an agent and traditional publishing is getting slightly out of date but he writes in an entertaining way so it's still a great book. the last chapter describes his accident in 1999 which is totally heartbreaking. I'm glad he was alive still.

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Great tips

Fantastic honest book and so glad the author narrated. Really goods tips for any inspiring writer as well as a really good story about his life.

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Stephen King is fantastic, I'll be listening again

I am now a Stephen king convert,what a guy! it's very autobiographical but I can see why it still helps to see where inspiration comes from, and maybe general life advice. I find him hilarious too, with his voices and deadpan delivery. The music at the end was very random!

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Amazing to hear his own voice narrating

This book is always praised, but the audio has to be the best way to read/listen to it.

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