Hello friends,
I just finished listening to the audiobook of “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” by Stephen King. I had read the book years ago and enjoyed it, and since I am going through a bit of a writing struggle, I thought it might be helpful to revisit it.
I’ve never read any of King’s fiction, as I’m not fond of the horror genre, but I’m always willing to listen to the voice of experience. In this book, King narrates the story of his life, interweaving memorable incidents with his writing adventures. As a child, he was drawn to science fiction and scary stories, so those are the stories he set out to write.
I found the book meaningful and useful as he addressed the struggles of writing, especially with a full-time teaching job, and the inevitable rejections a writer must be willing to face. I also appreciated his advice to read a lot – he contends that a successful writer needs to also be a voracious reader.
Upon finishing the book, I watched some YouTube interviews. He’s an interesting man, and surprisingly endearing. I felt a kinship with him when he stated something I’ve always believed – that anything we have in this world is “on loan.” We enter this life without anything, and we leave it the same way. The things and people we call “ours” we don’t get to keep, but to enjoy for the time we are here.
It’s a useful idea for keeping perspective.
Blessings,
Annette
Winnie and the Professor 