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On Writing
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This book has to be read, not listened to
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Excellent!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 3
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This book aims to give in brief space the principal requirements of plain English style. It aims to lighten the task of instructor and student by concentrating attention (in chapters 2 and 3) on a few essentials, the rules of usage, and principles of composition most commonly violated. In accordance with this plan it lays down three rules for the use of the comma, instead of a score or more, and one for the use of the semicolon, in the belief that these four rules provide for all the internal punctuation that is required by 19 sentences out of 20.
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Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story
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Whether you want to write your own scripts or simply gain a deeper appreciation for the great stories you see unfold on the screen, Professor Angus Fletcher is here to show you the way in Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story. Professor Fletcher, Professor of English and Film at The Ohio State University, brings both a personal and scholarly perspective to this craft. As a screenwriter himself, he has experienced the ins and outs of the process first-hand.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Great book so far but what’s with the narration??
- By Amazon Customer on 27-02-18
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The Elements of Style: 60 Minutes to Better Writing & Grammar
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- Narrated by: uncredited
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 59
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What you need to know about grammar and writing as taught widely in colleges, high schools, and grammar schools wherever American English is spoken!
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2 out of 5 stars
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This book has to be read, not listened to
- By K N on 20-01-18
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Stein on Writing
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 198
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 147
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 142
Stein on Writing provides immediately useful advice for writers of fiction and nonfiction, whether newcomers or accomplished professionals. As Sol Stein, renowned editor, author, and instructor, explains, "This is not a book of theory. It is a book of usable solutions, how to fix writing that is flawed, how to improve writing that is good, how to create interesting writing in the first place."
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5 out of 5 stars
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 120
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Novelist Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story-structure guide for novelists that applies the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of novel writing. Revealing the 15 "beats" (plot points) that comprise a successful story - from the opening image to the finale - this audiobook lays out the 10 story genres ("Monster in the House"; "Whydunit"; "Dude with a Problem") alongside quirky, original insights ("Save the Cat"; "Shard of Glass") to help novelists craft a plot that will captivate - and a novel that will sell.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent!
- By Meg Z on 17-10-18
-
The Elements of Style
- By: William Strunk Jr.
- Narrated by: James Reynolds
- Length: 1 hr and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3
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Story5 out of 5 stars 3
This book aims to give in brief space the principal requirements of plain English style. It aims to lighten the task of instructor and student by concentrating attention (in chapters 2 and 3) on a few essentials, the rules of usage, and principles of composition most commonly violated. In accordance with this plan it lays down three rules for the use of the comma, instead of a score or more, and one for the use of the semicolon, in the belief that these four rules provide for all the internal punctuation that is required by 19 sentences out of 20.
-
Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story
- By: Angus Fletcher, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Angus Fletcher
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 52
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 49
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Story4 out of 5 stars 49
Whether you want to write your own scripts or simply gain a deeper appreciation for the great stories you see unfold on the screen, Professor Angus Fletcher is here to show you the way in Screenwriting 101: Mastering the Art of Story. Professor Fletcher, Professor of English and Film at The Ohio State University, brings both a personal and scholarly perspective to this craft. As a screenwriter himself, he has experienced the ins and outs of the process first-hand.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Inspirational- will keep it by me for reference
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 25
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Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 21
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 20
Published in 1934 and still the best audiobook available on practical psychology of creative writing and all related aspects. The author was herself a successful fiction writer, journalist and also authored a self-help best-seller Wake Up and Live! This audiobook is a must for every practicing or aspiring writer.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Great book so far but what’s with the narration??
- By Amazon Customer on 27-02-18
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How to Write Best-Selling Fiction
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 48
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 42
Most people think the way to write a best seller is to have a lot of talent and even more luck. As you will learn, there is a recipe for success, and luck may be the least important ingredient in creating a best seller. No one has cracked the code better than James Scott Bell. A best-selling author himself, and the author of the number-one best seller for writers, Plot & Structure, Mr. Bell has been teaching the principles of best-selling fiction for over 20 years, principles that apply to any genre or style.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Difficult concepts in simple terms
- By ROBERT on 16-05-19
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Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t
- And Other Tough-Love Truths to Make You a Better Writer
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 41
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 36
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 36
There's a mantra real writers know but wannabe writers don’t. And the secret phrase is this: "Nobody wants to read your shit." Recognizing this painful truth is the first step in the writer's transformation from amateur to professional.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A lesson to all book authors
- By DM on 13-10-18
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The Sense of Style
- The Thinking Person’s Guide to Writing in the 21st Century
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 14
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 13
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 13
Bad writing can't be blamed on the internet or on 'the kids today'. Good writing has always been hard: a performance requiring pretence, empathy and a drive for coherence. In The Sense of Style, cognitive scientist and linguist Steven Pinker uses the latest scientific insights to bring us a style and usage guide for the 21st century.
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4 out of 5 stars
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The only grammar book I stuck to all the way
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Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 13
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 8
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Over a decade ago, when Writing Down the Bones first appeared, Natalie Goldberg started a revolution in the way we practice writing. Now, for the first time, Goldberg reads her classic work, while offering new commentary about the creative, spiritual, and practical dimensions of writing. This collector's edition also includes an exclusive interview with the author.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Ultimately disappointed
- By Ian on 19-02-08
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First You Write a Sentence.
- The Elements of Reading, Writing...and Life.
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 122
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 109
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The sentence is the common ground where every writer walks. A poet writes in sentences, but so does the unsung author who came up with Items trapped in doors cause delays. A good sentence can be written (and read) by anyone if we simply give it the gift of our time, and it is as close as most of us will get to making something truly beautiful. Enter acclaimed author Professor Joe Moran. Using minimal technical terms, First You Write a Sentence is his unpedantic but authoritative explanation of how the most ordinary words can be turned into verbal constellations of extraordinary grace.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant
- By marija maher on 25-12-18
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Save the Cat!
- The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
- By: Blake Snyder
- Narrated by: George Newbern
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- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 172
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 145
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 142
Here's what started the phenomenon: This book has been a best seller for over 15 years and has been used by screenwriters around the world! Blake Snyder tells all in this fast, funny, and candid look inside the movie business. Save the Cat is just one of many ironclad rules for making your ideas more marketable and your script more satisfying.
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4 out of 5 stars
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simplistic
- By Julian on 07-05-19
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Writing Tools
- 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer
- By: Roy Peter Clark
- Narrated by: Roy Peter Clark
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 62
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 53
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 52
“Writing is a craft you can learn,” says Roy Peter Clark. “You need tools, not rules.” In this essential guide, Clark distills decades of experience into fifty tools that writers of all kinds can use every day. You may be crafting a newspaper story or an admissions essay for college. You may be writing a technical report or drafting your first novel. You may be a student or a teacher, a poet or a critic, a columnist or a blogger. You may be preparing a PowerPoint presentation or penning a love letter.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Analysing the art of writing
- By Judy Corstjens on 17-06-14
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Creating Character Arcs
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- Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 83
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 72
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 71
Have you written a story with an exciting concept and interesting characters - but it just isn't grabbing the attention of readers or agents? It's time to look deeper into the story beats that create realistic and compelling character arcs. Internationally published, award-winning novelist K.M. Weiland shares her acclaimed method for achieving memorable and moving character arcs in every book you write.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Condescending
- By Ascera on 30-09-19
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Zen in the Art of Writing
- By: Ray Bradbury
- Narrated by: Jim Frangione
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 19
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 19
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 18
"Every morning I jump out of bed and step on a land mine. The land mine is me. After the explosion, I spend the rest of the day putting the pieces back together. Now, it's your turn. Jump!" Zest. Gusto. Curiosity. These are the qualities every writer must have, as well as a spirit of adventure. In this exuberant book, the incomparable Ray Bradbury shares the wisdom, experience, and excitement of a lifetime of writing. Here are practical tips on the art of writing from a master of the craft - everything from finding original ideas to developing your own voice and style.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Exuberant, excitable, of its time
- By P. A. Dourado on 22-06-20
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On Writing Well: Audio Collection
- By: William Zinsser
- Narrated by: William Zinsser
- Length: 2 hrs and 23 mins
- Abridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 65
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 44
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 41
This expanded audio collection presents William Zinsser's On Writing Well, the classic teaching book that has sold more than 1 million copies, together with a new 90-minute section that tells you how to write a memoir.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Disappointed
- By G. A.Taylor on 21-06-12
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Writing Creative Nonfiction
- By: Tilar J J. Mazzeo, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Tilar J J. Mazzeo
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 57
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 46
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 47
Bringing together the imaginative strategies of fiction storytelling and new ways of narrating true, real-life events, creative nonfiction is the fastest-growing part of the creative writing world. It's a cutting-edge genre that's reshaping how we write (and read) everything from biographies and memoirs to blogs and public speaking scripts to personal essays and magazine articles.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Absolutely outstanding resource!
- By Cynthia Reed on 11-12-13
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Structuring Your Novel
- Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story
- By: K. M. Weiland
- Narrated by: Sonja Field
- Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 57
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 44
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Story5 out of 5 stars 43
Why do some stories work and others don't? The answer is structure. In this IPPY and NIEA Award-winning guide from the author of the bestselling Outlining Your Novel, you will discover the universal underpinnings that guarantee powerful plot and character arcs. An understanding of proper story and scene structure will help you to not only perfectly time your story's major events, but will also provide you with an unerring standard to use in evaluating your novel's pacing and progression.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Highly recommended
- By Nicky Blue on 22-05-17
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.
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)
More from the same
What listeners say about On Writing
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Blinkinmarvellous
- 13-04-13
Great personal insight
A rare thing - a modern writer, a great to many, willing to stop and reflect on his success, share his thoughts AND read it himself for the audiobook version. On Writing is part autobiography, part discourse on creative writing read engagingly by the author throughout.
Don't be put of by the autobiographical element if all you are after is creative writing tips; likewise, don't be put off by the tips if your interest lies in King's life story. The two work well together.
13 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- stephen
- 28-11-13
Genius
Would you consider the audio edition of On Writing to be better than the print version?
I have both the print and the audio version and there are benefits to both. The print is useful as a quick reference guide but the audio is just a brilliant and engaging story and guide to writing
What did you like best about this story?
The insight into Stephen King's mind as well as the tips on writing. It made me want to start writing and also left me in awe at his ability to construct the perfect phrase.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
I loved reading about the ideas for his books, how one simple idea would slowly transform into a long novel.
Any additional comments?
Utterly brilliant, exactly what an audio book should be, if you are on a long journey or doing a task long tedious task you can get yourself lost in the words of Stephen King, this audio book helped a 3 hour drive up the motorway fly by.
10 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kev Partner
- 27-08-12
Brilliant
I listened to this a number of times over the years before I began writing myself but have just revisited it having become an author with a few books under my belt and therefore some experience to help put King's book in context.
I don't agree with every last word he says and some of the advice on publishing is naturally dated, but this is a brilliant book and I recommend it wholeheartedly to any aspiring author. Or, in fact, any author at all.
15 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Dr Zube
- 08-05-13
Autobiographical and a manual for writing
The narration by King himself is great, once you get used to his slightly unusual tone. This guy knows about writing and it is a fascinating insight into how King writes. I listened to this in part, a large part to be honest, to get my own writing going again. In some respects this was pretty hard as some of kings advice i struggle to see how I could follow, however many of the tips I could see myself following. The main thing is the sheer love King has for writing is so obvious throughout, and that I found very inspiring.
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mick
- 05-05-15
Not a King fan but this is excellent
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Absolutely, this is well thought out advice from one of the most successful writers of our time.
Any additional comments?
I've not read much Stephen King but I have no hesitation in recommending this audiobook.
It provides many, many useful writing tips and advice and if you are writer you cannot fail but to gain something from it regardless of your experience level.
You only have to look at the number of writing courses and text books which quote from this text to see how valuable it is.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Earl Robinson
- 01-03-15
Memorable and Inspiring
The most memorable thing about this book was its honesty - Stephen King allows us to see through the window of his life to get a glimpse of the man and the writer. The most inspiring aspect of this book was the permission it provides to those of us who aspire to write but doubt ourselves. Stephen King, thank you. Thank you for the permission to try, permission to fail, and permission to try again. You are an inspiration.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Joanne G.
- 07-07-14
Interesting and informative
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Any one who dreams of being a writer should read this book. It's not a writing manual, but more of a guide on how to develop the tools all writers need. With practical examples and advice drawn from his own experience and writing career, King takes the reader on a guided tour of his development as a writer and highlights some of the skills he believes good writing should demonstrate.
What did you like best about this story?
This is part autobiography and part writers aid and is full of little details that keep the listener interested all the way to the end. If you like biographies or Stephen King, you can't really go wrong with this book
What about Stephen King’s performance did you like?
King's voice takes a little getting used to, but once you have the rhythm of his speech in your head, his voice is engaging and he has some very interesting points to make.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I did listen to this in one sitting, but it's a book you can dip in and out of and your leisure as well.
Any additional comments?
For fans of Stephen King this is a must read book, but for me the best way to 'read' this book was to listen King's voice narrating his own story.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jax
- 19-02-15
The Master Storyteller!
Being a lifelong Stephen King fan, I found this insight into his life and process of writing completely fascinating and compelling. It has also made me want to pick up a pen and get writing, even though that was not my reason for buying it! Listening to him read gave it the feel of a conversation with the great man himself. If you are an aspiring writer or just a fan of his books, this is a fantastic listen and I whizzed through it, wishing for more at the end. Highly recommended!
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- alex_holmes_367
- 11-04-13
Inspiring
An inspiring glimpse into the mind of a true genius, an inspiring listen that makes even the unskilled in wordplay want to start typing something imaginative.
Nice work Mr King
2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David
- 19-05-15
Essential read for any writer
This was my first audiobook experience, and I couldn't have chosen any better. Pure magic!
4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Karen
- 10-09-12
Part 'How to' part Autobiographical
Would you consider the audio edition of On Writing to be better than the print version?
Yes - easier to access for busy budding writers
What other book might you compare On Writing to and why?
None, Stephen King's advice and narration are so easy to listen to and his honesty is very inspiring.
Have you listened to any of Stephen King’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Yes, Bag of Bones, love his voice, this was a different type of book and very easy to listen to.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I was very moved when he admitted and owned his alcoholism.
Any additional comments?
I love his message, writers need to understand that he wasn't born with a golden spoon. He worked very hard at some seriously menial jobs and perservered with his writing when most of us would be making excuses.
3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- milo
- 12-08-18
i love this book
if you want to know more about writing no nonsense style with a big grin on your face, well, look no further.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Matt
- 02-02-14
Not a fan of his genre but this is wonderful
Horror and suspense have never been my thing. I only know Stephen King's work through books that have been turned into movies.
After reading this, I'm thinking perhaps I'll try one of his stories.
I bought this book because it seems to be universally recommended by writers I respect.
Glad I did as I loved it from start to finish.
The first part, where he tells his early life story is hilarious, intimate and interesting. You get to understand why he writes what he writes. I was also left thinking I'd love to have this guy as a friend.
He narrates beautifully. As such, I'm glad I got the Audible version first rather than the hard copy or Kindle.
I found what he has to say about his craft humble, helpful and inspiring. He's at pains to dispel some of the common "thou shallts" of writing fiction, such as plotting out in advance and creating character dossiers in advance.
I won't spoil it for you by summarising the rest. All I want to say is, if you write, whatever you write, you will find this useful and uplifting. You'll also be entertained.
I'll most likely buy a hard copy or Kindle version too as there's lots of useful stuff I'd like to refer back to.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 26-06-20
Absolutely inspiring & informative!
I loved King's autobiographical way of sharing his experience. It was a huge encouragement for someone such as myself starting out as a writer. I'm definitely going to be listening to this a second time through. I wish you all the best of luck as you embark on the journey. Thanks Mr. King for being so personal!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 16-06-20
great value listen
said everything an aspiring writer needs to hear and covered most questions I had and wondered about
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lim
- 13-05-20
A master story-teller even when it's a non-fiction
I enjoyed listening to this a lot for the simple reason that Stephen King speaks about his craft in a non-technical manner. What makes it interesting and inspiring is that the stories he shared are real and they give you a glimpse (and sometimes front seat viewing) of his personal life - his passion, vulnerability, drive, lessons learned and other things that make him the prolific and successful writer that he is today.
He also came across as being his authentic self when he narrates the book. He didn't come across as pretentious. This appeals to me a lot as it's not often when I experience an author speaking to me from his heart when their words are actually in written form.
This has become one of my few favourite audio books so far.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Noah Ilogon
- 18-10-19
F*CKING AMAZING
ONLY THE BEST FROM THE BEST AUTHOR ONE OF THE ONLY NON FICTION THAT KEEP ME HOOKED
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bronwyn Johnson
- 15-07-19
Part biography, part teaching, pure magic!
I was really surprised with Stephen King's courage and honesty with the stories he shares in this book. He shares his struggles with substance abuse, incredible partnership with his wife Tabitha and his unique approach to writing. I was particularly surprised to learn that he doesn't create a completed plot for his books before he starts writing and that he allows the characters and the stories to evolve over time. As he says, if even he doesn't know how the story will end, then there's no way his readers will be able to guess the ending.
This book is not a technical manual on writing or a recipe to follow step-by-step, but it does provide answers to many questions that Stephen has been asked over his career and a truly generous sharing of what works for him. It was as if I was sitting in the same room, listening to him share openly from his vast experience - the good times and the bad.
I loved the book. It is as entertaining as it is educational. I will apply some of the lessons he shared in my own career moving forward.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- emeraldeye
- 05-04-19
fantastic
still just as relevant today as it was when it was published, barring a few old references. and King is a gem to listen to. highly recommended
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 09-03-19
Wonderful, in entirety.
This was, for me, a delightfully insightful look into the internal struggle, triumph, and wisdom of one of the most prolific fiction writers today.
Aspiring writers can do far far worse than than set aside the time to take this in.