Lessons Learned In Stephen King's On Writing

Never have I thought of myself as a writer, and after reading On Writing by Stephen King, I realized that I am most definitely not one. In his novel, King emphasizes one point that I find particularly compelling. He says, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot” (145). In other words, King argues that the best way to learn the craft is with practice. Yes, books and classes can help, but nothing compares to good ol’ trial and error. As for reading, it teaches us grammar, spelling, vocabulary, complex sentences, simple sentences, plot, tone and everything else that a textbook is supposed to do. Unfortunately, I have never enjoyed reading, and writing has always been just another dreaded assignment. Not because I don't like it, but because I find it extremely difficult. However, this did help me to realize what exactly I want to get out of this class. I want to learn how to enjoy reading and writing. I

I found this analogy quite effective. King suggests that to write to your best abilities, you must “construct your own toolbox and then build up enough muscle to carry it around with you” (114). Every toolbox is different, but each contains the same three essentials: vocabulary, grammar, and the basic elements of form and style. Each of these “tools” occupy their own shelf in the box, and they work together to produce real writing. I had never thought about writing in this sense, and it made me realize that I need to take a look at my own toolbox. When doing so, I noticed the areas in which I need to improve or “clean up”. My vocabulary, for example, could be stronger. Looking into my toolbox and reading about the elements of writing in the novel reminded me of how and why these writing techniques exist, and I look forward to using them in class this