On Writing

A Memoir of the Craft: 25th Anniversary Classic Edition

Stephen King author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Hodder & Stoughton

Published:17th Jul '25

Should be back in stock very soon

On Writing cover

Part memoir, part masterclass by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer's craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have.

'25 years on, Stephen King's memoir is still the best guide for writers . . . Superlative' - The Sunday Times


King's advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999 - and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery.

Immensely helpful and illuminating to any aspiring writer, this special edition of Stephen King's critically lauded, million-copy bestseller shares the experiences, habits, and convictions that have shaped him and his work.

Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it - fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.


'Not only is Stephen King one of the writers whom I credit with making me a novelist, but he was also the writer who, at a key time, gave reading back to me' DONNA TARTT

'King is a visceral writer, and a master of granular detail' MARGARET ATWOOD


'If you dream of writing novels, start with this timeless book' JOHN GRISHAM

'This is the best practical guide I know to a writer's development' VAL MCDERMID

Part biography, part collection of tips for the aspiring writer . . . one of the great storytellers of our time * Guardian *
Absolutely fascinating . . . basic instructions . . . sensible advice * Sunday Times *
The childhood memoir is a triumphant display of wit, story-telling and guts. His advice to writers is hard-nosed, practical and level-headed in the classic journalistic Orwell-Hemingway tradition * Evening Standard *
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 *
Stephen King is a genius . . . In this book he tells us what first made him a horror writer . . . his very direct approach to getting his awesome imagination onto a blank page works -- Jeremy Vine * We Love This Book *
I am a life-long fan, and ON WRITING is one of the most important books I've read on the craft and the business -- Lisa Unger

ISBN: 9781399741712

Dimensions: 218mm x 140mm x 34mm

Weight: 497g

416 pages