Book on "Writing: A Memoir of the Craft"

Stephen King uses literary elements and devices to help bring narrative and meaning to his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. King uses these writing techniques to convey his story of how he became a writer and how his childhood helped mold him as a writer. Using literary devices and techniques enhanced his story and kept readers interested, Stephen King conveys his story by using imagery, simile, personification, dialogue, narrative structure, theme and many more. In pages 23 to 25 King discusses his childhood by using imagery to make readers imagine his experience at the audiologist.

He begins by saying how he spent the first grade in bed due to his case of measles, Stephen describes his days at the audiologist as the worst days of his childhood. King helps convey his pain and misery at the audiologist by using imagery in this passage.

There was a sharp smell of alcohol. A clank as the ear doctor opened his sterilizer. I saw the needle in his hand it looked as long as the ruler in my school pencil-box and tensed.

He slid the needle into my ear and punctured my eardrum with it. The pain was beyond anything I have ever felt since the only thing close was the first month of recovery after being struck by a van in the summer of 1999. That pain was longer in duration but not so intense.

The puncturing of my eardrum was pain beyond the world. I screamed. There was a sound inside my heada loud kissing sound.

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Hot fluid ran out of my ea. Using imagery brought the book to life and made readers think about the pain Stephen king had to deal with as a child. The definition of imagery is when a writer uses descriptive language to enhance the depth in their writing imagery must also conceide with the human senses to help deepen the reader’s understanding of the writers point of view and that is what King made readers feel.

Another literary element King uses in his book is conflict. Stephen King Talks about his drug and alcohol abuse and how it took a toll on him and his family. Readers are able to see his struggles and fully comprehend how his past made him the writer that he is today. On page 97-98 the author states how his friends and family had an intervention for him to help him with his addiction. He goes on and says Not long after that my wife, finally convinced that I wasnt going to pull out of this ugly downward spiral on my own, stepped in.

It couldnt have been easyby then I was no longer within shouting distance of my right mindbut she did it. She organized an intervention group formed of family and friends, and I was treated to a kind of This Is Your Life in hell. Tabby began by dumping a trash bag full of stuff from my office out on the rug: beer cans, cigarette butts, cocaine in gram bottles and cocaine in plastic Baggies, coke spoons caked with snot and blood, Valium, Xanax, bottles of Robi- tussin cough syrup and NyQuil cold medicine, even bottles of mouthwash.

The author deals with person vs self conflict. Stephen reveals his financial struggles as well as his drug and alcohol abuse which ends up creating issue against himself. Conflict is very effective in a book because it shows characters more clearly and it can show growth, change, strength and weakness. Conflict helps readers become more fascinated with the book and can sometimes allow readers to connect with characters that face similar problems like them.

Stephen Kings toolbox for writing are very interesting and important points of writing many people need to be more aware of. King points out many mistakes people do when it comes to writing. My favorite one is when King says use the first word that comes to mind avoid obsessing over perfect grammar(114-118). When it comes to writing, I find myself struggling with my vocabulary, I worry that Im being too vague and uninteresting or using the same words over and over again.

This causes me to overthink my writing and waste time. I hate being redundant with words and when I see that I use a word too much, I try looking for a more complex word which can be difficult to find. Vocabulary is important because its what readers see first in your writing. Sure using advanced vocabulary is a beautiful thing but sometimes simplistic words can get the job done too. breath, but its true. Language does not always have to wear a tie and lace-up shoes. The object of fiction isnt grammati – cal correctness but to make the reader welcome and then tell a story(134).

This is important because writers need to understand that its okay to make mistakes, we learn from them and thats how we grow and prosper. The important thing is to make your story worth being heard, a story is supposed to make readers feel intrigued and curious but wanting more. The second important toolbox tool that is important is to read and appreciate writers and to learn from them as well, King states Grab that book you were looking at off the shelf again, would you?

The weight of it in your hands tells you other stuff that you can take in without reading a single word. The books length, naturally, but more: the commitment the writer shouldered in order to create the work, the commitment Constant Reader must make to digest it. Not that length and weight alone indicate excellence. Writing should not be taken for granted it should be appreciated. Reading books enriches readers knowledge in many ways, also appreciate the hard work the writer did because writing is not an easy task .

Its important to read because we learn so many things from writers and we can grow as writers as well no one is a perfect writer but we can learn to become better and better. You can learn new techniques and skills, reading is how we gain knowledge thats why its important after all its how Stephen became intrigued with writing it all began with him reading. The third interesting toolbox tool is avoid using passive voice its interesting how some writing techniques can be a writers pet peeve. Stephen does not like it and wishes that writers limit their use of passive voice, the reason I find it interesting is because I can sometimes have a passive voice in my writing and I didnt know that using a verb before the subject was considered incorrect and that the subject had to be doing something which is an active verb. The fourth interesting toolbox tool is that adverbs are not your friends(124).

Adverbs are like passive voices adverbs, the writer usually tells us he or she is afraid he/she isnt expressing himself/herself clearly, that he or she is not getting the point or the picture across. I think its an important tool because adverbs are overused and makes the writers work lose its purpose and sound redundant . Dialogue attribution is important because it allows readers to understand who is speaking and who is being spoken to. Without it, readers will not know who is who. Dialogue is a very important element in writing when it comes to conversations between characters. Dialogue attribution allows readers to know who is speaking for example  Martha said or Melissa asked makes conversation easier to understand.

King has a very strong relationship with writing, he is very passionate about his craft. Throughout the book King reminds readers how important writing is and we see how much it means to him because he takes as through his journey as a writer. On page 269 King states that Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.

King states directly that writing is a gift and a beautiful thing, writing touches readers and writers and is basically a blessing. Writing helps us spread knowledge, our thoughts and feelings. Writing comes from the heart and it shouldnt be seen as a way to benefit our greedy needs but to spread our ideas. I think this point is important because writing is an important thing, whether were writing hand written or our electronic devices. Writing is what keeps us connected and aware of our surroundings. Without writing or books this world would be nothing so we need to cherish it with ourselves and those around us. Another way King defines it through the quote Writing is not life, but I think that sometimes it can be a way back. This quote shows that King feels writing can help a lost soul find their way back. Writing should not be what someone lives for but it should be what revives them. I agree with King because

Task#4: Stephen King is an amazing writer, I love how honest he is about his writing and how open he is about his passion for writing. I think Stephen King is a Phenomenal author and person because he tells us so much about him that many people wouldnt easily share. The way that he opens up about his past whether its drinking, abusing drugs, childhood to his adulthood it just shows how talented he is and what a strong person he is. No matter what he went through, he never allowed his talent as a writer to fade. I would love to read his other books because reading this book makes me want to read books he wrote in the past during his hard times so I can see how he grew as a writer.

He is very honest and not afraid to speak his mind and his passion bleeds through the book. Before reading this book I assumed it would be a how to book but I was proved wrong just reading the first pages. I really loved how Stephen transitions from childhood to adulthood and how the book flows. I think King’s purpose for writing this book was to show readers you can do anything you put your mind to and you can master it as well. This book helps show readers that no matter how hard life gets you should never let it take away your talent. When you find your passion you should never let go.

When King talks about how teachers told him his writing was a waste of time he never listened to them and look at where he is now an amazing writer. All the times his writings got rejected he never gave up, he kept pushing and pushing. This book should be given to new writers who doubt themselves this book allows readers to see life throws lemons all the time but its up to you to take it and make lemonade with it. This book was written for rookie authors to teach them useful tips for example the toolbox can be used by any writer who wants to improve their writing skills(111-137).

I think King is fantastic because his struggles show me that no matter what life has to offer you should never lose yourself but be true to yourself because at the end of the day you know whats best for you and what makes you happy. I love how King didnt allow anyone to take away his writing whether it was alcohol, drugs, poverty or his teachers or the rejection slips he would get he still kept going.