On Writing Essay

As Stephen King so bluntly stated, "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot." Throughout King's novel, On Writing, King emphasizes the importance of reading and writing to become a good writer. King seems to believe that aspiring writers can only "learn" to be good writers by the very act of writing and rewriting. In the CV, King uses several personal experiences as examples to further his argument that if one wants to write well, one must write abundantly. 


In his early years, King published The Village Vomit, his own interpretation of his school's newspaper. This newspaper showed King's satirical, witty humor for writing fictional stories. Soon enough, his love for writing fiction developed. This early development allowed King to focus on what he loved most: writing. He wrote and wrote until he was satisfied. From contributing articles to his brother's newspaper, Dave's Rag, to his first published novel, Carrie, Stephen King never gave up on his dreams of becoming an accomplished, published writer. King's continuous perseverance through tough times shows his dedication to his writing. Furthermore, after receiving one rejection letter after another, King's determination to pursue his passion continued through his childhood and into his adulthood. 


Even through a dark period of drugs and alcohol, King overcame this endeavor with not only with the help of his family and friends, but with his rational thinking and dedication to writing. His dedication to writing allowed him to overcome one of the darkest periods of his life, but this dark period has formed King to who he is today. King shows that despite the many potential pitfalls in his life, he is still a very much active writer, writing almost everyday. 


Throughout On Writing, King allows the readers to see writing in a new light. He shows the audience how words and phrases are bits and pieces of a meaning that can create a whole new world. However, one must constantly write to achieve such an accomplishment. King definitely changed the lives of those who read On Writing, and he will continue to change the lives of those who will read this book in the future. His use of personal experiences and literary advice continues to support his theory: to write well, one must write abundantly. As King asserts, "Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink. Drink and be filled up."