Books: Stephen King On Writing

From his website
 

Why I had never read this is beyond me (other than I am a slacker).  But what started with discovering great quotes from the book, I love quotes, turned into having to find it.  Seriously, the book came out roughly 13 years ago.  How is it I missed it?

I will say that I spent much of that time in school for both my business degree and for my culinary degree.  Writing was no where present in my mind during the majority of that time, at least not the kind of writing I am working through now.  Add to that time working in kitchens.  Working in a kitchen you are focused more on surviving the rush and then decompressing at the end of the night with beers and other stuff (but a story for a different time). 

So I get this book, and start reading.  What you expect is the same thing from every writing book; do this, don't do that, blah blah blah.  Instead I find a book written almost as a journal, detailing quite a few years of the mans life.  Even when you get into the section of the book that is focused on how he writes it is still more of a glimpse into his demons and past that you won't find anywhere else. 

Quite simply, the book is a great read.  Even those who don't care for his style of books, there is something to be gained.  In our journeys, it is important to find the stories of those around us who are facing the same challenges, or even challenges a bit different than our own.  Writing, locked in the cave that is our own mind can be incredibly lonely most of the time.  Quite often there is no one there to keep you moving forward when the going gets rough, let alone during the day to day pains of our lives.  It is a revalation to find you aren't really alone.  Others are there suffering through the same pains you are. 

I guess what I am saying here is ... get the damn book.  Its worth reading.