I see "On Writing" as a very interesting insight into the life and method of Stephen King and a limited, and in some respects possibly even counterproductive guide to actually being a successful novelist. I do remember a good passage on how to make a scene-setting description hone in on interesting details, but I also recall an extended rant on the subject of adverbs that basically boiled down to "don't use them".
And counterproductive? King's approach to plotting is described as essentially thinking his characters into difficult situations and then figuring out the details of how they'll extricate themselves as he goes along. This works very well for Stephen King, but certainly isn't the only way successful authors approach plotting, and some of the meticulous planners are extremely good and successful writers too. It's people that don't have an innate flair for structuring novel length texts as they go along that are most likely to pick up books with titles like "on writing" though...
As an autobiography and homage to his passion, it's brief and very readable though.
And counterproductive? King's approach to plotting is described as essentially thinking his characters into difficult situations and then figuring out the details of how they'll extricate themselves as he goes along. This works very well for Stephen King, but certainly isn't the only way successful authors approach plotting, and some of the meticulous planners are extremely good and successful writers too. It's people that don't have an innate flair for structuring novel length texts as they go along that are most likely to pick up books with titles like "on writing" though...
As an autobiography and homage to his passion, it's brief and very readable though.