Shop
  • Deals
  • Deal checker
  • Black Friday
  • Buying guides
  • Brands
  • Stores
Travel
  • Flight deals
  • Hotel deals
Company
  • Research
  • Press
  • deal.ai apps
Black Friday 2026
  • Walmart
  • Best Buy
  • Target
  • TVs
  • Laptops
  • Headphones
  • Apple
  • Gaming
  • Vacuums
  • Kitchen
  • Toys
  • Smartwatches
  • Tablets
  • Furniture
  • Mattresses
© Deal.ai Inc.
TermsPrivacy
Deal.ai › Books
O
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Best price now

$3.22at alibrisChecked 6 h ago

84% under what the other stores charge

Compared across 14 stores. Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when. Store links may earn us a commission. Price via Klarna.

Visit alibris

Ask our agent about this product

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.

Enter to send, Shift+Enter for a new line

Price facts

  • Lowest price today: $3.22 at alibris (checked Nov 10, 2026).
  • Checked at 14 stores.

Our take on the On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Stephen King's part-memoir, part-craft manual pairs scenes from his life with blunt, practical advice on how to write fiction. The first half covers his childhood, early rejections and the accident that nearly killed him; the second is a toolkit of grammar, dialogue, description and revision. It is the rare writing book that reads like a story, which is why it outsells most rivals on craft. Readers say it motivates more than it instructs, and that King's opinions are strong enough to argue with.

Best forAspiring fiction writersFans of Stephen King's memoir and horror workEnglish and creative writing studentsAnyone stuck on a draft who needs a push
Pros
  • Reads like King's fiction: direct, funny and personal
  • Concrete advice on dialogue, description and cutting adverbs
  • The 'toolbox' and revision sections are practical
  • Memoir sections give context for the craft advice
  • Short chapters make it easy to dip into
Cons
  • Light on plotting and structure compared with craft-only guides
  • Advice leans toward genre and commercial fiction
  • Some memoir passages run long for readers wanting pure instruction
  • King's rules are opinionated and not universally applicable

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft prices at every store

  • alibrisNew

    In stock

    $3.22Checked 6 h ago
    Visit alibris
  • WalmartNew

    In stock

    $9.23+ $6.99 shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit Walmart
  • TargetNew

    In stock

    $10.91+ $5.99 shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit Target
  • BooksamillionNew

    In stock

    $17.59+ $7.98 shippingChecked 6 h ago
    Visit Booksamillion
  • BiggerBooksPre-owned

    Availability unknown

    $2.36Checked 6 h ago
    Visit BiggerBooks
  • eBayPre-owned

    Availability unknownSold by idahoyouthranchbooks (99.9% positive, 37,700 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

    $6.81Free shippingChecked Nov 8
    Visit eBay
  • eBayNew

    Availability unknownSold by dengr1 (99.9% positive, 12,600 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

    $4.61+ $4.39 shippingChecked Nov 8
    Visit eBay
  • ThriftBooks.comNew

    Availability unknown

    $20.25Checked 6 h ago
    Visit ThriftBooks.com
  • Half Price BooksNew

    Availability unknown

    $20.61Checked 6 h ago
    Visit Half Price Books
  • AbeBooks.comNew

    Availability unknown

    $22.55Checked 6 h ago
    Visit AbeBooks.com
  • Blackwell'sNew

    Availability unknownShips from the UK · duties may apply

    $24.08Checked 6 h ago
    Visit Blackwell's
  • World of BooksNew

    Availability unknownShips from abroad · duties may apply

    $25.09Checked 6 h ago
    Visit World of Books
  • Bookshop.orgNew

    Availability unknown

    $25.16Checked 6 h ago
    Visit Bookshop.org
  • eCampus.comNew

    Availability unknown

    $26.97Checked 6 h ago
    Visit eCampus.com
  • Books A MillionNew

    Availability unknown

    $27.00Checked 6 h ago
    Visit Books A Million

Also available at

  • eBayCheck price at eBay

Store links may earn us a commission. Some prices via Klarna.

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft price history

$3.22$3.22
Nov 9Nov 10

Lowest price we've seen: $3.22 on Nov 9 at alibris. Tracked across 13 stores since Nov 9.

What reviewers say

Reviewers and owners treat it as one of the best books on writing, valued as much for King's storytelling as for his advice. Many call it motivating and re-readable; a minority find the craft sections thin or the memoir padding.

What people mention
  • Writing advicePraisedReaders find the toolbox and revision chapters concrete and easy to apply.
  • MemoirMixedMany enjoy King's life stories; others want less memoir and more instruction.
  • TonePraisedOwners describe the voice as blunt, funny and encouraging.
  • StructureCriticisedSome say it covers prose style well but says little about plotting a novel.
  • MotivationPraisedReviewers often say it pushed them back to writing.

Specifications

Format
PaperbackSource
Language
EnglishSource
Release Year
2020Source
Publisher
Scribner Book CompanySource

Questions and answers

Is this a writing manual or a memoir?
Both. Roughly half is King's life story and half is practical advice on craft, with a short section on revision and a reading list.
Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes. It assumes you want to write fiction but does not require prior publication or an MFA. The advice is plain and example-driven.
Does it cover plotting and outlining?
Barely. King favors situation-first writing over outlines, so look to other craft books for structure and plot mechanics.
Is this the same as earlier editions?
The text is King's 2000 book plus a later 'On Living' section about his accident. This edition is the Scribner paperback.
Do I need to like horror to enjoy it?
No. The examples come mostly from King's own work, but the lessons apply to any genre of fiction.
Where is the On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft cheapest?
At alibris, for $3.22, 84% under what the other stores charge, as of our latest check.
Where can I buy the On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft?
14 stores we checked sell it, including BiggerBooks, ThriftBooks.com, Half Price Books, AbeBooks.com, Blackwell's.

Shoppers also compared

  • O
    On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
    On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
  • O
    On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
    On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction
  • S
    Steering The Craft: A Twenty-First-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story
    Steering The Craft: A Twenty-First-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story
  • T
    Talking to Writers: The Craft of Fiction
    Talking to Writers: The Craft of Fiction
  • S
    Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies
    Stein On Writing: A Master Editor of Some of the Most Successful Writers of Our Century Shares His Craft Techniques and Strategies
  • O
    On Writing: A Memoir Of the Craft (A Memoir of the Craft (Reissue))
    On Writing: A Memoir Of the Craft (A Memoir of the Craft (Reissue))
  • T
    The Craft of Creative Writing Write the Story.: Let the Story write itself., Book 4
    The Craft of Creative Writing Write the Story.: Let the Story write itself., Book 4
  • T
    The Elements of Writing: The Complete How-To Guide to Writing, With Case Studies from the Masters in All Genres
    The Elements of Writing: The Complete How-To Guide to Writing, With Case Studies from the Masters in All Genres

Buying guides that pick the On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

  • Best books on the craft of writing

Stores we've priced the On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft at

  • Target deals and prices
  • Walmart deals and prices
Genre
Biographies & MemoirsSource
Release Date
2020-06Source