# Is "On Writing" by Stephen King a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of On Writing by Stephen King (Scribner, 2000) is identified by: First Scribner edition of King's 2000 memoir/craft book, identified by the stated "First Scribner Edition" on the copyright page with the complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (numeral 1 present for a first printing). US Scribner is the true first; the UK Hodder & Stoughton edition follows.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First Scribner edition of King's 2000 memoir/craft book, identified by the stated "First Scribner Edition" on the copyright page with the complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (numeral 1 present for a first printing)
- The first-state dust jacket should retain its printed cover price on the front flap (unclipped)
- Publisher imprint reads Scribner
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Stephen King |
| Publisher | Scribner |
| Year | 2000 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First Scribner edition of King's 2000 memoir/craft book, identified by the stated "First Scribner Edition" on the copyright page with the… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First Scribner edition of King's 2000 memoir/craft book, identified by the stated "First Scribner Edition" on the copyright page with the complete number line 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 (numeral 1 present for a first printing). The first-state dust jacket should retain its printed cover price on the front flap (unclipped).

## Is this the true first?
US Scribner is the true first; the UK Hodder & Stoughton edition follows. A true first shows the "First Scribner Edition" line together with the full number line ending in 1.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Book-club and later trade printings lack the complete number line down to 1; club copies are lighter, often lack the printed jacket price, and may carry a rear-board blind stamp.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *On Writing* by Stephen King a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/on-writing
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.