Jack M. Bickham (1930–1997)

To be honest the title of this book made me think that it was going to be some ghastly jump-on-the-band-wagon, make-money-at-home type book.
I was totally wrong. Every point in this book is gold dust for people like me that are still on the long path of learning the craft of writing. I have been guilty of most of the mistakes this book points out at one time or another.

Jack's explanations are so short and concise that they make you laugh out loud. The fact that the book is so short is no show more accident, he practices what he preaches and gives the facts, without bullshit, in clear and easy to understand terms. This book is spot on and worth every penny for those who take their fiction writing seriously. show less

Definitely one of the best writing books I've read. At first I was thinking it was going to be a knock-off of Dwight Swain's, and it was a lot like his, but this one actually helped me understand so much more than Dwight's. Though I believe Dwight did communicate these same things, it was just that presented this way--a slightly different way--it all became so much more clear. I especially loved the end, when it gives an example plot outline. LOVED that! I've always wanted someone to do show more that. That alone made the book 5 stars for me. Most of all, it made me realize I need to quit fighting the system and just go with it. It's only when you know the rules, and know them well, that you should ever veer off the path. show less

This book is twenty years old and it's showing its age. Bickham spends a large portion of the message dedicated to slowing a story down. I've never heard of doing that. That's not a problem these days.

This is a good book for those people who have read other books on writing, and are looking for more advanced techniques or more specific approaches. More than the simple "show, don't tell" and "don't use adverbs". This books takes more detail into the "kill your darlings" message and how to show more structure a novel piece-by-piece, scene by scene. This book breaks it down to its molecules and restructures it back up.

The problem was I kept drifting off in the middle. Maybe the book was too detailed? Maybe it was trying to give too much information, too specific. The entire last chapter is a formula/outline for a novel, with things like "the main character attempts to solve his problem here but ends in disaster" or "POV of the romantic interest, the thing stopping her gets bigger" and "this chapter is where the good guy lays it all on the line". At that point, if you write every novel this way, don't you lose the spontaneity of the story? Doesn't it restrict the craft? show less

This book contains useful practical advice on writing, in short chapters. Most of it is not in-depth theory on writing technique. The book does not say author Jack Bickham is or has been an editor, but he tends to have the viewpoint and attitude of one, and to be concerned with how the writer can make a work appealing to the reader. Some of the advice is:
-Don't think you're smarter than the reader, and don't let your writing patronize. The reader (and the editor) can tell, and will be show more annoyed.
-Also, don't show off your writing skills, such as by being unnecessarily verbose.
-Patience.
-Don't give much static description that stops plot events from occurring simultaneously. Most modern readers demand movement.
-Don't use living real people, especially with their real names. It's not just that they could sue you; Bickham says characters should be constructed, not copied from life.
-Passive, wimpy characters are uninteresting.
-Plot events should happen for a reason.
-Keep the story's intended viewpoint in mind.
-Avoid using dialects unless you know what you're doing.
-Look up any words or anything else you don't exactly know; don't assume you know.
-Observe everything around you in life, and take notes.
-Don't make irrelevant disasters happen to characters just for shock value or unexpected plot twists.
-Allow time in which your characters can think after events.
-Making characters or plot development obvious, easy to understand, is not only acceptable but good. Don't try to be too subtle. [I didn't necessarily agree.:]
-Don't spend too much time being your own critic.
-Let your characters feel as well as think.
-Don't share your work with writers' clubs, especially if you have to read your story out loud. Most writers' clubs members are not trained editors and don't know what they're doing, and even if they do, can give conflicting opinions that confuse you. For the same reason, don't show your work with friends or family for opinions.
-Don't "chase the market," i.e. look for what sells and write that.
-Take maximum advantage of your existing plot ideas by looking for new ways they can serve plot development.
-Don't annoy your editor by using improper manuscript format or submission methods. show less