Beginnings, Middles & Ends

“The story that comes out on the page isn’t the same as the story in your head,” Nancy Kress says on the very first page. I know this feeling intimately, and from this moment on I was hooked.

I’m very serious about writing, and I also have a tendency to research things I’m interested in very thoroughly. I’ve done this with every RPG and MMO I’ve ever played. I’ve done it with shows that have complex mythologies. So, it probably comes as no surprise that I’ve read quite a few books about writing. As of this review I’ve finished five, including this book, and I am working on three more. So far no book has helped me as much as this one. I took notes on this book, of every chapter. The chapter with the least notes clocks show more in at 200 words. The chapter with the most clocks in at over 800. That’s how packed full of useful information this book is.

So what makes this book so great? Kress goes over every topic a new writer needs to write credible, publishable prose, and to structure a satisfying story, and she does it in a way that immediately makes sense. She also does something I’ve yet to see other writing books do, which is to take into account every type of writer. Every new lesson acknowledges the differences between novelists and short story writers—outliners and discovery writers, and it offers specific advice for each. As someone who is just starting out, I write a lot of short stories simply because they’re faster and easier to finish. Finding information specific to short stories in this book was an unexpected but welcome surprise.

Long story short, this is one of the best books about the technical side of writing fiction. Period. If you need tips, advice, structure, direction, buy this book. If you are instead looking for inspiration, you won’t find much of it here, but one book can’t have everything, now can it? show less

Beginnings, Middles & Ends, by Nancy Kress is one of the best writing how-to's that I've read, yet. The book is targeted at both novelists and short story writers of any experience. Kress assumes little writing theory on the part of the reader and yet manages to be neither patronizing nor cliche when explaining basics (I swear some books are written from the same template - not this one!) Kress also takes care to emphasize that different writers work in different ways, addressing the "pantsters", who like to write without plotting, acknowledging that, for them, most of the advice will be relevant only after the first draft is done (but it will be relevant.)

So what's so good about this book? In short: it focuses on the writing. There's show more no showing off the author's understanding of Georges Polti, or proving that she bleeds Joseph Campbell. There are no structure formulas (three acts with seven turning points, no nine sequences, no 18 dips and crests of the roller coaster,) Kress has written a book which focuses on what you, the writer, need to know and do to organize your story's structure. Not that there's no theory, there's plenty, but it's all contextual, so it is clear how to apply it. How does Kress do this? Well - ahem - it's how the book is structured.

The title of the book is its structure. Starting with Beginnings, Kress discusses everything that needs to be considered when writing a beginning, which, of course, touches on everything from characterization, to language, to how the beginning effects the middle and the end. She acknowledges writers who find beginnings easy and offers assistance for those who find them difficult, addressing the various reasons one can become stuck while writing a beginning. Kress then gives the same detailed treatment for each of Middle and End, followed by a section on Revision.

I highly recommend this book to any writer, whether they are new to writing and don't know where to begin, or are wallowing uncertainly in a WIP. I particularly recommend this book to structure-phobics because, whether they think about it consciously while writing a first draft or not, a writer needs to know their craft and this book is a pain-free way to learn. I'll be putting this one on the #storycraft Book Chat list. show less

I want to start off by saying this is a fabulous resource. I picked it up because I've long heard Kress's "How To" books praised, and I must say, I'm very glad I did.

There are, as always, things I already know. Or things I've already intuited from my own work. But it's great, for starters, to have stuff reinforced. It's also great to have things spelled out plainly.

But, one of the best things about this book? It discusses both novels and short stories. Kress talks about what's different between each, and how a writer should handle it. That alone makes this book worth its weight in gold.

Kress also doesn't simply focus on beginnings as a whole, middles, and ends. She talks about the elements that make them such. She talks about the kinds show more of writers who have problems with each. She also, surprisingly, focuses a lot on character and plot, because think about it: if you're stuck somewhere in your work? Chances are, going back to your original characterization and original plot will fix things right up. But she also stresses how plot grows out of character, and that if you're forcing characters to act against their inner nature, you've got a block coming.

In a way, this book deals with various aspects of writers block and how to get around it, especially in context to where you're stuck. Beginnings are related to middles, which relate to ends, and back again. Each section has its own set of exercises (none of which I've done, but I'm glad to have them) as well, which gives you some practical application as well.

In short? Get this book. We all have trouble-spots, but learning how it all fits together as a whole is a very useful thing. show less

Nancy Kress's Beginnings, Middles & Ends, part of the Elements of Fiction series, is an excellent reference tool for writers, as it clearly and concisely explains the hows and whys of effective story structure. The author breaks down the importance of each of the three sections for both novels and short stories, and shows, through examples and exercises, how the parts interrelate and are ultimately crafted into an effective narrative. Kress appropriately weaves in discussion of character, point of view, and motivation. Highly recommended for both the budding author and those more experienced who may need an occasional boost.

This book offers insight that's good for those starting in the writing field. IF you're not sure how to start, flow, and end, it will help.

Once you've experienced completing a story, this book offers tips to get around blockages, but doesn't hold as much information as a more advanced writer might require.

An excellent walk through of story structure. Concise, thorough and honest. Certainly worth a second read (and a third).

Very decent guide to writing both novels and short fiction. It reminds me of a great deal I should always keep in mind while reading, as well. My appreciation for novels might just improve some more with these kinds of reminders. :)