Writing the Short Story: A Hands-On Writing Program [Paperback]

Jack Bickham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1998 | ISBN-10: 0898798809 | ISBN-13: 978-0898798807

The author here conducts an index card based ''workshop on paper'' - a programme founded on his successul Writer''s Digest magazine Blueprint series. Bickham guides readers through the steps needed to plan, organise, write and revise a short story.'

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books (July 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898798809
• ISBN-13: 978-0898798807
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #911,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book!, January 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Writing the Short Story: A Hands-On Writing Program (Paperback)

I'm a person who in the past has sold short stories to smaller publications. Having not written anything for a few years, I purchased this book to help me get back into the habit of writing. I was a little hesitant because I usually consider all the reviews before I make a decision on a buying a book, and there were none for this one. How thankful I am that I went ahead and purchased it anyway! I'm finding it to be a wonderful "writing course". I used to write a story by thinking of an idea and going from there--I found this method hard, and often I ended up with a shapeless mess. With the new method I'm learning from Bickham's book, I use notecards to plot and plan everything in logical detail BEFORE I start to write the story. It's much easier and it's fun! I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn to write a properly structured story--and actually enjoy doing it.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of the Best, April 17, 2003

By 

R. Tiedemann "Sunnye" (Bellevue, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Writing the Short Story: A Hands-On Program (Hardcover)

When Jack Bickham was a student at the University of Oklahoma, his teacher and mentor was Dwight Swain. Swain was one of the finest writing instructors of his generation -- right up there with John Gardner -- and many who were fortunate enough to study with him went on to publication.

Bickham went on not only to publish many science fiction and western stories and books but to teach writing, continuing in the fine tradition of his mentor. This is not the only book he has published with Writer's Digest Books, but it's one of the best. In fact, for novice and published pro alike, it's one of the finest books on writing extant.

Too many amateur writers reject the notion that stories and books are constructed. They expect to sit down and write for an hour -- an evening at the most -- and produce The Great American Short Story. But writing doesn't work that way and Bickham has done a fine job of organizing the muse and showing the writer just how to pull the most out of his creativity.

WRITING THE SHORT STORY is a program geared to lead the writer through inspiration to publication. Acknowledging at the beginning that published works today SEEM to lack form, he proceeds to show just how much form a story must have. By definition the short story has a "beginning, a middle and an end" and here Bickham provides a story roadmap practically guaranteed to produce a publishable finished work.

Writing isn't easy. At least it's not if you want to be published. The writer has to know him/herself and must know the markets and the competition equally well. All that learned, s/he must proceed to understand the structure of the story as well as the importance of characters and characterization. Then there's how setting and mood affect the story. And more...from the story map to marketing, and it's all here.

Follow the assignments in the book and you'll learn. I don't care how often you've been published or what you've published -- there are lessons to be learned here.

In all, I'd say this is one of the finest books on writing in print. Any writer who studies Dwight Swain's books and Jack Bickham's books and follows their directions with practice and persistence WILL be published.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for starters, October 18, 2000

By 

V. M. Vaglio "somewhere in the rainforest" (San José, Costa Rica) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Writing the Short Story: A Hands-On Writing Program (Paperback)

I have bought several books on cretive writing and I am sure this is the best so far, specially for starters. The author does not wander in philosophical discussions or sentimental nonsense, this book is filled with sound, solid advice to help you start your own literary process. It seems to be a little formulaic some times but it didn't bother me at all, because the idea is to give you a starting structure and help you develop your own modus operandi. A must have!!!