The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes (Paperback)

~ Jack Bickham (Author) "WRITERS ARE A FAVORITE SUBJECT FOR CARTOONISTS, FROM CHARLES SCHULZ of Peanuts fame to those who contribute to The New Yorker..." (more)
Key Phrases: viewpoint character, scene question

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Fictional life, according to Jack Bickham, is better than real life. You don't get struck by lightning. You are not subject to random acts of cruelty. Events proceed logically. On the other hand, Bickham says, "In fiction, the best times for the writer--and reader--are when the story's main character is in the worst trouble." Not good if you're a fictional character. The 38 Most Common Fiction Writing Mistakes is as engaging as Bickham wants your fiction to be. It is sharp, focused, funny, and pointed. And it is demanding. Bickham, who has written over 65 novels and several fiction-writing guides, has little patience for wannabes. "Writers write," Bickham says. "Everyone else makes excuses." Bickham's pronouncements are decidedly negative: "Don't Describe Sunsets," advises one chapter; "Don't Write About Wimps"; "Don't Let [Your Characters] Be Windbags"; and "Don't Worry What Your Mother Will Think." But his lessons are positive. Behind each dictum is a terse, entertaining, and utterly well-reasoned examination of why the problem is a problem, and what you can do to expunge it from your prose. --Jane Steinberg

From School Library Journal

YA-- An easy-to-read book full of valuable information for would-be fiction writers. Bickham issues many ``don't'' statements, but says that behind every negative is a positive. He tries to help writers overcome the 1001 reasons that they develop ``blocks'' with common-sense advice. Slim enough to slip into a briefcase or to keep handy next to a typewriter or word processor, this book will remind some of The Elements of Style by Strunk and White.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books (September 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898798213
• ISBN-13: 978-0898798210
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #227,634 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

101 of 112 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not that interesting with some poor advice, July 25, 2000

By A Customer

As a writer and a teacher of writing, I didn't like this book nearly as much as Self Editing for Fiction Writers or How to Write a Damn Good Novel. It is much less elegantly written, far more simplistic, and actually gives some bad advice in my opinion. For example, the author says, "Don't worry about being obvious" and says it's okay to introduce characters with direct author statements such as the following: "James Marx was a mean man all his life, and on one had ever liked him. He never gave an inch in business, and he never gave a cent to charity. Of all who knew him, his wife liked him best; she merely detested him." This is certainly the opposite of "showing vs. telling" and sounds corny and uninteresting to me. Good writing makes characters come to life and lets readers form their own opinions by letting them see, hear, and smell them. Effective literature's also much more subtle than blatant, with nuances, ambiguities, and contradictions shown through rich visual detail .. . that's how you create layered, believable, interesting characters instead of stick figures. And I'm not talking about just "literary" fiction here--the best of mainstream and genre fiction also has nuanced characterizatons that don't hit the reader over the head with an over-obvious approach.

The author also says, "beware of late-blooming ideas that seem to come from nowhere during your writing of the project" and mocks the idea that characters can "come to life" and seem to take over a story. I think this advice is counter to the creative process, where some of one's best ideas can come from who knows where and you develop something that wasn't part of your preconception. Much of the fun of writing to me is experiencing those times when new ideas and angles come from the ether (or the muse)--when I'm in the creative flow and the characters DO seem to come to life and I know what they can and cannot do. Scores of writers speak of and actually revere this phenomenon. It seems terrible advice to me to stick to your plan no matter what and ignore the gifts of the creative process. I'm a journalist and some of my best writing has been that that came to me relatively late in the process of working on a story--the "ah ha, so that's how to do it" moment when it all falls together differently--and so much better than-- than the original idea. As I near completion of my first novel I find that some of my most exciting material is without a doubt that which I did not pre-plan. I believe in structuring but think you must go with the flow, too, and be open to following those serendipidous ideas that come to you. You can also choose not to use them if they don't pan out.

This book has some good sections that I was able to learn from and enjoy (for example the chapters on characters going from feeling to thinking to action and on scenes/sequels), but much more of it seemed wordy and tiresome with such phrases as "pardon me while I disagree" and statements of the obvious, for example, "A windbag, in old-fashion slang, is a person who talks and talks and talks . . . and never lets anybody get a word in edgewise. Windbags in real life are colossal bores. In fiction they're even worse."

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A few things, April 20, 2001

By A Customer

First of all, I purchased this book over a year ago and I continue to use it. I pick it up to refresh my memory and it helps me see my work with fresh eyes. True, it is a don't do this don't do that book. I saw a few reviews complain about this... I wonder if they noticed the title of the book. Anyhow, a lot can be learned from what not to do.

Second, this a book about writing works that publisher's find appealing (and the public too of course). If that is not what you hope for, then take it with a grain of salt and read Writing Down The Bones; that is a book focused on the creative side of the craft.

Third, the most popular review of this book is negative "Not that interesting with some poor advice" July 2000. I'd like to point out Bickham is an accomplished, popular and published writer while the reviewer was at the time "...near completion of my first novel." Frankly, I think it is silly to critique a book like this on how well it deals with the creative side of writing; the creative part of writing is your job and no one can stop you but you.

To sum it up, this is a writer's advice on writing books. There are plenty of authors I wish would do this; I am grateful Mr. Bickham did. I don't think he is claiming his word is law; any sensible person knows there is no such thing in art. But, if you hope to have an audience, you'd better know how to please it and I think this book does a fine job pointing out some things that can make that audience throw rotten fruit at you.

;)

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for new writers!!......., September 29, 2001

By	Margaret "fugirl" (NYC) - See all my reviews

when I first started creative writing a few years ago, this was one of the first guide books I picked up. Since then I've read and highlighted it numerous times because the points Bickham drives home are so critical. He gives excellent examples of each potential type of fiction writing mistake and also gives practical advice to writers.

Some key points Bickham devotes chapters to: don't be a show off when you write, speak intelligently to your reader, don't use real people in your stories, don't forget sense impressions, don't ignore scene structure, don't wander around in a fog, etc. In each of the 38 chapters (one for each fiction writing mistake) he clearly and thoroughly discusses each mistake and makes it evident why such writing doesn't work. After reading this book, such errors become evident in your own work. I know mine started jumping right out at me.

Bickham is also a motivator, telling would be writers to set a schedule and write, write, write and you will find success. He shows writers how to remain positive and assures them that giving up is the biggest and costliest writing mistake of all. Those who persist will succeed, he assures.

Overall, I derived a good bit of elementary writing technique from this book and some motivation and encouragement. I'd recommend this book wholeheartedly to all beginning fiction writers.