Elements of Writing Fiction - Scene & Structure (Elements of Fiction Writing) (Paperback)

by Jack Bickham (Author) "MENTION WORDS SUCH AS STRUCTURE, form, or plot to some fiction writers, and they blanch..." (more)
Key Phrases: conflict portion, hero viewpoint, sequel structure, Collie Davis, Brad Smith, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Using many examples from his own work, Jack Bickham shows writers how to construct solid, believable narratives that keep editors and readers anxiously turning the pages.'

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books (March 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898799066
• ISBN-13: 978-0898799064
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #158,202 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

124 of 140 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Formulaic and patronising, March 3, 2002

By	HLT (Wales, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This is the third "Elements of Fiction Writing" book that I've read. The previous two ("Characters and Viewpoint" , and "Beginnings, Middles, and Ends") are truly excellent, and I have no hesitation in recommending them as both readable and usable.

Unfortunately, this work falls far short of the standards set by the previous two books.

Here's an example of Bickham's writing, excerpted from one of his novels and presented in this book as an example to be emulated:

"A sound like air gun pellets loudly peppered the front wall of his cabin."

In my world, air gun pellets might pepper a wall, but a sound cannot. Perhaps that's just his style? If pulling the reader up short and making him say "huh?" is style, then fine - but personally, I'd expect his examples to be cleaner than this.

As for the assertion that every scene must end with a disaster (OK, he means setback perhaps, but disaster is the term he uses), once again: huh? I've carefully checked several popular novels on my shelves - the sort of work I'd be proud to write - and it just ain't so. That's not to say I've never read novels that follow that formula to a large degree, but they've been just that: formulaic. Perhaps there's money to be made down that road, perhaps it's a way to get published, but it's not for me.

He actually goes further than that. Every scene must begin with a clear statement of goal ("most of the time, the character states his immediate goal in obvious, unmistakable fashion"), to be followed by development of conflict, and finalised by failure to reach the goal. Then there must be sequel - again precisely structured (Emotion, Thought, Decision, Action).

I also found the writing style problematic. The two books I mentioned above were fascinating and engaging, and I finished each in a day or two, but this one is a slog.

As you can probably tell, I'm irritated with this book. If it was a case of Bickham offering guidelines, it would be one thing... but he's implying that this has to be the rule, and that exceptions must be carefully justified. ("Once every hundred scenes, maybe you can get away with allowing the goal to be implicit"). Perhaps that's appropriate for particular genres, but few of the (mainstream) writers whom I admire follow these recipes.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Looks like it'll be dull--it's anything BUT!, May 6, 2000

By	Teri Tasker (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

Where was this book when I was writing my first three novels? Halfway through this book, I threw out everything after chapter two of my current book (and I had 13 chapters already written!) and started rewriting feverishly. Powerful stuff. If you haven't read this book, you probably don't know enough about how to write captivating scenes and what to do with the characters AFTER the scene is over. I only put this book down long enough to apply what I was learning. It's worth every penny. A heartfelt wish Jack Bickham had written much, much more about the art of writing...

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HELP FOR BEGINNER AND ADVANCED ALIKE, March 19, 2000

By A Customer

Most books on fiction writing aren't worth the paper they're printed on. This one is different. Jack Bickham is a master when it comes to structure, and if you let it, this book can make you a master as well. Not everything about writing can be learned; fortunately structure is something that can. This book is as well-structured as are Bickham's novels. Frankly, I don't know any writer, beginner or advanced, who couldn't profit from this book. It's certainly helped me.