Writing Novels That Sell

by Jack M. Bickham

Discusses the qualities of a professional writer, offers advice on plot, viewpoint, characterization, and scene structure, and tells how to submit a manuscript

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Reference

203 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Pseudonyms:
Jeff Clinton, John Miles, Arthur Williams

Reviews

[Phillip]

This book does for the craft of the novel writer what Swain's book "Techniques of the Selling Writer" does for the short story. Both authors taught creative writing for years at the University of Oklahoma school of journalism. Their approach was different than what is found in the English department. They showed their students and the readers of their books what one needs to know in order to write a story that will sell.

Both authors wrote and sold hundreds of published stories and novels, between them. Bickham was publishing new novels within a year or two of his death. A few of Bickham's novels where turned into movies. My point is that Bickham and Swain knew what they where teaching and writing about.

Their approach is different from the English department approach to writers and writing. In the English department the authors and works that are studied are looked upon with reverence and as having qualities of genius. English classes explore the great works in an attempt to know the literature and to understand what makes them great. If you take a creative writing class in the English department then publishing your work is a low priority. The focus is upon discovering your own voice and about not selling out.

All of that is well and good, but in the end the important thing is to write something that people will pay to read. It has always been the bustle and criticism of published writing that contributes to the growth of writers into becoming the greats.

I recommend this book with Swain's book "Techniques of the Selling Writer" and Foster-Harris' "The Basic Formulas of Fiction".

[Cindy Koch-Krol]

I not only read this book, I studied it. I read portions of it again and again, and I highlighted it extensively. I made notes in it. I did the exercises. My copy is so dog-eared that I should buy a fresh one, except that it's out of print, which is a shame because it's such a useful tool for people who are trying to learn how to write books that sell. It does exactly what it's meant to do. It teaches you to write books that sell.

What more can I say? If you read and study this book, (which should be required reading in any writing class in this country) then your writing will improve exponentially. I spent a lot of time on the Scene and Sequel part. I tend to put sequels in with the scenes but I cured myself of that bad habit and my writing is much clearer now. Readers are used to reading things in one way, and writers have to learn how to do that. It's not hard. You just put in the work and realize what you are doing. There are many copies available on Amazon. You can find one if you look.

I'm putting an ending date on this book of today, but in reality, I keep it on my desk to refer to often. I'm always picking it up and rereading parts.

[Douglas Wilson]

Quite good.

[Mark Graybill]

Still one of the best & most direct books on creating fiction. Bickham is in the same tradition as Dwight Swain, and more recently Deborah Chester. The same school that produced Jim Butcher (who has echoed their lessons in his own posts on writing online.)

Each of the three has their own strengths.

If you want a single book to teach you how to produce fiction, this book, or Damon Knight's Creating Short Fiction, or Dwight Swain's Techniques of the Selling Writer, are the best of which you could select.

[Jennifer Price]

I have to admit, I was a little put-off by this book when I read the Foreword. But when I started the actual content I quickly got over it. This Book is an absolute must read for anyone that wants to write fiction books, unless of course you were born with the skills and know-how embedded into your soul. Jack M. Bickham explains the concepts of writing in a way that just makes sense. And he doesn't skimp on the fact that it takes hard work to be good. He gives you the tools for success and leaves it to you to do the actual work. This is the most informative writing help book I've come across as of yet.

[Linda]

Why oh why is this book out of print?? This was quite possibly the best book on writing craft that I've read. It contained a lot of advice I've not seen other places. Very much worth the trouble of ordering through the library or picking up used.

[eggs]

Read for a class on the mechanics of fiction. Put Bickham in a home, he’s fucking done. Only give him his least favorite flavor jello.

Oh and if someone’s book boasts “65 published novels” on the cover... you can be one thousand percent sure not a single one of those novels is ANY good.

[D]

I can't believe this book is out of print! It has been a fantastic read and is a definite must in any fiction writer's library.

[Zora]

I read this again for the heck of it. Loved it then, loved it now.

[Peter]

One of the best books on writing I've ever read.