THE ICE PICK

Making Shapely Fiction, by Jerome Stern. New York : W. W. Norton, 2000. ISBN 0-393-32124-X pbk. $14.95.

This practical book claims to be "different from other books on writing. It’s organized so that you can start writing serious fiction (or non-serious, if you like) from the first page." Intended for "people who are already writing fiction" as well as beginners, it is a clear and easily comprehensible treasure for writers of all levels of experience--or inexperience.

Written in a warm, inviting style, the first two sections encompass all of the basic principles of writing. These sections lead the way into the more complex and difficult aspects of fiction crafting, by providing what Stern calls "shapes of fiction." These are not so much "rules that you follow as ways to create."

The third section, "An alphabet for writers of fiction," stretches from Accuracy to Zigzag. It is most profitably used by reading it straight through and then hanging on to it for quick reference later. The more experienced you become as a writer, the more you will probably get out of this section, because there is so much information packed into it--too much to absorb at one time.

The final section is the best annotated bibliography I’ve seen in a long time. The works range from inspirational autobiographies to books "about the pragmatics of publishing," and include books Stern likes, although they "don’t get often mentioned but deserve to be, and books that are just too important to omit." You owe it to yourself and your writing craft to read over his list and seriously consider the books there.

There is no index, but the book is heavily and beautifully cross-referenced. And this is not a book to be checked out of the library anyway, but one to be owned and marked up with your own notes and personalization. It is a book to be dipped in and out of for inspiration as much as for reference, a book to be kept and used. I recommend it highly.

{Published in GPIC, the Oklahoma Science Fiction Writers Newsletter, June 2000. Reprinted in SF & Fantasy Workshop Newsletter, Dec. 2005.}