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Book Review of
Scene & Structure: How to Construct Fiction with Scene-by-Scene Flow, Logic and Readability
By Jack M. Bickham
1993, Writer's Digest Books

Over the years I've read dozens of "how-to-write" books, and I consider Scene and Structure by Jack M. Bickham to be one of the most important.

The first chapter provides an overview of the structure of modern fiction. Subsequent chapters deal with beginnings and endings of stories, cause and effect, scenes and sequels, controlling pace, plotting techniques, and structure of chapters. Particularly enlightening is the chapter about sequels.

The first chapters include worthwhile information, but much of that material is also covered in other books. What sets Scene and Structure apart from others is Bickham's description of sequel and how, combined with scenes, they can be used to structure and control the pace of a novel. If you're a serious student of the craft of novel-writing, I whole-heartedly encourage you to obtain a copy and study it.

Bickham's descriptions of scenes and how to use them was helpful. But his breakdown of the mechanics of sequels was a revelation for me. This one chapter is worth the price of the entire book, and more.

I was fortunate to have read Scene and Structure as I was drafting my first young-adult novel, The Brute. I incorporated scene-and-sequel structure into my writing of Cracks from the beginning of the writing process to the end. Some of my chapters are structured with easily recognizable scenes and sequels, but others are adaptations to fit the needs of the story, as suggested by Bickham.

My target readers are accustomed to the pace of today's movies and computer games. With scenes and sequels as the building blocks, I have a chance to create an emotional rollercoaster that can hold the attention of even the most reluctant readers.

Learn more about this author, Mike Klaassen.
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