Bickham went on not only to publish many science fiction and western stories and books but to teach writing, continuing in the fine tradition of his mentor. This is not the only book he has published with Writer's Digest Books, but it's one of the best. In fact, for novice and published pro alike, it's one of the finest books on writing extant.
Too many amateur writers reject the notion that stories and books are constructed. They expect to sit down and write for an hour -- an evening at the most -- and produce The Great American Short Story. But writing doesn't work that way and Bickham has done a fine job of organizing the muse and showing the writer just how to pull the most out of his creativity.
WRITING THE SHORT STORY is a program geared to lead the writer through inspiration to publication. Acknowledging at the beginning that published works today SEEM to lack form, he proceeds to show just how much form a story must have. By definition the short story has a "beginning, a middle and an end" and here Bickham provides a story roadmap practically guaranteed to produce a publishable finished work.
Writing isn't easy. At least it's not if you want to be published. The writer has to know him/herself and must know the markets and the competition equally well. All that learned, s/he must proceed to understand the structure of the story as well as the importance of characters and characterization. Then there's how setting and mood affect the story. And more...from the story map to marketing, and it's all here.
Follow the assignments in the book and you'll learn. I don't care how often you've been published or what you've published -- there are lessons to be learned here.
In all, I'd say this is one of the finest books on writing in print. Any writer who studies Dwight Swain's books and Jack Bickham's books and follows their directions with practice and persistence WILL be published.
This is the best book on short story writing I own. It really teaches, and it pulls from the inside. It makes you learn about yourself as much as your craft, and forces you to break out of ruts you may not even have realized you'd fallen into.
My short story writing improved ten-fold since reading this book and I'm not even finished yet. Bravo!