Writing Shift

The Magazine of Speculative Fiction

Of all the writing books I have either owned, or read, Jerry Cleaver's Immediate Fiction is one of the most to-the-point. Mr. Cleaver is a writing instructor in Chicago, and author (obviously), and shares with the reader his own experience as an aspiring writer, being knocked around by the Big Bad Author-Teacher in college. His negative experiences with his writing teachers helped cultivate his ideas on how to teach students the craft and style they need to be successful writers.

Jerry Cleaver makes writing stories, or anything else for that matter, both accessible and fun. Writing doesn't have to be a serious, academic adventure. A mother with two kids and a full time job can write a novel in a year if she makes a reasonable effort.

Cleaver explains what readers want. “Want, obstacle, action,” he repeats. They create the drama the reader craves for. He shows clearly what makes good stories, and how to construct one of your own. All of the major plot and story mechanics are covered in this book, including showing versus telling, point of view, and character.

Much of what Cleaver discusses in Immediate Fiction is exactly what many inexperienced writers waste years discovering for themselves. Self editing and rewriting have their own chapters. Cleaver shares his experience in time management and breaking beyond writer's block. At the end of each chapter he gives a simple writing exercise to help his advice sink in.

Cleaver even takes the time for a chapter on publication, and for writing scripts for plays and movies.

But not all in Immediate Fiction is peachy keen. There aren't a lot of specifics, and a pure beginner may still have many unanswered questions. The book would be a better tool in the hands of an intermediate writer who has run a few laps around the track but still needs to gather himself for a second wind; someone who will understand the concepts Cleaver uses, but hasn't yet quite figured out how to use them. This book is great for focusing knowledge you already have to do things you know how to do, but need a stern reminder to carry out on a daily basis.

I'd recommend Immediate Fiction to someone who's been writing for a year or two, not to someone who hasn't yet begun, but wants to. There are better “beginner” books out there than this. I can't imagine many better “intermediate” ones though.

If you've read Immediate Fiction, compare what Cleaver discusses with the stories of your favorite authors, or any other books you've read.