179 Ways to Save a Novel: Matters of Vital Concern to Fiction Writers

Looking for ways to fix your novel? Or: Is your fiction writing in peril?

Based on real advice gleaned from thousands of writing critiques, 179 Ways to Save a Novel is more than a collection of ideas for troubleshooting your work-in-progress (though it holds plenty of practical writing advice). This inspiring guide doubles as a thoughtful examination of the writing life and not just with respect to writing, but to the reading habits and thought processes of writers.

The 179 meditations in this book are grouped under six headings:

• Substance
• Structure
• Style
• Symbol, Myth & Metaphor
• Soul
• and Other Matters

Dip into the book at random when in need of nonspecific advice, inspiration, or criticism. Or read it straight through for a deeper examination of the writing life. However you encounter them, these meditations are guaranteed to challenge, inspire, provoke and occasionally to tickle or annoy. But most of all they'll awaken a deeper awareness of the fiction writer's many challenges and thorny choices.