Troubleshooting Your Novel - A Book Review for Writers

Troubleshooting Your Novel

by Lynn Huggins Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

I have a bit of an issue with writing craft books.

I love them.

My craft shelf is loaded with them, but there are only a few that get pulled out time and time again.

Troubleshooting Your Novel by Steven James is going to be one of them.

Troubleshooting Your Novel is divided into five parts:

Part 1 - Story Progression covers topics like the hook, setbacks, twists, subplots and much more.

Part 2 – Characterization dives into 23 different aspects including attitude, dilemmas, protagonists, status, vulnerability, and blind spots.

Part 3 - Narrative Techniques explores everything from atmosphere to voice (and seventeen other methods).

Part 4 - Reader Engagement talks about expectations, anticipation, promises, emotions, empathy, and truth.

Part 5 - Style and Finesse has chapters on continuity, receptivity, texture, brevity, and the really fun stuff like punctuation and grammar.

If you’re thinking Troubleshooting Your Novel covers a lot of ground, you’d be correct. This book clocks in at a whopping 355 pages, but don’t let that worry you. This is a very readable book on the craft.

Each chapter is short. I’m talking 3-5 pages. Most begin with a brief anecdote, followed by a couple of pages of insights on the topic. Then there’s a “quick fix” with tips for addressing that issue and almost every chapter concludes with questions you can ask to help you fine tune your manuscript.

There are a lot of ways you can utilize this resource:

1. You can read it straight through. This is my preferred method. There’s a lot of solid writing advice in this book and it’s great to read all of it in a few chunks to get an overview.

2. You can read it one chapter at a time. Take it slow. Let it all sink in. This is another great option, especially for writers who don’t think they have time to read anything on the craft. You absolutely do have time to read four pages a day to improve your writing.

3. Or you can pull out a topic here and there based on what you need in your manuscript. This isn’t a bad idea, but I think it will work best if you’ve used one of the first two options first.

Regardless of which method you choose, Troubleshooting Your Novel is a resource you should consider adding to your shelf.

So, how about you? Do you have a manuscript that could use some troubleshooting?

Let’s talk about it in the comments.

Don’t forget to join the conversation.

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Lynn Huggins Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She’s passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don’t make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in South Carolina with her true love, Brian, and their three children. Her first book, Covert Justice, won the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. Her second book, Hidden Legacy, releases June 2017. You can follow her real life happily ever after on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and at lynnhugginsblackburn.com.