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	<review id="29281680">
    <user id="309970">
    <name><![CDATA[Bec]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Bellingham, WA]]></location>        
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/309970-bec]]></url>
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      <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>1</votes>
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  <date_added>Mon Aug 04 21:34:37 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Aug 28 19:27:47 -0700 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Lukeman presents several methods for the beginning writer to examine and edit their work in a careful, methodical manner. By examining the mechanics of good prose, Lukeman provides solid advice on strengthening not only the first few pages of a novel, but also the entire work. He breaks his book into convenient sections, the first dealing with raw text and problems of presentation, adverbs and adjectives, sound, comparison, and style. The second section deals with the mechanics, strengths, and pitfalls of dialogue, while the third section gives the beginning author solid advice on how to make the first few pages of their novel work to make the over all novel stronger and more satisfying to the reader. Covering numerous topics from “show vs. tell” to characterization and hook, Lukeman structures his book in such a way that a reader-writer can pick what troubles them most about their manuscript and find possible solutions. I highly recommend the book on the basis of its thoroughness.]]></body>
    <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/29281680]]></url>
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