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Troubleshooting Your Novel: Essential Techniques for Identifying and Solving Manuscript Problems
Take your story to the next level of excellence!
You've completed the first draft of your novel--now what? Chances are, it's not perfect...at least not yet. In order to increase your chances of getting a literary agent, selling your manuscript to a publisher, or garnering an audience for your self-published work, you need targeted, practical instruction on tackling the problem areas and weak spots in your story. You need Troubleshooting Your Novel.
In this hand-on, easy-to-use guide, award-winning author Steven James provides helpful techniques and checklists, timesaving tricks of the trade, and hundreds of questions for manuscript analysis and revision. You'll learn how to:
ADJUST elements of story progression, from causality, tension, and setbacks to plot twists, climaxes, and endings.
DEVELOP authentic, riveting characters by exploring their attitudes, desires, beliefs, and more.
LEARN narrative techniques for elements such as dialogue, flashbacks, suspense, voice, subtext, and flow.
ENSURE reader engagement by aligning with their expectations, fulfilling promises, and instilling trust.
CHECK issues with context and continuity.
You owe your book more than just a polish and a proofread. Strengthen your story, prepare it for the marketplace, and make it the best it can be with Troubleshooting Your Novel.
You've completed the first draft of your novel--now what? Chances are, it's not perfect...at least not yet. In order to increase your chances of getting a literary agent, selling your manuscript to a publisher, or garnering an audience for your self-published work, you need targeted, practical instruction on tackling the problem areas and weak spots in your story. You need Troubleshooting Your Novel.
In this hand-on, easy-to-use guide, award-winning author Steven James provides helpful techniques and checklists, timesaving tricks of the trade, and hundreds of questions for manuscript analysis and revision. You'll learn how to:
ADJUST elements of story progression, from causality, tension, and setbacks to plot twists, climaxes, and endings.
DEVELOP authentic, riveting characters by exploring their attitudes, desires, beliefs, and more.
LEARN narrative techniques for elements such as dialogue, flashbacks, suspense, voice, subtext, and flow.
ENSURE reader engagement by aligning with their expectations, fulfilling promises, and instilling trust.
CHECK issues with context and continuity.
You owe your book more than just a polish and a proofread. Strengthen your story, prepare it for the marketplace, and make it the best it can be with Troubleshooting Your Novel.
- GenresWritingNonfictionCrafts
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
55 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Steven James
138 books1,757 followersSteven James is the award-winning, critically acclaimed author of twenty novels and numerous books on the craft of novel writing, including the new release, DELVE, PIVOT, PROPEL, which explores revolutionary new approaches to fiction writing. With a master's degree in storytelling, James teaches writing worldwide and has appeared on five continents telling stories and teaching storytelling at over 2000 appearances.
His latest Young Adult horror novel, RIFT, is the first in a new trilogy that takes place in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. James lives in Eastern Tennessee and loves watching sci-fi movies, playing basketball, and eating chicken fajitas—although not all at the same time.
James has been penning smart, taut thrillers that actually thrill, since 2007, when his acclaimed psychological suspense novel, THE PAWN, released.
If you love stories and storytelling, check out his podcast, The Story Blender, on which he has interviewed nearly 200 of the world's top writers and storytellers.
His latest Young Adult horror novel, RIFT, is the first in a new trilogy that takes place in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. James lives in Eastern Tennessee and loves watching sci-fi movies, playing basketball, and eating chicken fajitas—although not all at the same time.
James has been penning smart, taut thrillers that actually thrill, since 2007, when his acclaimed psychological suspense novel, THE PAWN, released.
If you love stories and storytelling, check out his podcast, The Story Blender, on which he has interviewed nearly 200 of the world's top writers and storytellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 19, 2023
I HIGHLY recommend this to anyone writing or editing a novel! Immensely helpful. Easy to follow.
I read it chronologically and the layout is easy to go back and find sections that pertain to a singular topic as well.
Well done, great layout, and a lot of useful information that I have already used on my own book's revision.
Definitely happy to own a copy of this one!
5 Stars!
I read it chronologically and the layout is easy to go back and find sections that pertain to a singular topic as well.
Well done, great layout, and a lot of useful information that I have already used on my own book's revision.
Definitely happy to own a copy of this one!
5 Stars!
May 5, 2025
Steven James should have a hotline. If your novel’s rejected and the reason is specific, he could probably offer solutions sight unseen. Other writing books may touch on some fundamentals in more depth, such as about “scenes” and “description”, so this may not be the best revising book to start with, but he touches on a lot and does it well. Experienced writers, even published writers, could benefit.
Although each chapter is short, he gets a ringer (thinking horseshoes here) for elaborating on some topics that other writing coaches seem to avoid, such as “blind spots” (characterization) and the entire subject of “reader engagement”. He also includes some topics I had not considered much, such as “promises” and “longing”, which he classifies as part of reader engagement. If, like me, you’ve read too many writing craft books, his review of familiar topics often highlighted something in a useful way. For example, I got a good jolt from his “suspense” section, because of his distinction between “reader concern” vs “reader curiosity”…
I’m the kind of person to read this straight through, but you could completely skip around, based on your needs as you revise. Short chapters. Plenty of new angles in most of them. Questions to contemplate when thinking of your specific draft.
I may pick up his other writing book, Story Trumps Structure: How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules, though they should reissue it without the T word. I get the feeling he has a lot more to say. If he writes another book elaborating on a topic I know I need to work on, such as “reader engagement”, I will definitely forgo a few lattes to purchase it.
Although each chapter is short, he gets a ringer (thinking horseshoes here) for elaborating on some topics that other writing coaches seem to avoid, such as “blind spots” (characterization) and the entire subject of “reader engagement”. He also includes some topics I had not considered much, such as “promises” and “longing”, which he classifies as part of reader engagement. If, like me, you’ve read too many writing craft books, his review of familiar topics often highlighted something in a useful way. For example, I got a good jolt from his “suspense” section, because of his distinction between “reader concern” vs “reader curiosity”…
I’m the kind of person to read this straight through, but you could completely skip around, based on your needs as you revise. Short chapters. Plenty of new angles in most of them. Questions to contemplate when thinking of your specific draft.
I may pick up his other writing book, Story Trumps Structure: How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules, though they should reissue it without the T word. I get the feeling he has a lot more to say. If he writes another book elaborating on a topic I know I need to work on, such as “reader engagement”, I will definitely forgo a few lattes to purchase it.
December 29, 2021
One of the best craft books I've ever encountered. This is a book every writer should own. It's clear, well organized, and asks excellent questions at the end of every chapter. I went through mine with a highlighter. It will remain on my desk as I work and edit, and I'll be referring clients to it. I've already gone back to sections to reread them.
September 21, 2016
Troubleshooting Your Novel just came out. Actually, it was in bookstores before the publication date Amazon has listed. It’s so new that, who knows, I may have actually been the very first person to purchase it!
Writer’s Digest puts out some of the best writing reference/guides on the market. They make use of many authors, Steven James (author of Story Trumps Structure) being one of them.
I am not going to give a blow-by-blow of what is offered within the pages of the book, as there is just so much, but I will highlight some of my favorite parts.
First, my personal favorite part: Fine Tuning My Manuscript. This section ends each chapter of the book. Rather than tell you what you should be doing, it engages you by making you ask yourself the how, what, where, why type questions that are the basis of your novel. At least for me, it caused me to look at my current WIP a bit differently, seeing crucial aspects that had gone unnoticed up until that point.
Another section I really like is the Fixing _____ Issues, which correlated with each chapter heading (transitions, symbolism, theme, etc.)
There are eighty different sections divided into five parts to help you troubleshoot any issue you could possibly find within your manuscript.
I can’t think of a single aspect of storytelling that isn’t covered within the pages of this book. I rarely review reference books, but felt compelled to do so with this book because it is so new on the market and at the time of this review, there aren’t any on Amazon to help a potential reader make their decision.
As I said, I have far too many (useless) reference books on my shelves. If I had to pare down, this book would definitely make the cut. I’d even go as far as to say it’d make the top 10. It’s. That. Good.
Writer’s Digest puts out some of the best writing reference/guides on the market. They make use of many authors, Steven James (author of Story Trumps Structure) being one of them.
I am not going to give a blow-by-blow of what is offered within the pages of the book, as there is just so much, but I will highlight some of my favorite parts.
First, my personal favorite part: Fine Tuning My Manuscript. This section ends each chapter of the book. Rather than tell you what you should be doing, it engages you by making you ask yourself the how, what, where, why type questions that are the basis of your novel. At least for me, it caused me to look at my current WIP a bit differently, seeing crucial aspects that had gone unnoticed up until that point.
Another section I really like is the Fixing _____ Issues, which correlated with each chapter heading (transitions, symbolism, theme, etc.)
There are eighty different sections divided into five parts to help you troubleshoot any issue you could possibly find within your manuscript.
I can’t think of a single aspect of storytelling that isn’t covered within the pages of this book. I rarely review reference books, but felt compelled to do so with this book because it is so new on the market and at the time of this review, there aren’t any on Amazon to help a potential reader make their decision.
As I said, I have far too many (useless) reference books on my shelves. If I had to pare down, this book would definitely make the cut. I’d even go as far as to say it’d make the top 10. It’s. That. Good.
July 16, 2024
Particularly given the introduction/forward at the start of this book, I was really hyped that perhaps I had finally found an all-in-one resource that combines the best tidbits of all the other how-to-write books I’ve ever read. I do think this book does that, to a degree, but moreso for the beginning author who gets a first draft done relatively easily and then has no idea where to go from there. I struggled immensely with the first draft and learned a lot and re-wrote a lot before getting it officially done, so I’ve already utilized or will be utilizing a lot of what this book recommends. I did learn a few new tips, but not nearly enough to deem the book life- or career-changing. If you want to read some how-to-write books and want to read as few as possible while still getting the most information, and are still relatively new to writing long-form fiction, this would be a good book. Each chapter covers one subject and is only a couple pages long, and the anecdotes that start each chapter do a good job of creating a metaphor for how the particular writing tip that follows works.
April 29, 2025
This book is great. Practical, straight to the point, and easy to navigate. While there were a few tips I didn't 100% agree with, for the most part this was solid.
November 29, 2016
A guide in the art of writing that tackles all the topics a writer needs to keep in mind when crafting a novel.
If you’ve completed your first draft of your novel, or just starting it, this is your next step. Steven James is a master storyteller and uses this book to show many of the steps aspiring authors need to be aware of in order to bring their novel to the next level. This is a checklist that every author, new and experienced, should keep on hand and refer to often. Going through this book, I noticed several things I needed to go back to my own manuscript and fix, even after having heard him speak on these points more than once. So many authors will put a book together and try to get it published without going over many of these points to make their book the very best it can be.
The chapters are short, around four pages each, but still provide enough information to fix many of the problems we see in novels out today. It might seem a little surprising when opening the book and seeing over seventy chapters and points he addresses; however, they are all important. Some could be grouped together but are valid on their own as well. For me, one of the best aspects of this book is looking at it and knowing that it is written by someone who knows how to write the kind of books I want to read. I have read everything Steven James has written and can’t wait to read anything he writes next. I don’t want to read a book on writing by someone who doesn’t write novels and only writes about writing. I don’t want another useless reference book, luckily this is not one of those. So much practical advice that can really be used to make you a better writer.
If you’ve completed your first draft of your novel, or just starting it, this is your next step. Steven James is a master storyteller and uses this book to show many of the steps aspiring authors need to be aware of in order to bring their novel to the next level. This is a checklist that every author, new and experienced, should keep on hand and refer to often. Going through this book, I noticed several things I needed to go back to my own manuscript and fix, even after having heard him speak on these points more than once. So many authors will put a book together and try to get it published without going over many of these points to make their book the very best it can be.
The chapters are short, around four pages each, but still provide enough information to fix many of the problems we see in novels out today. It might seem a little surprising when opening the book and seeing over seventy chapters and points he addresses; however, they are all important. Some could be grouped together but are valid on their own as well. For me, one of the best aspects of this book is looking at it and knowing that it is written by someone who knows how to write the kind of books I want to read. I have read everything Steven James has written and can’t wait to read anything he writes next. I don’t want to read a book on writing by someone who doesn’t write novels and only writes about writing. I don’t want another useless reference book, luckily this is not one of those. So much practical advice that can really be used to make you a better writer.
December 4, 2018
This is an excellent manual to help you edit a manuscript and ranks up there with Self Editing for Fiction Writers in terms of its effectiveness. It is a book aimed at helping the author revise or edit the manuscript. His earlier book Story Trumps Structure is about the organic process of writing a manuscript.
The one caveat I would have is that James has little idea or interest in the romance genre as he primarily writes thrillers aimed at men. Thus those two chapters are far weaker than the rest of the book (78 other chapters). However as I have written over 27 bestselling romances for Harlequin, I was not as concerned about that section -- I just rolled my eyes and muttered a few unprintable words.
The other sections are excellent however. The chart in the show (render) v tell (summarize) chapter is one of the best I have seen and is certainly worth the price of the book. The questions and fine-tuning your manuscript in each chapter are thought provoking.
It is a book which has made me think. I suspect it is a book that will find a place on many writers' desks for many years to come.
The one caveat I would have is that James has little idea or interest in the romance genre as he primarily writes thrillers aimed at men. Thus those two chapters are far weaker than the rest of the book (78 other chapters). However as I have written over 27 bestselling romances for Harlequin, I was not as concerned about that section -- I just rolled my eyes and muttered a few unprintable words.
The other sections are excellent however. The chart in the show (render) v tell (summarize) chapter is one of the best I have seen and is certainly worth the price of the book. The questions and fine-tuning your manuscript in each chapter are thought provoking.
It is a book which has made me think. I suspect it is a book that will find a place on many writers' desks for many years to come.
July 9, 2020
Wow -- there is a LOT of information in this book. In fact, it's a bit overwhelming. I sat down to read it thinking it would be a quick read to reinforce what I already know about writing fiction, but it's anything but quick. There's a lot to read and digest.
Two things really stood out to me: one that I like and one that I wasn't so crazy about.
What I liked: the chapters are short and topical, so you can pretty much search for whatever's bothering you/whatever you're struggling with and quickly find the chapter.
What I wasn't so crazy about: there's some great info, but no examples. I'm the type of learner who needs an example of what's wrong and what's right so I can see how to correct it, but there are no examples. For people like me, this book might not be the most helpful resource: you need to know how to identify bad writing before you pick up this book, otherwise you won't know what to look for. That will be hard to do for some people; however, if you have someone to tell you your weaknesses, you can find the right topic for what you need.
Overall, though, it's full of excellent information; it just may not be easily accessible for everyone.
Two things really stood out to me: one that I like and one that I wasn't so crazy about.
What I liked: the chapters are short and topical, so you can pretty much search for whatever's bothering you/whatever you're struggling with and quickly find the chapter.
What I wasn't so crazy about: there's some great info, but no examples. I'm the type of learner who needs an example of what's wrong and what's right so I can see how to correct it, but there are no examples. For people like me, this book might not be the most helpful resource: you need to know how to identify bad writing before you pick up this book, otherwise you won't know what to look for. That will be hard to do for some people; however, if you have someone to tell you your weaknesses, you can find the right topic for what you need.
Overall, though, it's full of excellent information; it just may not be easily accessible for everyone.
July 5, 2018
This handy book is a good reference when revising your novel. The book is divided into parts: Story Progression, Characterization, Narrative Techniques, Reader Engagement, and Style and Finesse. All the chapters under these Parts are a goldmine of examples, tips, and advice and help you determine your weak spots and how to strengthen them. I have read through this while in full revision mode, and it was more like a checklist for me at that point. Going forward, this book will have a prominant place on my desk.
September 4, 2024
This book is a clear and concise enumeration of dozens of potential problems a novel manuscript might have, with recommendations for ways to evaluate your WIP and suggestions for how to address the problems you find. Some of these were things I think I already do a pretty good job with, but I recognized more than a few that I know are problems in my current writing that I need to learn to change. It was great on a read-through, and I expect I'll use it again and again as a handbook as I work on my books in the future. I've added this book to the collection of core writing books that I consider my toolbox. My only wish would be for more material on many of the points, but that could easily make the book three times as long as it currently is, as many of the topics it touches on could be a full chapter (or a full book).
May 11, 2018
There's a lot of good information and some cool techniques in this book.
But.
It's a slog to just read through it. I think it could have been organized and laid out a little better.
For myself, I'm going to use it as a reference and update the Review Process I've already created for myself and incorporate some parts of this.
But.
It's a slog to just read through it. I think it could have been organized and laid out a little better.
For myself, I'm going to use it as a reference and update the Review Process I've already created for myself and incorporate some parts of this.
July 12, 2018
Excellent approach to attacking your manuscript edit. A chapter for each building block of a story and the evidence that they all do stand on the premise of 'tension drives a story'. Each chapter addresses a story component. Writers are given an illustration, steps to fix, a quick fix and questions to ask yourself to examine your story weaknesses.
June 6, 2025
This book is hands down one of the best craft books I’ve found, and definitely the best when it comes to overarching revision concepts. It has really made a difference in identifying areas for revision. This will be one of those books that I reread at the end of writing each new story.i will definitely be recommending it to all of my writer friends!
September 3, 2021
This book is a practical guide to writing a novel with excellence. For someone who struggles with the formulas of most writing guides, I found James’ advice succinct and applicable. I can’t wait to start applying his tips to my own works!
December 18, 2016
I'm only about 30 pages in and it's already paid for itself. This book is fabulous for showing a writer what to look for. It's well organized, concise and insightful.
February 1, 2017
Really really helpful book on editing. Read it after you have written your first draft.
There are some formatting problems in the printing but that adds to the irony of perfect editing.
There are some formatting problems in the printing but that adds to the irony of perfect editing.
February 28, 2018
Whoa ... a terrific book no matter where you are in the writing process of your latest novel! Get it. Use it. Craft a better book!
October 28, 2019
So incredibly helpful! Would recommend this to every writer!
December 12, 2019
20% good, the rest not my thing. More and more I'm finding myself avoiding anything from the Writers Digest. Outgrown?
May 20, 2021
Excellent set of writing tips. James is a great writer, but also a great teacher. Thank you, sir!
September 15, 2021
Good advice but some of what this guy writes is absolutely insufferable. Also some strange Christian themes wormed their way in there
April 30, 2022
Easily the best writing guide I’ve ever picked up!
July 3, 2022
An absolutely FANTASTIC book and a must have for every writer's toolbox. I wish I'd found this sooner!! What an invaluable resource!
September 30, 2016
I was attracted to this book because...
This is Steve’s newest book on writing. And boy, do I need a manual for troubleshooting my novel. I trust Steve's thinking about writing and storytelling. I wasn’t disappointed.
This book was about
He provides ‘essential techniques for identifying and solving manuscript problems. With a great deal of transparency, Steve shares in this book problems and solutions he has found in his own writing.
Things I liked about this book
It is so encouraging to have a slice of life view of how Steve has written his books. I don’t feel like I’m off the track in my writing, but encourage to continue pursuing turning my fiction into a ‘worthy’ and entertaining story.
Why you should read this book
I would like to have these techniques burned into my writing processes. If you’re a plotter, some of his techniques will be difficult to read. He is going to try to win you over, but he also shows you how to use these techniques within your plotting world. For ‘organic’ writers, it is a great textbook to reinforce those techniques which feel natural to you and show how to deal with typical problem areas. No matter which type you are, he reminds you again and again, writing is hard work.
This book lived up to the back cover copy
I love this sentence, “You owe your book more than just a polish and a proofread.” This book shows you how to accomplish this challenge
This is Steve’s newest book on writing. And boy, do I need a manual for troubleshooting my novel. I trust Steve's thinking about writing and storytelling. I wasn’t disappointed.
This book was about
He provides ‘essential techniques for identifying and solving manuscript problems. With a great deal of transparency, Steve shares in this book problems and solutions he has found in his own writing.
Things I liked about this book
It is so encouraging to have a slice of life view of how Steve has written his books. I don’t feel like I’m off the track in my writing, but encourage to continue pursuing turning my fiction into a ‘worthy’ and entertaining story.
Why you should read this book
I would like to have these techniques burned into my writing processes. If you’re a plotter, some of his techniques will be difficult to read. He is going to try to win you over, but he also shows you how to use these techniques within your plotting world. For ‘organic’ writers, it is a great textbook to reinforce those techniques which feel natural to you and show how to deal with typical problem areas. No matter which type you are, he reminds you again and again, writing is hard work.
This book lived up to the back cover copy
I love this sentence, “You owe your book more than just a polish and a proofread.” This book shows you how to accomplish this challenge
November 1, 2016
I don't think this book will be collecting dust sitting on a shelf. Ever.
The chunks of chapters in Part II about struggles and stakes and choices were eye-opening, and the chapter about whether to show or tell certain elements of the story was refreshing! I love that this book doesn't require any "exercises" (having to write a paragraph about the struggles of a recovering addict when that's not what your story is about!) but rather raises questions to challenge the manuscript you're working on right now.
I strongly suggest reading Story Trumps Structure before, it's hugely thought-provoking. I effortlessly made the switch from "obsessively plot-constrained" to writing a story that's more logically, organically grown.
Troubleshooting Your Novel is definitely the absolute fixing tool when you're tweaking your first draft. I feel both books are essentials and both show that, as Steven James' main character Patrick Bowers often says, everything matters.
The chunks of chapters in Part II about struggles and stakes and choices were eye-opening, and the chapter about whether to show or tell certain elements of the story was refreshing! I love that this book doesn't require any "exercises" (having to write a paragraph about the struggles of a recovering addict when that's not what your story is about!) but rather raises questions to challenge the manuscript you're working on right now.
I strongly suggest reading Story Trumps Structure before, it's hugely thought-provoking. I effortlessly made the switch from "obsessively plot-constrained" to writing a story that's more logically, organically grown.
Troubleshooting Your Novel is definitely the absolute fixing tool when you're tweaking your first draft. I feel both books are essentials and both show that, as Steven James' main character Patrick Bowers often says, everything matters.
February 5, 2017
An excellent resource for every author of fiction.
Not sure why Goodreads says there are 100 practical ways. Steven James doesn't declare this in the book.
There are 80 short chapters that provide insights and techniques into the craft of writing. They cover broad topics such as Story Progression, Characterization, Narrative Techniques, Reader Engagement, and Style and Finesse.
Once you've read the book through, you'll see it as a great resource to dip into for specific suggestions and tips in any area of your writing.
The best part of each chapter is a section called Fine Tuning My Manuscript. Each section contains a series of questions to use to assess how your story is doing in a particular area. The questions make you think about your novel in both a specific context and the broader overview of the whole story.
A great resource for every writer.
Not sure why Goodreads says there are 100 practical ways. Steven James doesn't declare this in the book.
There are 80 short chapters that provide insights and techniques into the craft of writing. They cover broad topics such as Story Progression, Characterization, Narrative Techniques, Reader Engagement, and Style and Finesse.
Once you've read the book through, you'll see it as a great resource to dip into for specific suggestions and tips in any area of your writing.
The best part of each chapter is a section called Fine Tuning My Manuscript. Each section contains a series of questions to use to assess how your story is doing in a particular area. The questions make you think about your novel in both a specific context and the broader overview of the whole story.
A great resource for every writer.
April 27, 2019
Steven James is an exceptional writing teacher. Not only good, but makes his teaching workshops interesting and sometimes humorous enough to hold his hearers' attention completely. His books are also very good to teach the nuts and bolts of getting the most important parts of your writing down in the most effective way for your particular novel. I highly recommend his books and articles. He is a periodic contributor to Writers Digest magazine.
September 13, 2021
It took me a long time to read this book, because in every section I discovered something I needed to fix in my draft manuscript. But it worked! Very helpful.
I need to read it again before I START my next manuscript.
I need to read it again before I START my next manuscript.
December 15, 2019
This was a lovely gift a few years ago from a friend. I've found it to be a very useful reference ever since.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews