By Raymond Obstfeld
Writer's Digest Books
Paperback

Weak plots. Writer's block. Lack of suspense. Unrealistic characters.

These are just a few of the many ailments that can infect your fiction. Fiction First Aid offers "instant remedies" for novels, short stories and scripts.

Fiction First Aid Excerpt Tell someone you're writing a novel and his first response is, "What's it about?" That's when you probably launch into a detailed description of your plot: "A gruff retired cop and a spunky Vegas showgirl are on the run from the Mob because..." But a story is usually "about" much more than the plot activity, it's also about the impact of the plot on the lives of the characters - and the readers. ©2002 Raymond Obstfeld Published with permission from Writer's Digest Books

You don't have to know exactly what's causing the problem in your project. The layout of this guide helps you diagnose your "sick" manuscript and provides a prescription to get your work back on track.

Chapters are categorized for easy reference. Plot, characterization, setting, style and theme are all covered in great detail.

The very last section deals with the common questions writers of all experience levels face. How can I find more time to write? How can I tell if what I'm writing is good? What is the best way to revise my manuscript?

Each chapter contains hints and tips on making your work stronger. And when you're ready to examine your own work, check out the symptoms, ailment, diagnosis and treatment you can use for your manuscript.

Bookworm's Briefing
The doctor is in. Author Raymond Obstfeld uses examples from popular novels, films and short stories to illustrate his point. Even if your writing isn't in Emergency Room status, a little check-up won't hurt. It's easy to learn how to take your fiction to the next level no matter what your writing background.