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

The 179 meditations in this book are grouped under six headings: Substance; Structure; Style; Symbol, Myth & Metaphor; Soul; and Other Matters. Try dipping into the book at random when in need of nonspecific advice, inspiration, or criticism. Or read the book straight through for a deeper examination of your 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.