This powerful book builds on the success of its predecessor - Writing the Breakout Novel - and takes readers to the next level: improving their work with practical, hands-on lessons and exercises. With patented techniques from his popular writing workshops, Donald Maass shows fiction writers exactly how to make their work stand out from the crowd. Readers will learn how to strengthen any novel-in-progress, with sections on: Building Plot Layers; Creating Inner Conflict; Strengthening Point of View and Voice; Discovering Larger Than Life Character Qualities; Developing the Psychology of Place; Every workbook exercise is followed by examples from real-life breakout novels. This is one of the most accessible novel-writing guides available today.