title: Revising Fiction: A Handbook for Writers
author:  David Madden 
description: If you are serious about writing literary fiction, then this is a book you must read. It essentially helps you troubleshoot your writing--from concept, to structure, to execution. It uses many examples from famous authors and show the drafts they wrote before revision. This is the only book I've seen where the author is able to do such numerous and direct comparisons between drafts so the reader can see exactly what was changed and why. The book also asks you to consider many aspects of your writing that other books on writing and editing fiction don't even touch upon. I would not recommend this book if you haven't already done a lot of serious fiction writing, because unless you have, you probably won't understand the significance of some of the issues raised in the book.
zlib_text: 
  
  
  Acknowledgments
  
  
  Well, Virginia Jerry’s grandson is back at it again.
  
  
    
  
  This book went through quite a few name changes, from the title _Imperfect
  People_ I scribbled across the top of a sheet of typing paper to at last
  coming to a halt with _Liar’s Game_. My fantastic editor, Audrey LaFehr, came
  up with the final title. And I dig it.
  
  
  I love coming up with new characters, new situations. While I was in a writing
  class at UCLA I had started working on _Liar’s Game_ as a mystery with Vince
  as the lead in the story. Womack was in that story as well, but a very
  different kinda character. And Harmonica was a crusty old shotgun-carrying
  bluesman who ran a pool hall. And Dana, that New Yawk woman, was there as
  well. For me, her subplot with Vince was too strong, pretty much overshadowed
  the rest of the work. So I moved that part of the story up front and put the
  rest on the shelf. Like most of the stuff I save, bits and pieces, everything
  from dialogue to characters, will more than 