Written by a professional editor by trade, The Plot Thickens is a standout book to help guide writers through revision and the polishing of a manuscript.

Building on concepts from The First Five Pages, Lukeman challenges writers to adopt a critical eye of their own work by asking prying questions that require a deeper insight into plot construction, character motivation, and so much more.

Unlike so many books on editing that steer writers into their author’s bias, Lukeman’s works ask the right questions to push writers into developing their own style for their own story, but with more depth and thought. The questions he asks of writers can weed out and fill plot holes, fill in the missing blanks, add dimension to characters, and really challenge the writer to fully flesh out and realize the scope of the world.

This book was a total game-changer during my own revision process, and I cannot recommend it enough. You’d be doing yourself a disservice by not reading it. If your manuscript is through the early drafts and looking for that spit shine, this is the book for you.