You just read your manuscript and discovered that your characters nod like marionettes in every chapter. When they're not nodding, they roll their eyes.

Time to slash the Pinocchio strings and turn them into real people. Award-winning author Kathy Steinemann provides the tools. She cuts through the so-called rules and offers simple solutions.

Too many repetitions of "little"? There's a cure for that. Do you rely on "very" too often? There's a cure for that too. You'll find the remedies in this book's dispensary.

Should you ever use anything other than "said" to attribute dialogue? Are exclamation points taboo? The answers might surprise you.

Learn how to harness body language, purge hackneyed adjectives, and draw on the environment for ambience. No more wooden characters. You'll transform them into believable personalities that your readers will learn to love. Or hate.

Get in the driver's seat, relax, and enjoy your journey — with Kathy Steinemann's book as your GPS.