Aimed at the fiction writer, the concise, pithy chapters take you by the hand and lead you through the maze of finding, identifying and working with plot and character faults in your own writing. Janet Lane Walters and Jane Toombs don’t preach at the reader, but rather, they offer a show-and-tell from their own works.

The authors also address such diverse problems as how to present dialog and conversation, how to be sure that your protagonist’s blackest moment is truly black, and when it is "too much" detail. In addition, they also offer tips on how to plug gaping holes in your plot.

Writers in the romantic, historical and chick lit genres, in particular, will benefit a great deal from this book, whether they are beginners or experienced authors. This is not to say that Becoming your own Critique Partner is not a viable reference for all writers.

Both authors have written extensively in such genre fiction and offer remarkable insights into common problems, as well as giving any writer a chance to develop critical skills and improve his or her works in progress. This is a reference book that has many valuable insights to offer, and deserves a place on every writer’s bookshelf. I read twice: once as a writer and once as a reviewer!