For this revised edition of Writing the Blockbuster Novel, Zuckerman has added an analysis of Nora Roberts's The Witness, which he uses, along with classic books like The Godfather, to illustrate his points. Zuckerman's commentary on Ken Follett's working outlines for The Man From St. Petersburg provide a blueprint for deepening plot, constructing subplots, and creating links between plot and character. All essential elements for a true blockbuster.

Building characters who live beyond the page, who exist both before and after a novel's "now" is another key skill for the successful writer. Zuckerman uses The Witness to show how characters' backstories illuminate and inform both their actions and their relationships with other characters in the present.

A new introduction discusses social media, self-publishing, and other aspects of contemporary publishing.

Writing the Blockbuster Novel is an essential tool for any aspiring author.