| Foreword | 1 |
| Introduction | 5 |
| You Have the Power to Break Out | |
| How to Use This Book | |
Chapter 1 | Why Write the Breakout Novel? | 15 |
| The Truth About Book Publishing | |
| The Truth About Authors | |
| The Myths of Success | |
| The E-Revolution | |
| Where to Go From Here | |
Chapter 2 | Premise | 33 |
| The Stories That You Love | |
| Four Facets of Three Great Novels | |
| The Little Components of Big Ideas | |
| Build It and the Breakout Premise Will Come | |
| Brainstorming the Breakout Premise | |
Chapter 3 | Stakes | 59 |
| Creating High Human Worth | |
| Public Stakes | |
| Personal Stakes | |
| Escalating Stakes | |
| Your Own Stakes | |
Chapter 4 | Time and Place | 81 |
| The Psychology of Place | |
| Keeping Up With the Times | |
| Working With Historical Forces and Social Trends | |
| God at Work in the World | |
| The Secret Ingredient | |
Chapter 5 | Characters | 103 |
| Real People vs. Larger-Than-Life Figures | |
| What Makes a Character Larger-Than-Life? | |
| Dark Protagonists | |
| The Highest Character Qualities | |
| Building a Cast | |
| Advanced Character Relationships | |
| Sidekics and Narrators | |
| Depth and Differentiation of Character | |
Chapter 6 | Plot | 133 |
| Conflict | |
| The Five Basic Plot Elements | |
| Bridging Conflict | |
| What is the Worst That Can Happen? | |
| High Moments, Turning Corners, Killing Characters | |
| Structuring Plot | |
| Larger Plot Structures | |
Chapter 7 | Contemporary Plot Techniques | 163 |
| The New Shape of the Novel | |
| The Character-Driven Story | |
| Self-Discovery in the Plot-Driven Novel | |
| Nonlinear Narrative | |
| Tension on Every Page | |
Chapter 8 | Multiple Viewpoints, Subplots, Pace, Voice, Endings | 181 |
| Multiple Points of View | |
| Successful Subplots | |
| Narrative Pace | |
| Voice | |
| Endings | |
Chapter 9 | Advanced Plot Structures | 199 |
| Families, Groups, Generations | |
| Thrillers | |
| Crossover Fiction | |
| Whole Life | |
| Historicals | |
| Out-of-Category Romance | |
| Linked Short Stories | |
| Inventing Your Own Advanced Plot Structure | |
Chapter 10 | Theme | 229 |
| Having Something to Say | |
| Step-by-Step Theme Building | |
| Symbols | |
| Becoming Passionate | |
| Right and Wrong in the Novel | |
| The Protagonist's Declaration of Purpose | |
| What Makes a Theme Universal? | |
| Discovering Theme | |
Chapter 11 | Breaking Out | 247 |
| Agent and Editor | |
| The Pitch | |
| Outlines | |
| Breakout Publishing, Breakout Living | |
| Success, Sequels, Series and Beyond | |
| Index | 261 |