I've been a professional writer since '72, and have been reading how-to books on writing (and taking classes) to improve my craft, for nearly as long. Over this long time, I have quite literally never come across a book like this before. Don Maass, a New York literary agent, writes about how to evoke emotional responses in readers - not in characters (though he covers that, too). Instead, he makes the case that having characters experience emotions doesn't always trigger that in readers (in fact, he suggests that usually doesn't work). Then, having shot down (logically, and with support) the idea that characters experiencing emotions equals readers experiencing emotions, he then shows how - in several chapters - how to reliably evoking strong, memorable and satisfying emotions in your readers. This isn't a 30,000-foot overview, this is down in the weeds, with specific examples and details.
I'm finding all kinds of useful tools in this book, including 34 sets of exercises, usually involving writing or rewriting a scene or chapter in your book to evoke emotion. These exercises are usually divided into ten to twenty steps - this is very detailed.
In reading this book with my trusty yellow high-lighter pen in hand, I not only terminally colored the book bright neon yellow, I’ve filled my notebook with about 40 pages of scrawled ideas that will make my in-progress novel a lot better – and this is before I get to doing the 34 sets of exercises. Seriously, if you read this book with an eye on really learning how to improve your fiction writing, this book is an entire college class’s worth of material (I say that, having taught writing and book/author/publisher promotion as an adjunct prof at four colleges and universities). To really understand all the insights (I’ve been writing professionally since ’72 and I’d never encountered most of these ideas), you have to study the book, taking notes as if each chapter or sub-chapter was a classroom lecture Then, doing justice to the 34 sets of exercises will take months - but that will be time well-spent. This will work best if you have a novel you're working on or have recently finished in draft form. Going through the exercises will make your book measurably better. Which is why this is unlike any how-to writing book I’ve ever encountered.
Bottom Line: If you're serious about this book, you'll learn a lot.
One final note. Don Maass also uses examples from classic and current books- these are presented as icons of successful emotional impact (he doesn't find fault, but finds positive examples). My favorite is To Kill a Mockingbird, but he cites others that had such impact that I've ordered them from Amazon.
If you want your characters to be more than cardboard, and want your readers to respond emotionally, get this book and make it your study-guide.
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Practical Exercises to Raise the Emotional Content of your Writing
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2017
Donald Maass has done it again with "The Emotional Craft of Fiction," which is just what I'd expect from a high-caliber book agent who knows his literature. Any writer interested in approaching writing from exploring the emotional charge of his writing will do well to give this book a good read. It is packed with over 34 pages of practical exercises you can use to super charge the emotional level of your writing. I have attached a picture of the table of contents. The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface I'm hoping the author will issue a companion exercise book like he did with "The Breakout Novelist." I have purchased all of Donald Maass' books and have been very satisfied with the level of original content he provides. He places many challenges in his books, in the form of exercises, which I find rewarding, since they challenge me as a writer. What I liked about the approach of Donald Maass in "Emotional Craft of Fiction" is taking a practical approach, which both helps both the readers and writers of fictional literature. Furthermore, I've always felt like I'm sitting across from Donald Maass' desk when I read his books, since they carry a conversational tone. Lastly, while knowing that Donald Mass is game to unearthing serious ways to get writers to the next level in their writing careers I'm drawn into what he has to share with the Literary Community at Large. Donald Maass draws from over 40 currently well-known novels as examples throughout the book: Avi, Backman, Bohjalian, Bradbury, Brown, Carey, Collins, Courtenay, Doerr, du Maurier, Evans, Ferrante, Ellroy, Flynn, and many more. I believe that even if you only use one of his practical exercises at the end of any one chapter you will have easily reimbursed your self thru what you will gain, but then there are at least 34 of these exercise pages scattered throughout the book. (This is not an endorsement of any kind for the Donald Maass Agency, but an objective and honest review of what I find meaningful as an author of hundreds of non-fiction books as well as the author of one fictional title.)
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2017
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Dan On The Page
One of the best books on writing you'll find.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2019
