While writers might disagree over showing versus telling or plotting versus pantsing, none would argue this: If you want to write strong fiction, you must make your readers feel. The reader's experience must be an emotional journey of its own, one as involving as your characters' struggles, discoveries, and triumphs are for you.
This book takes writers through a series of exercises designed to encourage you to go deeper into your stories and creating emotionally engaging writing.
Thoughts from the BW Book Club
This material presented in the book is intensive. New writers might struggle with this book, needing to read other books before coming to this one. That said, those of us who are part of the BW Book Club recommend that you take notes while reading this book... and do the exercises as you go. This way, you can develop a quick reference guide for this book that suits your needs.
(This book was reviewed by the BW Book Club in October 2022.)
Engage Your Readers with Emotion
While writers might disagree over showing versus telling or plotting versus pantsing, none would argue this: If you want to write strong fiction, you must make your readers feel. The reader’s experience must be an emotional journey of its own, one as involving as your characters’ struggles, discoveries, and triumphs are for you.
That’s where The Emotional Craft of Fiction comes in. Veteran literary agent and expert fiction instructor Donald Maass shows you how to use story to provoke a visceral and emotional experience in readers. Topics covered include:
• emotional modes of writing
• beyond showing versus telling
• your story’s emotional world
• moral stakes
• connecting the inner and outer journeys
• plot as emotional opportunities
• invoking higher emotions, symbols, and emotional language
• cascading change
• story as emotional mirror
• positive spirit and magnanimous writing
• the hidden current that makes stories move
Readers can simply read a novel…or they can experience it. The Emotional Craft of Fiction shows you how to make that happen.