The Emotional Craft of Fiction
How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface
MY TAKE
This book taught me one of the most important lessons about writing fiction: that just because your characters experience emotions doesn’t mean that your readers will. And that the success of a book often correlates to how well you can move readers emotionally.
As an avid reader, I’ve read many great books. Some were exceptionally well written, but completely devoid of emotion. I’ve DNF’d plenty of “great” books because they simply failed to move me in any way. And there are books that have “okay” writing but that have made me bawl unlike any other, or laugh, or worry, or bite my nails in anticipation–those are my favourite stories. The ones that that you feel in the heart; the soul. The ones you have visceral reactions to–sometimes not always pleasant. Those books are the ones that stick with you and that you recommend to anyone who’ll listen.
The Emotional Craft of Fiction teaches you that the goal should be to engage and move the reader emotionally–not to have the characters experience emotion.
This is an essential book if you care about the stories you write, the characters you bring to life, and the quality of experience your readers have with your stories.
Official Description
The essential guide to evoking emotional experiences in your readers.
Writers might disagree over showing versus telling or plotting versus pantsing, but none would argue this: If you want to write strong fiction, you must make your readers feel.
Veteran literary agent and expert fiction instructor Donald Maass shows you how to use story to provoke a visceral and emotional experience in readers. You'll learn:
• 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.
Disclaimer: This is an affiliate link, meaning: at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only share books I’ve read and think may be of benefit to you. Thank you!
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