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Loading... Writing the Breakout Novelby Donald Maass
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will love Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. The best book I've read on writing fiction. There are no magic bullets here, but Maas gives sound advice and avoids the dull uber-wisdom of some of the classics like Story and The Writer's Journey (  ) brianclegg | May 8, 2009 |  This book opened my eyes to so many things in my own writing. An essential part of any writer's library - even the ones who write literary fiction. This book isn't just about writing "bestsellers", it's about telling stories that people want to hear and reaching out to your audience. Fantastic. (  ) simone2045 | Apr 2, 2009 | The only non-fiction book this month worth mentioning. The Don, as conferencees have taken to calling him, is an eye-opener. not only is he charismatic and funny (I think I made people sick with quoting him for weeks after the conference), he also knows his stuff. He's an interesting orator, and the things he had to say were relevant. I had started reading his book in preparation for the workshop, but only afterwards did it really make sense. I need to reread this again now, with different notes. To date, this is the best and most useful book on writing fiction I've read. It's not comfortable, and that's why it's brilliant. I don't need a book to tell me I'm already doing alright. ( )1  kikilon | Mar 31, 2009 | Excellent overview of what elements make a good story. ( ) wktarin | Jun 24, 2008 | Most writing how-to books are written by writers. What made me pick this book up was that this one was written by an agent. Writers always emphasize the "craft" and on writing a story that you want to tell. An agent on the other hand, well, I was expecting Maass to concentrate on what was saleable from his perspective rather than the ephemeral fantasies flitting about in the head of a would-be novelist. Instead, he basically states that it's a crapshoot. Agents and publishers don't really know what will sell, he says, because the breakout novel will have its origins from the word of mouth. And to start that word of mouth, a writer has to write to the best of his ability. (more) syaffolee | May 28, 2008 |  no reviews | add a review
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| Book description |
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* create a powerful and sweeping sense of time and place
* develop larger-than-life characters
* sustain a high degree of narrative tension from start to finish
* weave sub-plots into the main action
* explore universal themes that will interest a large audience of readers
Then, using several of his clients' experiences--including best-selling novelist Anne Perry--as case studies, Maass provides real-life, insider examples to show how this type of novel can generate agent and publisher interest, creating or enhancing a novelist's career.
* Includes an introduction by best-selling author Anne Perry
* Maass' insider examples lend the credibility and visibility necessary to attract a wide audience of writers
(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:57:52 -0400)
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