WOW!!!
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This book, unlike so many others I've bought on the subject of writing, actually taught me some useful things. It's not for anyone wanting a novel about grammar, punctuation, etc; it teaches you how to add more depth and realism into your manuscript. I particularly found the section on pausing a scene helpful -- that rather than just describe the action, take a moment to "capture" your character's state of mind, or even feelings about that particular place. The book is full of advice like this, which I'd say is truly inspirational. Danald Maass knows his stuff; taking his advice is probably the best an aspiring writer can do!
This book, as Maass says, will not guarentee you'll become a 'Breakout Novelist", but it will vastly improve your writing. I thought my book was the best it could be before reading this novel -- now I know how wrong I was! And all examples in the book are from big name authors who have indeed written breakout novels (books that rise above others in its category and become widely popular).
Overall: Any writer who's looking to get published needs to read this first. Without a doubt, this is the number one book for authors -- though be warned: Maass does presume you know the basics of storytelling; this book will not help you with simpler things, such as "The Self-Editing Guide for Fiction Writers" does.
Drawback: Following the advice given, my story needed many more months of revising -- and at 133,000 words, that's a lot of work -- particularly since I thought it was finished! So, yes, be prepared (especially if you're buying this book to improve an already complete manuscript) for some time-consuming editing after reading this advice! But, in my opinion, every moment is worth it. Now I just need an agent...
Let the fun begin!
Thank you Donald Maass.
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Practical, motivational and very user-friendly!
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I'm about halfway through reading this book, but already it has fired up my imagination! I promised myself I'd look through each chapter before getting down to the workbook aspect of it, but the questions are so thought-provoking that you just want to get cracking on that novel! Of course, nothing replaces hard work and imagination, but this book goes a long way to helping wannabe writers structure their manuscripts and sharpen up prose, plot and characterisation. Personally, I had plenty of ideas, but lacked clear direction. This book really helps me address my weaknesses and tighten up my writing. I'd wholeheartedly recommend you consult this book, if only to get an idea of how many factors contribute to the success of a professional novel.
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