Emotional Writing

There are three kinds of feelings when reading a story: boredom, interest, and wow! To become a successful writer, you must create the wow feeling on as many pages as possible, and this requires writing that engages the reader emotionally. In his best-selling book, screenwriter Karl Iglesias explored the working habits of A-list Hollywood scribes. Now, he breaks new ground by focusing on the psychology of the reader.

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.

UPDATED 2022 EDITION! These two bestselling writing and editing handbooks, “The Writer’s Guide to Character Emotion” and “The Writer’s Guide to Character Expression” have been updated and combined to create one remarkable single volume! This comprehensive edition contains descriptive writing tools to help writers craft a riveting novel that instantly grabs a reader’s attention. Writers will gain the essential skills needed to craft realistic emotions, visceral responses, and body language to deepen characterization that you can easily and quickly apply to your own writing. ...

Escape the turbulent cycle of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) and say goodbye to mood swings and emotional turmoil with the practical and evidence-based strategies in this groundbreaking book. Written specifically for parents by a natural health expert and father of a child with DMDD who knows, this definitive guide provides a roadmap to help your child overcome DMDD using natural solutions. Discover what factors cause DMDD and how your child’s brain processes emotions, sensory input, social cues, and situations differently than neurotypical children. Get practical advice ...

Most writers struggle with creating a captivating story. The fastest way to improve your writing skills is by applying the Deep Point-of-View technique, which can transform any novel from mediocre storytelling into riveting prose. This fiction writing guide includes hundreds of amazing ways to use “show don’t tell” to submerge readers so deeply into a scene they will experience the story along with the characters. Plus, this useful author resource includes a thesaurus with inspiring word choices! Writers will learn to: Revise Shallow Writing Deepen Characterization Craft Realistic ...

Readers pick up nonfiction books to learn something. They pick up novels to feel something: love, fear, joy, grief, elation, frustration, happiness, desperation, anger, despair, determination...or all of the above. We write novels to give readers a vicarious emotional experience. They want to weep when our characters weep and rejoice when they rejoice.

Trauma and its effects can feel like a never-ending storm, and there's no safe harbor in sight from the thoughts and emotions that toss and turn so violently and unpredictably in your head. But healing is possible. Your brain can actually rewire these thoughts and emotions. And you can direct that powerful healing process through journaling.

Creative writing is not a talent you’re either born with or not—it is a craft that can be built, sharpened, and mastered through deliberate practice. The stories we remember—the ones that live inside us for years—were not accidental. They were engineered with emotional resonance, intentional structure, and a storyteller who understood how to guide the reader’s imagination without ever letting them see the strings.

"Sumptuous prose and a mind-blowing twist will make sure that readers don't forget The Professor's Wife, an unsettling psychological thriller wrapped in a provocative dark romance." -IndieReader Carl Bingham is a lonely British Literature Professor who has sworn off love and sex since an affair with a student at Skidmore College almost lost him his tenure and reputation. Camilla is a young artist who sits in his classroom, mesmerized by his voice and appearance. Despite their age difference, they fall in love, marry, and feed each other's physical and emotional needs. But when secrets and ...

This lucid, compassionate audiobook has introduced tens of thousands of listeners to expressive writing, a simple yet powerful self-help technique grounded in scientific research. Leading experts James W. Pennebaker and Joshua M. Smyth describe how taking just a few minutes to write about deeply felt personal experiences or problems may help improve our mental and physical health.

Learn Fun and Creative Ways to Enhance Your Descriptions! The advice, tools, and reference lists in this writing guide for fiction authors will inspire writers to create original and vibrant descriptions of characters, locations, weather, and mood that can greatly enhance anyone’s storytelling, whether you’re writing adult fiction, young adult fiction, or children’s books. Fictional and real settings are much more effective, dramatic, and evocative when they’re visible, auditory, olfactory, and tactile. Character depictions are much more imaginative, lifelike, and vivid for readers ...

Let me guess: you have everything about the writing art pretty much mastered except one of the most important skills--infusing emotional impact in your writing. You enjoy seeing your characters change and grow, and you love the story you've created, but your beta readers or editor can't seem to feel much emotion for them. Been there, done that. We're in the same boat, so you're not alone.

"Narrators [Megan] Crais and [Connor] Wicks bring the Byrds to emotional heights, perfectly capturing the adult voices of thirtysomethings Wren and Ellis." — Library Journal An emotional, irresistible second-chance romance filled with sparkling humor, big feelings, and "melt your face off...

“Guide makes using AI seem easy” - Amazon Review “A Plotser’s Perfect Brainstorming Partner” - Amazon Review “Made me a romance writing AI ninja!” - Amazon Review Romance writers, take your romance writing to the next level with Artificial Intelligence and this guide from a USA Today Bestselling romance author of over 80+ romance novels. Hi, I’m author Rachelle Ayala, a prolific author and writing coach with my Romance In A Month method, and I’m here to lead you through the wonderful world of AI (Artificial Intelligence). I’ll show you the importance of prompting and how...

Writing isn’t just creating—it’s awakening. Whether you’re journaling, storytelling, or trying to find your authentic voice on the page, there’s a deeper force guiding your words: the archetypes within. This is a soul-powered guide for writers, creatives, and introspective minds—whether you lead with emotion, logic, or a little of both. Through twelve original archetypes like The Chainbreaker, The Starward, The Heartsworn, and The Realmbinder, you’ll discover the inner forces shaping your creative expression—light and shadow alike. Part reference guide, part creative ...

Coercive Relationships provides a beacon for survivors of partner abuse. Parker’s nonjudgmental, empathic voice offers knowledge gleaned from years of experience. Survivors gain answers to frequently asked questions: Am I being abused? Why do they hurt me? Why do I feel so crazy? What can I change? Why do they believe they should control us? How do I recognize abuse of power? How do I heal?Each chapter contains illustrative vignettes and suggestions for reflection to assist readers in discovering what they want. Coercive Relationships lifts the private shame survivors feel by connecting ...

"Catherine Gildiner is nothing short of masterful—as both a therapist and writer. In these pages, she has gorgeously captured both the privilege of being given access to the inner chambers of people's lives, and the meaning that comes from watching them grow into the selves they were meant to...

“McAllister is the best at putting her characters in impossible situations and making her readers not only contemplate but feel what it would be like to find themselves in those situations.” — Emily Henry From the author of Reese’s Book Club Pick and New York Times bestseller Wrong...

Unlock the Power of Hypnotic Storytelling Step into The Hypnotic Writing Lab, where words become worlds, and every chapter brings you closer to mastering the art of influence through storytelling. This guide will take you on an immersive journey through hypnotic language techniques, sensory engagement, and character-driven narratives designed to captivate readers and leave a lasting impact. In today’s world, storytelling has the power to inspire, persuade, and transform. With The Hypnotic Writing Lab, you’ll learn how to create stories that resonate on a deeper level—drawing readers ...

Unlock the Power of Poetry to Reshape your Thinking, Restore your Balance, and Reclaim your Life. CBT: SELF-THERAPY POETRY — A Right-Brain Approach to Cognitive Behavior Therapy offers a fresh and creative alternative to traditional self-help and mental health workbooks. Instead of relying on heavy jargon or endless worksheets, it blends evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques with the healing art of poetry — guiding you to challenge negative thoughts, improve emotional health, and develop daily habits that truly support your well-being. Inside, you’ll discover: Poems ...