The Emotional Craft of Fiction

How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface

By: Donald Maass

Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon

Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's Summary

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

● Connecting the inner and outer journeys and much more

Readers can simply read a novel...or they can experience it. The Emotional Craft of Fiction shows you how to make that happen.

©2016 Donald Maass (P)2020 Tantor

Read this if you're a writer

My writing instructor, a successful author, referred me to Donald Maas’s The Emotional Craft of Fiction, and I am glad he did. Maas makes an airtight case for instilling emotion in works of fiction, and I will take heed. His emotional mastery checklists will come in very handy. I just finished the book and am already re-reading it to ensure a fuller understanding. If you’re an aspiring writer, and seek instructional material, choose this one. I am reading another book by another writing guru, but already I want to put it down. That one is formulaic; Maas’s book is inspirational.

Witty and worthwhile

This craft book of emotional enhancers is as much a commentary on the human condition as a how to or tool kit. The narrator is phenomenal and I felt empowered as a writer and as a human being when I was finished. A necessity for any author-aspiring or accomplished.

For Writers

Its a long book in comparison to some other shorter books that bring you to the craft of writing but it helped me ask the right questions about my characters and their emotions. I had been stuck in the editing process and after listening to this book I've come back to my work with all the questions and reflections. A useful book.

not that great

I expected better from Maass. And the vocalist's delivery put me to sleep. I pass.

Insightful

Thoughtful and insightful this makes a great companion to the print version. I recommend having a copy of the print version or writing down the end of chapter exercises for later referencing.

Masterful insight

This book beautifully narrated , conveys information regarding essential tools a writer needs to know in order to develop outstanding and moving fiction.

better than the print version

I bought this as a paperback, then used the audiobook as a refresher. It seems to flow better as an audiobook although that may be just because I had already had the benefit of the written version.
Still, a good listen and let's face it, who wouldn't take the advice of such a respected agent as Donald Maass

Great purchase!

This book was so helpful. A little long-winded sometimes but am really glad I got it. I have a much better understanding of how to write emotions well now!