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98th out of 119 books
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115 voters
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Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook: Hands-On Help for Making Your Novel Stand Out and Succeed
by
Donald Maass
Make Your Novel Stand Out from the Crowd
Noted literary agent and author Donald Maass has done it again His previous book, "Writing the Breakout Novel," offered novelists of all skill levels and genres insider advice on how to make their books rise above the competition and succeed in a crowded marketplace.
Now, building on the success of its predecessor, "
Paperback, 230 pages
Published
June 14th 2004
by Writer's Digest Books
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If you’re unwilling to work hard to make your novel the best it can be, don’t buy this book. This sequel to the highly acclaimed, How to Write a Breakout Novel, will equip and motivate you to incorporate into your manuscript the elements essential to a best seller. But you’ll have to roll up your sleeves and write, revise, then write some more.
Each chapter presents a concept, explains its importance, illustrates its use with examples, and follows up with exercises you can apply to y...more
Each chapter presents a concept, explains its importance, illustrates its use with examples, and follows up with exercises you can apply to y...more
I finished reading "Writing the Breakout Novel" by Donald Maass today and got started on the exercises in the accompanying workbook. They really get you to think hard about developing depth in your characters. I had already done character sketches for my 6 main characters, but the first two exercises are getting me to dig even deeper, developing my two main characters further.
In one of the exercises, Maass has you think about four main characteristics of your protagonist, the...more
In one of the exercises, Maass has you think about four main characteristics of your protagonist, the...more
Many books dealing with the business side of writing essentially can be summarized as "Keep writing, don't be an ass, don't expect much." And, valid as that may be, it's not particularly helpful.
I consumed Writing the Breakout Novel in one sitting, and came away brimming over with ideas inspired by Mr. Maass' suggestions.
I would heartily recommend this book for anyone interested in kicking their novel writing up a notch - one warning, though! Don't read it unle...more
I consumed Writing the Breakout Novel in one sitting, and came away brimming over with ideas inspired by Mr. Maass' suggestions.
I would heartily recommend this book for anyone interested in kicking their novel writing up a notch - one warning, though! Don't read it unle...more
Writing The Breakout Novel Workbook
by Donald Maass
I actually found this book before I got its companion, "Writing the Breakout Novel." When I began to read, it said that it was meant as a companion to the other book, so off I went to the bookstore.
The first book contains the theory of how to write a fantastic tale.
This book is where you take the ideas and apply them to your own story.
Writing Worksheets
Designed around a series of worksheets, ...more
by Donald Maass
I actually found this book before I got its companion, "Writing the Breakout Novel." When I began to read, it said that it was meant as a companion to the other book, so off I went to the bookstore.
The first book contains the theory of how to write a fantastic tale.
This book is where you take the ideas and apply them to your own story.
Writing Worksheets
Designed around a series of worksheets, ...more
Excellent Workbook--
Because of his other great books on writing, I hold Donald Maass's books to the highest standards. And this book did not disappoint.
Doing all the exercises will take a long time, but it's definitely worth it. Though I've completely only those exercises I thought were most important and relevant to my novel in progress, they gave me powerful ideas to turbocharge the story.
Most useful for me were those on creating inner conflicts, showing ext...more
Because of his other great books on writing, I hold Donald Maass's books to the highest standards. And this book did not disappoint.
Doing all the exercises will take a long time, but it's definitely worth it. Though I've completely only those exercises I thought were most important and relevant to my novel in progress, they gave me powerful ideas to turbocharge the story.
Most useful for me were those on creating inner conflicts, showing ext...more
This has to be, by far, my favorite writing-craft book ever. Don't read it unless you plan to make your book incredible. You've been warned.
Each chapter starts with a short article about a given aspect of breakout-fiction. (Breakout meaning bestseller, critically acclaimed, etc.) Donald spends the other half of the chapter with an exercise on that given topic. Exercises ask you questions, such as, "how can you raise your main character's stakes?" and then has you do - "...more
Each chapter starts with a short article about a given aspect of breakout-fiction. (Breakout meaning bestseller, critically acclaimed, etc.) Donald spends the other half of the chapter with an exercise on that given topic. Exercises ask you questions, such as, "how can you raise your main character's stakes?" and then has you do - "...more
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A fantastic workbook that should be part of every writer's toolbox. Maass doesn't hold back. He's honest and tells it like it is, giving the reader plenty of food for thought. But what makes this book stand out from all the other how-to writing books is his thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter. He challenges the writer to do each one and then incorporate those changes into their manuscript.
Without a doubt, you'll come away with a much deeper, richer novel because of...more
Without a doubt, you'll come away with a much deeper, richer novel because of...more
Read this at my friend's house pretty much in one setting. I'd like to think that it would help me write better, but it turned out to be more a case of "do that, oops, do that, oops, did that, doing that, oops." Not a bad reminder of what makes a novel sell, though his choice of examples is...intriguing. Never thought I'd see Dan Brown and Karen Joy Fowler's works quoted in the same book.
Solid exercises that will take a manuscript up to the next level. However, Maas feels like he needs to reiterate the plot of every novel he references, which is highly tedious and confusing.
My local writer friends started a group and met once a month to compare our writing exercises from the workbook. Great activity!
A very useful workbook. Heavy on exercises, most of which will help you consider your novel from fresh angles.
I think this would be more useful if I had the book and not just the workbook.
Excellent resource that will indeed help any plot rise higher. Not sure if a writer would need to complete this before, midway through, or after having an outline; the exercises seem to vary on how much it assumes you have planned about your story...
LOVE IT!
Martha Ramirez
added it
An excellent tool for writers!
This is definitely what I needed to get going again.
Fantastic workbook to dig deep and go wide into places you never thought of. The exercises add such depth and dimension and help a writer to create a non-linear work. I also attended his one-day workshop this past weekend with two friends. We were blown away with what ideas came of it and the places that his exercises force you to explore - that you would never comfortably go to on your own. Amazing and worth every minute.
it amazes me... i can look at this book and others like it, see the logic, get excited... and still not write. but if i followed directions, i have no doubt this book would get me through a novel. writing nonfiction comes easily for me; this book makes writing fiction feel as easy.
I love this book. Donald Maass' teaching style totally speaks to me. Some other writing books have helped me understand the craft of writing, but this set is what helped me pull it off myself.
One of the most useful writing reference books I've ever had. I wouldn't say it's the be all end all of writing references, but it made me look at my manuscript in a whole new way and guided me through making it better. Worth every penny.
Awesome book...I am constantly referring to it as I write. It's a great push to make your novel better at every turn...can't even imagine the crap I would be writing if I didn't have this for reference.
If I had to recommend just this book or its parent, "Writing the Breakout Novel," I'd choose this one. It contains most of the info from the other, and the exercises are really helpful.
LOVE it! One of the best hands-on reference books for novel writing I've come across so far.
Really need a complete draft of a manuscript before starting this workbook
Even more stuff than the book has! Great tool for writers.
I love using this book to edit my NaNoWriMos
Debbie Moorhouse
marked it as reference
Prize!
Jonelle
marked it as to-read
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