Cary Neeper's Blog: Reviewing World-changing Nonfiction - Posts Tagged "editing"

Writing 21st Century Fiction: High Impact Techniques for Exceptional Storytelling. By Donald Maass, Blue Ash, Ohio, Writer’s Digest Books, 2012
This is the one book on writing that sits beside my computer as I write the Archives of Varok series. In the margins of Maass’ specific “21st Century Tools” at the end of each chapter, I have scribbled notes to myself, notes that required more than a little time and thought. Hopefully Maass’ suggestions will take my writing a bit further toward the goal he defines—a powerful story beautifully written.
I love words and the varied nuances of English, but I am also a musician. In the early years I sometimes wrote beautiful rhythmic sentences that made no sense. Plotting, dramatic arcs, big black moments in which the protagonist must choose between two nasty choices don’t come easily to me. Dialogue is no problem. Maass’ tools helped me to identify problem areas.
Maass points out that the books that stay on the New York Times Bestseller List for years, not just three weeks, are called literary/commercial fiction (Does “upmarket” mean the same thing?). Such books are “...personal, impassioned, ...downright quirky...[and] achieve universal appeal.”
I’ll quote here two examples of Maass’ tools, then leave you with my recommendation to make good use of this book. Don’t just read it. Enjoy the challenge.
Page 38: “Find a moment when your protagonist feels nothing in particular...Pick something. Whatever it is, note two conflicting feelings your protagonist has about it. Add them.”
Page 71: Open to another random page. What does your protagonist or POV character not want to admit, acknowledge, or face right now? Force it on him.”