Reviews

Although overall helpful, I feel there were some parts that were a little vague. This is just a personal thing, but I guess I would’ve preferred a more mathematical approach to the topic.

I did enjoy the examples of each part in real literature, as that helped illuminate the points Donald Maass made.

I might have to reread this with the text version and not audiobook. Timothy Andrès Pabon did a great job narrating the audiobook though!

Maass’ voice was friendly sometimes surprisingly funny. He reads a wide variety of books and can get to the emotional points of each genre. I do feel like he sounded a bit neoliberal sometimes? Lol

Spoiler

Like calling Atticus Finch colorblind. Like, I guess, but this isn’t the right term nowadays. (It’s better to “see” color so you aren’t reducing everyone to the same mold.)

So maybe if that bothers you, I’d take note of that.

The most helpful points for me were:

Spoiler

-Using I am statements to induce disbelief and discussion of a character’s beliefs

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-Be unexpected, say the feeling contrary to what the character is actually feeling, or a side feeling

Spoiler

-Put a little good in evil and show opposite traits

wispirr's review against another edition

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4.0

Really useful source of ideas and quoted examples of different ways to evoke emotional connection between readers and stories. Hopefully I can start making use of some of these!

writehollydavis's review against another edition

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5.0

A MUST-READ for any writer/author!! This book taught me more than I ever thought I could learn about how to captivate readers on an emotional level. Implementing the hero's journey, moral stakes, positivity, the emotional hook, and more is critical to getting your readers to never stop thinking about your book. Donald Maas uses a myriad of examples from published books to show us how these authors bring out the emotional connection with readers onto the page. This book will be a staple in my writer toolbox and will help any writer make their novel the one readers can't stop reading, yet never want to end.

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