A review by gladiolus17
The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface by Donald Maass

funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

3.5

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

Spoiler

-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