Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook

by Maass, Donald

• ISBN13: 9781582972633
• ISBN10: 158297263X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-06-01
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books

Summary

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, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook calls that advice into action! This powerful book presents the patented techniques and writing exercises from Maass's popular writing workshops to offer novelists first-class instruction and practical guidance. You'll learn to develop and strengthen aspects of your prose. Maass also carefully dissects examples from real-life breakout novels so you'll learn how to read and analyze fiction like a writer. With authoritative instruction and hands-on workbook exercises, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook is one of the most accessible novel-writing guides available. Set your work-in-progress apart from the competition and write your own breakout novel today! Book jacket.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 1
Character Development
From Protagonist to Hero	p. 8
Exercise: Adding Heroic Qualities	p. 12
Multidimensional Characters	p. 14
Exercise: Opening Extra Character Dimensions	p. 18
Inner Conflict	p. 19
Exercise: Creating Inner Conflict	p. 24
Larger-Than-Life Character Qualities	p. 25
Exercise: Creating Larger-Than-Life Qualities	p. 31
Heightening Larger-Than-Life Qualities	p. 33
Exercise: Adjusting the Volume	p. 35
Character Turnabouts and Surprises	p. 36
Exercise: Reversing Motives	p. 38
Personal Stakes	p. 40
Exercise: Defining Personal Stakes	p. 48
Ultimate Stakes	p. 50
Exercise: Capturing the Irrevocable Commitment	p. 54
Exposition	p. 56
Exercise: Deepening Exposition	p. 59
Creating Secondary Characters	p. 60
Exercise: Secondary Character Development	p. 64
Antagonists	p. 66
Exercise: Developing the Antagonist	p. 69
Exercise: The Antagonist's Outline	p. 71
Enriching Your Cast	p. 73
Exercise: Combining Roles	p. 76
Plot Development
Public Stakes	p. 80
Exercise: Raising Public Stakes	p. 86
Complications	p. 88
Exercise: Making Complications Active	p. 91
Plot Layers	p. 93
Exercise: Building Plot Layers	p. 97
Weaving a Story	p. 99
Exercise: Weaving Plot Layers Together	p. 104
Subplots	p. 106
Exercise: Adding Subplots	p. 109
Turning Points	p. 111
Exercise: Heightening Turning Points	p. 115
The Inner Journey	p. 117
Exercise: Inner Turning Points	p. 120
High Moments	p. 122
Exercise: Creating High Moments	p. 127
Bridging Conflict	p. 129
Exercise: Developing Bridging Conflict	p. 132
Low Tension Part I: The Problem With Tea	p. 134
Exercise: Brewing Tension	p. 139
Low Tension Part II: Burdensome Backstory	p. 141
Exercise: Delaying Backstory	p. 146
Low Tension Part III: Tension on Every Page	p. 148
Exercise: Adding Tension to Every Page	p. 152
General Story Techniques
First Lines/Last Lines	p. 156
Exercise: Enhancing First and Last Lines	p. 161
Moments in Time	p. 163
Exercise: Freezing Moments in Time	p. 168
Inner Change	p. 170
Exercise: Measuring Inner Change	p. 174
Setting	p. 176
Exercise: The Psychology of Place	p. 180
Point of View	p. 182
Exercise: Strengthening Point of View	p. 185
Character Delineation	p. 187
Exercise: Improving Character Delineation	p. 191
Theme	p. 193
Exercise: Alternate Endings	p. 200
Exercise: The Larger Problem	p. 202
Exercise: Same Problem, Other Characters	p. 204
Exercise: Making the Antagonist's Case	p. 206
Symbols	p. 208
Exercise: Creating Symbols	p. 211
Brainstorming	p. 213
Exercise: Developing Brainstorming Skills	p. 217
The Pitch	p. 218
Exercise: Constructing the Pitch	p. 223
Appendixes
Outlining Your Novel	p. 225
Follow-up Work Checklist	p. 228
Index	p. 229
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