Donald Maass The Emotional Craft Of Fiction
Donald Maass is a literary agent and a bestselling author of books for writers, including "The Emotional Craft of Fiction," which explores how to create a deep emotional connection between readers and characters. In this book, Maass offers practical techniques and exercises to help authors tap into their own emotions and create characters that feel real and compelling.
The Importance of Emotional Connection
One of the key points that Maass makes in "The Emotional Craft of Fiction" is that readers don't just want to read a good story; they want to feel something. Emotional connection is what keeps readers invested in a story and makes them care about what happens to the characters. Maass argues that writers who can create a strong emotional bond between their characters and readers will have a much better chance of creating a successful book.
To create this emotional connection, Maass recommends that writers focus on three key areas: inner conflict, character emotions, and reader empathy. By understanding these elements and using them effectively, writers can create characters that feel like real people and situations that resonate with readers on a deep emotional level.
Inner Conflict
In "The Emotional Craft of Fiction," Maass emphasizes the importance of inner conflict, which he defines as "the struggle within a character between opposing needs, desires, or emotions." Inner conflict is what makes a character feel human and relatable, and it's what keeps readers invested in the story. Maass advises writers to create characters with complex inner lives and to explore the conflicts that arise when those inner needs and desires come into conflict with external circumstances.
Character Emotions
Another key element of emotional connection is character emotions. Maass argues that readers want to be able to feel what characters are feeling, and that the best way to create this emotional resonance is to use specific, sensory language to describe those emotions. By showing rather than telling, writers can make readers feel like they're right there with the characters, experiencing their joys and sorrows.
Reader Empathy
The final element that Maass emphasizes is reader empathy. This is the idea that readers will only care about characters and their struggles if they can relate to them on a personal level. Maass advises writers to create characters with flaws and vulnerabilities, and to show those characters struggling to overcome obstacles that readers can identify with. By doing so, writers can create a sense of shared humanity that will keep readers invested in the story.
Practical Techniques and Exercises
Throughout "The Emotional Craft of Fiction," Maass offers a variety of practical techniques and exercises to help writers develop these key elements of emotional connection. For example, he suggests creating a "scene chart" to track the emotional highs and lows of each scene, or using "emotional landmarks" to create memorable moments that resonate with readers long after they've finished the book. These techniques and exercises are designed to help writers tap into their own emotions and create characters and situations that feel authentic and compelling.
Conclusion
Donald Maass's "The Emotional Craft of Fiction" is a must-read for any writer who wants to create characters and stories that resonate with readers on a deep emotional level. By understanding the importance of inner conflict, character emotions, and reader empathy, writers can create books that are not just entertaining, but also meaningful and memorable. Maass's practical techniques and exercises provide a roadmap for writers to tap into their own emotions and create stories that will stay with readers long after they've turned the final page.
