Great fiction makes us feel. Discover how to write emotional layers that pull readers in, with tips from Donald Maass and a practice passage.
Let's talk about my novel's identity crisis. I couldn't just pick ONE genre. Nope. I decided to throw Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Romance into a blender and hit "frappe."
I've never experienced such a range of emotions doing anything before until I started writing this novel. The ups and downs are insane. Here's how I manage.
Do I want a publisher to fall in love with my underwater world and champion it? Absolutely. But I'm not putting all my eggs in that extremely selective basket.
This is when a writer throws way too much information in lengthy paragraphs about... well, anything. World-building, backstory, character details—you name it.
"Wouldn't an underwater world be SO cool?" Then I started building it. Setting rules, making characters interact—and holy mackerel, it was a MASSIVE learning curve.
Humans want to read about... well, humans. We're all gloriously flawed in our own unique ways. A great protagonist needs balance.
The first thing I had to figure out when I started writing my manuscript was: What's my writing style? There are so many options. After research I found my type.
My first draft. It was a beautiful disaster. But it's done! Pop the champagne. Here's how my beta readers pushed me to be a better writer.