Book
Review:
Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook
Reviewed by Andi Ward
©2004,
Andi Ward
Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook
By Donald Maass
I'll admit right up front, that I've been a fan
of Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass (referred to as "BN" in
this review) since I bought it in April 2001. I am a graduate of the first BN
class taught by Holly Lisle. I attended a one-day workshop taught by Maass.
Because I am a fan, I had strong expectations of this workbook.
When I first read the BN book, I thought I
already did it all. When I read it again, I realized it was full of great advice
and pointed out things I desperately needed to deal with. The BN is a good,
insightful book. However, it is not for people who learn little from reading,
like myself. Being a kinetic personality, I don't learn through reading, I learn
through doing and this book gave me no practical applications of the things
discussed. I needed to do something to learn the lessons. I was fortunate enough
to get into classes that drove much of these principles home for me. However,
not everyone has had my opportunities. If you've been looking for practical
experience, as I was, this workbook should satisfy.
Based on the exercises Maass uses in his
workshops, Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook is more than just a
rehashing of the BN book with exercises. The three sections are on Character
Development, Plot Development and General Story Techniques. They include new
discussions and examples from published works.
The section on character development spends a
great deal of time working on your hero, giving him or her many layers of inner
conflict, stronger stakes, and larger-than-life qualities, to name a few of the
improvements. Maass maintains that antagonists and secondary characters should
also have depth and includes discussion exercises for them as well.
The second section is on plot development and
goes into conflicts, plot layers, and subplots. It has three chapters on raising
tension.
The final section is on general story
techniques and covers theme, setting, point of view and even how to write the
pitch when you're finished. Each chapter has a series of questions or exercises
to help you delve into the subject with your own work.
The average chapter begins with a discussion of
the individual idea being presented, usually 3-7 pages. At least one published
book will be quoted and analyzed in detail before the exercises begin. I like
the fact that Maass constantly goes back to the same works throughout the
workbook, showing how a single book can and does incorporate the many different
aspects he's discussing. Reading each discussion helps in understanding what the
exercises focus on, since the terminology used in the books doesn't always
coincide with general usage. It is also important to do the exercises as stated.
For instance, in the chapter on Personal Stakes, he asks you to write down
everything that makes the situation matter to your hero. Put every idea you can
think of on the list before going on to the next step. Every set of exercises
also has a further note summarizing the goal, which is a good confirmation of
your efforts. At the end is a follow-up exercise to take this lesson to a more
extensive level.
The exercises aren't easy by any stretch of the
imagination. Many people I've discussed the workbook with have been stumped by
the first exercise, which involves naming heroic qualities that you admire. The
interesting thing about these exercises is that they require you to dig into
your views and, one hopes, be honest with your characters and your story.
The workbook is not for the faint of writing
heart. It gives you the instructions to "open the creative vein" and pour it
onto the pages of your work. It is for serious writers who want to take a step
beyond their present level and move forward with their writing.
Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook
© 2004 by Donald Maass
Published by Writer's Digest Books
ISBN: 1-58297-263-X
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