Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook
Make Your Novel Stand Out from the Crowd!

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 with sections on:

 • Building plot layers
 • Creating inner conflict
 • Strengthening voice and point of view
 • Discovering and heightening larger-than-life character qualities
 • Strengthening theme
 • And much more!


Maass also carefully dissects examples from real-life breakout novels so you'll lean 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!
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Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook
Make Your Novel Stand Out from the Crowd!

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 with sections on:

 • Building plot layers
 • Creating inner conflict
 • Strengthening voice and point of view
 • Discovering and heightening larger-than-life character qualities
 • Strengthening theme
 • And much more!


Maass also carefully dissects examples from real-life breakout novels so you'll lean 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!
19.99 In Stock
Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook

by Donald Maass
Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook

by Donald Maass

Paperback

$19.99 
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Overview

Make Your Novel Stand Out from the Crowd!

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 with sections on:

 • Building plot layers
 • Creating inner conflict
 • Strengthening voice and point of view
 • Discovering and heightening larger-than-life character qualities
 • Strengthening theme
 • And much more!


Maass also carefully dissects examples from real-life breakout novels so you'll lean 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!

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781582972633
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date: 06/14/2004
Pages: 240
Sales rank: 323,235
Product dimensions: 8.40(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.70(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction1
Part ICharacter Development
1From Protagonist to Hero8
Exercise: Adding Heroic Qualities12
2Multidimensional Characters14
Exercise: Opening Extra Character Dimensions18
3Inner Conflict19
Exercise: Creating Inner Conflict24
4Larger-Than-Life Character Qualities25
Exercise: Creating Larger-Than-Life Qualities31
5Heightening Larger-Than-Life Qualities33
Exercise: Adjusting the Volume35
6Character Turnabouts and Surprises36
Exercise: Reversing Motives38
7Personal Stakes40
Exercise: Defining Personal Stakes48
8Ultimate Stakes50
Exercise: Capturing the Irrevocable Commitment54
9Exposition56
Exercise: Deepening Exposition59
10Creating Secondary Characters60
Exercise: Secondary Character Development64
11Antagonists66
Exercise: Developing the Antagonist69
Exercise: The Antagonist's Outline71
12Enriching Your Cast73
Exercise: Combining Roles76
Part IIPlot Development
13Public Stakes80
Exercise: Raising Public Stakes86
14Complications88
Exercise: Making Complications Active91
15Plot Layers93
Exercise: Building Plot Layers97
16Weaving a Story99
Exercise: Weaving Plot Layers Together104
17Subplots106
Exercise: Adding Subplots109
18Turning Points111
Exercise: Heightening Turning Points115
19The Inner Journey117
Exercise: Inner Turning Points120
20High Moments122
Exercise: Creating High Moments127
21Bridging Conflict129
Exercise: Developing Bridging Conflict132
22Low Tension Part I: The Problem With Tea134
Exercise: Brewing Tension139
23Low Tension Part II: Burdensome Backstory141
Exercise: Delaying Backstory146
24Low Tension Part III: Tension on Every Page148
Exercise: Adding Tension to Every Page152
Part IIIGeneral Story Techniques
25First Lines/Last Lines156
Exercise: Enhancing First and Last Lines161
26Moments in Time163
Exercise: Freezing Moments in Time168
27Inner Change170
Exercise: Measuring Inner Change174
28Setting176
Exercise: The Psychology of Place180
29Point of View182
Exercise: Strengthening Point of View185
30Character Delineation187
Exercise: Improving Character Delineation191
31Theme193
Exercise: Alternate Endings200
Exercise: The Larger Problem202
Exercise: Same Problem, Other Characters204
Exercise: Making the Antagonist's Case206
32Symbols208
Exercise: Creating Symbols211
33Brainstorming213
Exercise: Developing Brainstorming Skills217
34The Pitch218
Exercise: Constructing the Pitch223
Appendixes
Appendix AOutlining Your Novel225
Appendix BFollow-up Work Checklist228
Index229
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