The Emotional Craft of Fiction and Why It's Important.

Donald Maass, who has in the past authored a number of widely praised how-to-write-fiction books, in his newest work says that writing novels isn't about showing or telling per se; also that it's about much more than simply describing what your characters are going through.

Rather, he writes in his book The Emotional Craft of Fiction that it's about asking, "How can I encourage my readers to go on emotional journeys of their own?" That's Maass's thesis, that if as an author you encourage readers to go on these emotional journeys of their own, you will connect with them at a deeper emotional level; the novels you write will be more readable, memorable, accessible and important to them.

In this blog issue I review The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface by Donald Maass, Writer's Digest Books, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2016.

Donald Maass states, and I believe he's correct, most readers believe that when they read an engrossing novel, they are living out the story at the same time as the characters in the novel are. But, observes Maass, what is actually going on is this: As readers become engrossed in a novel, they may be weaving their own personal experience into a story that, as they read on farther, becomes more and more personally meaningful to them. Although what they experience is extremely involving to them, he writes that what they get out of it may have little to do with the novel they're reading.

If you accept Maass's view of how great novels work, you might come around to his belief that writing a best-selling novel may not be about writing stories readers want to read, per se; instead, it may be about writing the stories in such a way that they open a floodgate of emotions for readers which, in turn, makes it exceedingly easy for them to embark on their own personal journeys as they're reading. And again, it's important to note Maass's belief that the personal journey the reader goes on may not have that much to do with the book that prompted them to go on that emotional journey.

As Maass expresses it: "The purpose of this book is to delve into the ways and means of creating a powerful emotional experience for readers as they read."

Maass mentions the enduring power of classic novels to involve readers and cause them to gain potentially life-changing experiences and wisdom: "When a plot [of a classic novel] resolves, readers are satisfied, but what they remember is what they felt while reading it. Hooks may hook, twists may intrigue, tension may turn pages, and prose may dazzle, but all of those effects fade as quickly as fireworks in a night sky. Ask readers what they [most vividly] remember about novels; most will say the characters, but is that accurate? It's true that characters become real to us but that is [only] because of what they cause us to feel. Characters aren't actually real; only our feelings are.

According to Maass, "Emotional impact is not an extra. It's as fundamental to a novel's purpose and structure as its plot. The emotional craft of fiction underlies the creation of character arcs, plot turns, beginnings, midpoints, endings, and strong scenes. It is the basis of voice." It's everything, in other words.

He continues, "Mastering the emotional craft of fiction starts with understanding how emotional impact is produced and then applying that in practice. It isn't magic, but the results will feel magical."

Maass realized that there was a need for his book when he "realized that in reading many manuscripts and also published novels, I was feeling little. The high action of best-selling thrillers often left me cold. Romance and women's fiction wallowed in feelings but frequently left me feeling indifferent. Literary fiction can be the driest reading experience of all. Beautiful writing may sparkle like a diamond necklace, but sparkling isn't a feeling. The greatest wish of editors today is a strong voice, and that's fine but even strong voices can fail to reach my heart. Strong writing doesn't automatically produce strong feelings. Paradoxically, poorly written novels can sometimes unsettle me, stir me to anger or send me reaching for a tissue. I want to feel more as I read. Don't you? That's why this book and the methods [described] herein matter."

In addition to this introductory essay, I'll be writing individual essays about each aspect Maass focuses on in this landmark work:

How to stir more meaningful emotions and elevate the moral stakes of any story;

How to create story arcs that impress readers as more authentic and meaningful because they illicit stronger emotions;

How to infuse the plots of your stories with additional emotional power;

How to think about the emotional journey your reader is on to increase the overall impact of your works.

And how to think more effectively about the emotional journey that you as the author of the work are inevitably on as you write your novel.

Unpacking this single book over the next six months: That is how important I believe Maass's book is.

Together, let's explore The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface.