As promised, Donald Maass Notes

The first weekend in July I attended a writer's retreat where we had a one day workshop with literary agent and author, Donald Maass.

His book, Writing The Breakout Novel is becoming a craft favorite. Along with the book, Maass conducts week long and weekend seminars where students receive instruction followed by afternoons of working and rewriting.

Maass is an engaging, knowledgable, fun instructor. Very personable. I got a lot out of the day we had with him, even if toward the end my brain started to short circuit. Ha!

I didn't have a work-in-progress to bring to the day, but worked on ideas for book-next, and bravely compared his instruction to what I'd done with Sweet Caroline.

To be honest, I thought I'd be hyperventilating within the first five minutes of class, "Oh no! I didn't do that, or that, or that!"

But it was three o'clock in the afternoon before my first slight heart palpitation. Even, then, I realized it was a matter of preference. Not that Caroline is perfect-word to the wise: there are no perfect novels, I felt like I did some things well with her story.

Anyway, if you're a writer or reader, you'll enjoy what Mr. Maass says makes a breakout novel.

Begin very eclectic notes:

The characters are the reader's way into the story and what brings them back to us as authors.

More specific and detailed we can be the more powerful we become.

How can protag show heroic qualities within protag first five pages?

Reader asks: "Do we care about this person?"

"Ordinary people in extraordinary circumstance, but readers what to care greatly, care enough to read the book. What creates the bond between reader and protagonist."

"Heroic qualities. We tend to think of historic greatness or extreme survival under worse conditions."

Have one line to catch readers attention.

"Stories are powerful when they are tough. When the challenges are extreme."

"INNER CONFLICT MAKES CHARACTERS MEMORABLE."

"PUT CHARACTERS IN OPPOSITE SITUATIONS."

"These are the moments the characters become larger than his or her own life. Break out of box, out of character, do the unexpected. Moments we remember."

"A "wink" can be the most unexpected thing a character can do."

What is the main conflict? Goal?

Raise stakes, keep tension rising, keep readers more deeply involved.

ANTAGONIST

What is antagonist defining quality?

Antagonist most wants? Yearning, dream, goal. Where would he like to go? What to achieve or experience. Avoid?

"If I am the antagonist, how would I describe what I want?"

Antag has more to do. Need see the antagonist moving through the story. They appear, go away then reappear. What are they doing all that time? He/she is working on something.

Write out what antagonist is doing. 4-5 pages of outline.

DEEP POWERFUL STORYTELLING IS OFF BALANCE.

***

Part Two - Plot Considerations

Main problem facing protag over the course of novel.

Figure out how to make the worst happen and come back from it.

DON'T PULL BACK FROM THE BRINK, FALL OVER THE EDGE.

***

Back story

Use this strategically in the story. Something we don't know. Something that explains the protag. Wait for it. We only hint at it.

End eclectic notes

The intellectual learns by learning. They love instruction and process information well. Instinctively, they seem to understand how to apply what they've heard.

I'm a doer. I learn by doing. I love information, I love instruction, but I've learned way more about writing by doing it than hearing how to do it. If I buy something with instructions, the first thing I do is study the "gaget" to figure it out, only referring to the instructions if I'm stuck. Weird, but it works for me.

Between what my editors have taught me, and this Maass experience, I have ammo to improve and deepen my craft.

Recently, a couple of friends graduated with MBAs. Then, they bought a business. In one week, they learned more about running a business than a semester of grad school.

Learning is just a tool to help us "do" life. Instruction is the map to get us where we want to be, but unless we "get in the car and drive" all the mapping and studying is useless.

So, do what works for you. Do-be-do-be-do.

Tomorrow, a revelation on prayer!