Writing the Breakout Novel
by Donald Maass
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Book Summary Information
Author: Donald MaassEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-08-15
ISBN: 158297182X
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Writers Digest Books
Book Reviews of Writing the Breakout Novel
Book Review: "Breakout"? Try "Lackluster"
Summary: 2 Stars
Most of the information in this book is too general to be useful for anyone but the beginning writer. I would suggest that readers skim this in their local bookstore, skip reading the chapters, which offer little in terms of exploration of the author's points, and instead merely read the one-page checklist that is found at the end of each chapter. There isn't much substance in the text of the chapters. Zuckerman's book on Blockbuster novel writing, which analyzes four novels in greater detail, is much better. Maass's book merely gives broad strokes to support his contentions, many of which are untested and false (for instance, on page 204, he writes: "We're not terribly likely to be hurt by... Middle Eastern terrorists." Obviously, this book was written pre-9/11.) Maass seems out of touch and too much of a generalist. He never defines, in-depth, what a "breakout" novel is. He merely highlights a point of two from various novels, refusing to test all of his theories against the same work. Moreover, he consistently points to novels by authors whom he represents, probably to promote himself and his clients' work.
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