Writing the Breakout Novel, by Donald Maass and #WM goals

I’ve been talking with a few people about books that help us all become better writers. My firm belief is that nothing helps us learn to write more than reading with an analytical eye. Quantity is as important as quality. The bad ones are as telling about how not to write as the good ones teach us correct principles. But there are some books that changed the way I looked at writing. This is one of them: Writing the Breakout Novel, by Donald Maass.

There is the book to read and the workbook that helps you put his ideas into action.

He gives practical advice on why your book might not be selling, and whether you’re going self-pub or traditional, most of us care about making money for our effort. Some ideas include taking things to the limit and having conflict on every page.

While I think that a lot of what Maass says about how to write is driven by his opinions, he is one of the leading agents in the industry and has a lot of experience with what gets published and what doesn’t. Listening to his advice is worth something. And writing exercises can be painful, but nothing comes free.

#WriteMotivation Goals for Week 1:

Here are my February goals:

1) Read one book every week, one of which is about how to improve my writing.

Week 1: I am half-way through The Alchemyst, by Michael Scott and half-way through Writing Irresistable Kidlit, by Mary Kole.

2) Post on every member’s blog once per week.

Week 1: DONE

3) Send out 15 agent queries.

Week 1: Nothing yet.

4) Do not get depressed when I am rejected.

Week 1: N/A

5) Finish final edit of TPR.

Week 1: Chapter 18 of 32. I feel good about this.

6) Outline all of TGM. Decide on POV and tense for TGM.

Week 1: Have to finish 5 first.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL MY #WRITEMOTIVATION FRIENDS! I will be seeing you again this week. And I bought Girl Scout Cookies.

Join the Conversation

helenrj
says:
February 10, 2014 at 8:10 am -


Great goals! Throw Samoas my way!
1. heathercashman
  says:
  February 12, 2014 at 8:27 pm -
  
  
  The hardest part is deciding which ones to buy. I’m always disappointed that they don’t sell them year-round. *throwing Samoas*
  1. helenrj
    says:
    February 12, 2014 at 9:18 pm -
    
    
    Did you know that there is Girl Scout coffee creamer? Yums.
LadyJai
says:
February 10, 2014 at 1:36 pm -


*Cheers*
You can do it! Always look at the positives!! Start small and then they will pile up and eventually, you’ll have one big pile of positives! Same with goals completed! 😀
1. heathercashman
  says:
  February 12, 2014 at 8:28 pm -
  
  
  That’s perfect advice for me. I need a pile of something good. Thanks!
Rebekah Loper
says:
February 10, 2014 at 7:57 pm -


YUM on the Girl Scout cookies!
1. heathercashman
  says:
  February 12, 2014 at 8:28 pm -
  
  
  *throwing cookies* Hope you like thin mints.
  1. Rebekah Loper
    says:
    February 12, 2014 at 9:27 pm -
    
    
    Yesssssssssss. Thin Mints are crack.
Bess Gilmartin
says:
February 11, 2014 at 6:49 am -


Thanks for sharing about the Donald Maass book. Good job on those goals!
1. heathercashman
  says:
  February 12, 2014 at 8:29 pm -
  
  
  It really is a good one. I hope you enjoy it! I know people who fill out the workbook for every novel they write.
Anya Breton (@AnyaBreton)
says:
February 11, 2014 at 9:11 pm -


Impressive goals! I’m so envious of your reading progress. I can barely finish reading this novella I started a week ago. *claps and claps*
1. heathercashman
  says:
  February 12, 2014 at 8:30 pm -
  
  
  Reading is the most difficult part of all of it. I listen to books on tape in my car and also on my phone while I’m cleaning. Killing multiple “birds” is the only way I get anything substantial done. 🙂

Writing the Breakout Novel, by Donald Maass and #WM goals