Emotional Writing

While writers might disagree over showing versus telling or plotting versus pantsing, none would argue this: If you want to write strong fiction, you must make your readers feel. The reader's experience must be an emotional journey of its own, one as involving as your characters' struggles, discoveries, and triumphs are for you. That's where The Emotional Craft of Fiction comes in. Veteran literary agent and expert fiction instructor Donald Maass shows you how to use story to provoke a visceral and emotional experience in readers.

There are three kinds of feelings when reading a story: boredom, interest, and wow! To become a successful writer, you must create the wow feeling on as many pages as possible, and this requires writing that engages the reader emotionally. In his best-selling book, screenwriter Karl Iglesias explored the working habits of A-list Hollywood scribes. Now, he breaks new ground by focusing on the psychology of the reader.

UPDATED 2022 EDITION! These two bestselling writing and editing handbooks, “The Writer’s Guide to Character Emotion” and “The Writer’s Guide to Character Expression” have been updated and combined to create one remarkable single volume! This comprehensive edition contains descriptive writing tools to help writers craft a riveting novel that instantly grabs a reader’s attention. Writers will gain the essential skills needed to craft realistic emotions, visceral responses, and body language to deepen characterization that you can easily and quickly apply to your own writing. ...

Let me guess: you have everything about the writing art pretty much mastered except one of the most important skills--infusing emotional impact in your writing. You enjoy seeing your characters change and grow, and you love the story you've created, but your beta readers or editor can't seem to feel much emotion for them. Been there, done that. We're in the same boat, so you're not alone.

Most writers struggle with creating a captivating story. The fastest way to improve your writing skills is by applying the Deep Point-of-View technique, which can transform any novel from mediocre storytelling into riveting prose. This fiction writing guide includes hundreds of amazing ways to use “show don’t tell” to submerge readers so deeply into a scene they will experience the story along with the characters. Plus, this useful author resource includes a thesaurus with inspiring word choices! Writers will learn to: Revise Shallow Writing Deepen Characterization Craft Realistic ...

Learn Fun and Creative Ways to Enhance Your Descriptions! The advice, tools, and reference lists in this writing guide for fiction authors will inspire writers to create original and vibrant descriptions of characters, locations, weather, and mood that can greatly enhance anyone’s storytelling, whether you’re writing adult fiction, young adult fiction, or children’s books. Fictional and real settings are much more effective, dramatic, and evocative when they’re visible, auditory, olfactory, and tactile. Character depictions are much more imaginative, lifelike, and vivid for readers ...

Escape the turbulent cycle of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) and say goodbye to mood swings and emotional turmoil with the practical and evidence-based strategies in this groundbreaking book. Written specifically for parents by a natural health expert and father of a child with DMDD who knows, this definitive guide provides a roadmap to help your child overcome DMDD using natural solutions. Discover what factors cause DMDD and how your child’s brain processes emotions, sensory input, social cues, and situations differently than neurotypical children. Get practical advice ...

Psychiatric therapist, Dr. Mark Stevens, introduced in THE CRYING ROSE novels, continues his passion for assisting damsels in distress. Calling on his research, experiences and detective skills, he tries to break through the emotional roadblocks to position his newest patient, Tish Wilson, so she can begin to heal. Dr. Stevens' encounters with Tish's bruised spirit uncover her detour off her emotional path, leading to her 'secret writing'. Tish’s fear of being labeled as ‘crazy’ hinders her acceptance of Dr. Stevens help. Her heart-searching ordeal in a lonely motel room guides her to...

"Sumptuous prose and a mind-blowing twist will make sure that readers don't forget The Professor's Wife, an unsettling psychological thriller wrapped in a provocative dark romance." -IndieReader Carl Bingham is a lonely British Literature Professor who has sworn off love and sex since an affair with a student at Skidmore College almost lost him his tenure and reputation. Camilla is a young artist who sits in his classroom, mesmerized by his voice and appearance. Despite their age difference, they fall in love, marry, and feed each other's physical and emotional needs. But when secrets and ...

Trauma and its effects can feel like a never-ending storm, and there's no safe harbor in sight from the thoughts and emotions that toss and turn so violently and unpredictably in your head. But healing is possible. Your brain can actually rewire these thoughts and emotions. And you can direct that powerful healing process through journaling.

Coercive Relationships provides a beacon for survivors of partner abuse. Parker’s nonjudgmental, empathic voice offers knowledge gleaned from years of experience. Survivors gain answers to frequently asked questions: Am I being abused? Why do they hurt me? Why do I feel so crazy? What can I change? Why do they believe they should control us? How do I recognize abuse of power? How do I heal?Each chapter contains illustrative vignettes and suggestions for reflection to assist readers in discovering what they want. Coercive Relationships lifts the private shame survivors feel by connecting ...

Learn to Improve Emotional Descriptions, Create Believable Settings, and Craft Powerful Descriptive Writing. This guidebook is a companion to the first volume in the Fiction Writing Tools series, "The Writer's Guide to Character Emotion" on descriptive writing and Deep POV, with Immersive Writing Techniques. Within this in-depth writing craft book are practical tools on how to apply descriptive writing to create realistic settings, visceral responses, and lifelike characters. Included are lists and advice on: Setting Descriptors Character Personality Traits Character Development Descriptive...

Unleash the art of storytelling that captivates, influences, and transforms. Hypnotic Writing Lab: Amplify Influence with Advanced Story Structure and Tension is more than a guide—it’s a masterclass in crafting narratives that resonate deeply and linger long after the final word. Dive into immersive techniques that combine the power of hypnotic language, sensory detail, and emotional layering to create unforgettable stories. Discover how to structure narratives that evoke emotion, cultivate connection, and seamlessly guide perception. Each chapter and prompt is designed to refine your ...

“A clever, amusing, and satisfying read.” –Carolyn Korsmeyer, author of Little Follies When recent widow Lily Simone discovers that her husband has squandered their savings in risky crypto investments, imperiling her comfortable Marin County lifestyle, friends encourage her to turn her attractive coastal home into a Bed and Breakfast. But no sooner has she decided to give this a try than all three of her adult daughters reveal their own troubles. The Simone women are off on a wild emotional rollercoaster ride involving both love and money and must figure out not just what matters most...

You’ve always wanted to write your life story—but something keeps getting in the way. Maybe the memories feel too painful. Maybe the words don’t come. Maybe you’re afraid of what you’ll uncover—or what you won’t be able to let go. You've thought about trying EMDR therapy—but you can't find a therapist, you feel intimidated or skeptical, or you simply can't afford to pay for sessions right now.

Writing isn’t just creating—it’s awakening. Whether you’re journaling, storytelling, or trying to find your authentic voice on the page, there’s a deeper force guiding your words: the archetypes within. This is a soul-powered guide for writers, creatives, and introspective minds—whether you lead with emotion, logic, or a little of both. Through twelve original archetypes like The Chainbreaker, The Starward, The Heartsworn, and The Realmbinder, you’ll discover the inner forces shaping your creative expression—light and shadow alike. Part reference guide, part creative ...

This lucid, compassionate audiobook has introduced tens of thousands of listeners to expressive writing, a simple yet powerful self-help technique grounded in scientific research. Leading experts James W. Pennebaker and Joshua M. Smyth describe how taking just a few minutes to write about deeply felt personal experiences or problems may help improve our mental and physical health.

Unlock the Power of Hypnotic Storytelling Step into The Hypnotic Writing Lab, where words become worlds, and every chapter brings you closer to mastering the art of influence through storytelling. This guide will take you on an immersive journey through hypnotic language techniques, sensory engagement, and character-driven narratives designed to captivate readers and leave a lasting impact. In today’s world, storytelling has the power to inspire, persuade, and transform. With The Hypnotic Writing Lab, you’ll learn how to create stories that resonate on a deeper level—drawing readers ...

If you would like to be a writer, but you do not really know how to start, this article is for you. The article provides you with insight as to how to get in touch with yourself, so you can teach yourself how to transfer your thoughts to the page.

Imagine words that don’t just speak but pull you in, their cadence like a heartbeat you can’t ignore, their meaning unfurling like a whispered secret meant only for you. Sentences that don’t merely inform but awaken, igniting something deep within—a spark, a truth, a feeling you didn’t even realize was waiting. Stories that slip past the barriers of thought, weaving themselves into the quiet corners of your mind, where they take root and grow stronger with every breath, every memory, every heartbeat. It doesn’t just tell a story—it becomes a part of you. Inside Hypnotic ...