by Mike Klaassen

Created on: March 12, 2007   Last Updated: May 14, 2007

Book Review of
CHARACTERS, EMOTION, & VIEWPOINT: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting Dynamic Characters and Effective Viewpoints
By Nancy Kress
2005, Writer's Digest Books

CHARACTERS, EMOTION & VIEWPOINT, by Nancy Kress, covers the three subjects listed in the title as well as any book I've found.

The first seven chapters address types of characters, first impressions, background, motivation, character change, protagonists, and humorous characters. The chapters about emotion focus on dialogue, thoughts, metaphors, symbols, sensory details, and portraying specific emotions. Later chapters provide an overview of first person, third person, and omniscient points of view. The final chapter is appropriately titled "Putting It All Together."

As described above, the author covers the title subjects adequately. But realistically, much of the material is also covered in other how-to books. Where the book could have made further contribution is in discrediting some of misinformation published in the past. The book didn't provide any ground-breaking insight and guidance.

This is one of four in the Write Great Fiction series by Writer's Digest Books:
Plot & Structure, By James Scott Bell
Character, Emotion & Viewpoint, by Nancy Kress
Description & Setting, by Ron Rozelle,
Dialogue, by Gloria Kempton
Each volume provides an in-depth, thought-provoking look at its subject matter. All four belong in a novelist's reference library.

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