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Donald Maass

@donaldmaass.bsky.social

President of Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York, author of Writing the Breakout Novel, The Emotional Craft of Fiction and other craft books for novelists.

197 Followers  |  86 Following  |  25 Posts  |  Joined: 22.01.2025
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Posts by Donald Maass (@donaldmaass.bsky.social)

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There's a useful pitching thing called a "log line", which is a very brief (one line) take on your not brief full-length novel. Boiling down to an outline is hard. Synopsis in a query is even harder. But a log line?? Whew. How do you boil it down that far?

10.10.2025 22:22 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Is every word on every page of your novel gripping for readers? Maybe not!

20.08.2025 18:38 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image 01.08.2025 21:59 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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30 More SFF Titles to Look Forward to in 2025 - Reactor Here are 30 more standouts to put on your TBR for the second half of this year!

Amazing to see THE LIBRARY AT HELLEBORE by Cassandra Khaw, THE MEMORY HUNTERS by Mia Tsai, and MAD SISTERS OF ESI by Tashan Mehta included on Reactor Mag's list of 30 More SFF Titles to Look Forward to in 2025!

reactormag.com/30-more-sff-...

23.07.2025 16:32 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Apple’s acclaimed sci-fi series β€œMurderbot” lands season two renewal Apple TV+ announced a season two renewal for its widely acclaimed comedic thriller β€œMurderbot,” starring Emmy Award winner Alexander SkarsgΓ₯rd.

If you haven't heard yet, AppleTv+ has renewed Murderbot for a second season! Congratulations to all involved in making the world of Martha Wells come to life! We're so excited and proud here at DMLA!

www.apple.com/tv-pr/news/2...

23.07.2025 16:29 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Your opening has passed muster with critique partners and beta readers, but it may fail on submission--why? And what can you do about it?

07.07.2025 19:30 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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14 Million Books Later, Jim Butcher Thinks His Wizard Detective Needs a Hug (Gift Article) Now in its 25th year, The Dresden Files and its author have survived the darkness, fictional and otherwise.

A great interview from Jim Butcher about his journey writing The Dresden Files. The 18th book in the series will be published January 2026.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/19/b...

11.06.2025 21:51 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Finalists - The Ignyte Awards The Awards seek to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of the current and future landscapes of science fiction, fantasy, and horror by recognizing incredible feats in storytelling and outstanding eff...

Love seeing so many of our DMLA authors listed as Finalists for the 2025 Fiyah Magazine's Ignyte Awards! Congrats everyone!

ignyteawards.fiyahlitmag.com/current-fina...

11.06.2025 21:35 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Book review of The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling A surreal spin on grimdark, The Starving Saints is that rare book that gives fantasy and horror readers what they want in equal measure.

"...a remarkable, strange, unsettling ride that will bewitch you on every page."

What a fantastic starred review from Bookpage for THE STARVING SAINTS by Caitlin Starling!

www.bookpage.com/reviews/star...

11.06.2025 21:33 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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2025 Hugo Award Finalists Seattle Worldcon 2025, the 83 World Science Fiction Convention is delighted to announce the finalists for the 2025 Hugo Awards, Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book, and Astounding Award for Best ...

The 2025 Hugo Award finalists have been announced and it's always exciting to see DMLA authors honored! Congrats everyone!

seattlein2025.org/wsfs/hugo-aw...

10.04.2025 16:40 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Huge shout out to DMLA author, Robert Jackson Bennett, as his novel, A DROP OF CORRUPTION, hits the USA Today Bestseller List at #66!

10.04.2025 16:37 β€” πŸ‘ 29    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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A Hidden Reason Why Readers Read When asked why stories are read, fiction writers offer high-minded reasons: Fiction is the tale around the campfire: a celebration of our heroes. Fiction whispers cautions: warnings about our enemi…

Why do readers read? Because of the way your story makes them feel. @donaldmaass.bsky.social writerunboxed.com/2025/04/02/a... #writingcommunity #authorcommunity #WritingHacks #skywriters

03.04.2025 07:13 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The ALA 2025 Rainbow Book List was released and so proud to see SCHOOL FOR INVISIBLE BOYS and LAST BOYFRIENDS RULES FOR REVENGE listed! Congrats to DMLA authors Shaun David Hutchinson and Matthew Hubbard!

20.02.2025 18:40 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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@donaldmaass.bsky.social

Loving thisπŸ‘‡right now. Great advice for authors, obviously. But life lessons in there too I reckon.

19.02.2025 14:32 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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2024 Recommended Reading List Welcome to the annual Locus Recommended Reading List… We saw some fabulous books come out last year and are so pleased to let you know about them! This list is compiled by the Locus editor…

It's amazing to see so many DMLA authors represented in the Locus 2024 Recommended Reading List! Full list in the link and many heartfelt congratulations to everyone whose work was selected!

locusmag.com/2025/02/2024...

12.02.2025 20:53 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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A great starred review from Publishers Weekly for Aggie Blum Thompson's YOU DESERVE TO KNOW!

"Thompson drops her fully fleshed-out characters into a mile-a-minute plot peppered with blindsiding twists...This is domestic suspense at its finest."

31.01.2025 19:07 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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MWA Announces the 2025 Edgar Award Nominations - Mystery Writers of America Mystery Writers of America Announces 2025 Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominations January 22, 2025, New York, NY – Mystery Writers of America is proud...

Congratulations to DMLA author, Robert Jackson Bennett, on his 2025 Edgar Award nomination for Best Novel with his work, THE TAINTED CUP!

mysterywriters.org/2025-edgar-a...

31.01.2025 19:03 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Bread Upon the Waters by Irwin Shaw

25.01.2025 15:41 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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More great news! THE TOMB OF DRAGONS by Katherine Addison gets a coveted starred review from Library Journal! Verdict?

"Readers who are enthralled with the new cozy fantasy trend or love a cozy mystery will be delighted with Celehar and his latest investigation."

23.01.2025 17:03 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
2025 Audies Finalists Press Release β€” Homepage

Congratulations to DMLA author, Martha Wells, as her novel, SYSTEM COLLAPSE (narrated by Kevin R. Free) was named a 2025 Audie Award Finalist!
www.audiopub.org/audies-final...

23.01.2025 16:58 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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"Solid action and quippy dialogue will keep readers engaged for the long haul."

Excellent review from Library Journal of James J. Butcher's COLD IRON TASK (coming Mar 4, 2025)!

23.01.2025 16:53 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Sir, I would be disappointed if you wrote in the same vein over and over again. That's for some genre and series authors, but you are a unique and original writer.

BTW, I teach advanced fiction writing and cite your work all the time. In particular "Fault", which makes "stuck" characters active.

23.01.2025 16:15 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm guessing most of my writer friends already know Don, or know about his wonderful teaching sessions and craft books. If those don't include you, follow him and start learning.

22.01.2025 20:24 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Seattle! Waving! (Except I’m in New York.)

23.01.2025 02:19 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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"Benjamin Brinks" was pleased to be among the readers at last night's "Brooklyn Books & Booze" event at Industry City, featuring contributors toLancelot Schaubert and Emily Munro's anthology "Of Globes and Gods III". "Benjamin" read from his story "The Legend of Johnny Comet." Great fun.

22.01.2025 21:11 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Hello friends on Bluesky! Please stop by and follow me, so I know you're here and can follow you too.

22.01.2025 20:07 β€” πŸ‘ 20    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 1