Yikes, I challenge the great Don Maass
I hold Don Maass in high regard. He's a great agent and the best of the teaching agents out there. I attended his Breakout Novel Intensive workshop and walked away with a treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration. If you want to learn from the best, attend one of Don's workshops. That doesn't mean I don't take a different view than Don on a point or two. I keep Don's The Breakout Novelist at hand whenever I sit down to hammer on my keyboard. The book is full of step-by-step advice, the kind that authors with more street credentials than I take to heart. But here's where I have a problem. In that writing guide, Don has these words; "Now think about the people whom you deeply admire, who stir in you awe, respect, humility, and high esteem. Are these regular people, no different than anyone else? They may be everyday folks like friends or family, true enough, but you see in them what is exceptional, strong, beautiful, and brave." Those are all gre