Authors Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar discuss the evolution of voice in 'This Is How You Lose The Time War' and its impact on character arcs. They talk about the relationship between language and learning, and share insights on writing with authenticity and joy. The podcast explores tips for preserving authenticity in writing and enhancing voice through musical inspiration.
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insights INSIGHT
Active Voice
Voice is not passive; it actively develops plot and characters.
View voice as a dynamic tool for reader engagement, not a static element.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Evolving Voice
If your character changes, so should their voice.
Use different language to reflect their evolving experiences.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Embrace Joy
Allow yourself to enjoy writing; immerse yourself in the process.
Luxuriate in the joy of writing and let that fuel your work.
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As we conclude our first deep dive of our close reading series, we want to explore how the evolution of voice helped carry readers throughout "This Is How You Lose The Time War." We also talk about the relationship between character arcs and language, learning and voice. Stay tuned for next week’s episode, where we interview Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar on what it was like to write “Time War” together!
Write a short outline of your work noting where the voice changes and evolves to reflect the character growth and change rather than focusing on the plot beats
A Reminder
That starting May 12th, we'll be focusing on Worldbuilding and reading A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. If you’re going to buy this book, we have this bookshop link available for you to do so! (If not, go support your local library!) https://bookshop.org/lists/close-readings-season-19
Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.
Writing Excuses