In this engaging conversation, Charlie Jane Anders, an acclaimed science fiction and fantasy writer, shares her insights on the craft of storytelling. She discusses the essential techniques for weaving compelling narratives, emphasizing the importance of character depth and unique worlds. Anders also highlights the role of conflict in character growth and the significance of personal connection in stories. With tales of inspiration and creativity, she inspires aspiring writers to find their voice and embrace the joys of storytelling.
01:26:22
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Tom Baker on Books
Charlie Jane Anders recalls Tom Baker's quote about books saving us from learning from experience.
She used this to emphasize the power of vicarious learning through stories.
insights INSIGHT
Value of Imaginary Stories
Stories provide extra experiences beyond our own.
Imagining scenarios in fiction can be a form of preparation for real-life.
insights INSIGHT
Sci-Fi's Role
Science fiction allows us to imagine impossible experiences, expanding our minds.
Escapism provides emotional resilience for real-world action.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Never Say You Can't Survive is a collection of essays that blend memoir, personal anecdotes, and practical advice on storytelling. Charlie Jane Anders explores how writing can be a powerful means of coping with turmoil and finding personal growth through creative expression. The book offers insights into the craft of writing, emphasizing the importance of imagination and self-expression as tools for resilience.
Victories Greater Than Death
Charlie Jane Anders
Victories Greater Than Death is the first installment in the Unstoppable trilogy by Charlie Jane Anders. It follows Tina Mains, a clone of the legendary Captain Thaoh Argentian, as she joins the Royal Fleet to fight against the genocidal alien force known as The Compassion. The novel explores themes of identity, friendship, and anti-imperialism in a diverse and inclusive universe. Anders' work celebrates difference and challenges traditional power structures, making it a compelling read for fans of space opera and young adult fiction.
Telling a story seems like the most natural, human thing in the world. We all do it, all the time. And who amongst us doesn’t think we could be a fairly competent novelist, if we just bothered to take the time? But storytelling is a craft like any other, with its own secret techniques and best practices. Charlie Jane Anders is a multiple-award-winning novelist and story writer, but also someone who has thought carefully about all the ingredients of a good story, from plot and conflict to characters and relationships. This will be a useful conversation for anyone who tells stories, reads novels, or watches movies. Maybe you’ll be inspired to finally write that novel.
Charlie Jane Anders studied English and Asian literature at Cambridge University. She is the author of over 100 published works of short fiction and several novels, including the new Young Adult book Victories Greater Than Death. She was co-founder of the website io9, a blog about science and science fiction. She is a frequent event organizer, including the monthly Writers With Drinks. Among her accolades are Hugo, Nebula, Locus, Sturgeon, and Crawford awards. She is the co-host, with Annalee Newitz, of the Our Opinions Are Correct podcast. Later this year she will publish Never Say You Can’t Survive: How to Get Through Hard Times by Making Up Stories.
Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 
