Writing Excuses 20.36: Deep Dive into “All the Birds in the Sky” - Using the Lens of When
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Sep 7, 2025 Dive into the intricate storytelling of 'All the Birds in the Sky' as the hosts explore how foreshadowing and flashbacks shape a reader's experience. They highlight the significance of the timeline, discussing how moments in the past and future cast new light on present scenes. The conversation reveals the emotional tension created by narrative choices, particularly through the character of Theodolphus. Additionally, they encourage writers to experiment with the past and future resonance in their own work, enhancing character depth and engagement.
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Time Serves Emotion Not Chronology
- Foreshadowing and flashbacks shape how we experience character moments rather than just marking chronology.
- Charlie Jane Anders uses non-chronological time to place emotional beats where they matter most.
Big Flash-Forward Creates Ongoing Tension
- A dramatic flash-forward (Theodolphus's prophecy) reframes how readers see the children and raises stakes.
- That future view creates ongoing tension about their relationship across the rest of the book.
Don't Break High-Stakes Scenes With Flashbacks
- Avoid inserting flashbacks during high-impact scenes just to explain background information.
- Move explanatory material elsewhere so you don't stop story momentum or relieve tension clumsily.
