Writing Excuses

19.14: A Close Reading on Voice- Epistolary Storytelling Through Voice

Apr 7, 2024

Explore the art of epistolary storytelling and its impact on character portrayal. Learn about the playful novella creation process and the dynamics of writing through letters. Discover how humor is used in serious situations to add depth to narratives and reveal character development. Engage in a writing exercise transforming notes into different digital formats to alter the tone of the message.

25:54

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Quick takeaways

Epistolary storytelling deepens character relationships through intimate letters, showcasing personality and emotions.

Humor in dialogue enhances storytelling, adding emotional resonance and character depth for an engaging narrative.

Deep dives

Importance of Epistolary Storytelling

Epistolary storytelling, using letters as a narrative device, provides a unique way to showcase character depth and relationships. Through letters, characters not only convey their thoughts but also reveal insights into their personalities and emotions, creating a more intimate connection with the audience. The use of letters allows for a deeper exploration of character perspectives and feelings, as it provides a platform for characters to express themselves in a more personal and vulnerable manner.

Introduction

1min

Exploring the Art of Epistolary Storytelling

9min

Exploring the Playful Art of Epistolary Writing

3min

Exploring Voice and Character Development in Epistolary Storytelling

2min

Exploring Humor in Serious Situations

11min

Exploring Different Formats of Character Communication

2min

What's epistolary writing? Well, it's writing through letters. But it's also a lot more than that. As we continue to dive into the concept of Voice, we want to explore the importance and power of the letters that Blue and Red write to each other throughout "This Is How You Lose The Time War." If you haven't already listened to our episodes introducing this novella, we recommend you go back and start with Episode 11 (of this season, Season 19)!

And if you’ve been reading along with us while listening to these episodes, please let us know on Instagram. Tag us in a post or comment @writing_excuses !

Thing of the Week: “clipping.” by Story 2

Homework: Write a short note from one of your characters to another about something that’s important to them. Now rewrite it as a text message (change the format). Then rewrite it as a letter that will be screened before it gets to them by an outsider (change the context). And finally, write it as the final message they will get to send during their life (change the stakes).

You can buy this (and all the other books!) through our bookshop link-- this is linked in our bio in addition to right here:

https://bookshop.org/lists/close-readings-season-19

Close Reading Series: Texts & Timeline

Voice: This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar (March 17)

Worldbuilding: A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine (May 12)

Character: “You Perfect, Broken Thing,” “The Cook,” and “Your Eyes, My Beacon: Being an Account of Several Misadventures and How I Found My Way Home” by CL Clark (July 7)

Tension: Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark (September 1)

Structure: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (October 13)

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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.

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