Writing Excuses

19.36: A Close Reading on Tension: Narrative vs. Contextual

Sep 8, 2024

Dive into the fascinating world of tension in storytelling! The discussion contrasts narrative tension with the reader's contextual insights, using engaging examples like 'Last Dinner in Pompeii.' Explore how horror elements can amplify fantasy narratives and the role of language, like Gullah, in enhancing emotional depth. Learn about character contexts and how they shape relationships, offering a new layer of tension. Plus, a homework challenge encourages you to transform your scenes by revealing exclusive information to your readers!

26:41

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Quick takeaways

Narrative tension is rooted in character actions and conflicts within the story, while contextual tension derives from the reader's personal background and experiences.

The effective use of language and cultural context, such as dialect, enhances narrative tension and deepens the reader's emotional engagement with the text.

Deep dives

Understanding Narrative vs. Contextual Tension

Narrative tension refers to the tension present within the story itself, characterized by the actions, conflicts, and emotions of the characters as they unfold on the page. Conversely, contextual tension arises from the background knowledge and experiences that readers bring into the reading experience. This dynamic became evident when discussing the book 'Ring Shout,' where the title alone evokes historical anxieties based on the reader's awareness of real past events, such as the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The podcast emphasizes that different readers may carry vastly different contexts that can influence their understanding of the story, leading to varied interpretations.

Art Reflects and Shapes Reality

02:13

Context Shapes Understanding

02:04

Intro

2min

Exploring Narrative and Contextual Tension in Storytelling

2min

Narrative Tension and Contextual Understanding

7min

Weaving Horror into Fantasy

4min

The Power of Language in Storytelling

14min

Enhancing Tension through Character Context

3min

Today, we’re talking about the tension that is actually happening on the page, and the contextual tension is what the reader is bringing to the table. Ring Shout lives in a place of contextual tension and we are excited to dive into how you can use both types of tension in your own writing. Your readers will always bring their own context to your work; and if you think about this, you can use tension in both big and small ways in your work.

Thing of the Week: Random Friday - Solar Fields (Album)

Homework: Take a scene you’re working on, and put a piece of information at the start that is only meant for the reader. Then, revise the scene, believing that the reader has that information.

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Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

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