Dramatizing a Scene so That It Comes to Life on the Page
Oct 24, 2024
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Join an insightful conversation with a New York Times bestselling author as she delves into the beauty of nighttime and its impact on nature writing. Discover how to craft evocative scenes that balance information with storytelling without overwhelming readers. Engage with the magical relationship between humans and darkness, and learn how narrative writing can capture sensory details to evoke empathy. Plus, find out how innovative tools can enhance your writing and organization skills!
Leigh Ann Henion's writing emphasizes merging personal experiences with research to create authentic narratives that resonate with readers.
The discussion highlights how exploring darkness reveals hidden wonders in nature, challenging societal fears and encouraging a deeper connection to the environment.
Deep dives
Accessing Gatekeepers in Publishing
The initiative aims to connect aspiring writers with key figures in the publishing industry by hosting a virtual retreat. Scheduled for February 1st and 2nd, 2025, this event will feature agents and editors who have contributed to best-selling titles, providing invaluable networking opportunities. Attendees can expect a variety of breakout sessions and workshops, similar to those offered in a previous 10-week program, designed to promote interaction and learning. Early registration incentives will be available starting November 29th, making it essential for interested participants to mark their calendars to secure their spot.
Elevating Writing Skills
A special three-day writing class called 'Hacking Writing on a Line Level' is designed to help writers enhance their craft. The first two days focus on teaching essential rules and techniques that can significantly improve one’s writing. On the third day, a dedicated Q&A session allows participants to seek personalized guidance and clarity on specific challenges they face. This interactive format, filled with practical examples, aims to equip writers with a useful set of tools to refine their style and approach.
Exploring the Beauty of Darkness
The discussion revolves around the transformative power of embracing darkness as a natural and enlightening experience. The author, Leanne Henion, illustrates this journey in her book 'Night Magic,' showcasing notable adventures in the Appalachian region that reveal hidden wonders of the night, such as bioluminescent mushrooms and synchronous fireflies. Through personal anecdotes, Henion reflects on how these encounters challenge societal misconceptions about darkness, portraying it instead as a source of magic and profound connection to nature. Her exploration highlights how the natural world flourishes after sunset, contradicting the prevailing narrative that darkness is to be feared.
Creating Meaning through Nonfiction
Leanne Henion's writing process emphasizes the importance of weaving personal experience with substantial research to evoke a deeper understanding of the natural world. She immerses herself in fieldwork, such as observing nocturnal animals, which informs her narrative and enriches her storytelling. The integration of these experiences not only enhances the authenticity of her writing but also connects readers to the lessons learned from nature. By focusing on the interplay between light and darkness, Henion crafts a narrative that encourages readers to reconsider their relationship with the environment and the often-overlooked beauty within it.
Today Bianca interviews NYT bestselling nature writer, Leigh Ann Henion. They discuss Leigh Ann's latest work, Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark; the inspiration behind the book; the process of getting a book like this written and published; being able to illustrate how your non-fiction work fills a gap in the market; scene-setting in non-fiction; including relevant and interesting information without overwhelming the narrative; and always paying attention to what a character knows at that particular point in the story.
Note: Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra are literary agents at P.S. Literary Agency, but their work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly and CeCe on this podcast are solely that of them as podcast co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.
Carly's course for writers, The Author's Publishing Playbook, is available at carlywatters.com/course. If you haven't grabbed it yet, podcast listeners can use discount code POD15
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