Writing Excuses

19.16: An Interview with Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar

Apr 21, 2024

Award-winning speculative fiction author Max Gladstone and writer/critic Amal El-Mohtar share insights on collaborative writing, friendship in artistic projects, and harnessing authentic storytelling desires. They discuss the practice of writing letters and the complexity of two-author projects. Also, they explore the inner critic in writers and offer tips on rewriting passages in different styles. The podcast delves into color symbolism, discussing how colors evoke emotions and deepen narratives. Plus, they recommend the video game 'Hollow Knight' and share resourceful writing tips.

47:02

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Episode guests

Amal El-Mohtar

Max Gladstone

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Voice in writing can vary significantly between authors and characters, involving elements such as sentence structure, word choice, imagery, and rhythm.

The use of color, metaphor, and sensory detail shapes voice in writing, evoking different atmospheres and emotions through vivid storytelling.

Deep dives

The Significance of Voice in Writing

Voice in writing can vary significantly between authors and characters. It involves elements such as sentence structure, word choice, imagery, and rhythm. Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar discuss how their different voices contribute to their collaborative work, demonstrating an interplay between compressed and expansive descriptions. They explore how sentence structure and imagery can evoke distinct tones, ranging from lyrical to tech-inspired, reflecting the complexity and depth of voice in storytelling.

Introduction

4min

Exploring Distinct Voices in 'This is How You Lose the Time War'

18min

Crafting Authentic Narratives for Specific Audiences

8min

Exploration and Appreciation of Hollow Knight Video Game

3min

Exploring Color Symbolism in Writing

19min

Promotions and Sponsor Ads Galore

4min

Today we get to talk to the inimitable Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar. Amal and Max are on the podcast to tell us about how they wrote a book together (hint: they didn’t write it together in the form of one voice.) They talk to us about the practice of writing letters, collaboration, and the revelation of friendship. They talk about the complexity, harmony, and cadence of two-author projects. We also talk about that voice in your head that criticizes your writing, and how to work with it and harness your authentic desire to tell a certain story.

Thing of the Week:

From Amal- Hollow Night

From Max- Talking Man by Terry Bisson

Homework:

From Max and Amal: Take a passage of something you’ve written and rewrite it in three different ways: as if it were being sung, as if it were being shouted, and as if it were being whispered.

A Reminder!

That starting May 12th, we'll be focusing on Worldbuilding and reading A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. If you’re going to buy this book, we have this bookshop link available for you to do so! (If not, go support your local library!) https://bookshop.org/lists/close-readings-season-19

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Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Max Gladstone, Amal El-Mohtar, Mary Robinette Kowal, and DongWon Song. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

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