Writing Excuses

19.41: A Close Reading on Structure: An Overview and Why Fifth Season

Oct 13, 2024

Dive into the audacious structure of N.K. Jemisin's The Fifth Season as the hosts discuss its radical storytelling techniques. They explore perspective shifts and parallelism that challenge conventional narratives. Discover how innovative frameworks can enhance reader engagement and influence modern writing. The conversation also touches on the roles of timelines and point of view in deepening narratives. Plus, get recommendations for thought-provoking games that complement these storytelling strategies!

21:32

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Quick takeaways

N.K. Jemisin's innovative narrative structure in 'The Fifth Season' employs perspective shifts and non-linear timelines, redefining traditional storytelling techniques.

The podcast emphasizes the significance of dynamic perspective in narrative construction, encouraging writers to creatively manipulate structural elements for deeper thematic expression.

Deep dives

The Significance of Structure in 'The Fifth Season'

The podcast highlights the innovative structural approach taken in 'The Fifth Season' by N.K. Jemisin, emphasizing how it defies conventional storytelling techniques. The hosts discuss how the narrative is structured to enhance reader engagement, showcasing multiple points of view and non-linear timelines. This audacious use of structure not only captivates readers but also serves as a key device for understanding the thematic complexities of the story. By breaking traditional narrative molds, Jemisin creates a fresh reading experience that challenges the expectations of epic fantasy.

Intro

1min

Exploring the Audacious Structure of 'The Fifth Season'

2min

The Art of Narrative Structure

6min

Exploring Timelines and Game Recommendations

3min

Reimagining Narrative Structure

11min

Personalized Writing Assistance Through Patreon

2min

Just a reminder that we will be talking about a lot of spoilers, so if you haven’t read The Fifth Season, go and do so now! As we dive into N.K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season, we wanted to tell you why we chose this work to examine the importance of structure. The structure of the book is the device through which we are understanding this world, in a way that feels radical in relation to what we normally see in fiction. We chose this novel because the structure is visible and active in a way that many other works aren’t. Jemisin’s structurally audacious novel is punctuated by perspective shifts, parallelism, and innovative approaches to the forward movement inherent in stories. How does the structure affect the way we take in narrative, and what can you learn from this?

P.S. Do you want a signed special edition copy of The Broken Earth Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin? Preorder The Orbit Gold Edition set before November 19th to get 20% off! Visit orbitgoldeditions.com to order.

Thing of the Week: Rest In Pieces

Homework: Look at the Table of Contents of The Fifth Season and, without opening the book again, write down the one important thing you remember from that chapter. As we talk through things, refer back to this list and see what you need to add.

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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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