The hosts introduce their Close Reading Series, focusing on five core elements of writing and analyzing specific literary texts. They will discuss books like 'This Is How You Lose the Time War' and 'A Memory Called Empire' in upcoming episodes. Listeners are encouraged to read along and join the interactive book club experience. The series will culminate in interviews with the authors, offering insights into their creative processes.

Explore the creation of traditions in fictional writing and how they shape characters. Discover the intricacies of building believable worlds through rituals and traditions. Learn how blending fantasy with real-world traditions can enhance storytelling. Prioritize depth in rituals and traditions for a more immersive narrative experience.

Learn about the collaboration between authors, agents, and editors, focusing on shared goals and respect. Discover the art of edit letters and how they enhance manuscripts through structural changes. Explore podcast recommendations 'Rude Tales of Magic' and 'O'These Those Stars of Space'. Delve into the dynamics of author-editor collaboration, emphasizing trust and communication. Understand the importance of communication and alignment between writers and editors.

Tor editor Ali Fisher discusses setting intentions for revisions, emphasizing the importance of being kind to yourself during the process. She advises writers to lean into their strengths and incorporate elements they love in their books. The episode also covers embracing story's darlings, impact of cover art on revisions, emphasizing personal connection and tone in writing, and exploring simplicity and vibes in writing.

Ali Fisher, editor at Tor Books and member of Rude Tales of Magic podcast, joins as a guest to discuss editing. They focus on the challenge of finding the perfect length for a novel and how it affects publishing and pacing. Techniques for cutting or adding in manuscript revision are explored, along with techniques for adding length without disrupting the plot. Narrative summary's significance in storytelling is discussed, and a writing assignment is given to listeners.

Mahtab Narsimhan, an author and host from past seasons, joins the hosts to discuss revisions in writing. They talk about the difference between revising and rewriting, favorite techniques, and tips for making revisions more manageable. They also share tools and techniques for diving into revision, including using a Trello board and analyzing the purpose of each scene. Different revision approaches and the use of templates are explored, with listeners encouraged to revise their first chapter using a template and share their success stories.

Guest Fonda Lee, an author specializing in pacing in storytelling, joins the hosts to discuss the importance of pacing in writing. They explore the subjective nature of pacing, controlling pacing and balancing tension, creating tension and variation in pacing, and how pacing impacts the reader's experience.

The podcast discusses the benefits of MFA programs, astrology, and how to continue learning without being overwhelmed. They also explore the notions of success and accomplishment in writing, and recommend the novella 'A Necessary Chaos'. The hosts emphasize the importance of personal investment, handling success, and finding validation from within.

The hosts discuss strategies for staying motivated during long-form projects. They emphasize the importance of factors other than money in driving motivation. The speakers discuss strategies for staying motivated and productive while writing. They highlight the importance of writing for personal enjoyment and passion. The chapter transitions to discussing finding comp titles for querying agents. The chapter introduces the podcast 'Just Keep Writing' and discusses the use of personality type systems. They explore various techniques for developing and understanding characters in writing, including examining their abilities, roles, relationships, and using personality tests. They also discuss the use of fan-casting and provide insights on recording audiobooks. Learn about the technical aspects of setting up a fan studio. Discover how this knowledge can make you an audio engineer. Get recommendations for another podcast and share your success stories!

Author and physician Abraham Verghese discusses conveying technical information in fiction and making things feel real without overwhelming the reader. He shares his expertise in conveying the passing of time, discusses verisimilitude, translation, and revision. Verghese also gives a writing homework to explore how descriptions of the physical world can reflect the various moods of characters.