Why is worldbuilding is essential in your writing? Today, we answer this question and dive into some working definitions of how we want to talk about it. After the break, we discuss why we chose this book Arkady Martine’s “A Memory Called Empire” and highlight what it does well. We dive into the elements that help make Martine’s worldbuilding so accessible and effective.
Thing of the Week:
“Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman (think about what it teaches you about POV!)
Homework:
Pick your favorite fictional worlds and for each write down three defining attributes that establish culture, legal systems, and physical spaces.
Here’s a link to buy your copy of “A Memory Called Empire” if you haven’t already:
https://bookshop.org/lists/close-readings-season-19
Sign up for our newsletter:
https://writingexcuses.com
Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.
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14.28: Warfare and Weaponry
14.27: Natural Setting as Conflict
14.26: Lessons from Aristotle, with Rob Kimbro
14.25: Choosing Your Agent
14.24: Political Intrigue
14.23: Governments Large and Small
14.22: Characters out of Their Depth
14.21: Writing The Other — Yes, You Can!
14.20: Allegory in Fiction
14.19: Religion and Ritual
14.18: Setting as Theme
14.17: It’s Like “Car Talk” meets “Welcome To Nightvale”
14.16: Your Setting is a Telegraph
14.15: Technology
14.14: When To Tell
WX 14.13: Obstacles vs. Complications
14.12: Writing The Other — Latinx Representation
14.11: Magic Without Rules
14.10: Magic Systems
14.9: Showing Off
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