19.43: A Close Reading on Structure: Parallelism and Inversion

19.43: A Close Reading on Structure: Parallelism and Inversion

Author: Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler October 27, 2024 Duration: 23:27

The structure of The Fifth Season features both mirroring and inversion. How do these structural shifts interact with the three POVs? On today’s episode, we talk about the parallelism of the perspectives and the linguistic references to seasons. This leads us to the question, how many things need to work in sync in order for readers to feel the cyclical nature of the plot (and life)? How does N.K. Jemisin use structural arcs, beats, and elements to create upheaval? And finally, how can you create overlapping emotional states and narrative rhyming in your own writing? (And what is narrative rhyming you may ask? Don’t worry, we define it for you!) 



Thing of the Week: Who Lost, I Found by Eden Royce


Homework: Take a look at one of your main character's arcs, and then try to rework another character's arc to match similar beats and structure to the first one.





Our Sponsors:
* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/excuses
* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx
* Check out Talkiatry: https://talkiatry.com/wx
* If you’re struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started: https://learn.nocd.com/wx


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s a common piece of advice: if you want to be a writer, you should write. But what happens when you’re staring at the blank page, or when the business side of publishing feels like a maze? That’s where Writing Excuses comes in. Each week, hosts Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler gather not just to talk about writing, but to dissect it. They move quickly, respecting your time while packing episodes with actionable discussions on technique, from character voice to plot structure. But this podcast understands that a writing life isn’t just about craft-it’s also a career. So conversations naturally pivot to the practicalities of the business, navigating careers, and sustaining creativity in a demanding field. You’ll hear five distinct professional perspectives blending into a single, focused conversation designed to get you past excuses and back to your work. It’s like a regular, invigorating workshop session delivered directly to you, meant to equip you with tools for both your manuscript and your professional path.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Writing Excuses
Podcast Episodes
20.48: Now Go Write- How to Pitch Your Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:18
In this episode, DongWon digs into one of the business topics of our upcoming craft book: pitching. How do you talk about your work so other people immediately understand its category, vibe, and why it matters? They brea…
20.47: Now Go Write- All the Eggs in All the Baskets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:08
Dan shares his experience of rebuilding and reinventing his writing career from his section of our forthcoming book Now Go Write. Our hosts walk through practical ways that writers can diversify their work— from writing…
20.46: Now Go Write- Break All The Rules (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:18
In this episode, Erin returns with the final two “rules” from her section of our forthcoming book Now Go Write—and why it might be worth breaking them. With DongWon and Mary Robinette, Erin explores the classic advice to…
20.45: Now Go Write- Break All The Rules (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:24
In this episode, Erin shares a sneak peek from her section of our forthcoming book, Now Go Write. (To learn more about our book, sign up for our newsletter!) Erin explores four classic writing “rules,” when it’s worth br…
20.44: Now Go Write- How to Handle Relationships [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:32
We have an exciting announcement! Writing Excuses is publishing a book, Now Go Write, which will feature writing from all of our hosts! Sign up for our newsletter to learn when our book is coming out! So, for our next fe…
20.43: An Interview with Dr. Tara Lepore on Paleontology [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:56
Erin and Howard sat down with paleontologist Dr. Tara Lepore for a fascinating dive into the science—and storytelling potential—of deep time. Dr. Lepore explains why paleontology is about far more than dinosaurs and how…
20.42: Erin Roberts’ Personal Writing Process [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:01
Erin describes her own writing process as, “a bunch of random practices thrown into a bag and shaken up." Nevertheless, for today’s episode, Erin managed to organize her processes into four categories: getting work, gett…
20.41: DongWon Song’s Personal Writing Process [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:24
We’re continuing our episodes focusing on our hosts’ personal writing practices. Like Mary Robinette’s. DongWon’s involves a bit of… chaos. DongWon’s day job as a literary agent is demanding and unpredictable, so they of…
20.40: Mary Robinette Kowal’s Personal Writing Process [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:22
A lot of people ask published authors what their writing process is like, as if it is a key to being able to write. The only important process is the one that works for you. So, we’re going to let each of our hosts spend…
20.39: Wrapping up our Conversation about Lenses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:11
Today our hosts tell you why you don’t need to listen to all of our episodes—or even most of them. Each of our five hosts weighs in on how you can combine the topics, subtopics, and lenses that each episode features in o…