Writing Excuses

19.19: A Close Reading on Worldbuilding: An Overview and why A Memory Called Empire


Listen Later

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.

Join Our Writing Community! 

Patreon

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

Twitter




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

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

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Writing ExcusesBy Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

1,268 ratings


More shows like Writing Excuses

View all
The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

621 Listeners

Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland

Helping Writers Become Authors

995 Listeners

LIGHTSPEED MAGAZINE - Science Fiction and Fantasy Story Podcast (Sci-Fi | Audiobook | Short Stories) by Adamant Press

LIGHTSPEED MAGAZINE - Science Fiction and Fantasy Story Podcast (Sci-Fi | Audiobook | Short Stories)

593 Listeners

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience by Kelton Reid

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

215 Listeners

Dear Hank & John by Complexly

Dear Hank & John

7,672 Listeners

Writer's Routine by Dan Simpson

Writer's Routine

305 Listeners

Ologies with Alie Ward by Alie Ward

Ologies with Alie Ward

24,087 Listeners

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week by Popular Science

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

2,176 Listeners

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips by Savannah Gilbo

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

1,425 Listeners

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing by Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

766 Listeners

Overly Sarcastic Podcast by Overly Sarcastic Productions

Overly Sarcastic Podcast

1,568 Listeners

Intentionally Blank by Brandon Sanderson & Dan Wells

Intentionally Blank

498 Listeners

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer

Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

355 Listeners

Writers on Writing by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone

Writers on Writing

81 Listeners

Worlds Beyond Number by Fortunate Horse, Worlds Beyond Number

Worlds Beyond Number

3,058 Listeners