Writing Excuses

19.21: Language as a Tool (A Close Reading on Worldbuilding)


Listen Later

What cultural and worldbuilding information is embedded within the smallest of word choices? Today, we dive into three specific sections from throughout Martine’s “A Memory Called Empire”:  the word for empire, assimilation and naming, and learning the word for bomb. We unpack how Martine uses language to establish important principles of how the world works. 


Thing of the Week: 

The Gilded Age - Created and Written by Julian Fellowes  Julian Fellows (on HBO Max) 


Homework:

Write a scene that describes a fictional piece of literature— whether that's a poem, a song, or a story— that means something to the people in the story you’re telling.


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