In this episode of Writing in the Dark, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker dive into the complexities of plotting in both genre and literary fiction. They discuss the layering process of crafting a plot, the significance of both internal and external changes in storytelling, and the unique challenges of writing memoir.
They attempt to define the term “plot” and explore the importance of pivotal moments that instigate change as well as practical tools for plot development. Julia and Ralph also discuss the differences and similarities between genre fiction, literary fiction, and memoir.
Whether you're climbing a mountain of literary exploration or riding the roller coaster of genre storytelling, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice for writers at any stage of their journey.
Books and authors discussed:
The Stand, Stephen King
Harlem Shuffle, Colson Whitehead
Gone Baby Gone, Dennis Lehane
Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders
The Martian, Andy Weir
Verity, Colleen Hoover
Luster, Raven Leilani
The Situation and the Story, Vivian Gornick
I Have Some Questions For You, Rebecca Makkai
The Fury, Alex Michaelides
You can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support this work. Thanks, as always, for listening.
Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch.
