Matt

Matt asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Hi I'm writing a fantasy short story and I'm unsure how to write a main character having a flashback as someone else. Say if the characters name is John and he's having a flashback as another chara called Sally do I use John said or Sally said within the flashback? Cheers

Lois McMaster Bujold Like all stylistic questions, the answer is It Depends. I would say Sally, but whether you could make that work would depend on how smoothly you set up the transition in and out of the flashback, embedding the necessary clues and traffic signals for the reader. Which might depend in turn on what reason your point-of-view character is channeling the memories of another person or personality.

For writing advice generally, I always rec Pat Wrede's book Wrede on Writing; also her blog, http://www.pcwrede.com/blog/

Ta, L.

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Paul Mirel

Paul Mirel asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Hi Lois! My sister and I love your books so much! We feel like the extended Vorkosigan family are our friends! I had the delight to meet Tal Danino, who is almost Cetegandan! He creates genetically engineered bacteria that phosphoresce in a synchronized way. It reminds me so much of the tree frogs that sing in chords! I recommend him to you! Do you know of his work?

Andrew

Andrew asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Any thoughts about writing an autobiography that covers influences on your work? An autobiography might complement the upcoming biography quite nicely -- since you have special access to the primary source...

Georgy Iliev

Georgy Iliev asked Lois McMaster Bujold:

Hi Lois, as I recently saw a youtube series about "The Truth about Space War" - the channel's name is Because Science - I came to realize I think I've read that somewhere in the books. In Mirror Dance I remember Mark recalling "The weapons were supposed to cook everyone neatly, like eggs in their shells". Considering he's from a universe in the future how scientifically aimed was that statement?

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Lois McMaster Bujold

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