Robert Scoville
asked
Mary Robinette Kowal:
I notice when I'm reading your Glamourist series that you manage to make what feels like a casual stroll through this world with Jane and Vincent (at least until the main conflict erupts) incredibly compelling. It's both relaxing and urgently demanding I get to the next page. So... How do you do that? Is it intentional?
Mary Robinette Kowal
Thank you! It's something that I love about Jane Austen's work and kept wondering why fantasy didn't do the same thing. I've said before that I learned more about writing horror from Jane Austen than anyone else, because she is the queen of the tiny telling detail.
What I realized was that, when people say "raise the stakes" it doesn't mean that I have to bring someone in with a gun, it means that I have to make it matter more for the character. So, I focus on the internal life of the character and trying to convey why things matter to my readers.
What I realized was that, when people say "raise the stakes" it doesn't mean that I have to bring someone in with a gun, it means that I have to make it matter more for the character. So, I focus on the internal life of the character and trying to convey why things matter to my readers.
More Answered Questions
Sariah
asked
Mary Robinette Kowal:
I think the random references in your Glamourist History books are great. I've so far caught Melody claiming one does not simply walk into Murano, the word inconceivable not meaning what you think it means, and the phrase "constant vigilance." I see from your other answers that I've managed to miss all of the Doctor's appearances, however. What other gems did I miss?
Eric Seal
asked
Mary Robinette Kowal:
What do you look to take away when researching material for a new story? Tone, potential conflicts, etc.
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