Episode 230: A Christmas Story, Well Told — Interview with Orson Scott Card

by Gabriela Pereira
published in Podcast

Hey there word nerds!

I have to admit that today I’m having a major fangirl moment because I’m interviewing Orson Scott Card on the show!

Orson Scott Card is the author of the New York Times bestseller Ender’s Game and has won several Hugo and Nebula awards for his works of speculative fiction. In fact, his Ender novels are read widely by adults and young readers alike, and are increasingly used in schools.

However his latest work of fiction, A Town Divided by Christmas, reads more like a Hallmark Christmas  movie than the science fiction and fantasy work he has become known for.  This novel is about a small, rural town divided by a decades-long feud over which newborn baby should be the baby Jesus in the Christmas pageant. But at its core is a Christmas time romance.

So listen in as we chat about this awesome book, and how to craft a well told story for Christmas or any time of the year.

In this episode Orson and I discuss:

  • What makes a good Christmas story.
  • Why writing within a formula can help you focus in on the heart of your novel.
  • The importance of good dialogue.
  • How to get readers emotionally invested in your characters.
  • Worldbuilding techniques, large and small.

Plus, Orson’s #1 tip for writers.

About Orson Scott Card

Orson Scott Card, the author of the New York Times bestseller Ender’s Game, has won several Hugo and Nebula awards for his works of speculative fiction. His Ender novels are widely read by adults and younger readers and are increasingly used in schools.

Besides these and other science fiction novels, Orson also writes contemporary fantasy, American-frontier fantasy, biblical novels, poetry, plays, and scripts.

His latest novel A Town Divided by Christmas, a Christmas romance, and is now available just in time for the holidays!

To connect with Orson check out his website at www.hatrack.com.

And if you want to learn more about deliberate practice discussed in this interview, and how you can implement those techniques to improve your writing, check out this DIY MFA Radio interview with Anders Ericsson and Robert Pool.

A Town Divided by Christmas

It began with a quarrel over which newborn should be the baby Jesus in the town’s Christmas pageant. Decades later, two scientists arrive to study small-town genetic patterns, only to run up against the invisible walls that split the leading citizens into two congregations that can only be joined by love and forgiveness. And maybe a little deception, because there might be some things that people just don’t need to know.

 

 

 

If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!

 

Link to Episode 230

(Right-click to download.)

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Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!

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