Sure, sure, everybody wants to know the plot summary. But why does the plot matter? How can you as a writer make your readers care about the plot?

After a detour about the job market for English majors (bummer alert...), Emily compares three novels that open by flashing forward to a short story from a literary magazine that mixes flash forward in throughout.

Today's sources of craft inspiration:

• “Ghost Story” by Becca Anderson (2020), published in The Masters Review
• The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi (2020), The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (1993), and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez (1967)

Other links from this episode:

• Ben’s experimental book recommendation Sea-Witch by Never Angeline Nørth (2020), or you can buy the bundle of every ebook from the indie publisher Inside the Castle
• Emily’s literary journalism recommendations: Five Days at Memorial Hospital by Sheri Fink (2013) and And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts (1987)
• Listen to two literary agents talk shop about the publishing industry on Print Run Podcast

Good Writing is a podcast where two friends read like writers and lay out craft for fellow writers to steal. Co-hosted by Emily Donovan and Benjamin Kerns.

Twitter: @goodwritingpod

Email: goodwritingpodcast@gmail.com