How can we make sure our readers pick up on key information when our narrator is cagey or not willing to admit the full truth?

We look at how a master, Sofia Samatar, does it in her short story "Walkdog." It has both a reluctant narrator ("Emilybait") and a weird form ("Benbait"). We also discuss the "line" between "literary fiction" and "science fiction and fantasy."

• Read Sofia Samatar’s short story “Walkdog”

Other links from this episode:

• Buy Sofia Samatar's short story collection Tender (2017) so you can read her hilarious and inexplicable short story "How I Met the Ghoul"
• Listen to a craft interview with Sofia Samatar on Storyological or read one with Uncanny Magazine
• Ben’s other podcast Three Lokos for music, movies, and pals hanging out

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

Twitter: @goodwritingpod 

Email: goodwritingpodcast@gmail.com