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Mary Robinette Kowal

@maryrobinettekowal.com

32K followers 630 following 4.6K posts

Hugo Award-winning author, narrator, and professional puppeteer. Also has a talking cat. Look for Apprehension, coming October 21 from Saga Doubles. Now available for preorder.

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 8d

If you're in the following cities, @sentencebender.bsky.social and I are coming to a bookstore near you soon: New York, Atlanta, WDC, Houston, Portland, Boulder, and San Diego. Plus, a virtual event! See all the details here: maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/appr... @sagapressbooks.bsky.social

Apprehension + Red Star Hustle Book Tour Schedule:
Oct 20, 6 PM MT - Virtual: Poisoned Pen
Oct 22, 7:30 PM ET - NYC: Twisted Spine
Oct 28, 7 PM ET - Atlanta: Eagle Eye Books
Oct 29, 7 PM ET - DC: Little District Bookstore
Oct 30, 6:30 PM CT - Houston: Murder by the Book
Nov 3, 7 PM PT - Portland: Powell's at Cedar Hills Crossing
Nov 4, 6:30 PM MT - Boulder: Boulder Bookstore
Nov 5, 7 PM PT - San Diego: Mysterious Galaxy
At the bottom is the double cover of Apprehension and Red Star Hustle with headshots of Mary Robinette Kowal and Sam J. Miller

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 53m

I see your point but I think we're using the word structure in two different ways.

I'm using structure to mean structural integrity, like talking about what makes a building stand up.

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Reposted by Mary Robinette Kowal

Writing Excuses @writingexcuses.bsky.social · 12h

Exciting news! Tickets are on sale NOW for our Writing Retreat on a Cruise Ship! Join @maryrobinettekowal.com @howardtayler.bsky.social @dongwon.bsky.social @nirele.bsky.social & @sandratayler.bsky.social in 2026 in a voyage to Alaska
www.tickettailor.com/events/writi...

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 58m

That's the best fun

Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 13h

Tension is created by anticipation, juxtaposition, questions, and conflicts.

All of these things create structure.

When you use a recipe, if you understand the science behind it, you can make ingredient swaps or create something new. I think the same is true of fiction.

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 13h

We control Pace through Cadence, Transitions & Tone.

Lens is about Context. Who is writing it? Who are you writing it for? Who is experiencing it?

Order is about sequence. Where do we start and stop? When do we give information? What are the connections between things?

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 13h

I think narrative structure is created through Pace, Lens , Order, and Tension.

The various recipes for plots out there have all of these. I don't think there's anything wrong with using a recipe.

I also think that saying they ARE structure means that we are always using someone else's recipe.

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 13h

My hot take is that none of these are structure. These are all recipes that describe structure.

Structure is the Salt, Fat, Acid Heat of writing.

3-Act/Hero's Journey etc are recipes.

You can make great meals without using a recipe if you understand the principles of structure.

Mx. D. D. Ward (they/them) @ddwardiswriting.bsky.social · 1d

So #WritingCommunity how do we feel about structure?

Do you use the 3 act structure? The 5 act?

Hero's Journey? Save the Cat? Super Structure Method? Story Genius Method?

Something else?

What have you got?

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 1d

I am happy to be included in that beautiful stack of books

Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 1d

They are doing wonderful work.

Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 2d

I'm so glad to hear that it helps!

Reposted by Mary Robinette Kowal

Tamas Rev @tamasrev.bsky.social · 2d

Each time I need to refine the beginning (and thus the end) of a story, I always rewatch this pieace from @maryrobinettekowal.com

It's a short vid, I could just memorize it, but listening to this helps me thinking outside of the box.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=brI_...

How to Write STRONG Openings: Action-Driven vs. Voice-Driven

YouTube video by Mary Robinette Kowal

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Mary Robinette Kowal

Brooklyn Books & Booze @ Barrow's Intense @bklynbooksbooze.bsky.social · 3d

Don't be scared just 'cause it's October! The next BBB reading at Barrows on 10/21 at 7pm has comforting sips, stories and a salon-like atmosphere w/ authors @matthewkressel.net, @cwroseauthor.bsky.social,
@crissachappell.bsky.social & #PaulaBomer -- come on in! 📚🎙️🧉

More: BrooklynBooksBooze.com

Matthew Kressel, C.W. Rose, Crissa-Jean Chappell and Paula Bomer in an ad for Brooklyn Books & Booze' October 21 reading at 7pm.

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 3d

This is my favorite clip ever

Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 3d

I'm just going for funsies

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 3d

Brooklyn, NY: @sentencebender.bsky.social and I will be at @twistedspinebooks.bsky.social on Wednesday, October 22 at 7:30 PM to celebrate the launch of Apprehension + Red Star Hustle. Register: www.eventbrite.com/e/apprehensi...

Over a black background with a purple border, the words: "the twisted spine presents: Mary Robinette Kowal, Sam J. Miller, A celebration of the new Saga Double Release! Apprehension / Red Star Hustle. Wed Oct 22, 7:30 PM, 306 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY." There are also photos of the authors and the double book cover of Apprehension and Red Star Hustle.

Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 3d

Atlanta: We are coming your way! Mark your calendar for Oct 28 at 7 PM ET at @eagleeyebooks.bsky.social - @sentencebender.bsky.social and I will be there with bells on to read, sign, and chat. Buy the book to attend: eagleeyebooks.com/event/2025-1...

Over a yellow, red, and black background is the cover of Apprehension and Red Star Hustle, as well as photos of the authors. The text says, "Mary Robinette Kowal, Sam J. Harris, 10.28, 7 PM, Eagle Eye Book Shop, Buy book to attend the event"

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 3d

Washington, DC, save the date: @sentencebender.bsky.social and I will be at Little District Books on October 29 at 7 PM ET.

Registration is free, but space is limited. Tell your friends!

Link to register: littledistrictbooks.com/products/app...

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 4d

Aw, thanks!

Reposted by Mary Robinette Kowal

omg spees @spees.bsky.social · 4d

okay I'm almost done with the second book in @maryrobinettekowal.com's Lady Astronaut series and I cannot recommend it enough to all you incident response and human factors nerds

the first book had me hooked from page one, which is a rare thing for me:
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

The Calculating Stars: A Lady Astronaut Novel

A Lady Astronaut Novel

bookshop.org

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 4d

Well, hello neighbor!

I was trying to figure out how to write it.

Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 4d

Book 4 is the last of the Elma novels. But there are short stories and I make no promises about possible books from other POVs at some point in the future.

But none are contracted now.

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 4d

Ahahaha!

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 4d

I'm faculty for Sandia Starforgers, a weekend SFFH writing retreat in NM. I'm joined by @charliejane.bsky.social @davering.bsky.social @tangentgeoff.bsky.social @marieparks.bsky.social @harrietshouse.bsky.social

Early bird discount ends 10/15. Scholarship app due 11/30. starforgers.com/2026

Over a background image of the Sandia Mountains, there are headshots of all the instructors, plus the words, "Sandia Starforgers: Writers Retreat and Workshop. April 24-27, 2026. Albuquerque, NM. Starforgers.com." Then the instructor names are listed: Charlie Jane Anders, Mary Robinette Kowal, dave ring, Geoff Habiger, Marie Parks, Darling Heart, Alexandria Valentine."

Over a background image of the Sandia Mountains, the words "Scholarship Applicaiton Due Nov 30" and below that are the words, "Sandia Starforgers: Writers Retreat and Workshop. April 24-27, 2026. Albuquerque, NM." Then the instructor names are listed: Charlie Jane Anders, Mary Robinette Kowal, dave ring, Geoff Habiger, Marie Parks, Darling Heart, Alexandria Valentine." Finally is the URL: starforgers.com.

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 4d

Oh, hello, @sentencebender.bsky.social and I are in here! www.grimdarkmagazine.com/grimdark-mag... There's an interview, plus a review in Issue #44 of @grimdarkmagazine.bsky.social.

Cover of Issue #44 of Grimdark Magazine, with a many-tentacled monster emerging from the sea with a red laser eye.

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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 4d

Apprehension didn't always start the same way. If you sign up for my newsletter, I'll send you the initial (now-deleted) first scene.⁠ You'll also get updates on my touring schedule, classes, and what I'm writing/reading. Elsie also makes a regular appearance. maryrobinettekowal.com/newsletter

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