EPISODE · Jun 17, 2026 · 34 MIN
What Time Is It Now, Where You Are? Mastering Craft of Writing with Colum McCann | Lit Happens S2E23
from Lit_Happens Podcast · host Lit Happens
Episode Overview In this episode we unpack Colum McCann’s beautiful short story What Time Is It Now, Where You Are? as a powerful mentor text for Year 12 Module C: Craft of Writing. We explore how McCann’s metafictional style, narrative voice, structure, imagery, and themes can inspire your own imaginative, discursive or reflective writing. You’ll get clear analysis points, key quotes, and practical strategies to help students strengthen their compositional craft and reflections for the current HSC and beyond. Key Questions Explored How does Colum McCann’s background and context influence the story? What is McCann’s primary purpose and how does he achieve it? How do the structure and style enhance the narrative and emotional impact? How do imagery and metaphor contribute to the story’s meaning? What are the central themes and how can students draw on them for their own writing? Highlights from the Episode Context: McCann’s Irish roots, global experiences, and the post-9/11 world of distance, technology and human connection Purpose: Exploring how people connect (or fail to) across time and space through the act of storytelling itself Structure & Style: Metafictional 13-section form, non-linear storytelling, contemplative tone, open ending Language Features: Vivid imagery of isolation and longing, metaphors of time and distance, lyrical yet simple prose Central Themes: Human connection vs isolation, time and perception, loneliness and longing, the beauty of small everyday moments Craft of Writing application: Using metafiction, narrative voice, motif, and reflective style in your own pieces Connect with Us Instagram: https://instagram.com/lit.happensseniorenglish TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lit.happensse Email: [email protected] Resources – available on Teachers Pay Teachers Call to Action Share your favourite line or how you might use this story in your own writing in the comments – we’ll feature the best ones next episode! Music produced by Instagram – @tmob2k YouTube – @tmob2000 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your favourite platform. Visit https://lithappensse.com/ for more practical guides, downloadable resources and English teacher support across Years 7–12. Subscribe and join us as we unpack English together! #CraftOfWriting #ModuleC #HSC2026 #WhatTimeIsItNowWhereYouAre #ColumMcCann #Year12English #EnglishTeacherNSW #SeniorEnglish #LitHappensPodcast #NSWteachers
What this episode covers
Episode Overview In this episode we unpack Colum McCann’s beautiful short story What Time Is It Now, Where You Are? as a powerful mentor text for Year 12 Module C: Craft of Writing. We explore how McCann’s metafictional style, narrative voice, structure, imagery, and themes can inspire your own imaginative, discursive or reflective writing. You’ll get clear analysis points, key quotes, and practical strategies to help students strengthen their compositional craft and reflections for the current HSC and beyond. Key Questions Explored How does Colum McCann’s background and context influence the story? What is McCann’s primary purpose and how does he achieve it? How do the structure and style enhance the narrative and emotional impact? How do imagery and metaphor contribute to the story’s meaning? What are the central themes and how can students draw on them for their own writing? Highlights from the Episode Context: McCann’s Irish roots, global experiences, and the post-9/11 world of distance, technology and human connection Purpose: Exploring how people connect (or fail to) across time and space through the act of storytelling itself Structure & Style: Metafictional 13-section form, non-linear storytelling, contemplative tone, open ending Language Features: Vivid imagery of isolation and longing, metaphors of time and distance, lyrical yet simple prose Central Themes: Human connection vs isolation, time and perception, loneliness and longing, the beauty of small everyday moments Craft of Writing application: Using metafiction, narrative voice, motif, and reflective style in your own pieces Connect with Us Instagram: https://instagram.com/lit.happensseniorenglish TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lit.happensse Email: [email protected] Resources – available on Teachers Pay Teachers Call to Action Share your favourite line or how you might use this story in your own writing in the comments – we’ll feature the best ones next episode! Music produced by Instagram – @tmob2k YouTube – @tmob2000 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your favourite platform. Visit https://lithappensse.com/ for more practical guides, downloadable resources and English teacher support across Years 7–12. Subscribe and join us as we unpack English together! #CraftOfWriting #ModuleC #HSC2026 #WhatTimeIsItNowWhereYouAre #ColumMcCann #Year12English #EnglishTeacherNSW #SeniorEnglish #LitHappensPodcast #NSWteachers
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What Time Is It Now, Where You Are? Mastering Craft of Writing with Colum McCann | Lit Happens S2E23
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