Writing Excuses - podcast cover

Writing Excuses

Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Taylerredcircle.com

Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart.

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Episodes

Writing Excuses 9.8: When is your Handwavium Good Enough?

What is handwavium? How does it work? What happens when it doesn't work? Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Feb 24, 201416 minSeason 9Ep. 8

Writing Excuses 9.7: Last Pass Revisions with Eric James Stone

Eric James Stone joins us for a discussion of revision, and what the final pass process looks like. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privac...

Feb 16, 201419 minSeason 9Ep. 7

Writing Excuses 9.6: The Experience of Time

Time passes, and we have lots of ways to tell readers how quickly that's happening. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Feb 10, 201420 minSeason 9Ep. 6

Writing Excuses 9.5: Hijacking the Knowledge You Already Have, with Mette Ivie Harrison

Mette Ivie Harrison joins us to talk about how to "hijack" the knowledge you already have in order to make you a better writer. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: ...

Feb 03, 201419 minSeason 9Ep. 5

Writing Excuses 9.4: Artificial Intelligence with Nancy Fulda

Nancy Fulda talks Artificial Intelligence with Brandon, Mary, and Howard. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Jan 27, 201420 minSeason 9Ep. 4

Writing Excuses 9.3: Character Perception vs. Narrative Perception with Nancy Fulda

Nancy Fulda joins the cast for a discussion of narrative versus character perceptions Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Jan 19, 201419 minSeason 9Ep. 3

Writing Excuses 9.2: Hard Science Fiction with Eric James Stone

Eric James Stone joins us for a discussion of hard science fiction -- what it is, what it isn't, and how to do it well. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://...

Jan 13, 201418 minSeason 9Ep. 2

Writing Excuses 9.1: Chronology of a Book Deal with Eric James Stone

Eric James Stone joins us to talk about the book deal chronology for UNFORGETTABLE. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Jan 06, 201422 minSeason 9Ep. 1

Writing Excuses 8.52: You Think You Don’t Have Time to Write, with Mette Ivie Harrison

Mette Ivie Harrison joins us to talk about the reasons you think you don't have time to write. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Dec 30, 201319 minSeason 8Ep. 52

Writing Excuses 8.51: Creative non-fiction with Mette Ivie Harrison

Mette Ivie Harrison joins us to discuss creative non-fiction, the genre in which the tools of creative writing are applied to factually accurate narratives. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/b...

Dec 23, 201318 minSeason 8Ep. 51

Writing Excuses 8.50: Q&A with Mercedes Lackey

Mercedes Lackey joins Brandon, Mary, and Howard to field listener questions at GenCon Indy. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Dec 15, 201321 minSeason 8Ep. 50

Writing Excuses 8.49: Hard Social Science Fiction with Joel Shepherd

Joel Shepherd joins Brandon, Mary, and Howard to talk about hard social science. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Dec 08, 201316 minSeason 8Ep. 49

Writing Excuses 8.48: Long-Form Storytelling with Sam Logan

Sam Logan of "Sam and Fuzzy" talks long-form storytelling with Brandon, Mary, and Howard Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Dec 01, 201321 minSeason 8Ep. 48

Writing Excuses 8.47: Roguishness with Scott Lynch

Scott Lynch, author of The Republic of Thieves, joins Brandon, Howard, and Mary before a live audience at GenCon Indy to talk about roguishness. Why do we like rogues? What can a roguish character accomplish in terms of story purposes? Can the rogue accomplish things a more classically moral character cannot? Most importantly, what do authors need to do in order to help readers like the rogues, rather than just thinking they're awful people? Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code ...

Nov 25, 201319 minSeason 8Ep. 47

Writing Excuses 8.46: Editing with Aeryn Rudel

Aeryn Rudel from Privateer Press and Skull Island X joins us at GenCon Indy to talk about editing. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Nov 17, 201317 minSeason 8Ep. 46

Writing Excuses 8.45: Gencon Q&A With Wesley Chu

Wes Chu joins Brandon, Mary, and Howard for a live audience Q&A at GenCon Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Nov 11, 201317 minSeason 8Ep. 45

Writing Excuses 8.44: Talking Publishing with Tom Doherty

Tom Doherty, president and founder of Tor books, joins us at GenCon to talk publishing. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Nov 03, 201316 minSeason 8Ep. 44

Writing Excuses 8.43: Realistic Melee Fighting with Wesley Chu

Wesley Chu joins us at GenCon Indy for a discussion of realistic melee fighting. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Oct 27, 201319 minSeason 8Ep. 43

Writing Excuses 8.42: The Internal Heckler vs. The Internal Editor

"Silence your internal editor" may not be very good advice. We talk about why. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Oct 20, 201318 minSeason 8Ep. 42

Writing Excuses 8.41: Out of Excuses Retreat Microcasting

Microcasting... it's what we call Q&A. Beta readers, IP issues, discovery writing, chapter length, and more. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcirc...

Oct 14, 201318 minSeason 8Ep. 41

Writing Excuses 8.40: Publishing with Bill Schafer

Bill Schaefer of Subterranean Press talks publishing with us. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Oct 07, 201319 minSeason 8Ep. 40

Writing Excuses 8.39: Dystopian Fiction with Cherie Priest

Cherie Priest joins the cast for a discussion of dystopian fiction before a live audience. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Sep 30, 201320 minSeason 8Ep. 39

Writing Excuses 8.38:Out of Excuses Retreat Q&A #2

The cast talks about self publishing, our early career difficulties, Easter Eggs, and more... Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Sep 23, 201321 minSeason 8Ep. 38

Writing Excuses 8.37: When Fail Happens in Your Career

How do you respond to bad reviews, publisher errors, or other possible "career fail" situations? Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Sep 16, 201318 minSeason 8Ep. 37

Writing Excuses 8.36: Transitioning Characters in Prominence

How do you go about transitioning characters in relative prominence during a series of books? Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Sep 08, 201320 minSeason 8Ep. 36

Writing Excuses 8.35: Digging Yourself Out of Holes with Jeph Jacques

Jeph Jacques of Questionable Content joins us to talk about discovery writing, and how he digs himself out of holes when he writes himself into them. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands P...

Sep 01, 201317 minSeason 8Ep. 35

Writing Excuses 8.34: Survivorship Bias

The cast talks about their survivorship bias, and how to pay attention to that bias so that listeners can extract advice from us that might actually work for you Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle....

Aug 26, 201318 minSeason 8Ep. 34

Writing Excuses 8.33: Making Non-Human Characters Relatable

How do you help your readers relate to the non-human characters in your fiction? Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Aug 18, 201319 minSeason 8Ep. 33

Writing Excuses 8.32: Microcasting

Q&A covering workflow, contests, lantern-hanging, word counts, and more Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Aug 11, 201320 minSeason 8Ep. 32

Writing Excuses 8.31: Combining Dialogue, Blocking, and Description

The cast talks about making dialogue, blocking, and description work together for exposition and story-telling. Our Sponsors: * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircl...

Aug 04, 201318 minSeason 8Ep. 31
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