Today, we’re talking about the “try-fail cycle” and why failure is essential to making the middle of your story actually interesting. It allows readers to follow characters as they try something, fail, adjust, and try again until they finally succeed. Our conversation gets into how failure builds tension and empathy and how you can use “yes, but / no, and” to control your story’s momentum. We also address the difference between barriers and attempts, and how to keep things from feeling repetitive or stalled, whether you’re writing epic fantasy or a quiet coffee shop story.Homework:Look at the MICE quotient elements (milieu, inquiry, character, event) in your story and make a list of barriers for each. Then choose a smaller subset of those barriers that work well together, and use them to design try-fail cycles that keep your story dynamic without becoming repetitive or overcrowded.Locus Magazine Annual Fundraiser (ends April 14th, 2026)Join us in supporting Locus Magazine– explore the campaign and fantastic rewards for donors online at <a href="http://locusmag.com/igg26" rel="nofollow">locusmag.com/igg26</a>.Final WXR Cruise! Our final WXR cruise sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—get your tickets <a href="https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/" rel="nofollow">here</a>!Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Erin Roberts, and DongWon Song. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Join Our Writing Community! <a href="https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/" rel="nofollow">Writing Retreats</a><a href="https://writingexcuses.com/#newsletter" rel="nofollow">Newsletter</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/WritingExcuses" rel="nofollow">Patreon</a><a href="https://www.instagram.com/writing_excuses/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a><a href="https://www.threads.net/@writing_excuses" rel="nofollow">Threads</a><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/writingexcuses.bsky.social" rel="nofollow">Bluesky</a><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@writingexcuses" rel="nofollow">TikTok</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@WritingExcusesPodcast" rel="nofollow">YouTube</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/WritingExcuses" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a> Our Sponsors: * Check out Peace Corps: https://peacecorps.gov/serve * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx Support this podcast at — <a rel='payment' href='https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations'>https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations</a> Advertising Inquiries: <a href='https://redcircle.com/brands'>https://redcircle.com/brands</a> Privacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://redcircle.com/privacy'>https://redcircle.com/privacy</a>

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21.14: Because at First, They Don’t Succeed

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