Writing Excuses podcast

Writing Excuses

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

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

 

#973

Writing Excuses 5.33: Alpha Readers

Brandon, Dan, and Howard discuss what an alpha reader is, is not, and where one might find... more

17 Apr 2011

20 MINS

20:37

17 Apr 2011


#972

16.24: Worldbuilding for Games

Your Hosts: Mary Robinette Kowal, Cassandra Khaw, Dan Wells, James L. Sutter, and Howard T... more

13 Jun 2021

21 MINS

21:12

13 Jun 2021


#971

19.25: From the Classroom to the Page

Learning is great, but how do you translate it into doing without getting overwhelmed? Wha... more

23 Jun 2024

25 MINS

25:50

23 Jun 2024


#970

21.04: Deconstructing the Hero's Journey

Our hosts take on the Hero’s Journey—where it came from, why it endures, and why it can ma... more

25 Jan 2026

25 MINS

25:46

25 Jan 2026


#969

21.03: Deconstructing Plots

Plot isn’t a set of commandments—it’s a collection of patterns we’ve learned to recognize.... more

18 Jan 2026

20 MINS

20:44

18 Jan 2026


#968

21.02: My Process is Not Your Process

This week, we turn our attention to one of the most stubborn traps writers fall into: assu... more

11 Jan 2026

20 MINS

20:52

11 Jan 2026


#967

21.01: Welcome to the New Year!

Season 21 kicks off with a new theme, a fresh tagline, and a renewed focus on what Writing... more

04 Jan 2026

34 MINS

34:42

04 Jan 2026


#966

20.52: 2025 End-of-Year Wrap Up

As our 20th season comes to a close, we reflect on the end of 2025 and a major transition ... more

28 Dec 2025

56 MINS

56:24

28 Dec 2025


#965

20.51: Howard Tayler’s Personal Writing Process

A workflow that made daily writing (and comics) possible—Howard Tayler takes us through tw... more

21 Dec 2025

25 MINS

25:17

21 Dec 2025


#964

20.50: Dan Wells’ Personal Writing Process

2 quick reminders: Scholarship applications for our 2026 cruise are open now until Decembe... more

14 Dec 2025

25 MINS

25:59

14 Dec 2025


#963

20.49: Using Tone and Mood

This week, Mary Robinette pulls back the curtain on some of fiction’s sneakiest power tool... more

07 Dec 2025

25 MINS

25:54

07 Dec 2025


#962

20.48: Now Go Write- How to Pitch Your Work

In this episode, DongWon digs into one of the business topics of our upcoming craft book: ... more

30 Nov 2025

31 MINS

31:18

30 Nov 2025


#961

20.47: Now Go Write- All the Eggs in All the Baskets

Dan shares his experience of rebuilding and reinventing his writing career from his sectio... more

23 Nov 2025

25 MINS

25:08

23 Nov 2025