Writing Excuses

Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

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

  1. 21.08: Setting Expectations

    1 HR AGO

    21.08: Setting Expectations

    In this episode, we explore what it really means to set reader expectations at the beginning of a story. We talk about how openings communicate the shape of what’s to come — from genre and tone to the kind of emotional ride we’re inviting our readers onto. We dig into practical tools for building reader trust early: making (and fulfilling) small promises, letting readers feel clever, answering questions before raising bigger ones, and controlling tone so the story delivers on what it signals. Because when readers check the label on page one, we want to be sure we can deliver. Homework: Review the first chapter of your work in progress and make a list of all the story promises you’ve made. Keep that list somewhere visible so you can track how—and when— you fulfill them. Final WXR Cruise!  Our final WXR cruise sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—get your tickets here! Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Erin Roberts, DongWon Song, and Mary Robinette Kowal. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson. Join Our Writing Community!  Writing Retreats Newsletter Patreon Instagram Threads Bluesky TikTok YouTube Facebook Our Sponsors: * Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx * Check out Talkiatry: https://talkiatry.com/WX Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    22 min
  2. 21.07: Deep Dive- “With Her Serpent Locks”

    15 FEB

    21.07: Deep Dive- “With Her Serpent Locks”

    To celebrate Mary Robinette’s birthday today (!!), she is taking us inside the craft (and emotional engine) of her short story “With Her Serpent Locks,” using it as a case study in beginnings, control, and creative “leveling up.” Our hosts dig into grounding the reader through myth, pattern, and delayed information, and how a familiar framework can make readers feel both clever and cared for. The conversation unpacks how intentional choices—like withholding names, structuring scenes around question words, and planting details early—create trust and momentum. Along the way, we talk honestly about what it feels like when craft skills become internalized and a story finally clicks into ease. Homework: Take a strong emotion you’ve felt recently and describe it as a metaphor. Then use that metaphor as a writing prompt. Final WXR Cruise!  Our final WXR cruise sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—get your tickets here! Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Marshall Carr, Erin Roberts, DongWon Song, and Mary Robinette Kowal. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson. Join Our Writing Community!  Writing Retreats Newsletter Patreon Instagram Threads Bluesky TikTok YouTube Facebook Our Sponsors: * Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx * Check out Talkiatry: https://talkiatry.com/WX Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    24 min
  3. 21.06: Begin and the Beginning

    8 FEB

    21.06: Begin and the Beginning

    In this episode, our hosts dive into what makes a strong beginning and why it matters so much to readers. They talk about openings as an act of hospitality, exploring how tone, control, and carefully chosen details help readers feel grounded and cared for from the first page. Using the metaphor of hosting a party, they unpack common mistakes like starting too early, overwhelming readers with detail, or failing to make a clear promise. The discussion also reassures writers that beginnings often change in revision—and that’s not just normal, it’s necessary. Homework: Create an artificial slush pile of beginnings. Read them cold and note which ones make you lean in and why. ANNOUNCEMENTS:  FEBRUARY 15th: Cruise Prices Increase  The final WXR cruise sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—get your tickets now before prices increase on February 15th!  Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Erin Roberts, DongWon Song, and Mary Robinette Kowal. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson. Join Our Writing Community!  Writing Retreats Newsletter Patreon Instagram Threads Bluesky TikTok YouTube Facebook Our Sponsors: * Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx * Check out Talkiatry: https://talkiatry.com/WX Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    22 min
  4. 21.05: The Same But Different

    1 FEB

    21.05: The Same But Different

    Today, our hosts dig into how stories can feel fresh without losing what readers love. They explore the idea of “same but different” across genres, sequels, and series—looking at how small shifts in structure, context, tone, or theme can create meaningful novelty. Drawing on examples from novels, film, television, and games, we unpack how patterns, expectations, and core questions shape reader experience. Our conversation also widens to encompass the larger question of how writers can evolve while still feeling recognizably like themselves. Homework: Choose two works from the same franchise or series. Break down what stayed the same and what changed, then reflect on which choices felt satisfying, surprising, or off-putting—and why. ANNOUNCEMENTS:  2/15 Cruise Prices Increase  The final WXR cruise* sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—get your tickets now before prices increase on February 15th!  Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Erin Roberts, DongWon Song, and Mary Robinette Kowal. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson. Join Our Writing Community!  Writing Retreats Newsletter Patreon Instagram Threads Bluesky TikTok YouTube Facebook Our Sponsors: * Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx * Check out Talkiatry: https://talkiatry.com/WX Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    25 min
  5. 21.04: Deconstructing the Hero's Journey

    25 JAN

    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 make writers uneasy. They break it down as a tool (and not a rule), exploring how pattern recognition works in storytelling without turning structure into a formula. Along the way, they discuss reluctant heroes, mentors, departures, and returns, using familiar examples from fantasy, film, and beyond. The conversation also digs into how stories can satisfy expectations—or deliberately invert them—without becoming predictable or tropey. Homework: Take a simple outline of the Hero’s Journey (we’ll include one in the liner notes). On an index card or Post-it, list as many stories, films, or shows as you can that follow this pattern, just to see how and where it shows up. ANNOUNCEMENTS:  2/15 Cruise Prices Increase  The final WXR cruise* sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—get your tickets now before prices increase on February 15th!  Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Erin Roberts, DongWon Song, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson. Join Our Writing Community!  Writing Retreats Newsletter Patreon Instagram Threads Bluesky TikTok YouTube Facebook Our Sponsors: * Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx * Check out Talkiatry: https://talkiatry.com/WX Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    26 min
  6. 21.03: Deconstructing Plots

    18 JAN

    21.03: Deconstructing Plots

    Plot isn’t a set of commandments—it’s a collection of patterns we’ve learned to recognize. This episode kicks off the season’s deep dive into deconstructing plots, asking what different story structures are really doing beneath the surface and why they work (or don’t). Our hosts unpack plot as a toolbox rather than a formula, exploring action plots vs. emotion plots, Western vs. non-Western structures, and how audience expectations shape everything from middles to endings. This conversation reframes plot as a way to pull readers through a story—not to box writers in. Homework: Pick a story you enjoy and gently reverse-engineer it. Go scene by scene and label each one simply as “good thing happened” or “bad thing happened.” Look for patterns you didn’t realize were there. ANNOUNCEMENTS:  2/15 Cruise Prices Increase  The final WXR cruise* sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—get your tickets now before prices increase on February 15th!  Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Erin Roberts, DongWon Song, and Mary Robinette Kowal. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson. Join Our Writing Community!  Writing Retreats Newsletter Patreon Instagram Threads Bluesky TikTok YouTube Facebook Our Sponsors: * Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx * Check out Talkiatry: https://talkiatry.com/WX Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    21 min

  7. 11 JAN

    21.02: My Process is Not Your Process

    This week, we turn our attention to one of the most stubborn traps writers fall into: assuming someone else’s process should work for you. Building on last episode’s conversation about intentions, the hosts shift the focus from what you should do to how you can figure out what actually works, starting with observation, pattern-spotting, and a little self-compassion. The discussion moves through practical ways to lower friction and build supportive rituals—linking tasks together, listening to physical and emotional cues, and treating yourself like your own best assistant. Along the way, the hosts emphasize that your reactions are data, your process is allowed to change, and permission to be human is often the missing tool. The goal isn’t discipline for discipline’s sake, but a writing life that adapts to you. Homework:  Make a list of all the steps in your writing process, starting with the smallest, most concrete actions and working outward to the bigger ones. Then go through that list and notice which parts are serving you, which aren’t, and which you might want to change—without worrying yet about how to change them. ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Last Annual Cruise The final WXR cruise* sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—don’t miss your chance to be part of it. Learn more and sign up here. Call for Writing Breakthroughs Have you had a breakthrough in your writing because of Writing Excuses? If so, we want to hear about it. Fill out this Writing Breakthroughs Google Form for a chance to be featured in a WX Newsletter!  Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Erin Roberts, DongWon Song, and Mary Robinette Kowal. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson. Join Our Writing Community!  Writing Retreats Newsletter Patreon Instagram Threads Bluesky TikTok YouTube Facebook Our Sponsors: * Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx * Check out Talkiatry: https://talkiatry.com/WX Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    21 min
  8. 21.01: Welcome to the New Year!

    4 JAN

    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 Excuses has always been about: tools, not rules. The hosts unpack why prescriptive writing advice so often falls short, and how understanding why tools gives you the freedom to adapt—or discard—them.  And so for Season 21, we’re going to focus on deconstructing structure in order to better understand the tools that make up various story structures, and what we can learn from each. We’ll be analyzing everything from exposition to Try/Fail cycles to Save the Cat, as we dig into how structure can function more like jazz and less like a rigid formula. We hope this year of episodes (every Sunday morning, folks!) helps you choose what actually serves you as a writer. Homework Write down one thing you are letting go of from last year, starting with the sentence “I am letting go of…”. Then write one intention for the new year, starting with “This year I am embracing…”. ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Last Annual Cruise The final WXR cruise* sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—don’t miss your chance to be part of it. Learn more and sign up here. Call for Writing Breakthroughs Have you had a breakthrough in your writing because of Writing Excuses? If so, we want to hear about it. Fill out this Writing Breakthroughs Google Form for a chance to be featured in a WX Newsletter!  Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Howard Tayler, Erin Roberts, DongWon Song, and Mary Robinette Kowal. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson. Join Our Writing Community!  Writing Retreats Newsletter Patreon Instagram Threads Bluesky TikTok YouTube Facebook Our Sponsors: * Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx * Check out Talkiatry: https://talkiatry.com/WX Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    35 min
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Hosts & Guests

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    813
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2008-2023 Writing Excuses LLC. 845972
  • Show Website
    Writing Excuses

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