Podcast Episodes

20.25: Writing Confrontation (LIVE Aboard the WX Cruise)

Season 20 Episode 25

Our hosts explore how to write compelling confrontations—whether physical fights or emotional arguments—in a live episode recorded on the Writing Excuses Cruise. Building off Dan Wells' class Why You…

Published on 2 months, 1 week ago

20.24: An Interview with Charles Duhigg

Season 20 Episode 24

How can listening inform the way you write? We decided to ask Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and bestselling author—best known for The Power of Habit and most recently released…

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

20.23: The Lens of the Senses

Season 20 Episode 23

How does a room sound? Does your childhood have a taste? What is the smell of summer? 

In this episode, we dive into the sensory layers that anchor worldbuilding, character, and perspective. We explor…

Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago

20.22: The Lens of Time

Season 20 Episode 22

Time isn't just a backdrop—it’s a powerful tool in storytelling. In this episode, we explore how time shapes narratives, beyond just plot structure. From magnifying moments in a fight scene to reveal…

Published on 3 months ago

20.21: The Lens of Context

Season 20 Episode 21

This week, we’re digging into context—what it is, why it matters, and how it can totally transform your storytelling. Whether you're working in fantasy, sci-fi, or anything in between, the details yo…

Published on 3 months, 1 week ago

20.20: The Lens of Where and When

Season 20 Episode 20

Today we’re talking about setting, which in speculative fiction is often called worldbuilding. But once you’ve finished building the world, how do you convey that world on the page? That is, how do t…

Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago

20.19: Cooking as a Writing Metaphor

Season 20 Episode 19

What does cooking have to do with writing? In this episode, we explore how the creative choices we make in the kitchen—whether it’s improvising with missing ingredients or following a beloved recipe—…

Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago

20.18: LIVE: The Art of Teaching

Season 20 Episode 18

This episode was recorded live at our 2024 Writing Excuses Cruise. (Did you know that we host a writing retreat on a cruise every year!?! You can learn more at https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/) 

W…

Published on 4 months ago

20.17: An Interview with Christopher Schwarz

Season 20 Episode 17

This season, we’ve been exploring different approaches to writing through the lens of other crafts and their respective toolkits. We had the pleasure of speaking with furniture-maker, writer, and pub…

Published on 4 months, 1 week ago

20.16: Second Person

Season 20 Episode 16

People often think of first person POV as the most intimate voice. But in a way, we think second person might be more intimate. With second person, you’re forcing the reader’s subjectivity into the f…

Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago