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21.05: The Same But Different
Season 21 Episode 5
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, s…
7 months ago
21.04: Deconstructing the Hero's Journey
Season 21 Episode 4
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 …
7 months, 1 week ago
21.03: Deconstructing Plots
Season 21 Episode 3
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 deconst…
7 months, 2 weeks ago
21.02: My Process is Not Your Process
Season 21 Episode 2
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 o…
7 months, 3 weeks ago
21.01: Welcome to the New Year!
Season 21 Episode 1
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…
8 months ago
20.52: 2025 End-of-Year Wrap Up
Season 20 Episode 52
As our 20th season comes to a close, we reflect on the end of 2025 and a major transition for the show, as Dan Wells steps away from Writing Excuses …
8 months, 1 week ago
20.51: Howard Tayler’s Personal Writing Process
Season 20 Episode 51
A workflow that made daily writing (and comics) possible—Howard Tayler takes us through two decades of the delightfully eccentric process behind Schl…
8 months, 2 weeks ago
20.50: Dan Wells’ Personal Writing Process
Season 20 Episode 50
2 quick reminders: Scholarship applications for our 2026 cruise are open now until December 31st, 2025. You can learn more and apply here. AND early …
8 months, 3 weeks ago
20.49: Using Tone and Mood
Season 20 Episode 49
This week, Mary Robinette pulls back the curtain on some of fiction’s sneakiest power tools: tone and mood. Drawing from a recent craft class she tau…
8 months, 4 weeks ago
20.48: Now Go Write- How to Pitch Your Work
Season 20 Episode 48
In this episode, DongWon digs into one of the business topics of our upcoming craft book: pitching. How do you talk about your work so other people i…
9 months ago