Writing Excuses

By 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.

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4.6

12811,281 ratings

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FAQs about Writing Excuses:

How many episodes does Writing Excuses have?

The podcast currently has 1,072 episodes available.

Writing Excuses episodes:

June 28, 2026 21.26: Setting the Pace
Our hosts explore the many tools writers can use to control pacing. We discuss how cadence, transitions, tone, sentence structure, and white space can all speed up or slow down a reader’s experience. And remember, fast is not inherently better than slow! This conversation highlights the importance of contrast—pairing fast and slow moments, tension and calm, or different emotional states—to make pacing more effective. Along the way, we examine examples from fiction, personal experiences, and neuroscience to better understand how readers process time and information.

Homework:
Take a single event and write it two ways: first so the reading time roughly matches the amount of time the event takes, and then again so the reading time is much longer than the event itself. Compare how the different pacing changes the reader’s experience.

Final WXR Cruise!
Our final WXR cruise is sold out, but you can join our waitlist here!

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, and Erin Roberts. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.
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25min
June 21, 2026 21.25: Follow the Bouncing Ball
In this episode, our hosts explore how writers control their readers’ attention with the metaphor of a bouncing ball. We break down techniques for guiding focus on the page, including POV choice, selective description, rhythm, and where details appear within sentences and paragraphs. The discussion highlights how structure often matters more than individual word choice, with emphasis on primacy/recency effects, white space, and pattern recognition like the rule of threes. Each host shares their thoughts on how to sharpen reader focus or intentionally diffuse it to help you with your current work in progress!

Homework:
Write a mundane scene three times: once straightforwardly, once where you deliberately hide a major event by shifting focus away from it, and once ending with “and that was the day everything changed.” Then compare how attention and emphasis shift between the three versions.

Final WXR Cruise!
Our final WXR cruise is sold out, but you can join our waitlist here!

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, 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!
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Our Sponsors:
* Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

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26min
June 14, 2026 21.24: Deconstructing the Seven Point Plot Structure
Dan Wells joins our conversation as we break down the seven-point plot structure! Using examples from Star Wars, Toy Story, and other films, we discuss how each point creates conflict, drives character growth, and moves a story forward. We explore the difference between plot points that move characters toward their goals and pinch points that place obstacles in their way. We also examine how the midpoint shifts a protagonist from reacting to events to taking action. And remember– seven-point structure is a flexible tool that can be adapted to many different kinds of stories!

Homework:
Take a subplot from a story you're working on and map it onto the seven-point plot structure. Start with the resolution, identify the opposite starting state for the hook, then sketch out the plot points, pinch points, and midpoint to see how the subplot develops from beginning to end.

Final WXR Cruise!
Our final WXR cruise is sold out, but you can join our waitlist here!

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, 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!
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Our Sponsors:
* Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

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36min
June 07, 2026 21.23: Barrier Breaking: Interruptions
In this episode, our hosts explore one of the most persistent barriers to writing: interruptions. From family members and pets to emails, meetings, fatigue, and neurodivergence, they discuss how disruptions can derail creative focus—and how writers can build systems to work with them instead of against them. The conversation touches on hyperfocus, ADHD, task-switching, and the emotional cost of being pulled out of the zone. Practical strategies include leaving “breadcrumbs” to re-enter a project, using phone settings and routines to protect writing time, and adjusting expectations around productivity. Rather than trying to eliminate interruptions entirely, we encourage writers to understand their habits and create sustainable ways to return to the work.

Homework
Practice handling interruptions in a low-stakes environment by setting a series of alarms for 5, 7, 9, and 15 minutes while you write. Each time an alarm goes off, leave yourself a quick “breadcrumb” note about what you were working on, take a short break, and then return to writing when the next timer starts. The goal is to get better at re-entering your work after interruptions so everyday disruptions feel less frustrating.

Final WXR Cruise!
Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here!

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, 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!
Writing Retreats
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Our Sponsors:
* Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations

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...more
30min
May 31, 2026 21.22: The Order of the Telling
*Time-Sensitive*
Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here!

This week, we are talking about the order in which we present information to the reader as contrasted with the order in which events actually progressed in the universe of this story and why those things might be completely different. We are joined by Margaret Dunlap as we explore nonlinear timelines with examples from novels, television, film, anime, and interactive fiction. We discuss how non-chronological storytelling can build tension, reveal character, and control the flow of information. The conversation highlights how writers can use flashbacks, parallel timelines, and carefully placed revelations to reshape a reader’s understanding of events. Our hosts also talk about the emotional power of structure, noting that nonlinear storytelling can shift a story from “what happens next?” to “how did we get here?” or “what does this mean now?” Margaret and our hosts share practical strategies for keeping timelines organized, including notes, spreadsheets, and tracking information arcs.

Homework:
Find a story—a TV episode, movie, or book—that experiments with nonlinear storytelling. After experiencing it once, revisit it and map where information shifts: what characters know, what the audience knows, and how those changes affect your understanding of what comes next.

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, Erin Roberts, and DongWon Song. Our guest was Margaret Dunlap. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.
Join Our Writing Community!
Writing Retreats
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Our Sponsors:
* Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
28min
May 24, 2026 21.21: Rhythm and Words
*Time-Sensitive*
Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here!
Today, we’re continuing the conversation on sequencing by focusing on rhythm—how the musicality of language shapes pacing, emphasis, and emotional impact. Our hosts explore how sentence length, stress patterns, sound, negative space, repetition, and even page layout influence the way readers move through a story. They discuss poetic meter (iambs, trochees, spondees), examples from Shakespeare, hip-hop, comics, and modernist literature. They posit that rhythm is not just for poetry: it’s a powerful storytelling tool that can create emotion, draw attention, and increase readability.
Homework:
Choose a piece of music you love and pay close attention to its rhythm: where does it speed up or slow down? What gets emphasized, and how does the pattern shape emotion? Then take a piece of your own writing and experiment with using that same rhythmic structure in a descriptive passage to see how it changes the feel and movement of the prose.
Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, 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!
Writing Retreats
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Our Sponsors:
* Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations

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...more
24min
May 17, 2026 21.20: Sequencing from Mega to Micro
Today, we explore why writers place information in the order they do. From broad-to-narrow framing and cause-and-effect to repetition, rhythm, and surprise, we discuss how sequencing shapes the pacing, emotion, and clarity of your story. We discuss everything from “windowpane prose” and garden path sentences to recency-primacy effects and the ways readers naturally recognize patterns. Along the way, our hosts highlight how sequencing can guide a reader’s attention, create tension, and reinforce themes.

Homework:
Take something you’ve written—or a story someone recently told you—and write it down in its current order. Then rewrite it two different ways: first by completely reversing the sequence of information, and then by arranging it in the most unexpected or “wrong” order you can imagine. Compare how each version changes the reader’s experience.

Final WXR Cruise!
Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here!

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, 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!
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Our Sponsors:
* Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations

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...more
34min
May 10, 2026 21.19: Getting Everything Connected
Today, our hosts discuss how to make every part of your story feel connected through causal chains, thematic resonance, and reader pattern recognition. We take the idea that each action in a story should lead naturally to the next and pair it with how readers instinctively search for meaning and connection (even in randomness). Along the way, our hosts discuss concepts like Edgar Allan Poe’s “unity of effect,” the Kuleshov effect, emergent narrative in games, and the role of thematic consistency in stories that may appear plotless on the surface. They also share techniques for creating narrative momentum, planting meaningful details, and leaving space for readers to actively participate in building the story’s meaning.
Homework:
Take a story you’re working on and write each scene on an index card. Shuffle the cards, pick two at random, and write a new scene that could connect them through either a causal chain or a shared thematic effect.
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 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!
Writing Retreats
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Our Sponsors:
* Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations

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...more
25min
May 03, 2026 21.18: Deconstructing the Three Act Structure
Today, we are joined by Margaret Dunlap as we dive into the three-act structure. This traditional framework—setup, confrontation, and resolution—is a tool to use rather than a formula to follow. We break down each act, exploring the defining questions, try/fail cycles, and emotional shifts that shape a story. We also highlight the importance of identifying your central dramatic question while examining common pitfalls like the “soggy middle.” Today’s biggest takeaway is that this structure should serve your story, not constrain it.
Homework: Take a familiar fairy tale (e.g., “The Three Little Pigs” or “Goldilocks”) and map it onto a three-act structure. Identify where Act One, Act Two, and Act Three fall, and note whether you would need to add or adjust elements to make it fit more clearly.
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 Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, Erin Roberts, and DongWon Song. Our guest was Margaret Dunlap. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.
Join Our Writing Community!
Writing Retreats
Newsletter
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Instagram
Threads
Bluesky
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Our Sponsors:
* Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
32min
April 26, 2026 21.17: The Up and Down Escalators
Today we zoom out from moment-to-moment tension and look at how escalation and de-escalation shape a story at the structural level—how raising stakes, lowering pressure, and shifting focus can control pacing, reader emotion, and narrative momentum. Our hosts explore what happens when stakes escalate too quickly (and lose meaning), and how de-escalation can be used intentionally through humor, distraction, or shifting perspective. From miscommunication tropes to scene transitions to avoiding “pointless up-and-down” detours, we offer practical ways to keep your readers engaged while guiding them smoothly between emotional highs and lows.
Homework:
Map the major beats of your work-in-progress and label each one as either an escalation or a de-escalation across your plot lines. Then review that map to identify any “pointless up-and-down” moments—places where tension drops without purpose or without a corresponding rise elsewhere—and revise so that every shift either advances stakes, deepens character, or introduces a new layer of tension.
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 Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, 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!
Writing Retreats
Newsletter
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Our Sponsors:
* Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
...more
29min

FAQs about Writing Excuses:

How many episodes does Writing Excuses have?

The podcast currently has 1,072 episodes available.

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