There never seems to be enough time to write—but is time really the problem? Our hosts explore the reality of working within limited hours, changing life circumstances, and competing priorities. writingexcuses.com/2...

Who's coming to Worldcon? We are and we're excited to see you all there too! Here's where to find the hosts, information about our suite party and more!

Writing Excuses at Worldcon (LAcon V)

We’re going to Worldcon and hosting a party! We will also be hosting a live podcast panel that you should definitely attend (it will also be streamed live and recorded!) Each host should have badge ribbons and stickers for you to grab at either our party or one of their…

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Today we are joined by guest Margaret Dunlap as we attempt to answer: why Save the Cat is such an influential story structure and why so many writers have strong opinions about it. writingexcuses.com/2...

Headed to Gen Con this year? Event Registration is open and there are plenty of opportunities to see the hosts of Writing Excuses! See all of them at once at our Podcast Panel or at Network the Gathering and get some really cool swag.

A lot of times people want to know what the "ideal length" is for a chapter. Our hosts explore chapters as a pacing tool rather than a fixed unit of length. writingexcuses.com/2...

What makes a scene feel like a scene? This week, we unpack one of storytelling's most basic building blocks. Our hosts explore where scenes begin and end, how they differ from beats, and why framing and narrative purpose matter more than rigid definitions. writingexcuses.com/2...

How do you move readers from one scene to the next without losing momentum? Our hosts dig into different types of transitions—from scene breaks and interruptions to brief “through scenes” that bridge time and space. Listen on your favorite podcast app or head over to writingexcuses.com/2...

How can exposition be used as a pacing tool, and not just a way to convey information? We attempt to answer this question on today’s episode! Listen on your favorite podcast app or head over to writingexcuses.com/2...

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. Listen on your favorite podcast app or head over to writingexcuses.com/2...

I'm recording episodes of @writingexcuses.bsky.social this week. It's exhilarating, and it's exhausting.

In this episode we 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. writingexcuses.com/2...

Authors, do you dread the moment when someone asks you to read your work out loud? If that's the case or you're looking to improve your skills, check out this latest video from Mary Robinette Kowal all about how to read your work out loud for an audience.

How to Read for an Audience

Tips and tricks for reading out loud and in front of an audience, from acclaimed audiobook narrator, Mary Robinette Kowal. Mary Robinette is a core cast member of the Hugo-winning podcast Writing Excuses and an audiobook narrator for authors such as T. Kingfisher, Seanan McGuire, Fonda Lee, Neal S

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Our latest episode is breaking down the 7-Point Plot Structure and we were joined by Dan Wells to deconstruct it. Head over to your favorite podcast app or our website to listen to the full episode. writingexcuses.com/2...

New episode just dropped! Let's deconstruct the 7-point plot structure together and see how the hosts learned something new. writingexcuses.com/c...

What Zone are You IN?

Headed to Gen Con this year? Event Registration is open and there are plenty of opportunities to see the hosts of Writing Excuses! See all of them at once at our Podcast Panel or at Network the Gathering and get some really cool swag.

In this episode, our hosts explore one of the most persistent barriers to writing: interruptions. They discuss how disruptions can derail creative focus—and how writers can build systems to work with them instead of against them. writingexcuses.com/2...

About to attend a convention? Or wondering how to get the most out of one? Mary Robinette Kowal taught a class all about this at one of our writing retreats.

How to Attend Conventions as a Writer

USA Today Best Seller, Mary Robinette Kowal, talks about why writers should go to conventions and how to get the most out of them. She gives some tips on how to approach people and hold light conversations with other writers and professionals.

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Our latest episode is all about how to tell non-linear stories and what are the tools you have at your disposal.

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. writingexcuses.com/2...

To make @writingexcuses.bsky.social retreats accessible for more people, we have two types of scholarships: Out of Excuses (need-based) and Writers of Color. Applications are due on Dec. 31 for the 2026 retreat. I sincerely hope you'll apply to join us: writingexcuses.com/scholarships/

I'm about to sit down in front of the mic and remote-record the second half of the @writingexcuses.bsky.social 2025 wrap-up episode. I'm the "anchor host" for this one, so I have an intro script to help me maintain continuity with what we've already recorded. Then I have this:

I've just finished A Memory Called Empire and now I'm excited to listen to @writingexcuses.bsky.social series on it, followed by an In Our Time on Byzantium.

Our last episode was all about how to pitch your work and how pitching is a skill that you can practice and get better at. SO. Now's your chance! In 3 sentences or less pitch your work to us in the comments or repost!

Who's coming on our 2026 writing workshop on a cruise to Alaska? We're already hyped up by how fast tickets are selling! Meet the hosts of the podcast plus Sandra Tayler! p.s. If you want a balcony cabin better grab one now before they're gone... www.tickettailor.com/events/writi...

Scholarship applications for our 2026 writing retreat on a cruise ship to Alaska are open now until December 31st. Right now we have two scholarships available, one for a writer of color and another for a writer in financial need. Head over to writingexcuses.com/scholarships to learn more.

The 2026 Writing Excuses Retreat will be held on VOYAGER OF THE SEAS, and we're sailing from Seattle to Alaska and back. Given the name of the ship, I'm considering desiging a t-shirt for us. I've already found the right font...

Writing Excuses@writingexcuses.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Exciting news! Tickets are on sale NOW for our Writing Retreat on a Cruise Ship! Join @maryrobinettekowal.com @howardtayler.bsky.social @dongwon.bsky.social @nirele.bsky.social & @sandratayler.bsky.social in 2026 in a voyage to Alaska www.tickettailor.com/events/writi...

Exciting news! Tickets are on sale NOW for our Writing Retreat on a Cruise Ship! Join @maryrobinettekowal.com @howardtayler.bsky.social @dongwon.bsky.social @nirele.bsky.social & @sandratayler.bsky.social in 2026 in a voyage to Alaska www.tickettailor.com/events/writi...

This week's episode of @writingexcuses.bsky.social is focused on my own personal creative practices. I talk about how being bored is one of the best ways to keep moving forward towards your goals. This was a fun conversation and you can check it out below: redcircle.com/shows/848724...

20.41: DongWon Song’s Personal Writing Process

Listen to Writing Excuses on RedCircle

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Hey, @writingexcuses.bsky.social ! Look what I found while cleaning my studio!