Shows / Writing Excuses
Episodes
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.20: More Dialog Exercises
Brandon, Dan, and Howard critique some dialog-only writing exercises from listeners.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.19: Fulfilling Promises to Your Readers
Brandon, Dan, and Howard give examples of making, keeping, and breaking promises to your readers.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.18: Offending Your Readers
Brandon, Dan, and Howard discuss avoiding unnecessary offense as writers.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.17: Dialog Exercises
Brandon, Dan, and Howard critique some tagless dialog submissions.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.16: Critiquing Dan’s First Novel
Late last season we took a look at Brandon's first novel and did some line-editing and critiquing. It was so much fun we decided that Dan needed to take a turn…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.12: Time Travel!
Brandon, Dan, and Howard each offer sage advice to their earlier selves.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.15: Steampunk with Scott Westerfeld
Scott Westerfeld joins Brandon and Howard for a discussion of Steampunk.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.14: Visual Components of Novels with Scott Westerfeld
Scott Westerfeld joins Brandon and Howard for a discussion of the visual components of novels.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.13: Writing the Second Book
John Brown joins Brandon, Dan, and Howard for a discussion of second novels, sequels, and the trick to doing it again.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.12: The Secret of Lincoln’s Gold
We sta ... ...ising but inev... ... pendently wealthy, tha... [NO CARRIER]Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.11: MicroPodcasting 2
Brandon, Dan, and Howard field questions about doing bad things to characters, soliciting feedback, creature design, and outlining.Our Sponsors:* Check out…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.10: John Brown and the Creative Process
The now cancer-free John Brown joins us again, this time for a discussion of the creative process. John has presented a seminar on this subject in the past…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses Bonus Episode! Voting in the Service of a Dark God
This bonus episode is what happens when there are two things we want to plug, and we decide to try and blend them in a single PSA. Here's the Amazon link for…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.9: Character Arcs
John Brown joins us this week for a discussion of plot threads specific to characters. These can be the main plot thread, interesting sub-plots, or just things…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.8: The Excuses You’re Out Of
What are the excuses you make when you're not writing? Brandon, Dan, and Howard examine these, and offer advice for getting the writing done anyway.Our…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.7: Avoiding Melodrama
Melodrama. What is it? What do people mean when they say something is too melodramatic? Usually they do NOT mean "it's too much like a classical…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.6.01: Flash Fiction
Brandon, Dan, and Howard discuss Flash Fiction in less time than it took you to read this excerpt.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.6: MicroPodcasts
Fast-paced Q&A with Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, and Howard TaylerOur Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.5: Writing the Unfamiliar
Brandon, Dan, and Howard discuss "Write what you DON'T know."Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great…
- Writing Excuses
Parsec Acceptance Speech 2010
Brandon, Dan, and Howard accept their 2010 Parsec Award a bit late, and offer an apology for missing the ceremony.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.4: Creating Suspense
Suspense! What is it? What isn't it? What is the relationship between suspense and mystery, and for that matter horror, humor, and adventure? This 'cast is…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 5.3: First Person Viewpoint
Bree Despain joins Brandon, Dan, and Howard for a discussion of writing in the 1st-personOur Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code…
- Writing Excuses
WE 5.2: Character Quirks
Special guest Bree Despain of the Dark Divine trilogy joins us for a 'cast on character quirks. A character quirk, avoiding the tautological definition, is…
- Writing Excuses
WE 5.1: Third Person Limited
We've talked about point of view before, but only in general terms: this time we delve into third-person limited in detail, explaining how to use it and when…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.34: Q&A at Dragons & Fairy Tales
The last of our three recorded-live episodes is also the last episode of Writing Excuses Season 4. We took questions from the audience, and answered them with…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.33: Trunk Novels
Recorded live at Dragons & Fairy Tales, this episode is for anybody who has a novel or two (or more) sitting in the bottom of their trunk. What are the best…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.32: First Paragraphs
Recorded live at Dragons & Fairy Tales in Eagle Mountain, Utah, this episode features the work of several brave souls who submitted their first paragraphs to…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.31: Line Editing Dialog
A practical, example-filled look at tuning up rough dialog.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.30: Worldbuilding the Future
How to build a future setting for your novel by extrapolating from the present, working backwards from the story you want to tell, and getting those to meet in…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.29: Line Editing
Brandon, Dan, and Howard demonstrate line-editing on an ancient manuscript.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.28: Brainstorming The End and Working Backwards
Brandon, Dan, and Howard start at the ending and work their way backwards for your enjoyment.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.27: Major Overhauls to Broken Stories
What do you do when, halfway through the book you're writing, you realize it needs to be completely rebuilt? More importantly, how do you figure this out in…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.26: Avoiding Stilted Dialog
"How do we avoid writing stilted dialog?" asked Brandon adverbially.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.25: Mating Plumage
James Dashner and Julie Wright talk covers, titles, and first lines with Brandon and Dan.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.24: Random Storytelling
James Dashner and Julie Wright join Brandon and Dan at CONduit in Salt Lake City, and may end up wishing they hadn't. Brandon throws sets of story concepts at…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.23: How to Break In to the Young Adult Market
Janci Patterson and Robison Wells have both sold books very recently. Brandon and Dan put them on the spot and ask how they did it.Our Sponsors:* Check out…
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Writing Excuses 4.22: Q&A with L.E. Modesitt, Jr
Live from CONduit in Salt Lake City, L.E. Modessit Jr. and the Writing Excuses crew answer questions from the audience.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.21: Writing Practical Fantasy
L.E. Modesitt and Robison Wells join Brandon and Dan for a discussion of "practical" fantasy. Recorded live at CONduit in Salt Lake City.Our Sponsors:*…
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Writing Excuses 4.20: Strategies for Getting Published
Some new strategies for getting yourself published. Obviously we guarantee exactly none of them.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.19: Discovery Writing
How to approach discovery writing, with your hosts Brandon, Dan, and HowardOur Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.18: How to Steal for Fun and Profit
Forget "Anxiety of Influence." Let's talk about how to borrow, beg, and outright steal from pop culture, history, and mythology.Our Sponsors:* Check…
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Writing Excuses 4.17: Living with the Artist
Sandra Tayler, Dawn Wells, and Kenny Pike take over the 'cast with some coaching from Dan (and heckling from Howard) to talk about what it's like to live with…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.16: Breaking the Fourth Wall
What's the fourth wall? What happens when you break it? Should you be breaking it at all?Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.15: Visual Components of Storytelling
A discussion of art and design elements and how they work with the stories we write.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.14: Brainstorming Science Ideas
A brainstorming session fueled by New Scientist's "13 More Things We Don't Understand" article.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.13: Juggling Multiple Viewpoints
How to write multiple viewpoints effectively, using the tool for the right reasons and avoiding pitfalls.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.12: Writing An Epic
Epic podcast! Except it's only fifteen minutes long... because you're in a hurry, and we'll tell you how to write an epic.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.11: Brainstorming From Headlines
Brandon, Dan, and Howard brainstorm as Producer Jordo reads headlines.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.10: Writing for Young Adults
Jessica Day George joins the Writing Excuses crew again, this time for a discussion of writing for young adults, and maybe for teens, or even middle-grade…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.9: How to Write Men, with Jessica Day George
Jessica Day George joins us again, this time to tell us how to write men. Brace yourselves for the bandying-about of generalities, for painting with broad…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.8: Working with Editors
Jessica Day George joins the Writing Excuses crew for a discussion of editors...Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.7: Q&A with James Dashner
Recorded live at LTUE 2010, here's a high-energy Q&A session with the Writing Excuses crew and our special guest James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner. We…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.6: Pacing with James Dashner
This episode was recorded live at Life, The Universe, & Everything 28, The BYU Symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy, and features, among other things, our…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.5: Roleplaying Games as Tools for Story Telling
Roll for initiative, folks! Brandon, Dan, and Howard all play tabletop role-playing games, and sometimes even play together. The question of the hour (well…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.4: Agents. Do you need one?
We're going to wade into a recent e-brouhaha, but it's not going to be the Amazon vs Macmillan one. No, this is the one where Dean Wesley Smith argued that…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.3: How to Manage Your Influences
How do you avoid letting other people's work creep into your own? We're all influenced by the media we partake in whether we admit it or not. How much of those…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.2: Heroism
If you want to write a good, heroic hero, this is the podcast for you. We're not necessarily talking about the archetypical, classically-defined, capital-H…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses 4.1: Types of Humor
Welcome to Writing Excuses Season 4, featuring new, shorter episode titles! Also, if you don't count the bonus episodes or the Parsec Award Acceptance Speech…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses Season 3 Episode 32: Collaboration
For starters, let's clear the air. Yes, the first episode of the new year is also the last episode of Writing Excuses Season 3. And yes, we'll be getting…
- Writing Excuses
Writing Excuses Season 3 Episode 31: Tragedy
Tragedy. It's just TRAGIC. Tragedy is also one of the classical forms that writers need to know how to work within. Why? Well... because the Greeks thought we…