Shows
Writing Excuses20.52: 2025 End-of-Year Wrap UpAs 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 as a full-time core host. Dan shares the thoughtful, hard-won reasoning behind his decision, while the rest of the team reflects on what his presence has meant to this podcast and our community. We recorded the first half of this episode in June and the second half in December 2025. Why is that? Because we wanted to discuss our plans for the rest of the year and later return t...
2025-12-2856 min
Intentionally BlankWatching the Wrong Avatar on Purpose — Intentionally Blank Ep. 237Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells are back with another Intentionally Blank, filled to the brim with your burning questions. Has Dan's take on K-Pop Demon Hunters changed? Why hasn't Brandon watched Avatar the Last Airbender? How does the Louvre heist compare to the many heists we've reviewed? All that and more on this episode of Intentionally Blank!Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Get your Wheel of Time updates here with the Bound and Woven newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/brandonsanderson...
2025-12-1829 min
Writing Excuses20.50: Dan Wells’ Personal Writing Process2 quick reminders: Scholarship applications for our 2026 cruise are open now until December 31st, 2025. You can learn more and apply here. AND early bird pricing for this cruise (going to Alaska in September 2026) ends on February 15th! Get your tickets here!This week, Dan Wells opens up about how depression reshaped his writing process—and what rebuilding that process has looked like in the years since. The conversation ranges from tiny, mechanical steps to full-on cognitive reframing, with the hosts comparing notes on mindfulness, spectating, trauma responses, and even puppy-training techniques for rewiring your brain. They explore how en...
2025-12-1425 minIntentionally BlankWhy Does Brandon Love This Video Game? — Intentionally Blank Ep. 235Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells are back with another Intentionally Blank, this time just catching up with each other's lives. See the games Brandon is playing, what Dan is reading, and what has been on the top of their minds lately!Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Get your Wheel of Time updates here with the Bound and Woven newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/brandonsanderson/eye-of-the-world-campaignStay up to date by following my newsletter: https://brandonsanderson.us10.list-manage.com...
2025-12-0834 min
Writing Excuses20.47: Now Go Write- All the Eggs in All the BasketsDan shares his experience of rebuilding and reinventing his writing career from his section of our forthcoming book Now Go Write. Our hosts walk through practical ways that writers can diversify their work— from writing for RPGs and video games to writing in a new genre like middle grade or nonfiction — and why having multiple, truly separate revenue streams matters. They also dig into the psychological work of redefining yourself as a writer (not only a novelist), staying flexible when setbacks hit, and protecting time for the projects that keep your heart in the work. Listen for concrete strategies and...
2025-11-2325 minIntentionally BlankWait...They're Actually Talking About K-Pop Demon Hunters? — Intentionally Blank Ep. 225Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells are here with another Intentionally Blank! This time, they're are diving into the world of K-Pop Demon Hunters. Will Dan hate another movie beloved by the public? Does Brandon's time in Korea stack up to what was showed in the movie? Find out on this weeks episode!Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Get your Wheel of Time updates here with the Bound and Woven newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/brandonsanderson/eye-of-the-world-campaignStay up...
2025-09-2527 minIntentionally BlankWhy Can't The A.I. Be My Editor? — Intentionally Blank Ep. 222Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells are back for another Intentionally Blank, and we are answering your questions again! We retread the dreaded waters of Final Fantasy, discuss A.I. in the editing space, and why Dan struggles so much with villain movies.
2025-09-0331 min
Writing Excuses20.33: Raising Children as a Metaphor for WritingThroughout this season, we have been doing a series of episodes that feature different metaphors for writing. Today, we’re talking about raising children and what it can teach us about our own writing practice. It’s common knowledge that parents want their children to grow up to be happy and successful. But the real joy in raising children, Dan and Howard tell us, is watching them express their individuality, and meet these goals (of success and happiness) in very different ways. We talk about the importance of being open to shifts in intention, relationship, and understanding— regarding both people...
2025-08-1727 minIntentionally BlankDefying Wicked — Intentionally Blank Ep. 213Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells are back for another Intentionally Blank! Dan has returned from Japan and tells us the tales of his adventures along with they discuss there thoughts on Wicked and many of the foods of the world. Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Get your Wheel of Time updates here with the Bound and Woven newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/brandonsanderson/eye-of-the-world-campaignStay up to date by following my newsletter: https://brandonsanderson.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u...
2025-07-0231 min
Writing Excuses20.25: Writing Confrontation (LIVE Aboard the WX Cruise)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 Your Fight Scene Is Boring, our hosts break down reactions into four elements: focus, physicality, thought, and action. The discussion dives into how newness, character history, and anticipation shape these moments, and how effective confrontations reveal both character and motivation. Plus: sword fighting, puppetry, and driving on black ice. Thing of the Week: Death and Other Details (on Hulu)Homework: Watch an action scene in a mov...
2025-06-2221 minIntentionally BlankFolklore Origins — Intentionally Blank Ep. 206Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells take a comfortable seat to discuss where some of the original stories came from. With Brandon's expert knowledge, and Dan's intuitive mind, join us in discussing the curious nature of folklore. Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Get your Wheel of Time updates here with the Bound and Woven newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/brandonsanderson/eye-of-the-world-campaignStay up to date by following my newsletter: https://brandonsanderson.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7d056bb7596a3e6...
2025-05-1429 minIntentionally BlankHarriet Tubman Hates Dan — Intentionally Blank Ep. 205Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells are back to talk about the dawn of Civilization...7. They chat all things Civ when it comes to the video game, from how they started, what they love, and how they really feel about the newest entry. Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Get your Wheel of Time updates here with the Bound and Woven Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/brandonsanderson/eye-of-the-world-campaignStay up to date by following my newsletter: https://brandonsanderson.us10.list-manage.co...
2025-05-0735 min
Writing Excuses20.02: Q&A Aboard the Writing Excuses Cruise, with Mark Oshiro and Kate McKeanThis 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/.) While on a boat in Mexico, we were joined by author Mark Oshiro and literary agent Kate McKean. In addition to our hosts, they answered questions that were asked by our cruise attendees. Our answers included things such as how much space a character should take up and how to find the balance between plot-focused and character-focused novels. We also tackled q...
2025-01-1224 minIntentionally BlankHow Jaws Inspired Us — Intentionally Blank Ep. 182Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells sit down to talk about the world of Jaws! Dan brings his expert knowledge on the franchise while the two talk about what was happening in Cinema during the time. Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Stay up to date by following my newsletter: https://brandonsanderson.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7d056bb7596a3e617f82004b2&id=fa68f14db0Interested in signed books and swag? Check here: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/
2024-12-0235 min
Writing Excuses19.48: Beginning With A ThrillAs we wrap up our Close Reading Series, we’re shifting our focus towards helping you integrate what you’ve learned. For December, we’ll be releasing episodes designed to help you make measurable progress on a writing project. So dust off your current work-in-progress, or pull out your brainstorming documents—we’re here to help you finish the year strong.Today, we’re focusing on beginnings. The titular phrase “beginning with a thrill,” doesn’t have to mean a burst of action or violence, but more so refers to how you hook your reader within the first few pages of...
2024-12-0120 minIntentionally BlankThe Fall Guy — Intentionally Blank Ep. 180Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells sit down to talk about (completely on time) The Fall Guy! With Dan having returned from his trip, there is plenty to discuss when it comes to the stunts, why it flopped in the box office, and the robin hoods of the Food Heist world. Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Stay up to date by following my newsletter: https://brandonsanderson.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7d056bb7596a3e617f82004b2&id=fa68f14d...
2024-11-1329 minIntentionally BlankThe Fantasy Quorum with Holly Black — Intentionally Blank Ep. 175Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, and Holly Black convene as the Fantasy Quorum to answer the most difficult questions that modern fantasy writers face today.Read Holly Black's interview on The Cognitive Realm: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/blogs/the-cognitive-realm/holly-black-how-to-write-addictive-storiesWant to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Stay up to date by following my newsletter: https://brandonsanderson.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7d056bb7596a3e617f82004b2&id=fa68f14db0Interested in signed books and swag...
2024-10-0935 minIntentionally BlankIntentionally Gifted — Intentionally Blank Ep. 170Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells sit down after a while to catch up about all the things that have been going on in there life. Dan also brings several mystery gifts for Brandon from friends and fans. Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Stay up to date by following my newsletter: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/tag/newsletter/#footerInterested in signed books and swag? Check here: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/You can also follow me on:
2024-09-0434 minIntentionally BlankWhat Makes a Good Villain? — Intentionally Blank Ep. 166Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells sit down to talk about what makes a good character for villain and a design to boot! Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Stay up to date by following my newsletter: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/tag/newsletter/#footerInterested in signed books and swag? Check here: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/You can also follow me on:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorbrandonsandersonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrandSandersonT...
2024-08-0739 minIntentionally BlankDo You Believe in Ghosts? — Intentionally Blank Ep. 162Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells sit down to chat about how the world is not always what it seems and how ghosts and ghouls may be lurking about. Throw on top a few bad story ideas and you have your typical episode of Intentionally Blank! Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Stay up to date by following my newsletter: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/tag/newsletter/#footerInterested in signed books and swag? Check here: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/
2024-07-1030 minIntentionally BlankWhy is THAT on your Bucket List? — Intentionally Blank Ep. 161Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells come together today on Intentionally Blank to talk about what they still have to do on there bucket lists. From getting a Magic the Gathering Card changed forever, to seeing the great wonders of the world, see what's left to do this week on Intentionally Blank! Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Stay up to date by following my newsletter: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/tag/newsletter/#footerInterested in signed books and swag? C...
2024-07-0331 minIntentionally BlankMedia We Hate — Intentionally Blank Ep. 158Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells sit down to chat about what Media they just can't stand. From The Hobbit to Harry Potter, join us on this confusing road of hate and confusion. Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Stay up to date by following my newsletter: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/tag/newsletter/#footerInterested in signed books and swag? Check here: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/You can also follow me on:Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.c...
2024-06-1231 minIntentionally BlankFTL AF — Intentionally Blank Ep. 156Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells are joined by a surprise guest in this episode where they cover the Fermi Paradox, faster than light issues, and what REALLY is going on with the aliens around earth!Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Stay up to date by following my newsletter: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/tag/newsletter/#footerInterested in signed books and swag? Check here: https://www.dragonsteelbooks.com/You can also follow me on:Tiktok: h...
2024-05-2927 minIntentionally BlankWho is Papa Fortnite? — Intentionally Blank Ep. 150Brandon Sanderons and Dan Wells sit down once again to talk about how all of the Anne Rice books could be a connected universe, what Papa Fornite looks like, and how people get to act in moviesPre-Order Store for Words of Radiance BackerKit Campaign: https://words-of-radiance-leatherbound.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders?ref=IB417Want to send me something to open?Dragonsteel EntertainmentATTN: AdamP.O Box 698American Fork, UT 84003Stay up to date by following my newsletter: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/tag/newsletter/#footerInterested in...
2024-04-1726 minIntentionally BlankOur Long Forgotten Trunk Novels — Intentionally Blank Ep. 141This week on Intentionally Blank, Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells talk about the novels they left in their "trunk" that have never seen the light of day since they were published. Along with these fascinating tales, Dan talks about his dislike of Denver, and Brandon talks about the "industry" writers belong in. Check out our previous episode of Intentionally Blank: https://youtu.be/B0MC28qit44Listen to Intentionally Blank wherever podcasts are available.Sound engineering by Daniel Thompson(0:00) - Dans Shameless Self Promotion(0:40) - What "Industry" writers work in
2024-02-1432 minIntentionally BlankHugos, Oscars, and Turtles? — Intentionally Blank Ep. 140This week on Intentionally Blank, Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells discuss the Hugo Awards along with various other award shows and how they are run. On top of that, Brandon talks about tortoise care and Dan ponders British slang.Check out our previous episode of Intentionally Blank: https://youtu.be/L0IiKCvrUuwListen to Intentionally Blank wherever podcasts are available.Sound engineering by Daniel ThompsonTIME CODES(0:00) - Not Food Heist...Heist?(2:08) - Brandon Pyramiding Care(4:15) - Donald Trumps Reporting (5:09) - Dans Turtle Movie Pitch(6:25) - B...
2024-02-0727 minIntentionally BlankCaribbean Island Adventures — Intentionally Blank Ep. 139This week on Intentionally Blank, Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells talk about their 2023 New Year's adventures and what they got up to. Brandon became a real-life Knight Radiant in the Grand Cayman Islands, Dan almost was poisoned by the ocean, and the food heist has a Breaking Bad level amount of meat.Check out our previous episode of Intentionally Blank: https://youtu.be/XXwaf9u91UkListen to Intentionally Blank wherever podcasts are available.Sound engineering by Daniel ThompsonFOOD HEIST LINK: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/criminal-justice/2023/11/02/468475/cypress-police-seize-1000-of-oxtail-raw-meats-during-traffic-stop-wednesday/
2024-01-3131 min
Writing Excuses18.48: NaNoWriMo Week 5 - Writing EndingsWelcome to the last week of National Novel Writing Month! It’s okay if you aren’t going to finish your book, and it’s also okay if you don’t have 50,000 words! You still did a thing—you created a story that didn’t exist We want to talk about endings. How do you even write the end of a book? How do you do NaNoWriMo? There’s no right way! But there are several elements that can help you figure out how to write the end of your book. Our hosts give you guidance fo...
2023-11-2623 min
Writing Excuses18.47: NaNoWriMo Week 4 - Climaxes, or OH MY GOD NOIt’s week four of NaNoWriMo! Or, National Novel Writing Month, which happens every year for the month of November. This week, we are talking about how to write climaxes, how to write resolutions, and what exactly the three-quarter mark is. How do you write a climax scene? How to keep your tension going while also finding some resolution. How do you keep track of what you promised your reader at the start of your book? Our hosts dive into these topics and share examples from their own published writing. We talk about how to...
2023-11-1922 min
Writing Excuses18.46: NaNoWriMo Week 3 - Raising the StakesWe are now three weeks into NaNoWriMo—where writers are attempting to write a novel in the month of November. For this episode, our writers talk about how to raise the stakes in your story. To make something feel more threatening, you don’t have to make it bigger or flashier, but you do have to make it more personal to your character. Often, you don’t need to add an event or plot element, but simply ramp up your character’s connection and reaction.We also talk about multi-thre...
2023-11-1220 min
Writing Excuses18.45: NaNoWriMo Week 2 - Inciting IncidentWelcome to the first official week of National Novel Writing Month (or, almost the end of this week)! In this episode, we dive into how to write an inciting incident. What is an inciting incident? It is often the thing that goes wrong in your story. Within the first page, writers should have something go wrong. But what should this thing be? Our writers have some advice for questions you can ask yourself in order to understand your novel’s inciting incident. Also, Dan shares a recipe for an inci...
2023-11-0522 min
Writing Excuses18.31: Getting Personal: Mining Your Life for ThemesIn our final episode diving into how and why Dan wrote “Dark One: Forgotten,” talk about how you can take something personal and mine it for fiction. We also tackle the complicated question—Why should you be the one to tell your story? We think about the personal touches that you can add to your writing, and how people can hear when your story is personal. Homework:2 things! 1. Have you watched Criminal Minds? If you haven’t, you should! Next week, we have a special guest—Kirsten Vangsness who plays Penelope Garcia! Explore her other stu...
2023-07-3024 min
Writing Excuses18.25: To Narrator or Not to NarratorIn our second episode on Dan Wells’ audio-only book, “Dark One: Forgotten,” we provide you with tools and advice to consider when deciding whether or not to have a narrator. We also talk about location-aware dialogue, or how you can have your characters info dump without it being an info dump. Homework:Take something that you’ve already written, and adapt it for audio. Thing of the Week:Earbuds Podcast Collective, a curated list of podcasts Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, D...
2023-06-1826 min
Writing Excuses18.24: “Dark One: Forgotten” Deep DiveThe team grills Dan on his audio-only book “Dark One: Forgotten,” which he co-wrote with Brandon Sanderson. We find out how he wrote a book that became a six-part audio series, and why exactly that form is important. *Please listen to “Dark One: Forgotten” before listening to this episode!*. Homework:What's a thing you know, but everyone else has forgotten? Come up with a supernatural reason why this is.Thing of the Week:Zombies, Run! Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells...
2023-06-1130 min
Writing Excuses18.23: Our Advice on Giving Advice“Show don’t tell” is probably the most famous advice given to writers. But. . . we don’t necessarily agree. In our final episode of our deep dive into publishing, we tackle advice: How do you give it? When do you not? Our hosts tell us about the advice they wish they followed and the things they don’t tell their students. Also: Mary Robinette teaches us a trick about puppet fingers. Homework:Write a letter to yourself a year ago describing what kind of skills are they going to need in order to confront the challenges that are com...
2023-06-0432 min
Writing Excuses18.12: The Long Shadow of Unanswered QuestionsOur continuing exploration of tension has taken us to a favorite technique: unanswered questions. Sure, this obviously applies to mysteries, but consider the question posed in romances: “will they get together?” In its simplest form, the unanswered question that forces a page-turn is "what happens on the next page?" In this episode we explore how to use unanswered questions to drive tension, and how to avoid some common pitfalls. Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. It was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackso...
2023-03-1921 minWriting Excuses18.11: Turning Up the Contrast With JuxtapositionOur deconstruction and categorization of tension continues this week with an exploration of Juxtaposition, which is a contrast between two elements that supplies tension by allowing the reader to insert themselves. Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. It was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: htt...
2023-03-1220 minWriting Excuses18.10: Anticipation is More Than Just Making Us WaitLast week we talked about tension, and promised that we'd be breaking it down into more pieces. This week we're discussing one of those pieces: Anticipation. We sub-divided it as follows: Surprise Suspense Humor Promises We talk about how to create anticipatory tension well, where the pitfalls are, and how this fits into the creation of our stories. Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. It was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://m...
2023-03-0618 minWriting Excuses18.08: Building a MysteryAfter last week's deep dive into The Spare Man we're ready to talk more generally about mysteries, and the tools we use to write them. Obviously we can't cover all of that in just one episode, but don't worry. In upcoming episodes we'll explore more of these tools in detail. Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. It was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://q...
2023-02-2023 minWriting Excuses18.07: Deep Dive into THE SPARE MANSpoiler Alert! This week is our deep dive into Mary Robinette Kowal's The Spare Man. It's a sci-fi mystery novel often described as "The Thin Man in space." Deep dive episodes are necessarily full of spoilers because we ask all kinds of how and why questions specific to the writing of the work in question. If you haven't yet read The Spare Man, you might consider doing that before listening to this episode. We're not the boss of you, but we believe you'll get more out of this episode and the novel if you read the novel first. Credits: Y...
2023-02-1332 minWriting Excuses18.06: An Interview With Howard TaylerYour Hosts: Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler In this episode we interview Howard Tayler, one of the founding members of the podcast, and the creator of Schlock Mercenary. The first question: how did this twenty-year ride change you? And a later question: what comes next? Liner Notes: We'll eventually do a deep dive on the final three books of the Schlock Mercenary saga. You can read for free starting here. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex JacksonOur Sponsors:* Check out Ma...
2023-02-0620 minWriting Excuses18.05: An Interview with Mary Robinette KowalYour Hosts: Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler In this episode Howard Tayler conducts our interview with Mary Robinette Kowal, leading with a wide-open question: "Where did you even?" Mary Robinette talks to us about how she came to the world of writing, and some of the amazing things she picked up along the way. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex JacksonOur Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSu...
2023-01-3021 minWriting Excuses18.04: An Interview With Dan WellsYour Hosts: Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler In this episode Erin Roberts very enthusiastically launches our interview with "OG" Dan Wells with a delightfully difficult question, paraphrased thusly: "is there advice you gave back in the early days that you still stand by today?" There are lots of other questions, including one about bacon! Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex JacksonOur Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSu...
2023-01-2321 minWriting Excuses18.02: An Interview with DongWon SongYour Hosts: Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler As we announced in last week's episode (and in this press release), DongWon Song and Erin Roberts are joining us as permanent cast members. In this episode we conduct an interview with DongWon Song, plumbing a few depths, and learning a bit more about what they can teach all of us. Liner Notes: DongWon Song's newsletter, Publishing is Hard, can be found at publishingishard.com. It's free, but paid subscriptions are available. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jacks...
2023-01-0923 minWriting Excuses18.01: Twenty Twenty-Three, By Way of IntroductionYour Hosts: Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler We begin 2023 with some big changes, and in this episode we'll discuss those, starting with some changes to the core cast. DongWon Song and Erin Roberts are joining us as permanent cast members, and Brandon Sanderson is stepping aside with "emeritus" status. But the episode isn't just announcements. We each talk about where we are career-wise, what we're working on, and what we're excited to bring to the podcast this year. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson
2023-01-0224 minWriting Excuses17.50: Consistency, Inconsistency, and the Crushing Weight of ExpectationsYour Hosts: Howard Tayler, Dongwon Song, and Dan Wells Thanks to some last-minute schedule changes, we almost didn't have an episode for today. Only three cast members were able to make it to the session, and none of those three had the syllabus. But we forged ahead anyway, and recorded an episode about why we felt it was important to record an episode. That may sound like one too many layers of meta, but just wait until we add the layers in which this actually applies to writing! Liner Notes: Dongwon's newsletter is called "Publishing is Hard." Dan's newsletter...
2022-12-1222 minWriting Excuses17.41: Picture Books are Books Too, with Special Guest Seth FishmanYour Hosts: Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, Brandon Sanderson, and Howard Tayler, with special guest Seth Fishman Seth Fishman, author of seven picture books (as well as lots of longer-form stuff), joins us to talk about writing picture books, including some of the business and publication aspects. No-Context Pull Quote: "Your art is so bad we're going to hire someone to draw badly for you." Credits: This episode was recorded live by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex JacksonOur Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince...
2022-10-1018 minWriting Excuses17.40: Questions & Answers About Structure, with Special Guest Peng ShepherdYour Hosts: Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, Brandon Sanderson, and Howard Tayler, with special guest Peng Shepherd Peng Shepherd joined us aboard Liberty of the Seas for WXR 2022, and returned with us to the topic of story structures. In this episode we answer questions from our live audience. The questions include: How do you make sure you've got the right number of plot threads? How do you spread the structure of a given plot line across multiple books? How do you avoiding having subplots distract readers from the main plot? What are some strategies you can use to better a...
2022-10-0324 minIntentionally BlankIs Gandalf A Mary Sue? — Intentionally Blank Ep. 69Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells talk about the guide lines of what makes a Mary Sue, and wether or not Gandalf falls into that category.https://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-09-2843 minIntentionally BlankTalking All About Smartphones — Intentionally Blank Ep. 68Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells talk about Dans facial anomaly, A food heist, and dive deep into their past smartphone memories.https://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-09-2137 minIntentionally BlankA George Lucas Bad Story Idea, John Carter, and Yesterday — Intentionally Blank Ep. 67Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells talk a bad story idea surrounding George Lucas in a different universe, Why John Carter (2012) was a travesty, a full breakdown of Yesterday (2019), La La Land spoilers (2016) and Dan Wells Interest in The Wonder Years (1988-1993). https://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-09-1435 minWriting Excuses17.37: Science and Fiction—It’s Not Just Science FictionYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, and Cady Coleman The fictional side of science and the scientific side of fiction are part of the discipline of science communication, often called SciComm. In this episode Cady Coleman joins us to talk about how science fiction fits into the field of SciComm, and how the stories we tell can affect the people who read them. Credits: This episode was recorded before a live audience by Rob Kowal, and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://qui...
2022-09-1219 min
Intentionally BlankEpisodes 1 & 2 of LOTR: The Rings of Power — Intentionally Blank Ep. 66Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells talk about"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" tv show Ep. 1 & Ep.2, and their view on each branching storyline and point of view.https://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-09-0739 minWriting Excuses17.36: Space for EveryoneYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, and Cady Coleman Chemist, USAF Colonel, and NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman joins us to talk about actual travel to actual space, and how that's a thing which is increasingly available to people who are not in the employ of government space agencies. Also, we discuss how the demographics of space travelers are changing, and how this is creating safer space travel for everyone. Credits: This episode was recorded before a live audience by Rob Kowal, and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com...
2022-09-0519 minIntentionally BlankTalking "The Rings of Power" Trailer — Intentionally Blank Ep. 65Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells talk about the Upcoming "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" trailer and tv show, and their view on the possible direction of the story buildinghttps://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-08-3136 minWriting Excuses17.35: Nuances of DialogYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Maurice Broaddus, and Howard Tayler We wrap up our eight-episode dialog master class with a discussion of nuance, which is difficult to describe in a blurb because it's... well, nuanced. That may sound a bit recursive, but our discussion dives deep into the meta. Credits: This episode was recorded by Daniel Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdver...
2022-08-2919 minIntentionally BlankPenguin Random House and Simon & Schuster Merger Trial — Intentionally Blank Ep. 64Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells talk about the Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster merger trial, and Brandon's involvement in the dangers of self-publishing.https://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-08-2439 minWriting Excuses17.34: Developing SubtextYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Maurice Broaddus, and Howard Tayler We begin this episode with a quick exploration of the terminology, and what we mean when we say "text," "context," and "subtext." Subtext exists between text and context. It's the information which isn't actually in the text, but which we are able to divine based on the context. And in this episode we talk about how to use context and text to provide subtext to the reader. Credits: This episode was recorded by Daniel Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out...
2022-08-2219 minIntentionally BlankPride, Bride & Prejudice & Zombies — Intentionally Blank Ep. 63Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells take a trip through the Pride and prejudice Adaptations. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, Bride and Prejudice, and the 2005 Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley.https://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-08-1741 minWriting Excuses17.33: Building TensionYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Maurice Broaddus, and Howard Tayler Tension! In this episode we discuss the ways dialog can build and/or maintain tension, especially when placed in context with the rest of the scene. Liner Notes: A great article about tension for those who (like Howard) may need a solid working definition -Toward a general psychological model of tension and suspense Credits: This episode was recorded by Daniel Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx
2022-08-1518 minIntentionally BlankDeath of the Author — Intentionally Blank Ep. 62Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells go into the intricacies of “The Death of The Author” and their thoughts on where and when it is applicable.https://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-08-1033 minWriting Excuses17.32: Everything is About ConflictYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Maurice Broaddus, and Howard Tayler Everything is about conflict? Really? Well, yes. Maybe not in the action-movie sense, but conflict is everywhere, even among people whose goals, objectives, and methodologies are in alignment. This, of course, means that it exists among your cast of characters, and it will inform the way the talk to one another. Liner Notes: We mentioned this famous Monty Python sketch about wanting to have an argument. Credits: This episode was recorded by Daniel Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out Mas...
2022-08-0817 minIntentionally BlankYou Didn't Just Fail, You Critical Failed! — Intentionally Blank Ep. 61Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells take a trip down memory lane and tell stories of their college roleplaying days. Curious about where Brandon got some of his original storytelling inspiration? The answer is in this week's episode of Intentionally Blank.https://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-08-0340 minWriting Excuses17.31: Everyone Has an AgendaYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Maurice Broaddus, and Howard Tayler We've mentioned "area of intention" earlier in this dialog master class, but now the concept gets the spotlight. If all of your characters have their own agendas, their own areas of intention, then the dialog between them should reflect that. Credits: This episode was recorded by Daniel Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsA...
2022-08-0120 minIntentionally BlankDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: A Full Review — Intentionally Blank Ep. 60Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells talk all about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and discuss Marvel's Phase 4, the desecration of Wanda Maximoff, and the big multiverse movie problem.https://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-07-2734 minWriting Excuses17.30: Know Your CharactersYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Maurice Broaddus, and Howard Tayler How well do you know your characters? Sure, you might know their age, nationality, and perhaps wardrobe, but how well do you know their internal characteristics? Do you know them well enough that you can write dialog that sounds like them? In this episode we discuss how you might approach this problem. Credits: This episode was recorded by Daniel Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx
2022-07-2519 minIntentionally BlankEverything Everywhere All At Once: A Full Discussion — Intentionally Blank Ep. 59Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells give a full review of Everything Everywhere All At Once, including a dive into the cast, crew, and creation of this wacky film.Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-07-2037 minWriting Excuses17.29: The Job of DialogueYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Maurice Broaddus, and Howard Tayler We're back with Maurice Broaddus for the second in our eight-episode mini-master-class on writing dialogue. This time around we're addressing the question of dialogue's "job." What's it for? Why is this particular bit of dialogue in this scene, this chapter, this book? Credits: This episode was recorded by Daniel Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/don...
2022-07-1820 minIntentionally BlankThe Lost City and Other Dumb Awesome Movies — Intentionally Blank Ep. 58Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells take a deep dive into action comedies on this week’s podcast episode. Join the discussion surrounding The Lost City, Fast and Furious, how Brad Pitt knows how to steal a show, and movies that exhibit the same kind of stupid. https://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-07-1336 minWriting Excuses17.28: Keys to Writing DialogYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Maurice Broaddus, and Howard Tayler Writer, teacher, and community organizer Maurice Broaddus joins us for an eight-episode mini-master-class on writing dialogue. In this episode he walks us through his three keys: pay attention to how people speak, write in a way that evokes how they speak, and write dialogue that makes individual characters distinctive. Liner Notes: We mention Descript transcription software in this episode. Here's a link! Credits: This episode was recorded by Daniel Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/E...
2022-07-1118 minIntentionally BlankA Long, Slow Root Canal — Intentionally Blank Ep. 57Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells sit down to discuss Brandon's long, slow root canal experience and swap personal phobias.You can join the conversation and vote for your favorite podcast title at r/sanderson: https://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-07-0636 minWriting Excuses17.27: Ensembles Behind the ScenesYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Zoraida Cordova, Kaela Rivera, and Howard Tayler In this, our final "ensemble masterclass" episode, we discuss the nuts-and-bolts, the tips and tricks, the tools of the trade. In short, we talk very specifically about how we do it. Color-coded sticky notes, index cards, spreadsheets, and more... Liner Notes: Howard's guest story for Dave Kellet's DRIVE compendium is now running online! It's called "History and Haberdashery." Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quin...
2022-07-0419 minIntentionally BlankMoon Knight: A Full Discussion — Intentionally Blank Ep. 56Brandon Sanderson and Dan Wells sit down to discuss the full first season of Marvel’s, Moon Knight before moving their discussion to rank all the MCU’s television shows against each other.You can join the discussion and vote for your favorite podcast title at r/sanderson: https://www.reddit.com/r/Sanderson/Can be listened to almost everywhere podcasts can be found.Produced by Adam HorneSound engineering and editing by Daniel Thompson
2022-06-2938 minWriting Excuses17.26: Hanging SeparatelyYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Zoraida Cordova, Kaela Rivera, and Howard Tayler Our episode title comes to us across two and a half centuries: "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." —Benjamin Franklin We've already established that you're planning to write an ensemble. This isn't an episode about the pros and cons of ensembles. No, we're here to talk about how an ensemble story can go wrong, leaving the characters to hang separately rather than hanging together. Liner Notes: It happened again! We referenced the Ty Franck/Daniel Abraham episode, which we recorded at Ge...
2022-06-2718 minWriting Excuses17.25: Archetypes, Ensembles, and ExpectationsYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Zoraida Cordova, Kaela Rivera, and Howard Tayler We've talked about making every member of the ensemble meaningful. In this episode we're discussing who, in archetype terms, everybody is. How can archetypes help us get started, how can they help us set reader expectations, and what are the archetype-related pitfalls we need to avoid? And finally, is 'archetype' even the correct term here? Liner Notes: Here's the "Black Superheroes with Electrical Powers" article. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: http...
2022-06-2020 minWriting Excuses17.24: Ensembles and GenreYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Zoraida Cordova, Kaela Rivera, and Howard Tayler This week we're talking about how our genre choice influences the structure of our ensemble. How is a heist ensemble different from a superhero team? What happens when the superheroes need to do a heist? Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/br...
2022-06-1317 minWriting Excuses17.23: Are We Stronger Together?Your Hosts: Dan Wells, Zoraida Cordova, Kaela Rivera, and Howard Tayler Sometimes we have to look at our ensemble of characters and ask ourselves what kind of story we're trying to tell? If the story works with a single protagonist and one POV, maybe this isn't an ensemble story after all. If, however, the plot requires a team effort from the heroes, then we need to make sure the necessary team members make it onto the page. Liner Notes: The "I'm the tin dog" moment is from Doctor Who, S2 E3, "School Reunion." Mickey is speaking. Howard couldn't remember Mic...
2022-06-0621 minWriting Excuses17.22: Establishing the EnsembleYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Zoraida Cordova, Kaela Rivera, and Howard Tayler Every character in your ensemble needs to matter to the team, or they probably don't belong in the ensemble. Zoraida Cordova leads us into this discussion of how we build our ensembles, how we introduce the characters, and how we ensure that all of them are important to the group. Liner Notes: The article about Superman's very first line of dialog is here. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com...
2022-05-3017 minWriting Excuses17.21: Casting Your Story With Character VoiceYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Zoraida Cordova, Kaela Rivera, and Howard Tayler Every member of your ensemble has a reason to be there, but they also have their own voice. Zoraida Cordova joins us for a discussion of how we make our ensemble characters distinct from one another. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcir...
2022-05-2321 minWriting Excuses17.20: Basics of Ensemble CharacterizationYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Zoraida Cordova, Kaela Rivera, and Howard Tayler What's the difference between an ensemble story, and a story the has a lot of characters in it? Zoraida Cordova joins us for this episode, kicking off an eight-episode mini-master-class about ensembles. In this episode we discuss what makes ensembles work, and how we distinguish the "pro-protagonist" from the "co-protagonist" as we create character arcs. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.c...
2022-05-1615 minWriting Excuses17.19: Working in a Collaborative EnvironmentYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Brandon Sanderson, and Megan Lloyd Megan Lloyd returns to the podcast to talk us through the process of creating something in a collaborative environment, whether it's a pair of authors working together, or a dozen people working to write, storyboard, and animate a television series. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex JacksonOur Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inqu...
2022-05-0917 minWriting Excuses17.18: How to be Funny, with Jody Lynn NyeYour Hosts: Dan Wells and Brandon Sanderson, with special guest Jody Lynn Nye So, you've decided you want something to be funny. How do you go about making that happen? Jody Lynn Nye joined Dan and Brandon at LTUE, and pitched this topic to them. And yes, it's much more than just "delivery, delivery, delivery." Liner Notes: "It's always more funny when Howard's not here." —Brandon Sanderson at LTUE 2022 (posted here for posterity) Credits: This episode was recorded by Dan Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson. Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES...
2022-05-0217 minWriting Excuses17.17: Writing in the Public DomainYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Brandon Sanderson, and Gama Martinez Did you know that there are some famous intellectual properties which have entered the public domain, and which you can therefore use to create your own stories? It's true! Gama Martinez (whose God of Neverland novel features Peter Pan) joined Dan and Brandon at LTUE to talk about how cool this is, and (more importantly) what kinds of things authors need to do in order to make sure they're only using the public domain bits of the properties in question. Liner Notes: Need a list of things that entered the pub...
2022-04-2513 minWriting Excuses17.16: Miscellaneous StructuresYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Peng Shepherd, and Howard Tayler Thus far we've attempted to organize our discussion of sub-, micro-, and other alternative structures with specific categories, but this domain is a lot larger than that. This final episode with our guest host Peng Shepherd has been titled "Miscellaneous Structures" because, y'know, sometimes the last bucket in your row of carefully, taxonomically-labeled buckets needs to be "miscellaneous." Liner Notes: Howard mentions "LTUE" during the episode. Hey, guess what! The next few episodes following this one were (will have been?) recorded at LTUE! Credits: This episode was re...
2022-04-1818 minWriting Excuses17.15: Storytelling in the FootnotesYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Peng Shepherd, and Howard Tayler You probably already know what footnotes are¹, but have you ever seen a story told through the footnotes²? It's similar to the story-within-a-story structure, but there's more to it than that. In this episode our guest host Peng Shepherd explores footnote storytelling³ with us. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson ——— ¹ This is an example of a footnote. ² This is not an example of footnote storytelling. ³ With the addition of a third footnote, maaaybe there's a beginning, middle, and end, and therefore...
2022-04-1121 minWriting Excuses17.14: Structuring for Disordered or Order-less Reading OrderYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Peng Shepherd, and Howard Tayler Guest host Peng Shepherd leads our discussion of "order-less reading order" (after we get past the business of "having too much fun with the episode title"). But what do we even mean by "order-less" or "disordered?" At one level, we mean you can just pick up the story anywhere and start reading. Kind of like TV series prior to the advent of the fully serial series. But kind of unlike it, because how does this work within just one book? Liner Notes: For good examples of non-order-dependent s...
2022-04-0421 minWriting Excuses17.13: Structuring Around a ThingYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Peng Shepherd, and Howard Tayler Our exploration of sub- and micro-structures continues with guest host Peng Shepherd. This week we're talking about how a story can be structured around a "thing." The simplest explanatory example would be structuring around a map, which is where we start the episode... kind of like how The Lord of the Rings starts in The Shire. This episode does not end with even one of us climbing a volcano. Liner Notes: Tower of Babel, by Josiah Bancroft The Storyteller's Tarot Spread Credits: This episode was recorded by Mar...
2022-03-2819 minWriting Excuses17.12: Structuring a Story Within a StoryYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Peng Shepherd, and Howard Tayler One common structure—both macro and micro—is the "story within a story," or "framing story" structure, and yet somehow we've never really explored it on Writing Excuses. Guest host Peng Shepherd is here to help us set things right. Liner Notes: Here are some examples of story-within-a-story structure... Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell Hyperion Cantos, by Dan Simmons Neverending Story, by Michael Ende One Thousand and One Nights Sun the Moon and the Stars, by Stephen Brust Ten Thousand Doors of Januar...
2022-03-2020 minWriting Excuses17.11: Structuring with Multiple TimelinesYour Hosts: Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, Peng Shepherd, and Howard Tayler Guest host Peng Shepherd continues to lead our exploration of sub- and micro-structures by taking us into the scaffolding of in media res, flashbacks, and other tools for structuring a story by telling it out of chronological order. We also cover how to do this without breaking the flow of the story. Liner Notes: The "trousers of time" book Howard referenced was Jingo, by Terry Pratchett. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex JacksonOur Sponsors:* Check ou...
2022-03-1319 minWriting Excuses16.33: Tell, Don’t ShowYour Hosts: DongWon Song, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler Few pieces of writing advice get repeated as much as that old saw "show, don't tell." We're here to show tell you that it's not only not universally applicable, much of the time it's wrong¹. Tell, don't show, especially in the early pages of the book when so very, very much information needs to be delivered² quickly. Credits: This episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson ¹ Fun fact: this advice comes to us from silent film, when it made great artistic sense to pu...
2021-08-1618 minWriting Excuses16.20: Branching NarrativesYour Hosts: Mary Robinette Kowal, James L. Sutter, Dan Wells, Cassandra Khaw, and Howard Tayler How do you give players meaningful choices while still keeping the story within a reasonable set of boundaries? In this episode James and Cassandra lead us in a discussion of branching narratives, and the ways in which we as writers can create them. Credits: this episode was recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson Liner Notes: Dan mentioned this collection of "Choose your own adventure" plot maps. Howard illustrated the concept of "narrative bumper pool" in Tracy Hickman's X-TREME DUNGEON MASTERY...
2021-05-1719 minWriting Excuses12.1: Variations on First PersonYour Hosts: Brandon, Mary, Dan, and Howard We're beginning a new season, and during 2017 we will be focusing our topics on structure. We are also going to shake things by expanding our cast a bit. You'll be hearing some new voices soon! They belong to: Wesley Chu Piper J. Drake Mary Anne Mohanraj We'll post more on that in a few days, but we've already begun updating our "About" page. This week your hosts are Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. We spend a few minutes on the administrative stuff above before jumping into January's struc...
2017-01-0123 min
2015 – Writing ExcusesWriting Excuses 10.48: Project in Depth, The Devil’s Only FriendSpoiler Alert! We'll be discussing the latest John Cleaver book from Dan Wells with author, podcaster, and unrepentant bacon-lover Dan Wells! If you haven't read it, and you want to be surprised by it, stop listening and grab a copy now!
2015-11-3021 minWriting ExcusesWriting Excuses 10.48: Project in Depth, The Devil’s Only FriendSpoiler Alert! We'll be discussing the latest John Cleaver book from Dan Wells with author, podcaster, and unrepentant bacon-lover Dan Wells! If you haven't read it, and you want to be surprised by it, stop listening and grab a copy now!Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
2015-11-3021 minSeason 09 – Writing ExcusesWriting Excuses Season 9.52: From the Page to the StageAllison W. Hill and C. Austin Hill joined us at the Out of Excuses Retreat to talk about turning A Night of Blacker Darkness, by Dan Wells, into a stage play. “From the page to the stage” is a thing that theater people actually say to describe this, so the process is one that has … Continue reading Writing Excuses Season 9.52: From the Page to the Stage →
2014-12-1521 minWriting ExcusesNaNoWriMo 2012: Bonus Mini-Episode 2, with Dan & RobDan Wells and Robison Wells give you a pep talk for the second week of NaNoWriMo.Our Sponsors:* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
2012-11-1504 minWriting ExcusesWriting Excuses 5.34: Story BiblesLet's talk about bibles. Specifically, story bibles. What are they, why do we use them, why might we NOT use them, and what tools are working for us? Howard again plugs wikidpad, which he converted Brandon to, and which Dan Wells just couldn't bring himself to love. Dan uses several different Open Office files. The important thing, though, is that when we need to store information about the book in someplace besides the book itself, we write it down in our story bibles. Dan talks about his new project, how important the story bible was for that, and what...
2011-04-2518 minWriting ExcusesWriting Excuses 5.31: Writing RomanceSarah Eden and Robison Wells join Dan and Howard at LTUE to talk about writing romance. Sarah writes in the romance genre, but we're not focusing on the genre -- we're talking about writing romance within the context of whatever else we might happen to be putting on the page. We lead with how to do it wrong, because nothing is as much fun to talk about as bad romance. It's also educational. More importantly (and more usefully) we talk about formulas for doing romance correctly. One of the most practical is to pair characters up by finding emotional...
2011-04-0423 minWriting ExcusesWriting Excuses Season 2 Episode 26: How Publishing is Changing in the new CenturyNancy Fulda, assistant editor at Baen's Universe and editor-in-chief and founder of Anthology Builder, joins us again while Dan Wells is out celebrating his birthday. We discuss the rise of digital SF magazines, and touch on concepts like user-generated content, the Superconducting Copy Machine, and disruptive technology. We talk about print-on-demand vs. self-publishing, we laugh as Nancy puts her foot in her mouth, and then we argue over whether free online content can generate income for authors, as opposed to webcartoonists. This week's episode is 20 minutes long, because you're not in as much of a hurry as we originally s...
2009-04-0621 minWriting ExcusesWriting Excuses Season 2 Episode 24: Writing Habits and Q&A with Tracy HickmanTracy Hickman joins us again at "Life, The Universe, and Everything," and in this episode we let Brandon ask him random questions while Dan and Howard chime in with comments that hopefully don't detract from the discussion. During the interview Tracy mentions his latest project, XDM: Extreme Dungeon Mastery, but he doesn't mention the very latest news about it. That news is that Tracy and Curtis Hickman (the authors) have contracted with Howard Tayler to illustrate and publish it. So that bit about Tracy doing it in his basement? It's no longer accurate. This week's Writing Excuses is brought...
2009-03-2418 min