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Artwork for Writing Excuses
Pacing
Nanowrimo
Editing
Speculative Fiction
Length
Character Development
Writing Process
Editing Process
Voice
Endings
Short Fiction
Writing Success
Revision Techniques
Second Person POV
Experimental Storytelling
Storytelling
Writing Techniques
Epistolary Novel
The Covenant Of Water
Motivation For Long Form Projects

Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes960Founded10 years ago
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Artwork for Writing Excuses

Latest Episodes

Erin and Howard sat down with paleontologist Dr. Tara Lepore for a fascinating dive into the science—and storytelling potential—of deep time. Dr. Lepore explains why paleontology is about far more than dinosaurs and how mammal teeth can reveal “birth... more

Erin describes her own writing process as, “a bunch of random practices thrown into a bag and shaken up." Nevertheless, for today’s episode, Erin managed to organize her processes into four categories: getting work, getting in, getting done, getting ... more

We’re continuing our episodes focusing on our hosts’ personal writing practices. Like Mary Robinette’s. DongWon’s involves a bit of… chaos. 

DongWon’s day job as a literary agent is demanding and unpredictable, so they often have to fit in their wri... more

A lot of people ask published authors what their writing process is like, as if it is a key to being able to write. The only important process is the one that works for you. 

So, we’re going to let each of our hosts spend an episode explaining their... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Erin Roberts
Game writer and freelancer discussing her writing process.
Episode: 20.42: Erin Roberts’ Personal Writing Process
Charlie Jane Anders
Author of All the Birds in the Sky and Lessons in Magic and Disaster
Episode: 20.38: An Interview with Charlie Jane Anders
Charles Duhigg
Journalist for The New Yorker and author of 'Supercommunicators' and 'The Power of Habit'
The New Yorker
Episode: 20.24: An Interview with Charles Duhigg
Christopher Schwarz
Furniture maker, writer, and publisher
Lost Art Press
Episode: 20.17: An Interview with Christopher Schwarz
Chuck Tingle
Author known for self-publishing erotica and recently publishing horror novels
Nightfire, part of Tor, part of Macmillan
Episode: 20.10: Interview with Chuck Tingle: Breaking the Rules
Mark Oshiro
Young adult and middle-grade author
Episode: 20.02: Q&A Aboard the Writing Excuses Cruise, with Mark Oshiro and Kate McKean
Kate McKean
Literary agent at the Howard Morhaime Literary Agency
Howard Morhaime Literary Agency
Episode: 20.02: Q&A Aboard the Writing Excuses Cruise, with Mark Oshiro and Kate McKean
P. Djèlí Clark
Science fiction author and academic historian
Episode: 19.40: An Interview on Tension with P. Djèlí Clark
Sandra Tayler
Experienced retreat organizer and participant
Episode: 19.33: Workshops and Retreats

Hosts

Mary Robinette Kowal
Host known for her expertise as a writer and facilitator of engaging discussions about writing practices.
DongWon Song
Co-host contributing significantly to discussions, focusing on diverse aspects of writing.
Erin Roberts
Co-host who brings a wealth of knowledge on writing and storytelling topics.
Dan Wells
Co-host and contributor known for his insights on characterization and story structure.
Howard Tayler
Co-host who adds depth to discussions with his experiences in writing and comic creation.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.2k ratings
  • An accidental find

    What a great find after scrolling through podcasts. Wonderful guests in purposeful conversation; I’ve learned so much!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lockedin2020
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • the older episodes of writing excuses are excellent, and the newer still hold some insight

    Audible
    5
    Michael Cavanaugh
    United States5 months ago
  • classic

    the older episodes of writing excuses are excellent, and the newer still hold some insight

    Audible
    5
    Michael Cavanaugh
    United States5 months ago
  • Awesome at long last

    I have been a fan of Writing Excuses for years. I have gone back and listened to every episode from the beginning until now. In recent years, I must admit, while the later seasons were still good I had divided the overall product into two distinct eras: WB and AB, meaning “With Brandon” and “After Brandon.” After Brandon, while still worth a listen, seemed to wonder far from being the program I first discovered and loved. This year has been different and I am declaring the beginning of a third e... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Philip “Fishel” Payne
    United Statesa year ago
  • Brilliant

    Very informative podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pour or
    South Africaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critiques point to an increase in advertising, which detracts from the overall content quality.
Listeners appreciate the practical advice and engaging discussions, making it a valuable resource for writers.
The show's format is praised for its brevity and straightforward approach to complex topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#105
United States/Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#49
Canada/Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#180
United Kingdom/Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#57
Italy/Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#103
Australia/Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#179
France/Fiction

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

20.41: DongWon Song’s Personal Writing Process
Q: How do you deal with the guilt of taking time for yourself when there are responsibilities waiting?
DongWon recommends trapping your tasks and worries in a notebook before engaging in writing to alleviate anxiety and free your mind.
20.41: DongWon Song’s Personal Writing Process
Q: How do you make sure that when the answer comes, you're ready to capture it?
DongWon suggests using voice memos or texting a friend about the idea when it comes to him, and emphasizes that if an idea is lost, it likely wasn't worth keeping.
20.38: An Interview with Charlie Jane Anders
Q: How do you think about POV when you're not grounded in a particular character?
It really helps if the narrator has perspective that the characters are not aware of, providing relevant information in a mischievous way.
20.38: An Interview with Charlie Jane Anders
Q: When you were working on All the Birds in the Sky, did you know going in that you wanted it to have that sort of whimsical tone or was that a discovery as you were writing it?
From the jump, it was a very whimsical novel, and I always knew it was going to be more of a fun, kind of almost goofy novel.
20.37: Deep Dive into “All the Birds in the Sky” - Using the Lens of Why
Q: Why did you write this book?
The book points out that magic and science fiction were not all that different, exploring themes of community versus isolation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Writing Excuses

What is Writing Excuses about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on the craft of writing, this series provides concise, actionable insights aimed at writers of all levels. With discussions that range from narrative techniques to character development, the hosts share personal anecdotes and practical tips rooted in their experiences as authors, making complex topics accessible to listeners. Each episode encourages creativity and challenges writers to engage deeply with their work while keeping the content brief and engaging, ideal for busy individuals looking to enhance their writing skills. The show often features a blend of thematic dives into specific texts, offering listeners both guidance and inspiration.

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How many listeners does Writing Excuses get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Writing Excuses has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Writing Excuses are there?

Writing Excuses launched 10 years ago and published 960 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Writing Excuses?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Writing Excuses?

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What guests have appeared on Writing Excuses?

Recent guests on Writing Excuses include:

1. Erin Roberts
2. Charlie Jane Anders
3. Charles Duhigg
4. Christopher Schwarz
5. Chuck Tingle
6. Mark Oshiro
7. Kate McKean
8. P. Djèlí Clark

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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