How close is your reader to the story? Should they be closer? Today, our hosts get nerdy about narrative distance: the space between reader, narrator, character, and world. We talk POV, sensory detail, and familiarity—and how each can zoom a reader in or pull them back. writingexcuses.com/2...

Writing Excuses is going to Worldcon again! AND we're having a party! Head to the link below for all our events, the panels the hosts will be on and a sign up link to stay in the know about our official con suite party. writingexcuses.com/w...

A story doesn’t always need the same tools from beginning to end. In this episode, we talk about recognizing when it’s time to shift gears—and how to make those changes feel intentional rather than abrupt. writingexcuses.com/2...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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?

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...

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...

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.

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...

Join @howardtayler.bsky.social @maryrobinettekowal.com @nirele.bsky.social and @sandratayler.bsky.social for any of the Writing Excuses events at worldcon! For details and the hosts full schedules: writingexcuses.com/writing-excu...

Join us at the Loft in Minneapolis for a live podcast recording on June 24th at 7 pm. We will be recording episodes from our upcoming season and a Q&A episode from audience questions! loft.org/events/writi...

Tonight you have a fantastic opportunity to chat with and ask all your burning questions of @chucktingle.bsky.social and @dongwon.bsky.social for our May Patreon Q&A! If you haven't used up your free trial yet, now is the time to do so! www.patreon.com/c/WritingExc...

Ready to have a deep dive on Character? Join @maryrobinettekowal.com on April 6th at 4PM Eastern on the our Patreon at the Private Instruction Tier level. This is part of our plan to offer more to this tier so you have something to fuel your writing each month! www.patreon.com/c/WritingExc...

We are excited to announce that @dongwon.bsky.social will be joining @maryrobinettekowal.com and @sandratayler.bsky.social in Minnesota from June 15th-21st for our 2nd (re)Generate Retreat!

What do emotional beats and action scenes have in common? They both need to land with your audience for your story not to fall flat. Listen to our latest episode and then check out the homework below! writingexcuses.com/20-09-lens-4...

What does your main character fear and how can you use the other characters in your story to build on those fears? Our latest episode all about stakes and fears go in depth into this topic and gives some homework to help you build tension by starting with your characters.

Check out our latest episode drop from our 2024 Writing Excuses Cruise! Q&A with guests @markdoesstuff.bsky.social and @katemckean.bsky.social who joined us as guest instructors. Once you've listened to our episode (link in comments) let us know who you asked about their writing!

Start off 2025 with a special meet and greet on Jan 13th with the hosts of Writing Excuses! @sandratayler.bsky.social @maryrobinettekowal.com @howardtayler.bsky.social Sign up for either retreat by January 12th to attend! writingexcuses.com/retreats

And we end our month long series by talking about endings! Head on over to the link in our bio to listen to all four episodes and finish your writing year strong! writingexcuses.com/19-51-and-th...