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Writing Excuses

Novo21.45: Mirror, Mirror on the Plot8 de novembro de 2026 · 26 min
Episódios
1.014
Publicação
semanal
Último episódio
8 nov 2026

Sobre o podcast

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

Episódios 1.014

  1. 21.45: Mirror, Mirror on the Plot

    26 min

    People respond really well to symmetry in stories. This can range from having an object from the beginning reappear at the end to having the entire plot mirrored. But why does symmetry work so well, and how can …

  2. 21.44: Why Are You Stopping? You’re Almost There!

    24 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 44

    Very often, writers get to the two-third or three-quarter mark of work and get stuck, sometimes abandoning it to move on to something shinier. Why does this happen? Well, it’'s a place at which we move from …

  3. 21.43: The Not-Final Word on Endings

    29 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 43

    Today we're focusing on the mechanics of writing endings: what needs to be resolved, what can be left dangling, and how to give your reader a sense of what has changed. We talk about symmetry between beginnings …

    Notas do episódio

    Today we're focusing on the mechanics of writing endings: what needs to be resolved, what can be left dangling, and how to give your reader a sense of what has changed. We talk about symmetry between beginnings and endings, giving important moments enough room to land, and how a final line can shape the feeling your reader walks away with. We also dig into epilogues, callbacks, “avatars of success,” and why the order of your final beats matters. Plus, why you probably don’t need to know your perfect last line when you start writing—or even when you finish your first draft.

    Homework:

    Ask yourself these five questions about your ending:

    1. Does it match the promises of your beginning?
    2. Do you have an avatar of success?
    3. What did your characters earn?
    4. Is there any symmetry with your opening?
    5. Does the closing line underline the tone or theme of the story?


    Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

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  4. 21.42: Deconstructing the Heroine’s Journey

    24 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 41

    Psychotherapist Maureen Murdock invented the Heroine's Journey in response to Joseph Campbell's monomyth Hero's Journey. He reportedly said, "Women don’t need to make the journey, they are the place that …

    Notas do episódio

    Psychotherapist Maureen Murdock invented the Heroine's Journey in response to Joseph Campbell's monomyth Hero's Journey. He reportedly said, "Women don’t need to make the journey, they are the place that everyone is trying to get to." This version of story structure is attempting to tell different stories. This week, we’re diving into the Heroine’s Journey! We talk about its (very) gendered origins, but also about what we can take from the structure: what happens after a character gets what they thought they wanted? Our hosts also discuss the biases built into different plot structures, layering structures on top of each other, and using the Heroine’s Journey to think about a character’s relationship to themself, their community, and the expectations placed on them.

    Homework:

    Pick one of three strands—your character’s relationship to community, self, or expectation—and track how it changes at each major plot point. When you get to the end, ask: is there somewhere else you can go?

    Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

    Join Our Writing Community!

    Writing Retreats

    Newsletter

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    Threads

    Bluesky

    TikTok

    YouTube

    Facebook




    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/excuses for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
    * Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com
    * Check out Tin Can and use my code tincan.com/WX for a great deal: https://tincan.kids


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
  5. 21.41: Barrier Breaking- Physical Fatigue

    24 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 41

    What do you do when "take a break" isn't the answer? We’ve all ahd that feeling, "I’m just too tired to concentrate." This can be because you're worn out from work, or due to chronic fatigue or pain. This week …

    Notas do episódio

    What do you do when "take a break" isn't the answer? We’ve all ahd that feeling, "I’m just too tired to concentrate." This can be because you're worn out from work, or due to chronic fatigue or pain. This week, our hosts talk about working with the brain and body you actually have instead of expecting every writing day to look the same. We explore queuing up tasks for our tired future selves, falling back on craft, using placeholders, and shifting from productivity goals to satisfaction goals. Plus, how to recognize diminishing returns and build systems that help us stop before pushing ourselves into burnout.

    Liner Notes:

    Writing Bingo Card Generator

    Homework:

    Write down five things: three writing tasks you can do when you’re really tired, and two signs that tell you you’re approaching burnout—including the lies you tell yourself that keep you pushing when you need to stop. Keep the list close at hand and see if it helps when you can’t even.

    Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

    Join Our Writing Community!

    Writing Retreats

    Newsletter

    Patreon

    Instagram

    Threads

    Bluesky

    TikTok

    YouTube

    Facebook




    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/excuses for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
    * Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com
    * Check out Tin Can and use my code tincan.com/WX for a great deal: https://tincan.kids


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
  6. 21.40: The DREAM of a Structured Character Arc

    21 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 40

    What if a character arc had a structure you could actually map? This week, our hosts break down the DREAM arc: denial, resistance, exploration, acceptance, and manifestation. We look at how characters move …

    Notas do episódio

    What if a character arc had a structure you could actually map? This week, our hosts break down the DREAM arc: denial, resistance, exploration, acceptance, and manifestation. We look at how characters move through these stages—and why stopping at acceptance can make an arc feel incomplete. From Casablanca and Avatar: The Last Airbender to Parasite and Kylo Ren, we explore how the structure can create heroes, villains, and characters who change in messier ways.

    Homework:

    Take the DREAM arc out to play with your current WIP: denial, resistance, exploration, acceptance, and manifestation. For each stage, write down one action your character can take to reinforce who they believe they are at that point in the arc.

    Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.



    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/excuses for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
    * Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com
    * Check out Tin Can and use my code tincan.com/WX for a great deal: https://tincan.kids


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
  7. 21.39: Write What You Feel

    26 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 39

    Your life is probably weirder—and more useful to your writing—than you think. This week, our hosts explore how to turn lived experience into fiction, from borrowing sensory details and emotional reactions to …

    Notas do episódio

    Your life is probably weirder—and more useful to your writing—than you think. This week, our hosts explore how to turn lived experience into fiction, from borrowing sensory details and emotional reactions to reshaping real people and events. We dive into the feelings wheel, specificity, and the layers of belief, feeling, thought, and action that can make characters feel human. Plus, how journaling can become a surprisingly useful bank of material for your future self.

    Homework:

    Journal about a significant emotional moment in your life. Write down the physical sensations, specific feelings, thoughts, conclusions, and choices you made. Then rewrite it as a third-person scene, giving your protagonist different biographical details while keeping the emotional experience.

    Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, and Howard Tayler. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.



    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/excuses for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
    * Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com
    * Check out Tin Can and use my code tincan.com/WX for a great deal: https://tincan.kids


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
  8. 21.38: Rules, Tools, and History’s Fools

    24 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 38

    Today, we’re celebrating Erin’s birthday by talking about a topic of her choice. Which means we’re flipping “tools, not rules” its head. Our hosts revisit the Turkey City Lexicon, a snarky collection of writing …

  9. 21.37: Barrier Breaking: The World Is on Fire

    28 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 37

    How do you keep writing when the world is on fire? This week, our hosts talk about protecting our narrative energy when the news, social media, or our own lives feel overwhelming. We explore boundaries …

  10. 21.36: Twists: How to Make the Unexpected Feel Inevitable

    24 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 36

    A great twist shouldn’t just surprise us—it should make us rethink everything that came before. This week, our hosts explore reader expectations, misdirection, and hiding clues in plain sight. We look at twists …

  11. 21.35: The Four Acts of Kishōtenketsu

    22 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 35

    This week, our hosts explore kishōtenketsu, an Asian story structure that appears under different names in China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Unlike the Western three-act structure, it isn’t built around …

  12. 21.34: Knowing the Distance

    24 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 34

    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 …

  13. 21.33: When To Shift Gears

    23 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 33

    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. Our …

  14. 21.32: Barrier Breaking- Time Constraints

    28 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 32

    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. We share …

  15. 21.31: Deconstructing Save the Cat

    27 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 31

    Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need by Blake Snyder was published in 2005 and is widely popular because it offers a reliable, repeatable storytelling framework. Today we are joined by …

  16. 21.30: Chapter Breaks Soon

    28 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 30

    A lot of times people want to know what the "ideal length" is for a chapter. But chapters can range from one sentence, to a single scene, all the way up to Terry Pratchett who doesn't use chapters at all. Our …

  17. 21.29: How to Make a Scene

    29 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 29

    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 …

  18. 21.28: Narrative Transitions

    27 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 28

    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 …

  19. 21.27: The Expository Throttle

    21 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 26

    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! Our hosts discuss how exposition naturally slows a story down …

  20. 21.26: Setting the Pace

    24 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 26

    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. And …

  21. 21.25: Follow the Bouncing Ball

    26 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 25

    In this episode, our hosts 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 …

  22. 21.24: Deconstructing the Seven Point Plot Structure

    35 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 24

    Dan Wells joins our conversation as we break down the seven-point plot structure! Using examples from Star Wars, Toy Story, and other films, we discuss how each point creates conflict, drives character growth …

  23. 21.23: Barrier Breaking: Interruptions

    30 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 23

    In this episode, our hosts explore one of the most persistent barriers to writing: interruptions. From family members and pets to emails, meetings, fatigue, and neurodivergence, they discuss how disruptions can …

  24. 21.22: The Order of the Telling

    27 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 22

    *Time-Sensitive*Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here!This week, we are talking about the order in which we present information to the reader as contrasted with the …

    Notas do episódio

    *Time-Sensitive*

    Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here!


    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. We are joined by Margaret Dunlap as we explore nonlinear timelines with examples from novels, television, film, anime, and interactive fiction. We discuss how non-chronological storytelling can build tension, reveal character, and control the flow of information. The conversation highlights how writers can use flashbacks, parallel timelines, and carefully placed revelations to reshape a reader’s understanding of events. Our hosts also talk about the emotional power of structure, noting that nonlinear storytelling can shift a story from “what happens next?” to “how did we get here?” or “what does this mean now?” Margaret and our hosts share practical strategies for keeping timelines organized, including notes, spreadsheets, and tracking information arcs.


    Homework:

    Find a story—a TV episode, movie, or book—that experiments with nonlinear storytelling. After experiencing it once, revisit it and map where information shifts: what characters know, what the audience knows, and how those changes affect your understanding of what comes next.


    Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, Erin Roberts, and DongWon Song. Our guest was Margaret Dunlap. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

    Join Our Writing Community!

    Writing Retreats

    Newsletter

    Patreon

    Instagram

    Threads

    Bluesky

    TikTok

    YouTube

    Facebook



    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/excuses for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
    * Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com
    * Check out Tin Can and use my code tincan.com/WX for a great deal: https://tincan.kids


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
  25. 21.21: Rhythm and Words

    24 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 21

    *Time-Sensitive*Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here!Today, we’re continuing the conversation on sequencing by focusing on rhythm—how the musicality of language …

    Notas do episódio

    *Time-Sensitive*

    Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here!

    Today, we’re continuing the conversation on sequencing by focusing on rhythm—how the musicality of language shapes pacing, emphasis, and emotional impact. Our hosts explore how sentence length, stress patterns, sound, negative space, repetition, and even page layout influence the way readers move through a story. They discuss poetic meter (iambs, trochees, spondees), examples from Shakespeare, hip-hop, comics, and modernist literature. They posit that rhythm is not just for poetry: it’s a powerful storytelling tool that can create emotion, draw attention, and increase readability.

    Homework:

    Choose a piece of music you love and pay close attention to its rhythm: where does it speed up or slow down? What gets emphasized, and how does the pattern shape emotion? Then take a piece of your own writing and experiment with using that same rhythmic structure in a descriptive passage to see how it changes the feel and movement of the prose.

    Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, Erin Roberts, and DongWon Song. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

    Join Our Writing Community!

    Writing Retreats

    Newsletter

    Patreon

    Instagram

    Threads

    Bluesky

    TikTok

    YouTube

    Facebook



    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/excuses for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
    * Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com
    * Check out Tin Can and use my code tincan.com/WX for a great deal: https://tincan.kids


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
  26. 21.20: Sequencing from Mega to Micro

    34 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 20

    Today, we explore why writers place information in the order they do. From broad-to-narrow framing and cause-and-effect to repetition, rhythm, and surprise, we discuss how sequencing shapes the pacing, emotion …

  27. 21.19: Getting Everything Connected

    24 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 19

    Today, our hosts discuss how to make every part of your story feel connected through causal chains, thematic resonance, and reader pattern recognition. We take the idea that each action in a story should lead …

  28. 21.18: Deconstructing the Three Act Structure

    31 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 18

    Today, we are joined by Margaret Dunlap as we dive into the three-act structure. This traditional framework—setup, confrontation, and resolution—is a tool to use rather than a formula to follow. We break down …

  29. 21.17: The Up and Down Escalators

    28 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 17

    Today we zoom out from moment-to-moment tension and look at how escalation and de-escalation shape a story at the structural level—how raising stakes, lowering pressure, and shifting focus can control pacing …

  30. 21.16: Tension and Release as Call and Response

    21 minTemporada 21 · Episódio 16

    Today, we’re talking about tension and release as a kind of call and response, and how that dynamic can guide your reader through a story. It explores how different types of tension—conflict, unanswered …

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