Writing Excuses

20.01: Welcome to 2025!

Jan 5, 2025

This season dives into the essential tools for storytelling, focusing on the lenses of who, where, when, and why. The hosts emphasize setting intentional goals rather than rigid resolutions for 2025, encouraging personal growth in writing. A spotlight on Charlie Jane Anders' 'All the Birds in the Sky' highlights literary analysis as a key theme. Plus, there’s a playful discussion on the evolving role of web cartoonists and the importance of reflection in creative development. Listeners are urged to assess and enhance their literary toolkits!

23:18

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Quick takeaways

The podcast emphasizes developing a versatile writing toolkit by focusing on storytelling through the lenses of who, where, when, and why.

It encourages introspection about life choices and community support to align personal aspirations with creative writing practices.

Deep dives

Emphasizing Tools Over Rules

The importance of focusing on tools rather than rules in writing is highlighted as a central theme for the upcoming season. This approach encourages writers to develop a versatile toolkit that enhances their creativity and adaptability, rather than strictly adhering to rigid guidelines. By examining storytelling through various lenses, such as who, where, when, and why, writers can gain a deeper understanding of narrative elements and how they interact. This methodology not only supports the storytelling process but also fosters personal growth and reflection in a writer's creative journey.

Intro

2min

Embracing Reflection and Intentions for 2025

7min

Setting Intentions for the New Year

3min

Literary Toolbox: Analyzing 'All the Birds in the Sky'

8min

Reflecting on Growth and Creative Development

2min

Embracing Play and Creative Growth in 2025

3min

For our 20th season, we are focusing on your toolbox. We’re going to be thinking about tools in terms of the lenses that we use to approach a story. We’re going to focus on the four lenses of: who, where, when, and why (don’t worry– what and how will be looked at in a later season, since they’re more about execution and less about lenses.) Our hosts talk about the lenses they’re adopting as they look towards 2025.

At the end of this season, we’re going to take all these lenses and apply them to one work: All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders.

A note: we will now only have “thing of the week” occasionally, and not regularly!

Homework: Make a list of the tools you already have in your toolbox. Now, as an intention, think of an area that you want a tool for. Over the course of this year, we’re going to try to help you find that tool.

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Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, 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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