Writing Excuses

Your Hosts: Brandon, Mary Robinette, Margaret, and Howard What is an allegory, anyway? This episode probably won't settle that question, but we did manage a discussion on how to use our stories to teach things, or be stand-ins for things, and to do it in the ways that allegories and/or parables might. We talk about some famous allegories, some things whose authors insisted were not allegorical, and the possible pitfalls of didacticism. Credits: This episode was engineered by Dan Thompson and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/WXSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dive into the rich tapestry of worldbuilding as hosts explore the intricate role of religion and rituals in storytelling. Learn how to craft authentic fictional religions and understand their impact on character development and societal dynamics. The discussion touches on the powerful themes in 'The Handmaid's Tale' and the ethical considerations when writing about belief systems. Personal experiences and cultural awareness also provide insight into creating meaningful narratives, making this a must-listen for aspiring writers.

Dive into the fascinating interplay between setting and theme in storytelling. Discover how subtle imagery can enrich narratives and evoke powerful emotions. The hosts share examples from David Lynch and 'Babylon 5' to illustrate intentional world-building. Explore how sensory elements can enhance thematic unity in your writing. There’s a touch of whimsy as they balance brevity and depth in short fiction, using unique characters to explore complex themes. Perfect for writers looking to engage readers on multiple levels!

Your Hosts: Howard, Mary Robinette, Dan, and DongWon This episode is about comp titles (comparative titles), which are those things you use to describe your project in terms of other works. We discuss the ones we've used (both successfully and unsuccessfully), and the criteria we use to come up with good ones. Credits: This episode was recorded by Bert Grimm, and mastered by Alex JacksonOur Sponsors:* Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/WXSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Your Hosts: Brandon, Mary Robinette, Margaret, and Howard Your setting can quickly tell the reader what kind of a story they're reading, and in this episode we'll talk about how we make that happen. Think of it as the "establishing shot" principle from film making, expanded to cover whatever worldbuilding details we choose to reveal first. Liner Notes: Here are the Schlock Mercenary Book 19 prologues Howard described, complete with the footnotes which make fun of prologues. Credits: This episode was recorded by Dan Thompson, and mastered by Alex JacksonOur Sponsors:* Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/WXSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Your Hosts: Brandon, Dan, Howard, and Mahtab We've spent a lot of time talking about magic systems in our worldbuilding. It's time to talk about science and technology in that same way. This has been a staple (perhaps the defining staple) of science fiction since before "science fiction" was a word. At risk of opening the "where do you get your ideas" can of worms, this episode covers a little bit of where we get our ideas, and where you might get—and subsequently develop—some more of yours. Credits: This episode was recorded by Dan Thompson, and mastered by Alex JacksonOur Sponsors:* Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/WXSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Your Hosts: Brandon, Mary Robinette, Dan, and Howard "Show, don't tell," they tell us. Except sometimes showing is not always the best thing to do. Or even the right thing to do. Sometimes we should be telling. In this episode we'll tell you about telling. (We'd show you about telling, but we still don't have a video feed.) Credits: This episode was recorded by Rob Kimbro, and mastered by Alex JacksonOur Sponsors:* Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/WXSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Your Hosts: Brandon, Mary Robinette, Margaret, and Howard What's the difference between an obstacle and a complication? Margaret Dunlap takes the lead on this episode for us, giving us the tools we need to create 'impediments to main character progress' which will drive our stories across page turns (and commercial breaks) in compelling, twisty ways. Credits: This episode was recorded by Daniel Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/WXSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Your Hosts: Dan Wells, Tempest Bradford, DongWon Song, and Julia Rios Julia Rios joins us to talk about writing characters who come from one of the many Latin-American cultures or subcultures. "Latinx" is a catch-all term for people with Latin-American heritage, including mixed-race people. In this episode we talk about mash-up cuisine, intersectionality, and how to navigate the subtleties to find the specific cultural elements which will help you create Latinx characters. Credits: This episode was recorded by Bert Grimm, and mastered by Alex Jackson.Our Sponsors:* Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX* Check out MasterClass: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/WXSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Explore the concept of 'magic without rules' in storytelling, revealing how vague magic can enhance engagement and emotional impact. Delve into the balance between world-building and character motivations, while appreciating the allure of unpredictable outcomes. Discover the intriguing 'Book Burners' series, where a secretive group navigates the complexities of modern magic. Finally, embrace the chaos of unconventional magic, highlighting the creative journey of bending traditional rules to deepen character development.