Writing Excuses

Writers dive into balancing their passion with day jobs and school commitments. They discuss the road to publication, underscoring networking and consistency. The group analyzes crafting distinctive characters and managing ensemble dynamics. They tackle the challenge of maintaining tension without traditional stakes, while also sharing insights on transforming fan fiction into original works. Listeners get tips on reader engagement and character management fundamentals, all served with a side of humor.

Have you ever wondered what to do with those unfinished novels gathering dust? The conversation dives into the revival of trunk novels and how past writings can transform into compelling new stories. Personal anecdotes bring to life the joy and challenges of repurposing old ideas. They also discuss the emotional hurdles of discarding beloved elements that no longer fit. Plus, they share humorous writing prompts to spark creativity. It's all about embracing your creative journey and navigating the risks and rewards of reworking your past!

In a lively session, the hosts critique first paragraphs from brave participants, offering constructive feedback and tips for improvement. They dive into the art of writing captivating openings, balancing character voice and vivid imagery. A book recommendation shines a light on 'The Desert Spear', celebrated for its daring narrative choices. The discussion takes a creative turn as they explore journal writing post-alien invasion, blending humor and character depth in storytelling. It's a masterclass in engaging writing!

Dive into the art of refining dialogue with practical exercises that illustrate the importance of clarity and character expression. Discover how to craft engaging interactions by analyzing humor and pacing, ensuring every conversation feels natural and lively. Explore emotional cues and the techniques that make dialogue memorable, while avoiding common pitfalls in line editing. A creative writing prompt sparks experimentation, encouraging writers to blend classic themes and elevate their storytelling.

Discover the art of crafting future worlds by blending today's realities with imaginative storytelling. Dive into the challenges of integrating technology and societal shifts into narratives. Explore human nature and vulnerabilities while balancing potential outcomes in storytelling. Learn about reverse engineering worldbuilding to strengthen character and plot development. Get inspired to innovate with fresh prompts, showcasing the dynamic intersection of satire and realism in speculative fiction.

The podcast dives into the art of line editing, showcasing techniques to tighten prose while maintaining original intent. Common pitfalls like overusing adverbs and adjectives are discussed, with practical examples to enhance clarity and reader engagement. The importance of active voice is emphasized, highlighting how sentence structure impacts clarity. Furthermore, the speakers analyze descriptive language to improve character portrayal and narrative perspective, providing listeners with valuable editing insights and a creative writing prompt.

Brandon, Dan, and Howard start at the ending and work their way backwards for your enjoyment.Our Sponsors:* Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What do you do when, halfway through the book you're writing, you realize it needs to be completely rebuilt? More importantly, how do you figure this out in the first place? This podcast came about as a result of a question from a listener, but the question was specific to "what if you find out it's too derivative?" As it turns out, that's just one of the many problems you can discover midway through a novel. We spend the first half of the cast discussing how each of us identify the showstopping problems that require us to overhaul our works. We then talk about the process of fixing things that might, at first glance, appear to be completely unfixable. Sometimes we shift pieces of paper around, sometimes we push blocks of text around in our word processors, and sometimes we have to do something really significant, like adding an entirely new character or point-of-view. One of the best features of this particular 'cast is the bit in the second half where Howard and Dan grill Brandon about his process for Towers of Midnight. Wheel of Time fans won't find any spoilers, but they'll certainly gain some insight. Audiobook Pick-of-the-Week: The Warded Man, by Peter V. Brett, which Howard loves because of the "stand-up-and-cheer" moments of heroism throughout the book. Writing Prompt: Take something you've already written, grab a throwaway concept in that story, and rewrite that scene or chapter so the throwaway bit is now the major focus. Moment of Extreme Hubris: "I give lessons." Listen for it. That Episode on Stealing for Fun and Profit: Right here. This episode of Writing Excuses has been brought to you by Audible. Visit http://AudiblePodcast.com/excuse for a free trial membership*. *Note: From the Audible website, here are the terms of the free membership. Read the fine print, please! Audible® Free Trial Details Get your first 14 days of the AudibleListener® Gold membership plan free, which includes one audiobook credit. After your 14 day trial, your membership will renew each month for just $14.95 per month so you can continue to receive one audiobook credit per month plus members-only discounts on all audio purchases. A very small number of titles are more than one credit. Cancel your membership before your free trial period is up and you will not be charged. Thereafter, cancel anytime, effective the next billing cycle. Any unused audiobook credits will be lost at cancellation.Our Sponsors:* Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The hosts discuss the importance of natural dialogue and provide tips on avoiding stilted language. They explore the concept of stilted dialogue, its components, and the challenges of creating authentic conversations. They also discuss the issue of stilted dialogue in storytelling and suggest strategies to make it more natural. The hosts give examples from 'Firefly' and recommend the book 'American Gods'. Includes a writing prompt to practice incorporating information seamlessly into dialogue.

James Dashner and Julie Wright talk covers, titles, and first lines with Brandon and Dan.Our Sponsors:* Check out Gusto: https://gusto.com/WX* Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wxSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy