Writing Excuses

Join the hosts as they chat with local NaNoWriMo participants, discussing the challenges they face while trying to boost their word-counts. Dive into the process of writing, handling character decisions, balancing action scenes in a trilogy, and exploring writing progress and pacing. Don't miss out on a creative writing prompt to kill a character with a shovel!

Professional comic book writer Jake Black joins Dan and Howard to discuss breaking into the comic writing industry. They explore transitioning from fan fiction writing, navigating the challenges of the comic industry, and providing insights on routes to success as a comic writer.

Writer Jake Black joins the podcast to discuss comic script formats, collaborating with creative teams, writing comics based on existing properties, and breaking panel rules for dynamic action sequences. The hosts provide insights into the intricate process of creating comics and emphasize the importance of understanding the rules before breaking them.

Exploring the impact of plot twists in storytelling and the significance of character conflicts and resolutions. Discussing the concept of writing without twists, focusing on engaging narratives with clear conflicts and maintaining high stakes. Analyzing dialogue setups in Die Hard and Jane Austen novels and humorous writing prompts involving Jane Austen and terrorists.

In this episode, the hosts brainstorm turning a bug idea into a story, emphasizing conflict development. They discuss crafting magical bug abilities and setting boundaries, emphasizing early character depth. The creative process is explored, highlighting organizing plot ideas and generating story concepts. Different approaches to starting a story are discussed, focusing on fulfilling promises to readers and a writing prompt on bugs evolving magical defenses.

Larry Correia, self-published Monster Hunter International, shares insights on pitfalls of self-publishing. Discusses challenges, marketing strategies, and navigating deceptive practices. Explores success stories in transitioning from self-publishing to traditional publishing.

Author Larry Correia discusses plot-driven vs. character-driven fiction. The hosts explore the importance of balancing plot and character development for a successful novel. They delve into how character growth can influence plot evolution and the interplay between plot-driven and character-driven storytelling.

John Brown, an expert in guiding emotional responses in readers, discusses the impact of emotions on writing productivity, the techniques for engaging readers' emotions in horror writing, and enhancing emotional impact in writing through focus and surprise. He explores how personal experiences and emotions can be harnessed to create compelling character narratives.

Author John Brown discusses how writers can avoid repetition in their work by introducing fresh elements and themes. The hosts delve into techniques like 'hanging a lantern on it' to address potential repetitive elements. They also explore the balance between reader expectation and surprise, emphasizing the importance of knowing one's genre and audience. Strategies for breaking the cycle of repetition include analyzing core ideas, exploring new angles, and incorporating unexpected elements to keep the writing engaging.

Award-winning author Mary Robinette Kowal answers intriguing questions on characters revolting in stories, surprises in writing difficulties, and building histories for book worlds. Insights on handling unexpected character developments and crafting rich, interconnected worlds with character perspectives. Explore worldbuilding in the Schlock Mercenary universe and the role of character history in shaping dynamic narratives.