Writing Excuses

Explore the art of blending genres in storytelling, from zombie apocalypse in space to Perry Mason in the Armed Forces. Learn the secrets to successfully merging genres without giving away the surprise. Discover examples of genre blending in Firefly and Alien series, and get tips on navigating the marketing challenges of merging epic fantasy with hard science fiction. Explore how authors incorporate elements from horror, political novels, and sports movies into their works, with unique marketing strategies and character inspirations from news and history.

In this podcast, they discuss dramatic breaks in storytelling, exploring the importance of crafting satisfying chapter endings, compressing time effectively, and timing breaks for maximum impact. They also talk about delivering satisfying installments in storytelling, emphasizing the need for engaging techniques to keep readers hooked.

Learn how to handle criticism as a writer, from dealing with rejection letters to managing negative online reviews. Hear anecdotes from authors like Patrick Rothfuss and Kevin J. Anderson, and discover the value of incorporating feedback to improve your work.

Joined by Eric James Stone, the hosts turn a Q&A panel into a 'Stump Howard' game. Topics include making aliens seem alien, crafting consistent characters with contrary beliefs, navigating ethical dilemmas in storytelling, metaphors in depicting violence, impact of Writers of the Future on career, handling rejections, crafting epic villains, and more.

Bestselling author Aprilynne Pike joins the hosts to discuss keeping speculative fiction real through research. They share tips on blending real elements with fantastical worlds, crafting authentic characters, integrating science with fiction, and emphasizing realistic character reactions. The episode emphasizes the importance of research in creating believable plots and gradual character development.

Exploring the challenges and rewards of non-linear storytelling, this podcast discusses the advantages of flashbacks and in media res. They analyze effective and ineffective aspects of non-linear narratives, cautioning against overly ambitious projects. Emphasis on creating suspense and engaging the audience through strategic use of flashbacks.

In this podcast, the hosts discuss the iceberg principle in writing history, where 90% is unseen by readers. They also talk about Worldbuilder's Disease and how to avoid it. The episode focuses on writing interesting history, finding conflict, and avoiding oversimplified causality. A writing prompt is given to write an encyclopedia article about a war with 5 distinct causes.

Tips on how to not be overwhelmed by the abundance of writing advice. Embrace imperfections, focus on practice, and start writing without fear. Explore the evolution of ideas in writing and the debate between outlining and discovery writing. Find joy in the writing journey and avoid getting stuck in endless revisions.

Authors discuss the unexpected realities of being full-time writers, including business aspects, self-promotion, publisher demands, and the importance of non-writing tasks. They share insights on managing schedules, task switching, and the impact of website engagement on their careers.

Here's the second part of our three-part "what we learned this year" series. This time around Brandon tells us the most important thing he learned this year. Summed up? Gimmicks cannot compensate for bad writing. So... what's a gimmick? We begin with hooks and pitches, but gimmicks can include things like photo-realistic cover art, internet grass-roots campaigns, and factoids like "the author is only 17 years old." Story elements like cool magic systems, uniquely alien aliens, and diamond-hard science can all be gimmicks. They're good to have, certainly, and they can work to sell the book, but real staying power (read: earning out your advance, and getting royalty checks for years to come) comes from good writing, page after page. Brandon confesses to some gimmick use himself, but fortunately we (and many of his readers) believe that his writing is strong enough that we don't begrudge him the gimmick one bit. This week's episode of Writing Excuses is brought to you again by the opportunity you have to sponsor Writing Excuses. Writing Prompt: An author comes up with a wacky, crazy gimmick for a book... and then it happens to the author in real life.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