Writing Excuses

Explore the art of epistolary storytelling and its impact on character portrayal. Learn about the playful novella creation process and the dynamics of writing through letters. Discover how humor is used in serious situations to add depth to narratives and reveal character development. Engage in a writing exercise transforming notes into different digital formats to alter the tone of the message.

Delve into Blue's confident yet vulnerable character through poetic thoughts and internal conflicts. Explore the contrast with Red's communication style, emphasizing emotional depth. Uncover character growth through language patterns, accents, and symbolic imagery, culminating in emotional exposure.

In this podcast, they do a close reading of Red's opening narration to analyze how voice communicates character and world effectively. They discuss drawing readers' attention to key details, suggest rewriting sentences from a work in progress, and provide writing tips. The hosts explore the impact of language on character and world-building, delve into Red's complex nature, and prioritize time and self-care. They also discuss free indirect speech, storytelling techniques, and crafting intriguing plot twists.

Discover the power of voice in writing through a close reading of 'This is How You Lose the Time War'. Explore the unique voices of characters, the impact of diverse voices on narrative depth, and crafting character voices in audiobook narration. Get inspired to emulate strong voices in your own writing and join the Patreon community for ad-free content.

The hosts introduce their Close Reading Series, focusing on five core elements of writing and analyzing specific literary texts. They will discuss books like 'This Is How You Lose the Time War' and 'A Memory Called Empire' in upcoming episodes. Listeners are encouraged to read along and join the interactive book club experience. The series will culminate in interviews with the authors, offering insights into their creative processes.

Explore the creation of traditions in fictional writing and how they shape characters. Discover the intricacies of building believable worlds through rituals and traditions. Learn how blending fantasy with real-world traditions can enhance storytelling. Prioritize depth in rituals and traditions for a more immersive narrative experience.

Learn about the collaboration between authors, agents, and editors, focusing on shared goals and respect. Discover the art of edit letters and how they enhance manuscripts through structural changes. Explore podcast recommendations 'Rude Tales of Magic' and 'O'These Those Stars of Space'. Delve into the dynamics of author-editor collaboration, emphasizing trust and communication. Understand the importance of communication and alignment between writers and editors.

Tor editor Ali Fisher discusses setting intentions for revisions, emphasizing the importance of being kind to yourself during the process. She advises writers to lean into their strengths and incorporate elements they love in their books. The episode also covers embracing story's darlings, impact of cover art on revisions, emphasizing personal connection and tone in writing, and exploring simplicity and vibes in writing.

Ali Fisher, editor at Tor Books and member of Rude Tales of Magic podcast, joins as a guest to discuss editing. They focus on the challenge of finding the perfect length for a novel and how it affects publishing and pacing. Techniques for cutting or adding in manuscript revision are explored, along with techniques for adding length without disrupting the plot. Narrative summary's significance in storytelling is discussed, and a writing assignment is given to listeners.

Mahtab Narsimhan, an author and host from past seasons, joins the hosts to discuss revisions in writing. They talk about the difference between revising and rewriting, favorite techniques, and tips for making revisions more manageable. They also share tools and techniques for diving into revision, including using a Trello board and analyzing the purpose of each scene. Different revision approaches and the use of templates are explored, with listeners encouraged to revise their first chapter using a template and share their success stories.