info@writingexcuses.com
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Booking Overview
Metrics
Episodes: 993
Frequency: Weekly
Rating: 4.7/5.0
Estimated listeners: 10k-100k
Gender skew: Neutral
Location: USA
Instagram: 3.6k followers
Contact Information
info@writingexcuses.com
For verified host and producer emails, sign up to view.
Host
Mary Robinette Kowal - Author and writing teacher known for award-winning fiction and genre work; frequently brings craft-and-process expertise to discussions of scene, structure, and the real-world workflow of writers.
DongWon Song - Writer and educator who focuses on practical writing craft and process; contributes structured, actionable guidance and examples for improving technique.
Erin Roberts - Writing instructor and author associated with writing craft education; helps translate storytelling fundamentals into clear, repeatable practices for creators.
Dan Wells - Novelist and writing instructor recognized for teaching story structure and fiction-writing discipline; offers pragmatic, story-engineering approaches to narrative problems.
Howard Tayler - Author and maker/educator with a background in practical teaching; contributes an analytical, systems-oriented view of writing productivity and craft execution.
Booking Intelligence
Booking Requirements
Recent Guest Discussions
Margaret Dunlap - Nonlinear Timelines; Ordering Of Information Vs. Event Chronology; Techniques Like Flashbacks And Parallel Timelines; Keeping Timelines Organized
Recent Topics
Episodes
21.24: Deconstructing the Seven Point Plot Structure
June 14, 2026
Dan Wells joins our conversation as we break down the seven-point plot structure! Using examples from Star Wars, Toy Story, and other films, we discuss how each point creates conflict, drives character growth, and moves a story forward. We explore the difference between plot points that move characters toward their goals and pinch points that place obstacles in their way. We also examine how the midpoint shifts a protagonist from reacting to events to taking action. And remember– seven-point ...
21.23: Barrier Breaking: Interruptions
June 07, 2026
In this episode, our hosts explore one of the most persistent barriers to writing: interruptions. From family members and pets to emails, meetings, fatigue, and neurodivergence, they discuss how disruptions can derail creative focus—and how writers can build systems to work with them instead of against them. The conversation touches on hyperfocus, ADHD, task-switching, and the emotional cost of being pulled out of the zone. Practical strategies include leaving “breadcrumbs” to re-enter a proj...
21.22: The Order of the Telling
May 31, 2026
*Time-Sensitive*Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here!This week, we are talking about the order in which we present information to the reader as contrasted with the order in which events actually progressed in the universe of this story and why those things might be completely different. We are joined by Margaret Dunlap as we explore nonlinear timelines with examples from novels, television, film, anime, and interactive fiction. We discuss how non...
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