Rephonic
Artwork for Writing Excuses
Pacing
Nanowrimo
Editing
Speculative Fiction
Length
Character Development
Writing Techniques
Writing Process
Editing Process
Voice
Endings
Short Fiction
Writing Success
Revision Techniques
Experimental Storytelling
Second Person POV
Storytelling
Epistolary Novel
The Covenant Of Water
Motivation For Long Form Projects

Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes966Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CareersBusinessFiction

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Artwork for Writing Excuses

Latest Episodes

This week, Mary Robinette pulls back the curtain on some of fiction’s sneakiest power tools: tone and mood. Drawing from a recent craft class she taught for her Patreon, Mary Robinette breaks down how these elements shape a reader’s emotional experie... more

In this episode, DongWon digs into one of the business topics of our upcoming craft book: pitching. How do you talk about your work so other people immediately understand its category, vibe, and why it matters? They break pitching into two parts—cont... more

Dan shares his experience of rebuilding and reinventing his writing career from his section of our forthcoming book Now Go Write. Our hosts walk through practical ways that writers can diversify their work— from writing for RPGs and video games to wr... more

In this episode, Erin returns with the final two “rules” from her section of our forthcoming book Now Go Write—and why it might be worth breaking them. With DongWon and Mary Robinette, Erin explores the classic advice to “show, don’t tell,” and the d... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Dr. Tara Lepore
Paleontologist and recent PhD graduate
Episode: 20.43: An Interview with Dr. Tara Lepore on Paleontology
Erin Roberts
Game writer and freelancer discussing her writing process.
Episode: 20.42: Erin Roberts’ Personal Writing Process
Charlie Jane Anders
Author of 'All the Birds in the Sky'
Episode: 20.37: Deep Dive into “All the Birds in the Sky” - Using the Lens of Why
Mark Oshiro
Primarily a young adult and middle-grade author with seven published books.
Episode: 20.27: The Lens of Why
Charles Duhigg
Journalist for The New Yorker and author of 'Supercommunicators' and 'The Power of Habit'
The New Yorker
Episode: 20.24: An Interview with Charles Duhigg
Christopher Schwarz
Furniture maker, writer, and publisher
Lost Art Press
Episode: 20.17: An Interview with Christopher Schwarz
Chuck Tingle
Author known for self-publishing erotica and recently publishing horror novels
Nightfire, part of Tor, part of Macmillan
Episode: 20.10: Interview with Chuck Tingle: Breaking the Rules
Kate McKean
Literary agent at the Howard Morhaime Literary Agency
Howard Morhaime Literary Agency
Episode: 20.02: Q&A Aboard the Writing Excuses Cruise, with Mark Oshiro and Kate McKean
P. Djèlí Clark
Science fiction author and academic historian
Episode: 19.40: An Interview on Tension with P. Djèlí Clark

Hosts

Mary Robinette Kowal
Host known for her expertise as a writer and facilitator of engaging discussions about writing practices.
DongWon Song
Co-host contributing significantly to discussions, focusing on diverse aspects of writing.
Erin Roberts
Co-host who brings a wealth of knowledge on writing and storytelling topics.
Dan Wells
Co-host and contributor known for his insights on characterization and story structure.
Howard Tayler
Co-host who adds depth to discussions with his experiences in writing and comic creation.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.2k ratings
  • 7 minutes of commercials before episode even begins

    7 minutes of commercials before episode even begins. This show is all ads and has gotten less helpful over time.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Heroic Victory
    United States18 days ago
  • Too many ads

    Great advice but for a 20 minute episode, 10+ minutes are ads.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    FezziwigII
    United Statesa month ago
  • An accidental find

    What a great find after scrolling through podcasts. Wonderful guests in purposeful conversation; I’ve learned so much!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lockedin2020
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • the older episodes of writing excuses are excellent, and the newer still hold some insight

    Audible
    5
    Michael Cavanaugh
    United States6 months ago
  • classic

    the older episodes of writing excuses are excellent, and the newer still hold some insight

    Audible
    5
    Michael Cavanaugh
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critiques point to an increase in advertising, which detracts from the overall content quality.
Listeners appreciate the practical advice and engaging discussions, making it a valuable resource for writers.
The show's format is praised for its brevity and straightforward approach to complex topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#107
United States/Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#115
Canada/Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#132
United Kingdom/Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#126
Australia/Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#151
France/Fiction
Apple Podcasts
#160
Germany/Fiction

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

20.43: An Interview with Dr. Tara Lepore on Paleontology
Q: What does make something paleontology?
Paleontology is primarily the study of all life on Earth and includes various forms of life from different eras as well as their evolution.
20.43: An Interview with Dr. Tara Lepore on Paleontology
Q: What are some of the stories about our world, about the beings and creatures on it, that paleontology is able to tell in a way that no other field can?
Paleontology offers insights into deep time and the evolution of life, providing a powerful narrative about Earth's history.
20.41: DongWon Song’s Personal Writing Process
Q: How do you deal with the guilt of taking time for yourself when there are responsibilities waiting?
DongWon recommends trapping your tasks and worries in a notebook before engaging in writing to alleviate anxiety and free your mind.
20.41: DongWon Song’s Personal Writing Process
Q: How do you make sure that when the answer comes, you're ready to capture it?
DongWon suggests using voice memos or texting a friend about the idea when it comes to him, and emphasizes that if an idea is lost, it likely wasn't worth keeping.
20.38: An Interview with Charlie Jane Anders
Q: How do you think about POV when you're not grounded in a particular character?
It really helps if the narrator has perspective that the characters are not aware of, providing relevant information in a mischievous way.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Writing Excuses

What is Writing Excuses about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on the craft of writing, this series provides concise, actionable insights aimed at writers of all levels. With discussions that range from narrative techniques to character development, the hosts share personal anecdotes and practical tips rooted in their experiences as authors, making complex topics accessible to listeners. Each episode encourages creativity and challenges writers to engage deeply with their work while keeping the content brief and engaging, ideal for busy individuals looking to enhance their writing skills. The show often features a blend of thematic dives into specific texts, offering listeners both guidance and inspiration.

Where can I find podcast stats for Writing Excuses?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Writing Excuses. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Writing Excuses and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Writing Excuses get?

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What are the audience demographics for Writing Excuses?

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How many subscribers and views does Writing Excuses have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Writing Excuses has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Writing Excuses are there?

Writing Excuses launched 11 years ago and published 966 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Writing Excuses?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Writing Excuses?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Writing Excuses from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Writing Excuses?

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What guests have appeared on Writing Excuses?

Recent guests on Writing Excuses include:

1. Dr. Tara Lepore
2. Erin Roberts
3. Charlie Jane Anders
4. Mark Oshiro
5. Charles Duhigg
6. Christopher Schwarz
7. Chuck Tingle
8. Kate McKean

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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