Writing Excuses

David Farland and Tracy Hickman discuss electronic publishing with Dan and Howard.

Sherrilyn Kenyon joins Brandon, Dan, and Howard for a discussion of persevering as a writer.

Sherrilyn Kenyon tells us all how to make readers fear for the characters in her books.

So, you want to write a Star Wars book? Kevin J. Anderson joins Brandon, Dan, and Howard to tackle writing in other people's universes.

Kevin J. Anderson discusses author productivity with Brandon, Dan, and Howard.

Mary Robinette Kowal and Dave Wolverton again join Dan and Howard, and this time we're talking about holidays in fantasy and science-fiction. This 'cast was recorded at Superstars Writing Seminars, and  Moses Siregar III of Adventures in Sci-Fi Publishing captured us on video as we recorded. What sorts of things result in holidays? Historically we see them at the solstices and the equinoxes, planting and harvest, and commemorations of important events. We talk about all of these, and how to work them into your own writing without sounding like you're just filing the serial numbers off of Christmas, Halloween, and Mardi Gras. So of course we also talk about how to do this wrong. Audiobook Pick-of-the-Week: METAtropolis: Cascadia, by Jay Lake, Mary Robinette Kowal, Elizabeth Bear, Ken Scholes, Karl Schroeder, and Tobias Buckell, and narrated by Rene Auberjonois, Kate Mulgrew, Wil Wheaton, Gates McFadden, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, and Jay Lake. Writing Prompt: Make up a holiday that isn't b

Mary Robinette Kowal and Dave Wolverton join Dan and Howard for a discussion of movie considerations and formulas.

Mary Robinette Kowal and Eric Flint join Howard and Dan for a discussion of Alternate history - what, why, and how.

Brandon, Dan, and Howard critique some dialog-only writing exercises from listeners.

Brandon, Dan, and Howard give examples of making, keeping, and breaking promises to your readers.

Brandon, Dan, and Howard discuss avoiding unnecessary offense as writers.

Brandon, Dan, and Howard critique some tagless dialog submissions.

Late last season we took a look at Brandon's first novel and did some line-editing and critiquing. It was so much fun we decided that Dan needed to take a turn in the dunking booth. He totally gets wet. In the course of dunking Dan we cover beginnings, descriptions, character development, pacing, and viewpoint as we tear into the first couple of pages of this novel. Brandon and Howard argue a bit over stylistic approaches, and of course Dan doesn't get a say in things because he drowned. (Note: Dan does get a say in things, but mostly because he is not defending his old work at all.) Audiobook Pick-of-the-Week: I Shall Wear Midnight, by Terry Pratchett, read by Stephen Briggs Writing Prompt: Take an idiomatic expression and make it literal (not as a pun.) For instance, "the crack of dawn" as an actual crack in the sky through which dawn's light shines. Word That Is Not A Word But Totally Should Be: Discontiguity: [dis-kon-ti-gyoo-i-tee] - noun. A break in a series of things in continu

Brandon, Dan, and Howard each offer sage advice to their earlier selves.

Scott Westerfeld joins Brandon and Howard for a discussion of Steampunk.

Scott Westerfeld joins Brandon and Howard for a discussion of the visual components of novels.

John Brown joins Brandon, Dan, and Howard for a discussion of second novels, sequels, and the trick to doing it again.

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Brandon, Dan, and Howard field questions about doing bad things to characters, soliciting feedback, creature design, and outlining.

The now cancer-free John Brown joins us again, this time for a discussion of the creative process. John has presented a seminar on this subject in the past, the focus of which is to teach people to unlock their creativity. At the core of this is the problem-solving we all engage in at some point. You have a problem, so you sit down and try to solve it. BAM. Creativity. With John's help we set out to de-mystify creativity, showing how everybody has to be creative on a regular basis, and how this skill set can be broadened through certain types of behavior, and immersion in particular domains. We explore strategies for developing what feels like a good idea, tactics for getting un-stuck when we're bogged down, and finally figuring out when we're done. Audiobook Pick-of-the-Week: The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold, read by Marguerite Gavin Writing Prompt: A person gets surgery so in order to imitate He Who Never Sleeps... This episode of Writing Excuses has been brought to you by Audible.