Writing Excuses

A story doesn’t always need the same tools from beginning to end. In this episode, we talk about recognizing when it’s time to shift gears—and how to make those changes feel intentional rather than abrupt. Our hosts look at transitions between action, dialogue, and tone, while exploring ways to signal those shifts to the reader. We also discuss how to use your own writing environment to help you change modes–  sometimes the right gear is simply the one that makes the story easier to write.
Homework:
Choose a scene and write down your intention for it. Change something about your physical environment—your music, lighting, chair, etc.—to match that intention, then write the scene. Next, give the scene a different intention, change your environment again, and see how your writing changes.
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Our final WXR cruise is sold out, but you can join our waitlist here!

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, DongWon Song, and Erin Roberts. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.
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There never seems to be enough time to write—but is time really the problem? Our hosts explore the reality of working within limited hours, changing life circumstances, and competing priorities. We share practical strategies like time blocking, micro writing sessions, and the Pomodoro Technique that do and don’t work for us. We hope this conversation helps you build systems that support your writing instead of relying on motivation alone. 
Homework:
Track how you actually spend your time for a week without judging yourself or trying to be aspirational. Then review your schedule and identify one or two realistic systems you can put in place to better support your writing goals.
WAITLIST for our Final WXR Cruise! 
Our final WXR cruise is sold out, but you can join our waitlist here!
Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, DongWon Song, and Erin Roberts. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.
Join Our Writing Community! 
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Our Sponsors:
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

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Save the Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need by Blake Snyder was published in 2005 and is widely popular because it offers a reliable, repeatable storytelling framework. Today we are joined by guest Margaret Dunlap as we attempt to answer: why Save the Cat is such an influential story structure and why so many writers have strong opinions about it. Our hosts break down Blake Snyder's 15-beat framework, exploring where it overlaps with the Hero's Journey, Three-Act Structure, and Seven-Point Plot Structure. We also highlight why tools like Save the Cat can help diagnose problems in a draft instead of dictating every story beat. 
Homework:
Take a classic fairy tale (ideally the same one you used for the Three-Act Structure exercise, which was assigned at the end of 21.18) and map it onto the Save the Cat beat sheet. Identify where each major beat falls, including moments like the catalyst, midpoint, dark night of the soul, and finale.
Show Notes
Save the Cat beat sheet
Spreadsheet of Different Story/ Plot Structures (created by Christina Boekeloo and Michael Roth with contributions from SiWC/WRX attendees and members of the Potted Plant) 

WAITLIST for our Final WXR Cruise! 
Our final WXR cruise is sold out, but you can join our waitlist here!
Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, DongWon Song, and Erin Roberts. Our guest was Margaret Dunlap. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.
Join Our Writing Community! 
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Our Sponsors:
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

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A lot of times people want to know what the "ideal length" is for a chapter. But chapters can range from one sentence, to a single scene, all the way up to Terry Pratchett who doesn't use chapters at all. Our hosts explore chapters as a pacing tool rather than a fixed unit of length, discussing how chapter breaks shape reader momentum, create natural pauses, and influence the experience of reading. Along the way, we look at how chapters have evolved throughout publishing history—and why they're still such a powerful storytelling tool. We also talk about genre expectations and how to avoid common pitfalls when moving from scenes to chapters. 
Homework:
Look up Chapter: A Segmented History from Antiquity to the 21st Century by Nicholas Dames. You don't have to read the whole book—just explore its history of chapters and how they developed across different cultures and forms of storytelling.
Writing Excuses at Gen Con! 
At GenCon this year, we’re hosting “Network the Gathering” along with the Ray Bradbury Center and Maurice Broaddus on Thursday, July 30th at 8pm at Ballroom 4 in the Marriot. You can get a ticket here!
WAITLIST for our Final WXR Cruise! 
Our final WXR cruise is sold out, but you can join our waitlist here!
Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, DongWon Song, and Erin Roberts. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.
Join Our Writing Community! 
Writing Retreats
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Our Sponsors:
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations

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What makes a scene feel like a scene? This week, we unpack one of storytelling's most basic building blocks. Our hosts explore where scenes begin and end, how they differ from beats, and why framing and narrative purpose matter more than rigid definitions. We also explore practical prompts for troubleshooting scenes that aren't working and discuss how structure and instinct can work together. 
Homework:
Take one or two scenes from something you've written. Using whatever scene framework works for you, identify the who, what, where, when, why, how, and the vibe of each scene. Then change one element and rewrite the scene to see how that change affects it.

WAITLIST for our Final WXR Cruise! 
Our final WXR cruise is sold out, but you can join our waitlist here!
Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, DongWon Song, and Erin Roberts. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.
Join Our Writing Community! 
Writing Retreats
Newsletter
Patreon
Instagram
Threads
Bluesky
TikTok
YouTube
Facebook

Our Sponsors:
* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com
* Check out Talkiatry and use my code talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy