# Writing Excuses

A podcast by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart.

Feed: https://feeds.redcircle.com/848724f4-c420-4a75-b4be-fa3db1e46546

## Latest episodes

- [21.43: The Not-Final Word on Endings](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/0f34713f5d76) (2026-10-25, 29 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/12c27d2f-d9f1-4ebe-85d8-fee89ffb777d/stream.mp3
- [21.42: Deconstructing the Heroine’s Journey](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/0d51908c15db) (2026-10-18, 24 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/4bf1cfcd-f68d-42c5-98ff-ce12b70b3cf8/stream.mp3
- [21.41: Barrier Breaking- Physical Fatigue](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/862ef0db3c6f) (2026-10-11, 25 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/2a473ef4-8eec-4aee-9c75-e49534f31bd9/stream.mp3
- [21.40: The DREAM of a Structured Character Arc](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/afcb0dc3cb48) (2026-10-04, 21 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/93e51551-0367-47e5-978a-8ad0035a0781/stream.mp3
- [21.39: Write What You Feel](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/11b3fab1bd96) (2026-09-27, 27 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/8fbfc27f-f7f9-4094-b3f4-b3d10df91984/stream.mp3
- [21.38: Rules, Tools, and History’s Fools](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/9806f068a06e) (2026-09-20, 24 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/a3d48b13-ada0-409f-8dd2-fe7409cd20e9/stream.mp3
- [21.37: Barrier Breaking: The World Is on Fire](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/52ae008bc7aa) (2026-09-13, 29 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/9e395f06-d6ed-4dd9-8106-fa9639cbd961/stream.mp3
- [21.36: Twists: How to Make the Unexpected Feel Inevitable](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/f76b66fdd543) (2026-09-06, 24 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/2c05de2d-cfb4-460c-b392-805009ec25e9/stream.mp3
- [21.35: The Four Acts of Kishōtenketsu](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/deabd670d206) (2026-08-30, 22 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/e0f5131a-f2ed-41a3-a86b-19fb2704926d/stream.mp3
- [21.34: Knowing the Distance](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/8e670968f4cf) (2026-08-23, 24 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/e58aa057-16a5-4114-ac3f-dc8471a8ce8d/stream.mp3
- [21.33: When To Shift Gears](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/622e7d6da801) (2026-08-16, 23 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/25a90602-3ccd-4b42-b90a-f5affa9ef905/stream.mp3
- [21.32: Barrier Breaking- Time Constraints](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/9f99a298c97e) (2026-08-09, 28 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/e6a9e909-8df5-4c01-91c8-6e371bce4ad1/stream.mp3
- [21.31: Deconstructing Save the Cat](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/44194969ca0b) (2026-08-02, 28 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/c966d43b-2ba4-46a3-8ffe-a1d92cf7cac4/stream.mp3
- [21.30: Chapter Breaks Soon](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/cf777193fdb9) (2026-07-26, 28 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/98ccabc1-061c-464e-988a-678d02892266/stream.mp3
- [21.29: How to Make a Scene](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/6a15693ef96c) (2026-07-19, 29 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/aae4109c-83a0-4dc6-89e2-0ed6a2200129/stream.mp3
- [21.28: Narrative Transitions](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/25b66b77c43e) (2026-07-12, 27 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/45bb0b05-d451-48dd-b4d5-d53728aee99b/stream.mp3
- [21.27: The Expository Throttle](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/a650299e0654) (2026-07-05, 21 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/e04330e1-089a-4d47-b4a5-175dd62cf557/stream.mp3
- [21.26: Setting the Pace](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/c2c65b9d5398) (2026-06-28, 25 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/5aa129c7-d005-43b8-aec2-913c10dbf8d1/stream.mp3
- [21.25: Follow the Bouncing Ball](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/7e228640f830) (2026-06-21, 26 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/a0df3a36-9630-4fb4-8bf9-949d9ae67461/stream.mp3
- [21.24: Deconstructing the Seven Point Plot Structure](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/becc4c061529) (2026-06-14, 36 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/28e9c336-0ccb-41a3-81d2-1907ac5d093f/stream.mp3
- [21.23: Barrier Breaking: Interruptions](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/3136beff915f) (2026-06-07, 30 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/56f81e57-3d91-4d0b-9398-52c00fbfd68f/stream.mp3
- [21.22: The Order of the Telling](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/c59bfdb895e5) (2026-05-31, 28 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/d87d93d6-afb3-4243-8480-d8c12e8fdbfe/stream.mp3
- [21.21: Rhythm and Words](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/bed60eb1887e) (2026-05-24, 24 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/ba581ab1-88cc-4378-a590-1eb977c889ae/stream.mp3
- [21.20: Sequencing from Mega to Micro](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/d1a58d7de2b9) (2026-05-17, 34 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/66aed636-90e1-4a44-b64b-6e68d3abae60/stream.mp3
- [21.19: Getting Everything Connected](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/092e06647e79) (2026-05-10, 25 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/576a96f1-2f2e-40a7-be09-c23190dda43b/stream.mp3
- [21.18: Deconstructing the Three Act Structure](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/3cf0eda6fae0) (2026-05-03, 32 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/9b59c17d-7184-45b7-90f1-464d5f140e20/stream.mp3
- [21.17: The Up and Down Escalators](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/4a8f1fbf9337) (2026-04-26, 29 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/23e8f78c-d521-4997-a444-a8964fa1a794/stream.mp3
- [21.16: Tension and Release as Call and Response](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/d357796f153e) (2026-04-19, 22 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/00b51f6d-f277-4068-936b-103f7e4ec43d/stream.mp3
- [21.15: Using Contrast for Maximum Effect](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/02ddc18d725c) (2026-04-12, 24 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/4633bf99-c457-45e1-82f7-bad90d3d6988/stream.mp3
- [21.14: Because at First, They Don’t Succeed](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/468868fb1f5f) (2026-04-05, 26 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/ff70ab70-8b30-4090-a089-42f66b9f22ba/stream.mp3
- [21.13: Does The Middle Have To Be Soggy?](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/78bc41932520) (2026-03-29, 25 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/f10c9eb4-d55b-42b0-8446-0e6f0c9b3ca6/stream.mp3
- [21.12: Breaking Down Barriers- Environment](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/1c2600651313) (2026-03-22, 25 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/9fcbd82a-3756-4d43-a113-511b11080480/stream.mp3
- [21.11: The Cold Open- Action](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/8982ca4a1a1f) (2026-03-15, 24 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/f141fe31-c006-4d7f-95f3-4ad81b725bbe/stream.mp3
- [21.10: The Cold Open- Voice](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/29f7102d6a64) (2026-03-08, 25 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/cb4311f1-e074-4bdf-99f6-d757299e59c1/stream.mp3
- [21.09: Grounding The Reader](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/cd4a6bb59e3a) (2026-03-01, 21 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/a587873d-d4e0-4e57-9797-1bfebc6271d6/stream.mp3
- [21.08: Setting Expectations](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/c6915e32a4e3) (2026-02-22, 23 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/9d7ed8d2-04b5-454c-b474-599039eb53c1/stream.mp3
- [21.07: Deep Dive- “With Her Serpent Locks”](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/e186f6d4edd5) (2026-02-15, 24 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/2b4f7697-1b24-43ee-b24e-d83a38ccd275/stream.mp3
- [21.06: Begin and the Beginning](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/fa2b539f7b67) (2026-02-08, 23 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/d7c4f4f8-70d3-4f1e-89ad-5aac5cb4e383/stream.mp3
- [21.05: The Same But Different](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/86d7d11617ca) (2026-02-01, 26 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/2277492f-275f-486a-8984-d8a69a2e7170/stream.mp3
- [21.04: Deconstructing the Hero's Journey](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/b925dc675db6) (2026-01-25, 26 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/179c61c0-329f-4570-929a-413237692879/stream.mp3
- [21.03: Deconstructing Plots](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/a57b71070d5d) (2026-01-18, 21 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/abdd4367-2034-42f0-a3f5-851991237fb0/stream.mp3
- [21.02: My Process is Not Your Process](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/0f5df2625de3) (2026-01-11, 21 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/f9273def-b60c-4cb5-a01d-1346f161daf8/stream.mp3
- [21.01: Welcome to the New Year!](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/1089bd9d3774) (2026-01-04, 35 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/940152af-75c2-4fe7-8ae7-90bbdc288a1c/stream.mp3
- [20.52: 2025 End-of-Year Wrap Up](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/3d8286f0c05d) (2025-12-28, 57 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/a7a5724b-2e20-42fe-9520-18710c721eb1/stream.mp3
- [20.51: Howard Tayler’s Personal Writing Process](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/a203d7503c92) (2025-12-21, 26 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/b750a76a-51da-4711-8806-d5b1f576d03e/stream.mp3
- [20.50: Dan Wells’ Personal Writing Process](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/b08ea78f90d0) (2025-12-14, 26 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/fc81147d-4e1b-4c56-ab91-7c27d81a3757/stream.mp3
- [20.49: Using Tone and Mood](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/8472be3c67e7) (2025-12-07, 26 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/ee5f9dda-00d0-472b-90cd-c63431b9444c/stream.mp3
- [20.48: Now Go Write- How to Pitch Your Work](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/589216b0e762) (2025-11-30, 32 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/c568f952-50f8-464d-b621-34bfa4a9976f/stream.mp3
- [20.47: Now Go Write- All the Eggs in All the Baskets](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/df1bab7cece3) (2025-11-23, 26 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/cb82e8fc-bf15-49bd-8fe0-fa2a9c49ac24/stream.mp3
- [20.46: Now Go Write- Break All The Rules (Part 2)](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/990871441/e8c28ca6e499) (2025-11-16, 18 min): audio https://audio3.redcircle.com/episodes/1654c358-eeeb-490a-abe9-9844b16f8b6f/stream.mp3

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.