Writing Excuses Podcast By Mary Robinette Kowal DongWon Song Erin Roberts Dan Wells and Howard Tayler cover art

Writing Excuses

Writing Excuses

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

2008-2023 Writing Excuses LLC. 845972
Career Success Economics
Episodes
  • 20.52: 2025 End-of-Year Wrap Up
    Dec 28 2025

    As our 20th season comes to a close, we reflect on the end of 2025 and a major transition for the show, as Dan Wells steps away from Writing Excuses as a full-time core host. Dan shares the thoughtful, hard-won reasoning behind his decision, while the rest of the team reflects on what his presence has meant to this podcast and our community.

    We recorded the first half of this episode in June and the second half in December 2025. Why is that? Because we wanted to discuss our plans for the rest of the year and later return to see how those plans actually played out—a kind of time capsule for all of us. Along the way, we talk candidly about change, ambition, and the reality of creative lives that rarely move in straight lines.

    Homework:

    1. We've created a publicly accessible Patreon post titled “Thank you Dan Wells” for you, our listeners, to share things you've learned from Dan, appreciation you wish to express, or even your favorite stories about Dan. Go to patreon.com/WritingExcuses and look for this post.

    2. Final Homework From Dan:

    Watch some of the show Twisted Metal (warning: there’s a lot of gore and swearing). If that's not your cup of tea, then check out the interactive novel, The Book of Hungry Names by Kyle Marquis. See what you can learn from these pieces of media—they are master storytellers!

    ANNOUNCEMENTS:

    Last Annual Cruise

    The final WXR cruise* sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—don’t miss your chance to be part of it. Learn more and sign up here.

    *Scholarship applications for our cruise are open now until December 31st, 2025. You can learn more and apply here.

    Call for Writing Breakthroughs

    Have you had a breakthrough in your writing because of Writing Excuses? If so, we want to hear about it. Fill out this Writing Breakthroughs Google Form for a chance to be featured in a WX Newsletter!


    Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Howard Tayler, Dan Wells, Erin Roberts, DongWon Song, and Mary Robinette Kowal (for the first half,. 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: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES
    * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx


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

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

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    Show more Show less
    56 mins
  • 20.51: Howard Tayler’s Personal Writing Process
    Dec 21 2025

    A workflow that made daily writing (and comics) possible—Howard Tayler takes us through two decades of the delightfully eccentric process behind Schlock Mercenary: text boxes in landscape Word, laser-printed pages he inked by hand, and a system that kept comics coming even through long COVID and chronic fatigue.

    The conversation shows how craft can stay constant even as ability, tools, and energy change. Howard shares how he rebuilt his systems to protect his writing time and created processes that served him. He also dives into practical hacks—index cards, banking writing time, moving your desk, and borrowing ideas from other creators. Expect puppy-training metaphors, unexpected tech, and a reminder that satisfaction can be the metric that matters.

    Homework

    Take a stack of index cards and storyboard one scene: on the front draw the panel (stick figures are fine), on the back handwrite the line of dialogue (add a little arrow to mark the speaker). Treat the scene like a comic—sequence the cards, play with the images, and see what visual problems or surprises show up.

    ANNOUNCEMENTS:

    Last Annual Cruise

    The final WXR cruise* sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—don’t miss your chance to be part of it. Learn more and sign up here.

    *Scholarship applications for our cruise are open now until December 31st, 2025. You can learn more and apply here.

    Call for Writing Breakthroughs

    Have you had a breakthrough in your writing because of Writing Excuses? If so, we want to hear about it. Fill out this Writing Breakthroughs Google Form for a chance to be featured in a WX Newsletter!

    Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Howard Tayler, Dan Wells, Erin Roberts, Mary Robinette Kowal, and DongWon Song. 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: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES
    * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx


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

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

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    Show more Show less
    25 mins
  • 20.50: Dan Wells’ Personal Writing Process
    Dec 14 2025

    2 quick reminders: Scholarship applications for our 2026 cruise are open now until December 31st, 2025. You can learn more and apply here. AND early bird pricing for this cruise (going to Alaska in September 2026) ends on February 15th! Get your tickets here!

    This week, Dan Wells opens up about how depression reshaped his writing process—and what rebuilding that process has looked like in the years since. The conversation ranges from tiny, mechanical steps to full-on cognitive reframing, with the hosts comparing notes on mindfulness, spectating, trauma responses, and even puppy-training techniques for rewiring your brain. They explore how environment, routine, and self-compassion can make the difference between staring at a blank screen and finding a way back into the work. Expect honesty, humor, and a lot of practical wisdom for how to care for your mental and emotional landscape while still trying to make art.

    Homework:

    Be kind to yourself—and extend that compassion to at least one person in your life who may be struggling, too. Then take a close look at your own rhythms, spaces, and habits to identify when and where you work best, and experiment with those ideal conditions this week.


    ANNOUNCEMENTS:

    Last Annual Cruise

    The final WXR cruise sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—don’t miss your chance to be part of it. Learn more and sign up here.

    *Scholarship applications for our cruise are open now until December 31st, 2025. You can learn more and apply here.

    Call for Writing Breakthroughs

    Have you had a breakthrough in your writing because of Writing Excuses? If so, we want to hear about it. Fill out this Writing Breakthroughs Google Form for a chance to be featured in a WX Newsletter!


    Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Dan Wells, Erin Roberts, Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, and DongWon Song. 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: https://masterclass.com/EXCUSES
    * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/wx


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

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

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
    Show more Show less
    26 mins
All stars
Most relevant
the older episodes of writing excuses are excellent, and the newer still hold some insight

classic

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