Writing Excuses

They dig into why middles lose momentum: unclear character actions, thin obstacles, and repetitive scenes. They talk about using “same but different” to keep repeats fresh and letting major events happen earlier so consequences can unfold. They cover shifting which story element drives a scene and making side quests actually change characters or the world.

They explore how your physical space can block creativity, from chair comfort to cluttered sightlines. Sound and silence get a deep dive, including playlists and focus apps. Practical fixes come up, like phone bowls, notification strategies, and quick comfort tweaks. They also cover setting boundaries with household members and a sensory inventory homework to spot what to change.

They debate when kicking off with explosions or fights actually hooks a reader and when it just dazzles. The conversation covers how action must carry voice, worldbuilding, and real stakes beneath the spectacle. They compare film and prose openings and show how POV, small human details, and timing can turn action into meaningful tension.

They unpack how a voice-driven opening hooks readers through cadence, rhythm, and authority. They compare aesthetic voice to mechanical POV and warn against purple prose. They show how voice can filter the right audience and suggest practical techniques like reading aloud, imitating accents, and rewriting scenes in different voices.

They dig into how to place readers quickly by establishing where, who, and genre in the first lines. Sensory cues and small, relatable details get attention. They warn that action without context can overwhelm and show how pairing physical actions with emotion anchors scenes. A FAST technique links focus, action, sensation, and thought to make openings feel immediate.

They explore how openings signal genre, tone, and the emotional ride readers can expect. The hosts explain using small problems and relatable goals to promise bigger stakes. They talk about making and fulfilling tiny promises, letting readers feel clever, and answering quick questions to build trust. They warn against tonal mismatches that break reader expectations.

A birthday-deep dive into a short story’s craft and emotional engine. They explore grounding a tale with myth and familiar patterns, and how delaying details builds momentum. The discussion covers structuring scenes with question words, sensory anchors, and the moment craft becomes internalized.

They explore what makes a strong beginning and why it pulls readers in. The hosts compare openings to hosting a party and discuss tone, control, and carefully chosen details. They warn against starting too early and explain quick rewards that build trust. They also recommend testing openings with a cold slush pile and revising beginnings after the draft is finished.

They unpack how stories stay familiar yet fresh by changing structure, tone, or context. They compare sequels, procedurals, and franchises to show which elements to keep or shift. They explore carrying core questions and authorial through-lines across projects. They discuss spotting repeated motifs, when repetition is intentional, and how personal change can reshape a writer’s work.

A lively breakdown of the Hero's Journey as a flexible storytelling tool. They map departure, trials, apotheosis, and return while warning against rigid formulas. Conversation covers reluctant heroes, forced launches, mentors and their narrative costs. They explore pattern recognition, when the journey fits, and how to satisfy or subvert audience expectations.