Writing Excuses

The hosts discuss the role of world-building in short stories and emphasize the importance of focusing on key aspects. They explore the significance of world-building in storytelling and provide examples. The speakers discuss how world-building adds depth to storytelling and the significance of making the world matter to the characters and the reader. They highlight the importance of distinguishing between decorative flourishes and elements that have a deep impact on the story. The hosts also discuss the unique qualities of short fiction and encourage listeners to participate in National Novel Writing Month.

Topics include writing about magic, building believable fantasy worlds, cultural differences in magical systems, surrealism and dream logic, exploring magic in mundane places, and the role of magic in storytelling.

Topics discussed include writing outside of traditional genre classifications, the importance of antagonists and tone, deciding if a short story should become a novel, exploring horror and genre classification, ambiguity and horror in a story, the role of antagonists, and converting a short story idea into a novel-sized concept.

Sandra Tayler, editor and publisher for Schlock Mercenary, discusses turning a hobby into a business. They cover topics like self-publishing, pre-orders, and using Kickstarter. They also touch on Howard's experience with long covid and generating multiple income streams.

The hosts discuss the structure and characters of the book 'Sergeant in Motion' from the Schlock Mercenary series. They explore conflict resolution and the importance of anchoring emotion in storytelling. The podcast also includes an advertisement for HelloFresh and a recommendation for the video game The Sexy Brutal. The speakers discuss ending a project, incorporating callbacks, dynamic elements, character development, and writing resolutions.

Topics discussed include writing the middle and ending of a book, making a book self-contained, complex characters and dark themes, memory manipulation, the role of the antagonist, the importance of tools in art, and a book announcement with a writing assignment for listeners.

The podcast explores the story structure of a book with a major disaster, the weight of world-building, and the cost of death in the presence of immortality. They discuss the significance of 'Mandatory Failure' in the 20-book mega arc and engage in a Q&A with the author. Topics also include power dynamics, apologies, and the challenge of portraying failure. A writing prompt on the aftermath of a major disaster is provided.

The hosts discuss the challenges and importance of the middle section of a story, known as the 'soggy middle'. They also explore the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire and tools for creating narrative momentum. Crafting standalone books in a series is emphasized, as well as using solutions as catalysts in storytelling.

The podcast discusses organizing and managing writing projects, including tools like spreadsheets, databases, and specialized software. They explore the book 'Mountain in the Sea' which envisions rising sea levels and sapient octopi. They talk about monetizing research and prewriting work and using spreadsheets for thematic world-building and character development.

The podcast explores the concept of foreshadowing in writing and how it enhances storytelling. The hosts discuss their favorite foreshadowing tools and techniques, and the importance of foreshadowing for plot reveals. They also review the book 'Babel' by R.F. Kwong, and share personal anecdotes about foreshadowing in their writing processes. The chapter delves into the role of foreshadowing in plot, world building, and character development. Lastly, the hosts provide practical tips on using throwaway gags as foreshadowing.