Writing Excuses

21.23: Barrier Breaking: Interruptions

In this episode, our hosts explore one of the most persistent barriers to writing: interruptions. From family members and pets to emails, meetings, fatigue, and neurodivergence, they discuss how disruptions can derail creative focus—and how writers can build systems to work with them instead of against them. The conversation touches on hyperfocus, ADHD, task-switching, and the emotional cost of being pulled out of the zone. Practical strategies include leaving “breadcrumbs” to re-enter a project, using phone settings and routines to protect writing time, and adjusting expectations around productivity. Rather than trying to eliminate interruptions entirely, we encourage writers to understand their habits and create sustainable ways to return to the work. Homework Practice handling interruptions in a low-stakes environment by setting a series of alarms for 5, 7, 9, and 15 minutes while you write. Each time an alarm goes off, leave yourself a quick “breadcrumb” note about what you were working on, take a short break, and then return to writing when the next timer starts. The goal is to get better at re-entering your work after interruptions so everyday disruptions feel less frustrating. Final WXR Cruise!  Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here [https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/]! Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, Erin Roberts, 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 [https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/] Newsletter [https://writingexcuses.com/#newsletter] Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/WritingExcuses] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/writing_excuses/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@writing_excuses] Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/writingexcuses.bsky.social] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@writingexcuses] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@WritingExcusesPodcast] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/WritingExcuses] Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations [https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

21.22: The Order of the Telling

*Time-Sensitive* Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here [https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/]! This week, we are talking about the order in which we present information to the reader as contrasted with the order in which events actually progressed in the universe of this story and why those things might be completely different. We are joined by Margaret Dunlap as we explore nonlinear timelines with examples from novels, television, film, anime, and interactive fiction. We discuss how non-chronological storytelling can build tension, reveal character, and control the flow of information. The conversation highlights how writers can use flashbacks, parallel timelines, and carefully placed revelations to reshape a reader’s understanding of events. Our hosts also talk about the emotional power of structure, noting that nonlinear storytelling can shift a story from “what happens next?” to “how did we get here?” or “what does this mean now?” Margaret and our hosts share practical strategies for keeping timelines organized, including notes, spreadsheets, and tracking information arcs.  Homework:  Find a story—a TV episode, movie, or book—that experiments with nonlinear storytelling. After experiencing it once, revisit it and map where information shifts: what characters know, what the audience knows, and how those changes affect your understanding of what comes next. Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, Erin Roberts, and DongWon Song. 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!  Writing Retreats [https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/] Newsletter [https://writingexcuses.com/#newsletter] Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/WritingExcuses] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/writing_excuses/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@writing_excuses] Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/writingexcuses.bsky.social] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@writingexcuses] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@WritingExcusesPodcast] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/WritingExcuses] Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations [https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

21.21: Rhythm and Words

*Time-Sensitive* Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here [https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/]! Today, we’re continuing the conversation on sequencing by focusing on rhythm—how the musicality of language shapes pacing, emphasis, and emotional impact. Our hosts explore how sentence length, stress patterns, sound, negative space, repetition, and even page layout influence the way readers move through a story. They discuss poetic meter (iambs, trochees, spondees), examples from Shakespeare, hip-hop, comics, and modernist literature. They posit that rhythm is not just for poetry: it’s a powerful storytelling tool that can create emotion, draw attention, and increase readability.  Homework: Choose a piece of music you love and pay close attention to its rhythm: where does it speed up or slow down? What gets emphasized, and how does the pattern shape emotion? Then take a piece of your own writing and experiment with using that same rhythmic structure in a descriptive passage to see how it changes the feel and movement of the prose. Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, Erin Roberts, 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 [https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/] Newsletter [https://writingexcuses.com/#newsletter] Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/WritingExcuses] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/writing_excuses/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@writing_excuses] Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/writingexcuses.bsky.social] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@writingexcuses] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@WritingExcusesPodcast] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/WritingExcuses] Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations [https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

21.20: Sequencing from Mega to Micro

Today, we explore why writers place information in the order they do. From broad-to-narrow framing and cause-and-effect to repetition, rhythm, and surprise, we discuss how sequencing shapes the pacing, emotion, and clarity of your story. We discuss everything from “windowpane prose” and garden path sentences to recency-primacy effects and the ways readers naturally recognize patterns. Along the way, our hosts highlight how sequencing can guide a reader’s attention, create tension, and reinforce themes.  Homework: Take something you’ve written—or a story someone recently told you—and write it down in its current order. Then rewrite it two different ways: first by completely reversing the sequence of information, and then by arranging it in the most unexpected or “wrong” order you can imagine. Compare how each version changes the reader’s experience. Final WXR Cruise!  Our final WXR cruise is almost sold out, grab your spot before June 4th, 2026 here [https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/]! Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, Erin Roberts, 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 [https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/] Newsletter [https://writingexcuses.com/#newsletter] Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/WritingExcuses] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/writing_excuses/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@writing_excuses] Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/writingexcuses.bsky.social] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@writingexcuses] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@WritingExcusesPodcast] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/WritingExcuses] Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations [https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

21.19: Getting Everything Connected

Today, our hosts discuss how to make every part of your story feel connected through causal chains, thematic resonance, and reader pattern recognition. We take the idea that each action in a story should lead naturally to the next and pair it with how readers instinctively search for meaning and connection (even in randomness). Along the way, our hosts discuss concepts like Edgar Allan Poe’s “unity of effect,” the Kuleshov effect, emergent narrative in games, and the role of thematic consistency in stories that may appear plotless on the surface. They also share techniques for creating narrative momentum, planting meaningful details, and leaving space for readers to actively participate in building the story’s meaning. Homework:  Take a story you’re working on and write each scene on an index card. Shuffle the cards, pick two at random, and write a new scene that could connect them through either a causal chain or a shared thematic effect. Final WXR Cruise!  Our final WXR cruise sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—get your tickets here [https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/]! Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Erin Roberts, 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 [https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/] Newsletter [https://writingexcuses.com/#newsletter] Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/WritingExcuses] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/writing_excuses/] Threads [https://www.threads.net/@writing_excuses] Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/writingexcuses.bsky.social] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@writingexcuses] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@WritingExcusesPodcast] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/WritingExcuses] Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations [https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations] Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]