Writing Excuses

@maryrobinettekowal.com and @sandratayler.bsky.social have put their heads together and come up with a very awesome suite party for worldcon! Book giveaway! Swag! Drinks! and Very Cool People!

Join us on Thursday, the 14th with doors open at 7 PM writingexcuses.com/writing-excu...

Get more from Writing Excuses on Patreon a weekly podcast about the art & business of writing

If you've ever wanted to go deeper after listening to a @writingexcuses.bsky.social episode, our Deep Dives are a good opportunity. On Sunday, August 3 at 5 PM ET, I'll join @nirele.bsky.social to explore exposition, description, and context in writing. Join us here: www.patreon.com/c/WritingExc...

ALSO, don't miss Erin Roberts (@nirele.bsky.social) at @concurrentseattle.bsky.social on Thursday, the 14th at 2:30 PM for a panel on Music and Monsters: A Sinners Panel!

Hellooo Bluesky Friends! Want to meet up at Worldcon? we'll have "I am Out of Excuses" badge ribbons at any panel a host is at! Also check out our fan meetup or suite party! writingexcuses.com/writing-excu...

We're so very grateful for the support from our friends at @writingexcuses.bsky.social, a crucial part of @fiyahlitmag.bsky.social's longevity. Y'all show them some love AND level up your craft! 🤝🏾

This week: C.L. Clark stories in Uncanny with bonus analysis from Writing Excuses!

Hard to beat this combination! Read / listen along with us!

(Links follow)
@clclark.bsky.social @uncannymagazine.bsky.social @writingexcuses.bsky.social

I'm in a planning meeting right now with the @writingexcuses.bsky.social hosts, and we're discussing the episodes for the 2026 season.

These are gonna be so much fun.

Graphic for the June 24 event featuring a live recording of the Writing Excuses podcast. Graphic has Writing Excuses and Loft logos with some audio icons including dialogue bubbles and a microphone.

Join us June 24 for this special live recording of @writingexcuses.bsky.social

@nirele.bsky.social ‬
@dongwon.bsky.social @maryrobinettekowal.com @howardtayler.bsky.social ‪‪‪

loft.org/events/writi...

One of the episodes we're recording live will teach you how to become good at conversational storytelling, and OH BOY is it gonna be fun because I have this whole plan about how to do it wrong for you.

Join @howardtayler.bsky.social @maryrobinettekowal.com @nirele.bsky.social and @dongwon.bsky.social tomorrow in Minneapolis!

Join us at the Loft in Minneapolis for a live podcast recording on June 24th at 7 pm. We will be recording episodes from our upcoming season and a Q&A episode from audience questions!

loft.org/events/writi...

blue background with faint cursive and a heading that says ZOOM Q&A with arrows pointing to two images of the Q&A hosts. Chuck Tingle and DongWon song. Underneath that is a black border with white words that say tonight on patreon, 8 pm eastern. In the right corner is the writing excuses logo.

Tonight you have a fantastic opportunity to chat with and ask all your burning questions of @chucktingle.bsky.social and @dongwon.bsky.social for our May Patreon Q&A! If you haven't used up your free trial yet, now is the time to do so! www.patreon.com/c/WritingExc...

Sail with me on the @writingexcuses.bsky.social cruise. On May 31, prices will be increasing, and tickets are already more than 2/3 sold out. I'll lead a week-long masterclass on storytelling, and the brilliant @nirele.bsky.social will also be joining us. Learn more at writingexcuses.com/retreats/

4/4 Taught by @maryrobinettekowal.com

"Short Story Practicum"
"Find the Story Path From the Idea"

3/4 Taught by @dongwon.bsky.social

"Live World Building - From Theme to Culture"
"Live World Building - From Material to History"

2/4 Taught by @sandratayler.bsky.social

"Learning to Believe in the Value of Your Own Work"
"Maintaining Creative Momentum as a Writer"

Hey, bluesky, we just finalized our retreat workshops for our MN retreat. Which one would you be most excited for? 🧵 1/4

PS. Tickets still available! We'd love to see you there: www.tickettailor.com/events/writi...?

A poorly drawn (but good for me!) living room scene done with blue ballpoint pen on a pad of lined paper. There's a fireplace with a mirror on top, then a lamp and a comfy chair. Finally there's a huge flower in a pot which bookends the scene opposite a tiny flower on the fireplace mantel.

I've never done any kind of drawing, but I just started doodling and it's so fun and relaxing.

Also, it feels so human. What makes it interesting is all the mistakes.

Btw, thanks @howardtayler.bsky.social for the gentle push.

@writingexcuses.bsky.social

@writingexcuses.bsky.social is my favorite resource for the #WritingCommunity because they've covered everything about the craft, the mindset, and the business of writing at some point. Whatever you're working on, they probably have an episode on that!

image of writing excuses logo and author headshot of Mary Robinette Kowal. Text says Patreon Deep Dive. Private Instruction Tier. April 6th, 4 PM ET. Dig Deep into character by pre-listening to three assigned episodes from the podcast. Mary Robinette Kowal will facilitate a discussion, help you brainstorm, and answer your specific questions. Patreon.com/writingexcuses

Ready to have a deep dive on Character? Join @maryrobinettekowal.com on April 6th at 4PM Eastern on the our Patreon at the Private Instruction Tier level.

This is part of our plan to offer more to this tier so you have something to fuel your writing each month!

www.patreon.com/c/WritingExc...

Get your copy TODAY!!!!

Congratulations! I am legitimately impressed! 🎊

Ideas:

Listen to it again? 😜

Come to a retreat! 🏕️

Check out www.justkeepwriting.org with @marshallcarrjr.bsky.social ! 📝

We have some exciting news for you! @howardtayler.bsky.social will be joined by @mauricebroaddus.bsky.social tomorrow at 8PM ET for our Patreon Q&A!!

Want to check it out for just one month? Take advantage of the free seven day trial! www.patreon.com/c/WritingExc...

oh yeah and I suppose a link to where you can find out more information and where to register MIGHT be helpful... 😅 www.tickettailor.com/events/writi...

teal banner with title saying Meet the Hosts of the 2025 (re)Generate Retreat. Writing Excuses Logo in the top right corner. Under the logo a list saying Workshops, Classes, Breakout Sessions, Writing Time, and More. Under the title three images of the hosts with their names under them. Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, and Sandra Tayler. Under the host names the dates of the retreat, June 15th-21st

We are excited to announce that @dongwon.bsky.social will be joining @maryrobinettekowal.com and @sandratayler.bsky.social in Minnesota from June 15th-21st for our 2nd (re)Generate Retreat!

The Martian Contingency Book Tour The Martian Contingency releases on March 18th and there will be multiple opportunities to see Mary Robinette in person during her tour of the US directly following the release. The tour will kick …

Hey Bluesky, did you know host of the podcast, @maryrobinettekowal.com, has a book coming out in a week? AND she'll be on tour with special swag. Check out all the stops below!

maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/the-...

It was SO great to have you join us!

YouTube video by Writing Excuses How do I write in a time of existential dread?

And another question answered by @sandratayler.bsky.social from February's Q&A that feels extremely relevant to us all right now: youtu.be/iWnhRHmqv_Q

Look at one of your characters’ reactions and flip it. If they take an action that escalates a situation, how would that scene play if their reaction de-escalated the situation? Can you still get to the end point that you want?

What do emotional beats and action scenes have in common? They both need to land with your audience for your story not to fall flat. Listen to our latest episode and then check out the homework below! writingexcuses.com/20-09-lens-4...