#writing excuses podcast

[haveyouheardthispodcast]

#writing excuses #writing excuses podcast #arts #poll

[queer-ragnelle]

Brandon Sanderson: “I’ll guarantee to our listeners: If you can learn to do a third person limited, and make it really really good, it won’t matter what your plot is. It won’t matter what your setting is. You will sell that book because you will get to the editors and they will say, ‘They can do character so well, we can fix their plot problems, I can fix their setting problems. Teaching them to do character in a third person limited—essentially teaching them voice—’” Howard Taylor: “The problem is everyone wants to write Science Fiction because they love world building! Brandon Sanderson: “That’s true!” Howard Taylor: “So what you’re telling them is, ‘All right, your world building, that’s not going to get you the job. What’s going to get you the job is learning this bit we’re talking about right now.’” Brandon Sanderson: “Well…world building can get you the job. But this is the guarantee: If the editor opens that first page, and they read one page, which is so beautifully written in a viewpoint that they understand that character perfectly well with one page, they’re going to keep reading. They’re going to want to buy that book.”

—Writing Excuses S1E25: Viewpoint and Tense Part 2

#writing excuses #writing excuses podcast #brandon sanderson #howard taylor #writing #writblr #I have begun listening from the beginning the audio quality isn't as good but the advice is solid #I can 100% confirm what Brandon is saying here bc I've *done it* #character > everything else #now go write ;^) #my post

[the-wip-project]

The WIP project - tension

Hello writerly friends! 

I've been noodling around with a story for which I have characters, exciting and emotional moments, and fragments of plot. That obviously isn't enough to be a story. I find it hard to come up with conflicts and making my characters work through the problems. I'm quick with characters doing some self-therapy and easily wiggle out of any tense moment. 

To learn a bit more and get into the mood, I've been listening to the Writing Excuses podcast https://writingexcuses.com once again (Writing advice podcast with Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler). Especially the recent episodes 18.08 to 18.15 about Writing a Mystery, Conflict, and Tension. 

My favorite of this line-up is 18.14: Heavy Lifting with Microtension: In this episode, the writers talk about the little things we can sprinkle into our stories to reflect on the main conflict. How we can show with small scenes what the core of the conflicts are. Thinking about this, sometimes these kinds of scenes are my favorite in stories. When you see the character balk at someone betting three gold pieces like it is nothing, showing the class difference in the blink of an eye. When you see the world through the character's eye and their perception is just naturally colored by their own life experiences and they have to question that.

Conflict is often difficult for me but when I think about the little differences, the minor points of friction, I think I can handle this easier in the story. The main conflict may be about the world being threatened by this or that, but what is it that makes every day challenging for my character? What are the things they take for granted? What are the misunderstandings that keep reminding them they don't quite fit in?

I recommend listening to these episodes, it might give you some brand new inspiration for your story plot. Make a post about it?

Happy writing!

#the wip project 2023 #conflict #tension #writing excuses podcast

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (12-18 Feb 2023)

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

😊 "List of People Who Disappeared Mysteriously at Sea" (Jen Myers) - nicely eerie short story

😊 In The Market For Murder (Lady Hardcastle Mysteries #2) (T.E. Kinsey, author; Elizabeth Knowelden, narrator) - again, I'm a fan of the breezy 'not-super-serious-about-historical-accuracy-in-the-small-details' tone; I really like that Flo & Lady H have this backstory/history that we only find small bits about here and there

😍 Same As It Ever Was (QuokkaFoxtrot) - 62K, Steddie - EXCELLENT time-loop fixit AU

🥰 Cabin Pressure - Series 1: Abu Dhabi to Fitton (John Finnemore, author; Stephanie Cole/Roger Allam/Benedict Cumberbatch/John Finnemore, voice cast) - entertained again by the crew of MJN Airlines

😍 Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Steve a Match (BlueSimplicity) - 209K, shrunkyclunks - omegaverse (but fairly nontrad, no mpreg) - the slow burn tag is not inappropriate but also it kind of doesn't FEEL that slow! deep worldbuilding, excellent epistolary component, incredible OC's, the differences/subversions of trad omegaverse tropes gave me clowfish AU vibes, which I loved

😍 Will Wonders Never Cease (PorcupineGirl) - 56K, zimbits AU, You've Got Mail/She Loves Me fusion - magic's real, Bitty's a tech witch with a very cute familiar - read this in one sitting and my face hurt when I was done from smiling so much

🥰 Luke and Billy Finally Get a Clue (Cat Sebastian) - novella, set in 1953; to paraphrase the official description: two best friend pro ball players finally figure their shit out, featuring: inclement weather, only one (real) bed and some hurt/comfort. Technically this is set in the Cabot Universe but there are zero Cabots in this one. Cat continues to score home runs on vibes alone. I love her books so, so much!

💖💖 +189K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

I Want You to Find Me (PorcupineGirl) - Check Please!: zimbits, 23K - canon-divergent AU where Bitty's a camboy that catches Jack's attention (while also still being his former teammate and all)

Ruin me (rainbow_nerds) - Stranger Things: steddie, 11K - absolutely cannot get enough of a reunion/2nd chance fic!!!!! fluffy AF!

Critical Feline Mass (Kryptaria, zooeyscigar) - MCU: stucky, 39K - no-powers AU where they're both retired military, Steve rents an apt to a still-struggling-to-reintegrate Bucky & sparks (and feelings) fly. also there are a lot of adorable kittens.

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

Tom Scott & Gavin Free - "We tried the Hot Ones sauces. It was painful."

Queer Historical Romance panel with KJ Charles, AL Lester & Lex Croucher presented by The Portal Bookshop

Poker Face - s1, e5-7

Our Flag Means Death - s1, e8-10

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

⭐ Vibe Check - NFL = National Fenty League

Digital Folklore - Monsters and Mental Healthcare - Vivian Asimos & Kathleen Hale

The Sporkful - Alan And Arlene Alda Bonded Over A Fallen Rum Cake

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - The Henry Miller Memorial Library

You Must Remember This - 1984: "Vioporn," Body Double and Crimes of Passion (Erotic 80s Part 7)

Switched on Pop - “Flowers” and the art of the response song

Digital Folklore - Hidden Meanings (Haunted Videogames, ARGs, & Folk Groups)

Strange Customs - Katie Lowes and Adam Shapiro—The Rock

It's Been a Minute - Unlocking desire through smut; plus, the gospel of bell hooks

⭐ Vibe Check - There’s Dog Years, and Then There’s Queer Years

ICYMI Plus - The Internet’s Black Emo Renaissance

99% Invisible #525 - The Chinatown Punk Wars

⭐ Fated Mates - S05.22: Trailblazer K.J. Charles

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Pushkin’s Duel

Welcome to Night Vale #222 - Makarov the Magical

Shedunnit - Bonus: Tana French on Josephine Tey

Fated Mates - S05.14: Band Sinister by KJ Charles

Writing Excuses - 18.07: Deep Dive into THE SPARE MAN

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Cactoblastis Memorial Cairn

Writing Excuses - 18.05: An Interview with Mary Robinette Kowal

Ologies - Melaninology (SKIN/HAIR PIGMENT) with Tina Lasisi

You Must Remember This - 1985: Fear Sex. Jagged Edge & AIDS (Erotic 80s Part 8)

Endless Thread - The Journeys of Two Russian Anti-War YouTubers

Strong Songs - From Bach to Miles Davis, with Emily Reese

You're Dead To Me - Early Medieval Papacy

It's Been a Minute - Kelela's guide for breaking up with men

Dear Prudence - My Partner Might Be in Conversion Therapy. Help!

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Rihanna

The Celtic Spirit

my 'Thumbs Up' playlist

Tropical Dance Pop

Hi-Scores

#sunday reading recap #bookgeekgrrl's reading habits #bookgeekgrrl's soundtracks #fanfic ftw #the guest appearances in poker face have been *chef's kiss* #vibe check podcast #fated mates podcast #atlas obscura podcast #switched on pop podcast #99% invisible podcast #you're dead to me podcast #writing excuses podcast #shedunnit podcast #welcome to night vale #digital folklore podcast #the sporkful podcast #ologies podcast #you must remember this podcast #endless thread podcast #strong songs podcast #icymi podcast #it's been a minute podcast #strange customs podcast #dear prudence podcast #rihanna #fan artists are a *gift*

[plan-3-tmars]

"You're Just Sitting On The Train" - Double MV Analysis

There's a conversation between the two main character's in a podcast I love called Red Valley which reminds me of the imagery in Double.

"You know when you're on a train, and it's held up, and you're just stuck in the middle of a field while they get the leaves off the line or whatever, and you're going to be hopelessly late, there might be awful consequences to get stressed about but... there's literally nothing you can do about it. It's not your fault. Hopefully you've got a book or something. You're just sitting on the train."

The conversation in context with the scene is about being able to put your problems and stresses, like being late for work, on someone else's shoulders. Let them take responsibility for what's going on so you can feel some relief. It got me thinking about Mikoto and Orekoto (who I'm just going to call John thanks to Neoplasm) and I want to talk about what I think the meaning of it is!!

Trains have many, many different meanings - like almost a ridiculous amount of different interpretations can be made - but I think the meanings that are the most important while talking about Mikoto are trains representing the passage of time, destiny and loneliness.

Loneliness:

While on a train, or waiting for one, you are surrounded by people. However as shown here, most keep their head down and don't speak unless spoken too. It gives a sense of loneliness, you are surrounded by people yet completely alone.

I think this could apply to Mikoto's situation and was possibly a stress factor for him. It is implied from his T1 interrogation questions that Mikoto was popular enough, knowing a lot of people either now or back in high school, but he doesn't seem to open up to any of them. He lies to his mother that everything's okay in their phone call and bottles up his stress. Because of this he is dependant on John to function : "But if you persist, I guess it's my job to keep things on an even keel."

The Passage of Time:

This shot showcases how long the train actually is, it flies through each carriage insanely fast, blurring slightly from the speed alone.

It's been extremely clear since T1 that Mikoto suffers heavily from dissociative amnesia, something that is a very common symptom of DID, and I think the fact this shot blurs could be representing that.

Trains representing time and how humans view the passage of time is probably one of the most popular ways they appear, we tend to think of time as one thing that moves forward constantly in a straight line, similar to an uninterrupted train on a train track, but for Mikoto (and John) time is blurry, hazy. It may seem like things move too fast to keep track of (pun not intended) or individuals with DID can sometimes describe it as feeling like you're missing hours, fronting in a place or room you know you weren't in before and being unaware of the events that led up to you getting to this point.

This feeling of missing hours is relevant to this specific scene as after the camera moves through the train the first person we see is Mikoto - not John, who was in the doorway.

Destiny:

Trains are always headed to a specific location so they can also be associated with life's journey, or in other words, fate and destiny.

Both Mikoto and John are shown as the passengers on their train, not the conductor. They are not in control over life's events, just sitting on the train and this is extremely stressing - especially for Mikoto. John says things like : "another day with that hardly barely there of a smile // You're going to break // You're overdoing it, you're already broken". Mikoto seems to find it hard to deal with life's events, aka the train ride, and perhaps feels like the end destination is unattainable at times of stress.

This point is stressed further imo by the fact that we can't see outside. The windows of the train are either white or black for the majority of the MV, sometimes light or 1 image makes itself known but never a full image of what's actually outside.

Bonus: The Train's Maps!

The map's of the train are shown glitched out, also possibly hinting to the feeling of the train's final destination being unattainable, or could also be referencing hazy memories, but I think this specific detail is about John.

We see the maps glitching out when John sings the lyric : "I don't even know the reason why I'm here." I think the maps glitching could represent the feeling of the loss of purpose.

John was 'born' in order to protect Mikoto, to help carry the burden of whatever is stressing him so much, yet instead of helping Mikoto he ended up being scared of him ("hey, now I saved you right? So why in the hell are you crying?") and it was John's actions that landed them in Milgram - an environment that Mikoto finds extremely stressing, to the point of there being a chance he goes dormant in T3.

Trains are created to arrive at a certain destination, so a train with no idea where it's going (glitchy maps) has lost its purpose.

Despite being an alter 'born' to protect, John has accidently caused Mikoto more harm when he tries, so he questions his role in the system.

Edit: Journey into the Subconscious

After staring at the MV a couple more times I think there's one more train theme I forgot to mention that fits here too, which is that trains can sometimes represent a journey into the mind.

I think there's a chance that the train could represent the system as a whole, or more specifically headspace. The only people on the train are John and Mikoto and the fact we never see what's outside gives a sort of surreal, dream like atmosphere, almost as if this was happening in an environment with no psychical appearance.

The lyrics sung in Double seem to be more directed at Mikoto than the actual audience, and from the last line "I'm so sorry" we can deduce that this song is something of an apology and explanation of John's actions that he wants Mikoto to hear.

#im not rlly 100% certain on any of these points but i wanted to throw them out here to see what others think #also just wanted to write atleast 1 thing on Double because god damn it was SO COOL #also i am in no way an expert on DID - any info here is based on my own research so if there are any inaccuracies pls lmk!! #also yes thats another podcast referance in my milgram analysis. i like sprinkling them in when i find the excuse to talk about them #also sorry for calling orekoto john but im sticking with it cuz that reminds me of john doe from the malevolent podcast #and he is my blorbo #milgram #mikoto kayano #red valley pod

[friarvelune]

Some day you will grow up and learn to lie / just like your daddy did when he told you no one ever really dies

I hope that I'm not there when you realize / that those with their nose in the air will never look you in the eye

(toe to toe, streetlight manifesto)

[Image description: two photos of the same drawing, the first one just the inked sketch and the second with color from colored pencils, of Lord Sterling Whitetower from Inn Between. He is a man with an athletic build, slightly pointed ears, medium brown skin, and short, curly, dark brown hair. He is wearing silver plate armor with a blue cloth wrap and a belt with a scabbard around his waist, and is holding a simple broadsword and a shield with the symbol of St. Cuthbert. His eyes are closed. The color drawing has a silver D&D dice on each corner of the page. End of image description.]

#inn between #inn between podcast #lord sterling whitetower #sterling whitetower #inn between art #my art #making the rounds through posting art of the gang captioned with lyrics from songs off my playlists for them #there's better songs for sterling but i very specifically did not put the red mark on his shield #so i couldn't use any of the lyrics from later songs #i will do another one someday. my 'in league with dragons' sterling art will be fucking heartbreaking just u wait. #this was mostly an excuse to figure out how armor works. i didnt figure out how armor works but i think it looks okay? #those silver dice are what i use to roll for him when i'm writing fight scenes in fic fun fact #also i gave up on trying to take a picture that accurately reflects the colors. that's the best i could do im sorry #okay byyyyye hope u like it! <3

[fictionadventurer]

If you're still doing this: top five podcasts OTHER that Presidential (I finished it two weeks ago 😁)

Unfortunately, I don't listen to many podcasts aside from Presidential (so thrilled you listened to it!), so I don't have too many options for this list.

Writing Excuses: Podcast about writing sci-fi and fantasy hosted by Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler, Dan Wells, and (eventually) Mary Robinette Kowal. I don't much like what the podcast has become with the new rotating roster of guest hosts, so I don't listen to it much anymore, but for a few years, I listened to this frequently and it taught me a lot about writing (my ideal era is roughly around Seasons 6-11). It's still the template for my ideal podcast format--several hosts, so you get multiple perspectives and voices, but with short episodes that stay on topic instead of turning into a drawn-out gabfest.

American History Tellers: An American history podcast that I found shortly after finishing Presidential. It tends to tell stories in 3-8 episode arcs about different eras of American history, with frequent interludes that provide cinematic retellings of historical moments, complete with sound effects. So far I've listened to an episode about Prohibition (which interviews the host of Presidential), the arc about Andrew Jackson, and an episode about Yosemite National Park, all of which I thought were excellent.

Story-a-Day Podcast: Another writing podcast, focused on short fiction in all genres. This one's more business-focused than I like, so I don't listen often, but every once in a while, I find an episode that provides insights that upend my ideas of writing.

K.M. Weiland's Writing Podcast: I do not get along with her hyper-structured story-writing method. But when I needed a break from Writing Excuses, I'd sometimes listen to an episode and find something worthwhile there.

Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year: These are at the bottom of the list because I haven't actually listened to these yet, but they come highly recommended from family members who have listened to them, and the pieces I've heard sound excellent. Bible in a Year might be a bit of a harder sell for me, because Father Mike reads really fast, but the one episode of Catechism in a Year left me almost overwhelmed with excitement over how my readings about history and philosophy fit in with the Catholic ideas of how we're supposed to engage with public life.

#answered asks #podcasts #adventures in writing #writing excuses #catholic things #unfortunately i listen to mostly audiobooks these days so these are pretty much *all* of the podcasts i listen to #(aside from a few history ones i tried an episode of and forgot immediately)

[green-eyes-and-orange-ties]

5am, Lakehouse

Inspired by V Black's delivery of "...to hold you" in ep1.12 (like their talent just Takes.Me.Out.Every.Time) & by my cat needing to be closer than physics will allow before she'll sleep

The sunlight bounced from the lake playing across Sebastian's skin. Angelo watched the patterns form and dissipate. He watched as the sun gently wash through Sebastian's hair, creating an array of colours before running off again.

Sebastian twitched as he fought against something in his sleep, a dream? A memory perhaps? Nothing good.

Angelo reached out; pausing. An unseen moment of hesitation.

A rush of warmth and affection radiated out from the point of contact and flooded through him. Angelo closed his eyes, allowing himself this.

Angelo pulled him closer to his chest.

He could feel the warmth of Sebastian's back along his forearm and the softness of his hair between his fingers.

Pulling him closer.

Sebastian's hair brushed his cheek as his forehead pressed against Angelo's neck. Angelo could feel his heart reaching though it's cage attempting to hold Sebastian itself.

Closer.

Angelo could feel Sebastian's breath from parted lips cross his collar bone. Slowing with each exhale, the tension previously held ebbing with each sigh. An arresting surrender.

Sebastian shifted against Angelo, he felt an arm drape across his side and a hand against his back. It was Angelo's turn for his breath to hitch as his heart fall away somewhere within.

Angelo closed his eyes against time and wished this moment could be an eternity.

#Ficlet Friday #another thing literally no one asked for #apparently i cant let Seb even sleep peacefully ... ooop #named bc i wrote this around 5am watching water patterns on my ceiling #my dyslexia is always worse before coffee so please excuse any typos ect #PeaceMessage #Sebangelo #night shift podcast #nsp #sebastian fen #angelo volta #i have got another Lemon Boys thingy but it got kinda longer than expected ... so am debating AO3 ... #idk Beans still feels weird using other peoples characters but at least im writing again so theres that

[itsjaywalkers]

fucked up roadtrip??? please say more!!<3

hi kat dear <333

okay so this one has been only an outline for WEEKS now, probably even months, and idk why bc i love the concept and i can't wait to write it

it's a horror au??? loosely based on a horror podcast i love (the left right game) and that i recently listened to again. in fact!! i remembered about it bc of @grimjobs fic which i have in my tbr list and i CANNOT wait to read and scream to them about it

anyways the general concept of the podcast is: a journalist (alice) disappears after going to visit a man obsessed with the paranormal (rob) that she was going to interview and write an article about. this happens bc she joins him in what i like to call the most fucked up roadtrip known to making (and hence the title of the wip), which starts with a game!! the left right game!! and you play by getting inside your car to take a drive, taking a left, then the next possible road on the right, and then the next possible left. you repeat the process endlessly until you end up somewhere........... new :)

the story follows what happened to alice while on the road, alternating between her and tom, who is an old friend of alice's from uni and who, for some reason, received the recordings of alice's investigation and is trying to find her!!

i'm probably gonna change the storyline tho and play a little with the concept of the game and the "road" !! but it's gonna be gory and creepy and generally fucked up!!!

it isn't gonna focus too much on romance, but the main ship will be jegulus (with a bit of an age gap). there's also gonna be evan and pandora as twins and wolfstar!! and maybe rosekiller/pandalily?? idk i'm still thinking about it

#thank u for asking about this one i really should start writing it #instead of just playing around with the outline #and using it as an excuse to listen to the podcast #god i love it so much i can't believe it's been years since i first heard it #wip game #kat tag #<333 #fic: fucked up road trip

[the960writers]

How do you write the middle of a book? How do you end your book? How do you know what to write next? This week, our hosts —who all work as a writers and publishers (and are sometimes teachers and puppeteers and many other things)— talk through how they have written the middle of their books.

The middle is where most of the story takes place. How do you keep track of your characters and plot? How do you bring it toward an end, and stick the landing? Well, we’ve got some ideas. And some advice to help you write the middle of your novel. Or short story. Or play. Or really… anything. 

#the big swampy middle #the soggy middle #second act #writing advice #writing excuses #podcast

[odd-kid-42]

If the dndads cast moves to Tumblr, I’m going to start firing some rent-lowering gunshots.

#dndads #I know it’s mostly teenagers now and you want to harass them about their characters #but I’m too old for +30 year olds edgelord humor and lack of writing ability #starting with Will playing a Nazi in 2017 and Beth May including the shoah in a poem about Christmas in 2014 #still making lizard conspiracy theory jokes in 2021? in my podcast? more likely than you think #it’s embarrassing try writing better instead of coming to Tumblr to be praised #excuse me Will played a nazi in 2007 he was younger and nazis were cool then /s

[wickedhawtwexler]

i’m giving being a podcast girlie a second shot

#listening to the writing excuses podcast on my way to violin lessons #we will see how it goes #m.txt

[soleil-in-retrograde]

So I want to reccomend one of my favorite podcasts for writing, whether it's original fiction or fanfiction:

A rotating cast of published authors from different fields including traditional novels, tabletop rpg, and comics, come on and discuss craft, behind the scenes, and give you assignments and book reccommendations. I discovered quite a few books I like through this podcast and I like to keep some of the advice in mind when writing.

#writing #recs #podcasts #writing excuses

[hastthouconsideredthetetrapod]

Quickrent before you say con out quick rent Friends Friends week rent sure Because I can God sure bro to you by voice to text

#switched to writing uh what i was going to say #yeah okay Just hate going to people for advice and being told i Am “Unfocused” what does that meannnnn #ok so if '' searching for purpose '' is a waste of time and an excuse and i should just accept what ive got and work but if i come across a #mental block distracting me from my work it's because i '' haven't got a set purpose '' hmmm #this doesn't matter it's my imaginary response to two women on a podcast i found annoying #i didnt go to Them for advice but they replicated those who i have gone for advice to

[hillbilly---man]

it's not even like a creative block or lack of inspiration or anything... I just can't will myself to do anything productive after work

And weekends are for rest so working on a weekend feels like a waste 🤪

If I could write on my phone it would eliminate so much of my problem but the idea of typing anything longer than this post using my thumbs preemptively makes my hands go numb lol

#it's not even all saiki fanfic or the blanket.. I've had a fan script for my favorite podcast like 1/5 written since 2020 #thank goodness i picked an obscure disaster to write a script about because otherwise theyd have done the topic already #this isnt so much of a complaint as it is an excuse

[becaexists]

I am SO re-listening to the finale tomorrow it was amazing and so so good so much information I feel like I barely processed it all because I wasn't stopping to re-listen to parts as I went bc I was in a rush, but ahhhhhh it was so good and so well made

#night shift podcast #losing my mind at the minor love confession #I hope we get to see more of SebAngelo next season 👀 #I'm tots writing about Sebastian waking up in hospital to Angelo at his side #looking down at him with such love and relief in his eyes #I just want more excuses to write about them kissing hehe #night shift finale #night shift pod