Writing Excuses

Writing Excuses has taught fiction craft through 15-minute weekly episodes since 2008, growing to 982+ episodes across 21 seasons. The show is co-hosted by working authors, a literary agent, and a Parsec- and Hugo-winning production team — giving each episode more combined expertise than most full-length podcasts.

What You Get#

• Seasonal curriculum arcs: Each season focuses on a unified theme. Season 21 (2026) deconstructs narrative structure with a "tools, not rules" philosophy — most recent episode 21.19 "Getting Everything Connected" (May 10, 2026) explores narrative coherence through causal chains and reader pattern recognition.
• Short, dense format: The 15-minute limit is structural discipline, not a shortcut. Episodes pack one focused teaching point per episode, making them ideal for listeners who want to absorb and apply, not just listen passively.
• Broad craft archive: 982 episodes cover POV, voice, dialogue, plot structure, world-building, revision, character development, and query letters — one of the most comprehensive free fiction craft libraries available.
• Writing exercises: Every episode closes with a writing prompt tied to that week's topic. The back catalog is searchable, making it a self-directed curriculum for writers working through specific weaknesses.

Who It's For#

• Fiction writers at any stage: The depth accommodates beginners learning structure basics and experienced authors revisiting fundamentals through new frameworks.
• Genre fiction writers: SFF gets disproportionate attention given the hosts' credentials, but the craft principles transfer directly to romance, thriller, literary fiction, and any story-driven work.
• Structured learners: The seasonal arc design rewards listeners who work through episodes in sequence rather than cherry-picking topics.

Pricing: Free on all major podcast platforms. Patreon support starts at $5/month for early access and $10/month for bonus content, live office hours, and Q&A sessions.

Strengths#

• Credentialed host team: Mary Robinette Kowal is a Hugo and Nebula Award winner and former SFWA president. DongWon Song is a practicing literary agent at DMLA. Howard Tayler is a multi-Hugo nominee for Schlock Mercenary. Erin Roberts is a published novelist and SFWA board member. Dan Wells (Brandon Sanderson collaborator and bestselling thriller/horror author) is also currently credited on the host page. Together they cover craft, business, and editorial perspectives unavailable in most author-hosted shows.
• Award-winning track record: Writing Excuses has won Hugo and Parsec Awards. Apple Podcasts rating stands at 4.6/5 from 1,292 listeners — unusually high for a craft-focused educational show.
• Navigable archive: The "New? Start Here" path on the website guides new listeners through foundational episodes before tackling full seasons. 982 episodes across 21 organized seasons are far more searchable than an undifferentiated episode list. Apple's feed exposes 824 of these — use Podbay.fm for the full archive.

Limitations#

• Fiction only: No coverage of publishing strategy, book marketing, launch tactics, or business operations. Writers who want the full indie author toolkit will need supplementary podcasts.
• SFF-heavy examples: While craft principles apply broadly, episode examples skew toward speculative fiction. Literary fiction or commercial thriller writers may find the framing less directly applicable.
• Sequential consumption recommended: The seasonal arc structure rewards listeners who follow in order. Jumping between seasons works but loses the cumulative curriculum effect.

Alternatives#

The Creative Penn Podcast covers craft and business together for indie authors. Novel Marketing Podcast focuses on fiction marketing and platform-building across all genres. Neither replaces Writing Excuses for deep, structured craft education.