Last week we wormcanned “fulfilling promises to the reader,” so this week we’ll tackle the discussion using actual examples. We start with a deconstruction of The Longshoreman of the Apocalypse, which Howard wrote and illustrated in 2008 and 2009. We then spoil the story of the game Borderlands, talking about the woefully-unfulfilled promise made to the player. We also spoil Legion for you, but that film kind of ruined itself. A lot. At any rate, in both of these latter cases we talk about the promises being broken.

Then we talk about how we, as writers, know when we’re making promises to the reader, and what those promises are.

Dan talks about how, in the first draft of I Am Not a Serial Killer, the main character won out in the wrong way, and how he had to go back and fix the ending. He also talks about the biggest complaint anybody has with that book, and how that stems from the plot twist that, to some readers, breaks a promise inherent in the book’s genre. And that leads us into a discussion of Million Dollar Baby and of the first outline of Mistborn, which could have had a very, very disappointing ending.

Audiobook Pick-of-the-Week: The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman, narrated by Adam Grupper

Writing Prompt: Pick a typical promise that a child might make, and use that as the promise you’re making to your readers.

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Writing Excuses 5.19: Fulfilling Promises to Your Readers [ 18:42 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (12195)

Howard here… I’ve learned that it’s a really bad idea to run out for a bio-break between podcasts. When I returned to the packed panel room I could tell that everyone’s attitude towards me was subtly different. It wasn’t until we started recording that I realized Brandon had turned our Q&A panel into a “Stump Howard” panel. Our good friend Eric James Stone joined us for the fun.

As silly themes go, this one works well. So well, in fact, that we went six minutes into overtime. The questions were all good, and yes, according to the rules (of which I was not apprised, I should add in my defense) I got stumped one time. It was the question about making aliens seem alien. Go figure.

Writing Prompt: Start with a device that vaporises water, ala Batman Begins, and turn it into a believable superweapon which is not being used to destroy the world.

Writing Excuses Season 3 Episode 3: Stumping Howard at Conduit [ 21:18 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (11254)

This is the first of a three-part series in which Brandon, Dan, and Howard tell each other (and you, of course) about the most important thing each of them has learned in the past year. We start with Howard, who seems to believe that of all the many things he’s learned about writing in the previous twelve months, the list-topper should be the fact that he is a satirist.

So really the episode is about satire, and how that form differs from other humorous sub-genres. And then we talk about why knowing this is important, and how others can go about learning these sorts of things about their own work.

This week Writing Excuses is brought to you by “Bringing Writing Excuses To You By!”

Writing Prompt: An artist finds a way to improve or perfect the form he or she is working within, and by so doing  unlocks magic.

Writing Excuses Season 2 Episode 30: Things Howard has Learned in the Past Year [ 15:45 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (11804)

Are you a fan of Howard (who isn’t)? Or have you recently been introduced to him via Writing Excuses and want to know more about him and how he became a comic writer? Well you’re in luck because Howard was recently interviewed on Wired’s Geek Dad podcast. So take a listen and enjoy.