Writing Excuses » Dan Brown http://www.writingexcuses.com Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:51:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 2008-2011 Dragonsteel Entertainment howard.tayler@gmail.com (Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler) howard.tayler@gmail.com (Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler) Writing books 1440 http://www.writingexcuses.com/graphics/cover_small.jpg Writing Excuses http://www.writingexcuses.com 144 144 15 minutes long because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart. Fantasy Novelist Brandon Sanderson, science-fiction cartoonist Howard Tayler, and horror writer Daniel Wells discuss writing techniques in a fast-paced, 15-minute format. writing, books, how, to, write, Brandon, Sanderson, Howard, Tayler, Dan, Wells, Mary Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler howard.tayler@gmail.com no no Writing Excuses 4.7: Q&A with James Dashner http://www.writingexcuses.com/2010/02/21/writing-excuses-4-7-qa-with-james-dashner/ http://www.writingexcuses.com/2010/02/21/writing-excuses-4-7-qa-with-james-dashner/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:32:42 +0000 Howard Tayler http://www.writingexcuses.com/?p=319 Recorded live at LTUE 2010, here’s a high-energy Q&A session with the Writing Excuses crew and our special guest James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner. We cover outlining vs. discovery writing, the return to the hairy palate, education for writers, killing people, whether or not we want a bagel, pragmatic approaches, authors who don’t inspire us (and by “us” we mean “James Dashner”), and cooking up complex plots.

Note: Brandon says “Episode 6″ but he was totally wrong. This is 4.7, for real.

Audiobook Pick-of-the-Week: James pitches one of his favorites to us — False Memory by Dean Koontz

Writing Prompt: You’re flying in an airplane when a wing falls off… but the plane keeps going.

This episode of Writing Excuses has been brought to you by Audible.

Visit http://AudiblePodcast.com/excuse for a free trial membership*.

*Note: From the Audible website, here are the terms of the free membership. Read the fine print, please!

Audible® Free Trial Details
Get your first 14 days of the AudibleListener® Gold membership plan free, which includes one audiobook credit. After your 14 day trial, your membership will renew each month for just $14.95 per month so you can continue to receive one audiobook credit per month plus members-only discounts on all audio purchases. A very small number of titles are more than one credit. Cancel your membership before your free trial period is up and you will not be charged. Thereafter, cancel anytime, effective the next billing cycle. Any unused audiobook credits will be lost at cancellation.

]]> http://www.writingexcuses.com/2010/02/21/writing-excuses-4-7-qa-with-james-dashner/feed/ 13 0:16:23 Recorded live at LTUE 2010, here’s a high-energy Q&A session with the Writing Excuses crew and our special guest James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner. We cover outlining vs. discovery writing, the return to the hairy palate, education [...] Recorded live at LTUE 2010, here’s a high-energy Q&A session with the Writing Excuses crew and our special guest James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner. We cover outlining vs. discovery writing, the return to the hairy palate, education for writers, killing people, whether or not we want a bagel, pragmatic approaches, authors who don’t inspire us (and by “us” we mean “James Dashner”), and cooking up complex plots. Note: Brandon says “Episode 6″ but he was totally wrong. This is 4.7, for real. Audiobook Pick-of-the-Week: James pitches one of his favorites to us — False Memory by Dean Koontz Writing Prompt: You’re flying in an airplane when a wing falls off… but the plane keeps going. This episode of Writing Excuses has been brought to you by Audible. Visit http://AudiblePodcast.com/excuse for a free trial membership*. *Note: From the Audible website, here are the terms of the free membership. Read the fine print, please! Audible® Free Trial Details Get your first 14 days of the AudibleListener® Gold membership plan free, which includes one audiobook credit. After your 14 day trial, your membership will renew each month for just $14.95 per month so you can continue to receive one audiobook credit per month plus members-only discounts on all audio purchases. A very small number of titles are more than one credit. Cancel your membership before your free trial period is up and you will not be charged. Thereafter, cancel anytime, effective the next billing cycle. Any unused audiobook credits will be lost at cancellation. Career, Conventions, Education, Guest, Live, Plot, Q&A Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler no no Writing Excuses 4.6: Pacing with James Dashner http://www.writingexcuses.com/2010/02/14/writing-excuses-4-6-pacing-with-james-dashner/ http://www.writingexcuses.com/2010/02/14/writing-excuses-4-6-pacing-with-james-dashner/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:39:10 +0000 Writing Excuses http://www.writingexcuses.com/?p=306 This episode was recorded live at Life, The Universe, & Everything 28, The BYU Symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy, and features, among other things, our largest audience ever.

Oh, and James Dashner, our friend and the author of The Maze Runner.

It also features what has to be our roughest start ever. We don’t get to actual content until around four minutes in. Seventeen minutes long, because you’re in a hurry, and we’re pretending this was an object lesson. Also, we love picking on our friend James.

Pacing! What do we do so that people keep turning pages? Which useful tricks do we hate? Which subtle methods do we prefer? And most importantly, what does James Dashner do? We talk about reveals, punchlines, cliffhangers, chapter length, and the “Brandon Avalanche.” Also, we talk briefly about the look on my face, and the roof of James’ mouth.

Audiobook Pick-of-the-Week: Ender’s Game: Special 20th Anniversary Edition by Orson Scott Card

Writing Prompt: Someone opens a door, and finds a wet, seeping cardboard box on the doorstep.

This episode of Writing Excuses has been brought to you by Audible.

Visit http://AudiblePodcast.com/excuse for a free trial membership*.

*Note: From the Audible website, here are the terms of the free membership. Read the fine print, please!

Audible® Free Trial Details
Get your first 14 days of the AudibleListener® Gold membership plan free, which includes one audiobook credit. After your 14 day trial, your membership will renew each month for just $14.95 per month so you can continue to receive one audiobook credit per month plus members-only discounts on all audio purchases. A very small number of titles are more than one credit. Cancel your membership before your free trial period is up and you will not be charged. Thereafter, cancel anytime, effective the next billing cycle. Any unused audiobook credits will be lost at cancellation.

]]> http://www.writingexcuses.com/2010/02/14/writing-excuses-4-6-pacing-with-james-dashner/feed/ 31 Writing Excuses Season 3 Episode 23: How to Write Without Twists http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/11/01/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-23-how-to-write-without-twists/ http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/11/01/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-23-how-to-write-without-twists/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:15:03 +0000 Writing Excuses http://www.writingexcuses.com/?p=173 Question: Can you write a good book without a plot twist?

Better question: is it a good book if your readers predicted what was coming?

Best question: is a podcast about predictable prose itself predictable?

No, seriously… the best question is “how can we use predictable, formulaic plotting effectively?” We actually answer that one.

Writing Prompt: “Sense & Sensibility & Terrorists”

]]> http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/11/01/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-23-how-to-write-without-twists/feed/ 31 0:15:41 Question: Can you write a good book without a plot twist? Better question: is it a good book if your readers predicted what was coming? Best question: is a podcast about predictable prose itself predictable? No, seriously… the best question is[...] Question: Can you write a good book without a plot twist? Better question: is it a good book if your readers predicted what was coming? Best question: is a podcast about predictable prose itself predictable? No, seriously… the best question is “how can we use predictable, formulaic plotting effectively?” We actually answer that one. Writing Prompt: “Sense & Sensibility & Terrorists” Conflicts, Plot Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler no no Writing Excuses Season 3 Episode 20: Plot- vs. Character-Driven Fiction http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/10/11/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-20-plot-vs-character-driven-fiction/ http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/10/11/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-20-plot-vs-character-driven-fiction/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:55:54 +0000 Writing Excuses http://www.writingexcuses.com/?p=147 Larry Correia, whose debut novel Monster Hunter International hit the market this summer, joins us for a discussion of plot-driven vs. character driven fiction. We start with a definition of terms and a discussion of the battlefield. Then we dive into the nuts and bolts of how to write what it is you want to be writing.

This week’s Writing Excuses is brought to you by Audible. Head over to Audiblepodcast.com/excuse for a free audio book and a 14-day trial. And at our recommendation, try out Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.

Writing Prompt: Come up with a plot-driven story, and then try to make it good with boring characters.

]]> http://www.writingexcuses.com/2009/10/11/writing-excuses-season-3-episode-20-plot-vs-character-driven-fiction/feed/ 42 0:15:51 Larry Correia, whose debut novel Monster Hunter International hit the market this summer, joins us for a discussion of plot-driven vs. character driven fiction. We start with a definition of terms and a discussion of the battlefield. Then we dive in[...] Larry Correia, whose debut novel Monster Hunter International hit the market this summer, joins us for a discussion of plot-driven vs. character driven fiction. We start with a definition of terms and a discussion of the battlefield. Then we dive into the nuts and bolts of how to write what it is you want to be writing. This week’s Writing Excuses is brought to you by Audible. Head over to Audiblepodcast.com/excuse for a free audio book and a 14-day trial. And at our recommendation, try out Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Writing Prompt: Come up with a plot-driven story, and then try to make it good with boring characters. Uncategorized Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler no no