12.43: Serialized Storytelling

12.43: Serialized Storytelling

Author: Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler October 23, 2017 Duration: 22:26
Your Hosts: Brandon, Piper, Dan, and Howard

We're talking about the extreme long-form serial story here, and how to keep things interesting without forcing the main characters into an absurdly high number of character-developing moments. Brandon leads by aiming the question at Howard, since Schlock Mercenary has been running now for seventeen years (it was only 16 at the time we recorded.) We also talk about how long romance serials avoid "sequelitis" by swapping out the love interests, and how the tools used here apply across multiple styles and genres.

Credits: this episode was recorded in Cosmere House Studios by Dan Dan the Audioman Thompson, and mastered by Alex Jackson Our Sponsors: * Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s a common piece of advice: if you want to be a writer, you should write. But what happens when you’re staring at the blank page, or when the business side of publishing feels like a maze? That’s where Writing Excuses comes in. Each week, hosts Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler gather not just to talk about writing, but to dissect it. They move quickly, respecting your time while packing episodes with actionable discussions on technique, from character voice to plot structure. But this podcast understands that a writing life isn’t just about craft-it’s also a career. So conversations naturally pivot to the practicalities of the business, navigating careers, and sustaining creativity in a demanding field. You’ll hear five distinct professional perspectives blending into a single, focused conversation designed to get you past excuses and back to your work. It’s like a regular, invigorating workshop session delivered directly to you, meant to equip you with tools for both your manuscript and your professional path.
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Duration: 16:43
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13.15: What Writers Get Wrong, with Mike Stop Continues [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:05
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13.14: Character Nuance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:46
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13.13: Character Voice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:40
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13.12: Q&A on Heroes, Villains, and Main Characters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:14
Your Cast: Brandon, Valynne, Dan, Howard You had questions about heroes, villains, and main characters. We have answers! Here are the questions: * How do you make planned power increases not seem like an ass-pull¹? * Wha…
13.11: Writing Secondary Characters, with Charlaine Harris [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:14
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Duration: 23:14
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13.9: Quick Characterization [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:16
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