Writing Excuses

Writing Excuses has been the go-to craft podcast for fiction writers since 2008, and there's a good reason it keeps showing up on every recommendation list. The format is brilliantly simple: episodes clock in at roughly fifteen minutes, packed tight with actionable advice on everything from story structure to world-building to the business side of publishing. The current host lineup brings together Hugo Award-winner Mary Robinette Kowal, literary agent DongWon Song, editor Erin Roberts, thriller author Dan Wells, and cartoonist Howard Tayler. That spread of expertise means you get perspectives from across the publishing industry in a single conversation. Season 21 has been particularly strong, with episodes breaking down hero's journey alternatives, sequel construction, and how to set reader expectations in your opening pages. Each episode wraps up with a writing prompt you can actually use, which is a nice touch. With over 800 episodes and a 4.6-star rating from more than 1,200 listeners, it has earned its reputation as one of the most efficient writing education resources out there. Fair warning: the ad load has crept up over the years, but the content underneath remains sharp and worth your time. The hosts also rotate in guest instructors from time to time, which keeps the perspectives fresh and prevents any single voice from dominating the conversation.