Your Hosts: Brandon, Mary Robinette, Dan, and Howard, with special guest Daniel Friend Daniel Friend, who edits SF/F, has worked in election offices, has run for office, and has participated in campaigns. In this episode we talk about the ways elections can be worked into our stories. Credits: This episode was recorded by Joseph Meacham, … Continue reading 15.13: Using Elections in Stories →

• character flaws, 
• Characters, 
• Climax, 
• Plot, 
• Politics

Your Hosts: Piper, Tempest, Dongwon, with special guest Erin Roberts What can we do to be allies to members of marginalized groups? Many of us want to find ways to help others have safe, comfortable places within our communities, but worry about coming across the wrong way. In this episode, our hosts talk about how … Continue reading 15.12: Writing the Other—Being an Ally →

• Ally, 
• OwnVoices, 
• Writing the Other

Your Hosts: Mary Robinette, Piper, Howard, and special guest Cory Doctorow “How do you break in?” is one of those questions we always get asked in some form or another, and it’s also one for which those of us who “broke in” more than a couple of years ago are increasingly unqualified to answer. The … Continue reading 15.11: Digital is Different, with Cory Doctorow →

• Branding, 
• Marketing, 
• Pen Names, 
• Social Media

Your Hosts: Brandon, Victoria, Dan, and Howard We’ve talked in the past about how ideas are cheap, and that it’s execution upon those ideas which is what really matters. In this episode we’ll talk about how we evaluate things over there on the side of the equation where things are cheap and plentiful. Because while … Continue reading 15.10: Evaluating Ideas →

• Ideas, 
• Outlining

Your Hosts: Dan, Dongwon, Piper, and Howard “Should I go self-pub? Should I go traditional? Can I do both? How do I decide where my book fits?” In this episode we’ll cover these, and many more questions as best we’re able. Credits: This episode was recorded by Bert Grimm, and mastered by Alex Jackson Liner Notes: … Continue reading 15.09: Choose Your Own Adventurous Publishing Path →

• Agents, 
• Awards, 
• Editors, 
• Paranormal Romance, 
• Romance, 
• Self-Publishing

Your Hosts: Dan, Mary Robinette, Dongwon, and Howard At WXR 19 we recorded live, and took audience questions aboard the ship. Here they are! (You’ll have to listen to the episode for the answers.) What have you learned in the past year that has improved your craft? When you’re having trouble, how do you know … Continue reading 15.08: Q&A on a Ship →

• Depression, 
• Fight Scenes, 
• Mental Health, 
• POV, 
• Time Management, 
• Writing Career

Your Hosts: Brandon, Victoria, Dan, and Howard How do you create chapters? What are the rules for carving your manuscript into numbered chunks? Is chaptering part of your outline, is it something you discover while you write, or is it something else entirely? In this episode we talk about how we do it, and how we … Continue reading 15.07: Creating Chapters →

• Chapter breaks, 
• Chapter Bumps, 
• First Lines, 
• First Paragraphs, 
• Outlining

Your Hosts: Dan, Mary Robinette, Howard, with special guest Patrick Rothfuss How do you write beautiful prose? How do you set about telling a story with words that sing (and dance, and tell jokes) instead of just conveying information in word-sized chunks? In this episode we talk about how we do it, and how writers … Continue reading 15.06: Prose and Cons, with Patrick Rothfuss →