20.11: Kit Lit. Q&A Aboard the WX Cruise, with Mark Oshiro, Kate McKean, and Sandra Tayler

Writing Excuses

Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

Fiction, Business, Careers

4.7 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 16 March 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This episode was recorded live at our 2024 Writing Excuses Cruise. (Did you know that we host a writing retreat on a cruise every year!?! You can learn more at https://writingexcuses.com/retreats/.)

While on a boat in Mexico, we were joined by author Mark Oshiro and literary agent Kate McKean. In addition to our hosts, they answered questions that were asked by our cruise attendees. Our answers included things such as how much space a character should take up and how to find the balance between plot-focused and character-focused novels. We also tackled questions about worldbuilding, motivation, and deadlines.

Homework: Ask someone a question about writing, either to learn more about what they're working on or to work through a project of your own.

P.S. Our Writing Excuses cruise is over 50% sold out! Secure your spot today at www.writingexcuses.com/retreats

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Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Dan Wells, Sandra Tayler, Mark Oshiro, and Kate McKean. Our guest was Chuck Tingle. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, guess what? The 2025 Writing Excuses Cruise is over 50% sold out. During this week-long
0:06.7	masterclass, I'm going to be leading writers like yourself through a series of workshops designed to
0:11.4	give you the tools to take your writing to the next level. Space is limited, but there is still
0:16.8	time to secure your spot. We're going to be sailing out of Los Angeles from September 18th
0:21.8	through 26th. Regardless of where you are in your writing journey, this event is your opportunity
0:27.4	to learn new skills while exploring the beautiful Mexican Riviera. Whether you're revising a story,
0:33.5	reworking a character arc, or revitalizing your plot, you'll leave more confident in your current story
0:38.6	and bolstered by a new set of friends. Join us on board at writingexcuses.com slash retreats.
0:46.7	Let's talk about something that might be keeping you up at night, cybersecurity.
0:52.0	According to Vanta's latest state of trust report, it's the number one concern for UK businesses.
0:57.8	That's where Vanta comes in. Whether you're a startup, growing fast or already established, Vanta can help you get ISO-2701 certified and more without the headaches.
1:09.0	And Vanta allows your company to centralise security workflows,
1:12.7	complete questionnaires up to five times faster,
1:15.0	and proactively manage vendor risk to help your team not only get compliant,
1:19.1	but stay compliant.
1:20.8	Stop stressing over cybersecurity and start focusing on growing your business.
1:25.2	For a limited time, our audience gets $1,000 off Vanta at vanta.com slash go.
1:31.3	That's V-a-n-T-A dot com slash go for $1,000 off.
1:36.3	Because when it comes to your business, it's not just about keeping the lights on, it's about keeping everything secure.
1:42.3	This episode of writing excuses has been brought to you by our listeners, patrons and friends. It's about keeping everything secure. Season 20, Episode 11 This is Writing Excuses.
2:05.2	Kidlit Q&A on the Writing Excuses Cruise with Kate McKean, Mark O'Shero, and Sandra Taylor.
2:12.0	I'm Mary Robinette.
	...

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