20.19: Cooking as a Writing Metaphor

Writing Excuses

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

Fiction, Business, Careers

4.7 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 11 May 2025

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What does cooking have to do with writing? In this episode, we explore how the creative choices we make in the kitchen—whether it’s improvising with missing ingredients or following a beloved recipe—mirror the choices we make on the page. From frozen dinners to fine dining, we discuss how all forms of creativity have value, how skills can be learned, and how the act of making—food or fiction—is, at its core, an act of nourishment.

P.S. Want to come write with us in 2025?! Our retreat registration is open, and we are starting to fill up! We are going to unlock our creative processes in Minnesota and explore Story Refinement as we cruise down the Mexican Riviera! Learn more here.

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler. 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	The weather. Tomorrow, expect a biting cold front. Hmm, how naughty. I wonder what I'll be
0:06.8	wearing or taking off. The night will be wild and untamed. Expect heavy, lashing rain
0:13.0	that'll soak you to the skin. By Monday, temperatures will rise slowly but surely reaching
0:18.7	their peak in the afternoon.
0:23.0	Not in the mood for miserable weather.
0:25.8	Fly cheaply to Turkey with Sun Express.
0:28.7	Sun Express, nonstop sunshine.
0:30.6	Hey, guess what?
0:34.9	The 2025 writing excuses cruise is over 50% sold out.
0:37.3	During this week-long master class, I'm going to be leading writers like
0:39.4	yourself through a series of workshops designed to give you the tools to take your writing to the
0:43.0	next level. Space is limited, but there is still time to secure your spot. We're going to be sailing
0:49.2	out of Los Angeles from September 18th through 26th. Regardless of where you are in your writing journey,
0:55.4	this event is your opportunity to learn new skills while exploring the beautiful Mexican Riviera.
1:01.5	Whether you're revising a story, reworking a character arc, or revitalizing your plot,
1:06.2	you'll leave more confident in your current story and bolstered by a new set of friends.
1:11.7	Join us on board at writingexcuses.com slash retreats.
1:16.5	This episode of writing excuses has been brought to you by our listeners, patrons, and friends.
1:22.1	If you would like to learn how to support this podcast, visit www.
1:26.1	www.com.
1:28.3	www.
1:29.1	www.
	...

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