20.33: Raising Children as a Metaphor for Writing

Writing Excuses

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

Fiction, Business, Careers

4.7 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 17 August 2025

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Throughout this season, we have been doing a series of episodes that feature different metaphors for writing. Today, we’re talking about raising children and what it can teach us about our own writing practice. It’s common knowledge that parents want their children to grow up to be happy and successful. But the real joy in raising children, Dan and Howard tell us, is watching them express their individuality, and meet these goals (of success and happiness) in very different ways. We talk about the importance of being open to shifts in intention, relationship, and understanding— regarding both people (and kids), but also your own writing.

Homework: If you have a person in your life that you’re mentoring or are friends with, imagine that they are doing something you don’t like. Take a moment to consider: is this actually better than what I had planned or assumed? Try to give them—and your writing— some grace.

P.S. Our 2025 writing retreat (on a cruise! In Mexico!) is over 50% sold out! Learn more and sign up here.

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Dongwon Song, Erin Roberts, Howard Tayler, and Dan Wells. 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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1:00.1	This episode of writing excuses has been brought to you by our listeners, patrons, and friends.
1:05.7	If you would like to learn how to support this podcast, visit www.
1:09.9	www. patreon.com
1:11.8	slash writing excuses.
1:15.0	Season 20,
1:16.5	episode 33.
1:19.4	This is writing excuses.
1:22.1	Raising children as a metaphor for writing.
1:24.8	I'm Mary Robinette.
1:25.9	I'm Don Juan. I'm Dan.
1:27.2	I'm Aaron. I'm Aaron.
1:27.9	And I'm Howard.
	...

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