Today, we’re talking about the “try-fail cycle” and why failure is essential to making the middle of your story actually interesting. It allows readers to follow characters as they try something, fail, adjust, and try again until they finally succeed. Our conversation gets into how failure builds tension and empathy and how you can use “yes, but / no, and” to control your story’s momentum. We also address the difference between barriers and attempts, and how to keep things from feeling repetitive or stalled, whether you’re writing epic fantasy or a quiet coffee shop story.

Homework:

Look at the MICE quotient elements (milieu, inquiry, character, event) in your story and make a list of barriers for each. Then choose a smaller subset of those barriers that work well together, and use them to design try-fail cycles that keep your story dynamic without becoming repetitive or overcrowded.

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Final WXR Cruise!

Our final WXR cruise sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—get your tickets here!

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Erin Roberts, and DongWon Song. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

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Today, we’re taking on the idea of the “soggy middle” and why stories start to lose momentum—often because characters lack clear action, obstacles feel thin, or scenes repeat without meaningful change. We break down how stalled plots, predictable outcomes, and disconnected side quests can make the middle drag, and offer tools to fix it: focusing on what characters are actually doing, using “same but different” to keep repetition engaging, letting major events happen sooner so you can explore their consequences, and ensuring every subplot or detour creates real change in the character or world.

Homework:

Grab a book or short story. Read the first page, a page from the exact middle, and the final page. Track which story threads introduced at the beginning are still active in the middle, and how they evolve by the end.

Locus Magazine Annual Fundraiser (ends April 14th, 2026)

Join us in supporting Locus Magazine– explore the campaign and fantastic rewards for donors online at locusmag.com/igg26.

Final WXR Cruise!

Our final WXR cruise sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—get your tickets here!

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Erin Roberts, DongWon Song, and Mary Robinette Kowal. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

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When writing feels harder than it should, the problem might not be the story— it might be the room. In this episode, our hosts explore how environment shapes process, from desks and chairs to light, sound, and visual clutter. We talk about running through your senses to troubleshoot what’s actually pulling your focus, and how small adjustments (a different chair, a cleaner desk, a bowl for your phone) can make a real difference.

We also dig into noise (everything from industrial playlists to total silence), boundaries with the people you live with, and the fine line between solving a problem and avoiding the work. Sometimes the fastest way forward is figuring out what you’re running from. AND what you're running toward.

Homework:

Use your senses to make an inventory of your writing environment — sound, sight, smell, touch, even taste. Then identify which elements serve you and which ones create friction, and experiment with changing one barrier this week.

Final WXR Cruise!

Our final WXR cruise sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—get your tickets here!

Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Erin Roberts, DongWon Song, and Mary Robinette Kowal. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

Join Our Writing Community!

Writing Retreats

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