2 quick reminders: Scholarship applications for our 2026 cruise are open now until December 31st, 2025. You can learn more and apply here. AND early bird pricing for this cruise (going to Alaska in September 2026) ends on February 15th! Get your tickets here!

This week, Dan Wells opens up about how depression reshaped his writing process—and what rebuilding that process has looked like in the years since. The conversation ranges from tiny, mechanical steps to full-on cognitive reframing, with the hosts comparing notes on mindfulness, spectating, trauma responses, and even puppy-training techniques for rewiring your brain. They explore how environment, routine, and self-compassion can make the difference between staring at a blank screen and finding a way back into the work. Expect honesty, humor, and a lot of practical wisdom for how to care for your mental and emotional landscape while still trying to make art.

Homework:

Be kind to yourself—and extend that compassion to at least one person in your life who may be struggling, too. Then take a close look at your own rhythms, spaces, and habits to identify when and where you work best, and experiment with those ideal conditions this week.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Last Annual Cruise

The final WXR cruise sets sail for Alaska in September 2026—don’t miss your chance to be part of it. Learn more and sign up here.

*Scholarship applications for our cruise are open now until December 31st, 2025. You can learn more and apply here.

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

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20.50: Dan Wells’ Personal Writing Process

Writing Excuses