Writing Excuses 4.12: Writing An Epic

Published: March 29, 2010, 2 a.m.

"Dude, that's totally epic."
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\n"Epic fail! Epic fail!"
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\nThese phrases have only passing relation to epic storytelling, and to epic fantasy. Brandon and Howard write epics, and we're going to talk about how we do it. And Dan's going to help, because even if his launching-this-week I Am Not a Serial Killer novel is not an epic, Dan knows his stuff.
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\n(Also, epic win for Dan! His book launches this week!)
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\nWe talk about some of our favorite epic fantasy and epic science fiction series, and then discuss elements like scope, plotlines, and characters. We also address some of the common pitfalls new writers fall into when trying to write their first epic.
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\nAudiobook Pick-of-the-Week: The Uplift Trilogy: Brightness Reef, Infinity's Shore, and Heaven's Reach by David Brin
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\nWriting Prompt: Google "Epic Win" (or just visit "Epic Win FTW"), take one of the images on the site, and then craft an epic story around that image.
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\nJoke Not Told By Howard In The Podcast: If a new writer attempts to create an epic and falls flat on his or her face in the attempt, it is, in fact, Epic Fail.
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