Writing Excuses · Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler
20.31: Framing the Lens
August 3, 2025·26 min·2 clips
Mary Robinette reveals how the MICE quotient prevents writers from getting lost in irrelevant details like glowing lichen.
As heard by us
A narrower frame helps a story keep its focus.
The episode treats framing as a practical craft problem: what belongs in the lens, what stays out, and how a story shifts when the frame gets too wide.
Why you'd press play
When your draft feels crowded, this gives you a way to decide what belongs in the frame.
Listen to the show on