Listener sentiment
Recent listener sentiment toward Writing Excuses has shifted markedly, with the newest ratings dominated by frustration over advertising volume. Multiple reviewers independently describe the ad load as excessive — several estimate that ads, self-promotion, and preamble consume half or more of each episode — and some report listening to fewer episodes or walking away from the show entirely. This represents a clear change from the podcast's earlier reputation for efficient, bite-sized craft instruction, and it is now the loudest complaint in the current window. Beneath the ad frustration, a longer-running divide persists: some longtime listeners feel the show drifted toward political and social commentary after Brandon Sanderson's reduced involvement, preferring a tighter focus on writing technique, while others value the inclusive perspectives and representation discussions as relevant craft guidance. Despite these criticisms, a loyal core continues to credit the show with concrete improvements to their writing and even publication success, praising the hosts' expertise and the breadth of topics covered across hundreds of episodes.
Apple4.1 · 189
Summary generated Aug 14, 2026
