Promoted as "fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart",[1] the hosts and guests discuss different topics involved in the creation and production of genre writing and webcomics.

The show aims to cover a single writing-related topic in each podcast, in a format short enough to be listened to on a morning commute or during a lunch break.

Writing Excuses began in 2008 with three hosts – Dan Wells, Brandon Sanderson, and Howard Tayler.

After making a number of guest appearances, Mary Robinette Kowal joined the permanent cast as a new host at the beginning of season 6 in 2011.

[12] The stories are illustrated by Kekai Kotaki, Kathryn Layno, Ben McSweeney, Rhiannon Rasmussen-Silverstein, and Tayler.