The Art of Not Explaining

Pete Aldin and Bryan Chaffin talk about trusting your readers, revealing worldbuilding through your characters, and resisting the urge to explain everything you’ve created. They look at examples from science fiction and fantasy, discuss when backstory actually belongs on the page, and explain why it’s perfectly fine—even desirable—for readers not to understand everything right away.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Sep 1, 2026

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

Ready to play

The Art of Not Explaining

0:00 42:37

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar Entertainment Radio Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar was a classic American radio drama that aired on CBS Radio from February 18, 1949, to September 30, 1962.The show starred Bob Bailey as Johnny Dollar, a freelance insurance investigator with a knack for getting into trouble. Each episode followed Dollar as he investigated a new case, from insurance fraud to murder. The show was known for its fast-paced action, witty dialogue, and iconic sound effects.The show's signature element was Dollar's expense account, which he would read aloud at the end of each episode. This often humorous list of items, such as "50 cents for chewing gum - to keep my brain working under pressure," gave listeners a glimpse into Dollar's world and personality.Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar was a huge success, running for over 600 episodes and winning numerous awards. It was one of

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Working Writers?

This episode is 42 minutes long.

When was this Working Writers episode published?

This episode was published on September 1, 2026.

Can I download this Working Writers episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!