Podcasts by Dead Robots Society

Character Complexity from 2023-03-20T01:12

DRS Episode 630 - Character Complexity

Terry, Veronica, and Paul ponder how to make characters pop, our favorite fictional characters and dynamics, and, of course, many cats make an appea...

Planning, Goals, and FAILURE from 2023-03-11T19:01

DRS Episode 629 - Planning, Goals, and FAILURE

Terry, Veronica, and Paul discuss how to plan and what to do when you fail. Spoiler alert--lots of failure.

Paul's store: Listen

Plot This! from 2023-03-04T17:02

DRS Episode 628 - Plot This!

Authors Roland Denzel and Listen

Space Bacon! from 2023-03-04T16:59

DRS Episode 627 - Space Bacon!

V, Paul, and Terry discuss generational divides and other nonsense.

Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulec...

Cow Tipping And Historical Inaccuracies from 2023-02-25T15:02

DRS Episode 626 - Cow Tipping and Historical Inaccuracies

V, Paul, and Terry discuss rural pastimes, when it's okay to warp history, and what kind of situations need a little caution.

Monkeys With Typewriters from 2023-02-08T05:00

DRS Episode 625 - Monkeys With Typewriters V, Paul, and Terry discuss the latest FindAway/Apple AI controversy, clearing blocks, and too damned many cats. Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecool...

Process? What's a Process? from 2023-01-30T05:00

DRS Episode 625 - Process? What's A Process? V, Paul, and Terry discuss productivity, where we write best, and discuss other topics with our listeners. Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley ...

Agency with Character from 2023-01-30T05:00

DRS Episode 624 - Agency With Character V, Paul, and Terry discuss AI for audiobooks and other topics with our listeners. Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpub...

"Read" Vs Perform - AI In Audiobooks from 2023-01-19T05:00

DRS Episode 623 - The Third Chair! V, Paul, and Terry discuss AI for audiobooks and other topics with our listeners. Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublicat...

V Joins DRS from 2023-01-19T05:00

DRS Episode 622 - V Joins The Show Veronica Giguere joins Paul and Terry in the third chair. We discuss changes to the show format and other nonsense with our patreon patrons. Paul's store: https:/...

Robert Jeschonek Gives Good Story from 2023-01-18T05:00

Robert Jeschonek Gives Good Story Author Robert Jeschonek joins Paul and Terry to discuss the OGL controversy, strange fiction, and his kickstarter. Terry attempts to keep Paul on topic, and cat is...

What is Reality? from 2023-01-18T05:00

Paul and terry discuss reality, building it for your character and your world, and other narrative nonsense.

Process, Plot, and Cats from 2022-11-09T05:00

DRS Episode 619 - Process, Plot, and Cats Terry and Paul revisit broken process, plot gremlins (and bunnies), and the never ending circus that is Terry's office. Paul's store: https://payhip.com/pa...

Drafts And Cliffhangers from 2022-09-09T04:00

DRS Episode 618 - Drafts And Cliffhangers Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Enjoy the show? Consider...

Goodbyes, Inspiration, Reader Expectations, Culture Drift from 2022-07-10T04:00

DRS Episode 617 - Goodbyes, Inspiration, Reader Expectations, Culture Drift Reader exceptions--do they matter? If so, how do you set and meet them? Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul...

Epiphanies, Plans, and WTFs from 2022-07-10T04:00

DRS Episode 616 - Epiphanies, Plans, and WTFs What is your favorite part of the writing process? Is it those special moments of serendipity? How do you make plans and WTF is up with Terry's beard? ...

Stations, Names, and Cats from 2022-07-09T04:00

DRS Episode 614 - Stations, Names, And Cats Paul and Terry discuss what's in a name, among other things. Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Ter...

Character, Story Expansion, and Plot from 2022-07-09T04:00

DRS Episode 615 - Character, Story Expansion, and Plot How do you keep a story from overheating? How do you control your pacing? Terry and Paul discuss Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley ...

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions from 2022-05-29T04:00

Paul and Terry discuss changing the game, changing trajectory, and finding new ways to succeed. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help k...

Audio Plans, Genre Hell, and Duds from 2022-05-29T04:00

DRS Episode 612 Terry and Paul riff on the future of The Black audio, the hell of genres, and avoiding the dreaded "dud." Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as ...

Change, Aliens, and Story from 2022-05-01T04:00

DRS Episode 611 - Change, Aliens, and Story Terry hates change and Paul says "don't contact the aliens!" Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you c...

Kickstarters, Hard Sci-Fi, Social Evolution from 2022-05-01T04:00

DRS Episode 610 - Kickstarters, Hard Sci-Fi, Social Evolution Kickstarters are kicking it for some writers. Also, is it okay to NOT be hard sci-fi? Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon suppo...

Covers, Cats, Pacing, and Memes from 2022-05-01T04:00

DRS Episode 609 - Covers, Cats, Pacing, and Memes Covers can ruin a sale, cats can ruin a podcast. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can hel...

Length, Girth, And Other Writing "Tips" from 2022-03-09T05:00

DRS Episode 608 Terry and Paul discuss the various expected lengths of books and stories, Meta, and a slew of other nonsense. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little...

DRS Live! 2022-01-15 from 2022-01-17T05:00

Terry and Paul talk nonsense, answer questions, tell jokes, and actually impart some writing/publishing advice, all while entertaining our listeners/viewers. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Pat...

Bah from 2022-01-09T05:00

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podcast free and receive exclusive content. More information at "http://patreon.com/drsp...

Rants, Edits, Dune from 2022-01-09T05:00

Terry and Paul compare edits, audiobook strategies, and a strange aside about the Dune movie. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help kee...

Edits, Deadlines, and Oceania from 2022-01-09T05:00

DRS Episode 605 - Edits, Deadlines, and Oceania Terry and Paul discuss their deadlines, editing issues, and, of course, The Black: Oceania Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and ...

M2, Porno, and Others from 2022-01-09T05:00

DRS Episode 606 - M2, Porno, and Others M2 as a porno? Black crepe paper monsters? Terry and Paul are goofy AND stupid. Visit our sponsor, Corpse Coffee at https://corpsecoffee.com for boutique cof...

Paul Said "F*** ACX!" from 2021-12-12T05:00

Paul rants and raves about ACX while Terry plays devil's advocate. Or, more likely, sits back and throws gasoline on the fire. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as littl...

Schedules, Audiobooks, and F*** ACX from 2021-11-03T04:00

DRS Episode 601 Terry and Paul wind through publishing plans, inspiration, seeing the environment, and other nonsense. Please visit our sponsor, Corpse Coffee (https://corpsecoffee.com), and check ...

EPISODE 600! from 2021-10-15T04:00

Author David Wood joins Paul and Terry for a live show to look back on 600 episodes of DRS, how publishing has changed, and we answer questions from the audience. Please visit our sponsor, Corpse C...

Questions With Few Answers from 2021-10-15T04:00

Questions with Few Answers DRS Episode 599 Paul and Terry wander around a few topics including dealing with depression. Please visit our sponsor, Corpse Coffee (https://corpsecoffee.com), and check...

A Heinlein Journey with J Daniel Sawyer from 2021-09-18T04:00

DRS Episode 598 - A Heinlein Journey with J Daniel Sawyer Author, podcaster, publisher, and all around smart guy J Daniel Sawyer (https://jdsawyer.net/) joins Paul and Terry to discuss his kickstar...

Magic Systems for Writers/GMs with C.R. Rowenson from 2021-08-15T04:00

C.R. Rowenson joins Terry and Paul to discuss magic systems, his Indiegogo campaign, and shows off some contents of his upcoming book on magic systems and their development.. Links: C.R. Rowenson -...

Starbarian Hordes! with Robert Jeschonek from 2021-08-03T04:00

Author Robert Jeschonek joins Terry and Paul to hawk his new kickstarter, discuss patronage models, and, of course, Terry wearing a micro-bikini ala Zardoz. Links: Starbarian Saga Kickstarter - htt...

Cornycopia from 2021-07-06T04:00

DRS Episode 594 - Cornycopia Terry and Paul cover a number of topics including when Paul will shave his beard. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month,...

Driving and Narrating from 2021-07-06T04:00

Paul shares his experiences with otter.ai, Terry babbles incessantly, and no one has any idea what else was said in this episode. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as li...

More Serial Madness from 2021-07-05T04:00

DRS Episode 593 - More Serial Madness Terry and Paul discuss more ideas for serials and plans for Vella. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you c...

Serials and Vella with Kevin McLaughlin from 2021-06-05T04:00

DRS Episode 592 - Serials and Vella with Kevin McLaughlin Curious about Vella? Kevin McLaughlin schools Paul and Terry and we babble at length about serials. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Pat...

Tech Refresh from 2021-05-20T04:00

DRS Episode 591 - Time For A Tech Refresh? Terry trots out his new website design which leads to a conversation about technology and writers. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter a...

F1v390 from 2021-05-20T04:00

No one has any idea what this show was really about. Care to find out? Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podcast free and ...

Surmise the Demise from 2021-04-04T04:00

DRS Episode 589 Terry and Paul go on a character killing spree and other tangents. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podca...

Time For A Tech Refresh? from 2021-04-04T04:00

DRS Episode 591 - Time For A Tech Refresh? Terry trots out his new website design which leads to a conversation about technology and writers. Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter a...

Fiv390 from 2021-04-04T04:00

DRS Episode 590 - F1V390 No one has any idea what this show was really about. Care to find out? Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help k...

Deus Ex Mababble from 2021-01-29T05:00

DRS Episode 588 When does Deus Ex Machina cross the line? How do we know Terry's shoe size? Who knows... Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you c...

Building Blocks of Character from 2021-01-05T05:00

DRS Episode 587 Paul and Terry being by discussing personal insanity and then drive in to ways to help make your characters real with...cards? Other topics, as usual, rear their ugly heads. Enjoy t...

Humanity Divided from 2020-12-07T05:00

DRS Episode 586 How will humanity handle spreading itself to the stars? How will galactic politics work? Also, Terry is bald, Paul is manic. What could go wrong? Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a...

Super Tights from 2020-12-01T00:00

DRS Episode 583
Paul and Terry wander around a few topics and then get more unfocused.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can he...

Supes from 2020-12-01T00:00

DRS Episode 584
Are all fantasy heroes super heroes? What qualifies someone as "super" and what about immortality and invulnerability? Also? Haunted Vagina.

Enjoy the show? Consider be...

Robert Jeschonek and Space Opera from 2020-12-01T00:00

DRS Episode 585
Author Robert Jeschonek (http://bobscribe.com) joins Paul and Terry for a conversation about kickstarters, book bundles, and, of course, Space Opera.

Links:
Robert ...

Jake Bible Gives Good Horror from 2020-11-28T00:00

DRS Episode 582
Long time friend of the show, author, and fellow audiobook podcaster Jake Bible joins Terry and Paul to talk about writing, publishing, and, of course, horror.

Enjoy th...

Revenge! from 2020-11-28T00:00

DRS Episode 581
What makes a good revenge story? What makes a bad one? And why does Terry have so many damned cats?

Also? I mixed up RL Stephenson with Alexander Dumas. My apologies. Listen

F*** Starships! (REDUX) from 2020-11-12T00:00

After gushing about Peter F Hamilton's "Salvation," Paul looses an epithet about starships. Terry attempts to correct him...
Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as li...

Out of Context, and Out of Our Minds from 2020-10-01T00:00

DRS Episode 580
After gushing about Peter F Hamilton's "Salvation," Paul looses an epithet about starships. Terry attempts to correct him...

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F*** Starships! from 2020-10-01T00:00

DRS Episode 579
After gushing about Peter F Hamilton's "Salvation," Paul looses an epithet about starships. Terry attempts to correct him...

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon...

Cornucopia of Insanity from 2020-09-07T00:00

Cornucopia of Insanity
DRS Episode 578

Terry and Paul discuss insanity in characters, the uncanny, and demand a space marine nerd story.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Pa...

Technosocial Hazards from 2020-09-01T00:00

Technosocial Hazards
DRS Episode 577

Terry says science fiction authors have to become futurists to a certain extent. Then we push the envelope.

Enjoy the show? Consider becom...

Space:1975 with Robert Jeschonek from 2020-08-23T00:00

Space:1975 with Robert Jeschonek
DRS Episode 576

Terry and Paul host author/publisher Robert Jeschonek to discuss writing, science fiction, and his kickstarter for a 70's space opera a...

Mixology from 2020-08-15T00:00

Theft! Ongoing theft of plot ideas, scenes, moments, and even endings. It's not theft, it's mixology.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month,...

Lessons Learned from 2020-08-09T00:00

We celebrate a milestone in Terry's writing career and discuss the most important lessons learned after years of indie publishing.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and...

DRS Live! A Conversation With David Wood from 2020-05-05T00:00

Author and publisher David Wood joins Terry and Paul for a conversation about writing, publishing, and field questions from the live YouTube audience.
DRS will be live every Saturday via YouTub...

DRS Live! A Conversation with Veronica Giguerre from 2020-05-05T00:00

Narrator, vocal performer, and author Veronica Giguere joins Terry and Paul to discuss Audible, audiobook production, writing topics, and interact with you in our chat. Get a little education, some...

We Promise Babble and Snark, Not Virii from 2020-04-13T00:00

Due to Covid-19, Terry and Paul have decided to host a live show every Saturday at 1500 CST. Join us on YouTube for the next show.

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Subtlety Like A Sledgehammer from 2020-03-19T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss the art of subtlety and whether or not they're any good at it.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help ke...

Interview With Author Chris Fox - Bonus Episode from 2020-03-12T00:00

Author Chris Fox joins Paul and Terry to discuss the Magitech series, his RPG kickstarter, and the crossover between RPG and good storytelling.

Chris Fox:
https://chrisfoxwrites.com Listen

Gods and Monsters from 2020-03-12T00:00

What's the difference between a god, a monster, and just a plain old villain? Paul and Terry get lost in the details.

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Pick Your Battles! from 2020-02-18T00:00

What's worth your time? Terry and Paul discuss.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podcast free and receive exclus...

Dystopia! from 2020-02-08T00:00

Dystopia!
DRS Episode 569

What is a dystopia? Are you living in one? Are your characters? Terry and Paul explore the topic.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon support...

From Word To Series from 2020-02-08T00:00

From Word To Series
DRS Episode 570

Terry and Paul rip apart the process of writing a book from word choice to sequels and series. A nuts and bolts episode.

Enjoy the show? Co...

More than a few words with Yudha! from 2020-01-24T00:00

Terry and Paul have a conversation with science fiction author Yudhanjaya Wijeratne regarding topics including AI, dystopia, the difference in publishing scope between the regions, as well as some ...

Words! Meanings! Ideas! - DRS Episode 567 from 2020-01-09T00:00

No intro this week--don't ask. Regardless, Paul mentions something and it turns into a conversation. Beware--brainstorming ahead!

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and ...

Cultural Mirrors and Amish Porn - DRS Episode 566 from 2019-12-29T00:00

Paul and Terry wander over the sea of what is inappropriate, crosses the line, and apocalyptic Amish porn.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a ...

DRS Episode 565 - Networking and Social Anxiety from 2019-12-13T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss strategies and the absolute necessity of networking.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the pod...

DRS Episode 564 - Revising Our Revisions! from 2019-11-28T00:00

Terry and Paul explore their revision processes and try to find one that works better than what they currently have. *spoiler alert*--they fail.

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DRS Episode 563 - Pacing, Action Beats, Adventure! from 2019-11-21T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss tricks of pacing, action beats, and, well, yes, adventure.

Like the show? Considering becoming a Patreon patron or purchasing one of our stories and thanks for watch...

DRS Episode 562 - SEQUELS!?!! from 2019-11-16T00:00

Paul and Terry handle a question from the Facebook group. Beware--semantic wars will now ensue.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you c...

DRS Episode 561 - Paul on pain meds from 2019-11-13T00:00

Shortly after an appendectomy, and on pain meds, Paul makes the mistake of giving Terry a call...

DRS Episode 560 - Catching Up from 2019-11-05T00:00

Paul and Terry play catchup after a several forced sabbaticals.

DRS Episode 559 - Catching Up from 2019-09-18T00:00

Terry and Paul return after a forced sabbatical.

DRS Episode 558 - Universal Squirrels from 2019-08-30T00:00

DRS Episode 558 - Universal Squirrels

Paul and Terry sleepwalk their way through a variety of topics before settling on universal squirrels. Take a listen to find out what those are.
<...

DRS Episode 557 - And...more tech support hell from 2019-08-26T00:00

Paul and Terry meander through a series of topics while Paul attempts not to lose his mind. He might even succeed.

Like the show? Considering becoming a Patreon patron or purchasing one of...

DRS Episode 556 - More than a few words with Glynn Stewart from 2019-08-13T00:00

DRS Episode 556 - More than a few words with Glynn Stewart

Author Glynn Stewart joins Terry and Paul to discuss a variety of sci-fi topics including suspense and writing multiple series. Listen

DRS Episode 555 - Just Call Tech Support from 2019-08-01T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss space station design, ship design, moons, and other esoterica while Terry tries not to choke.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little...

DRS Episode 554 – Interview With Charles E “Chuck” Gannon from 2019-07-25T00:00

Author Dr. Charles E “Chuck” Gannon joins Terry and Paul to discuss writing, worlds, collaboration, and other insanity.

DRS Episode 553 - Babbling Amidst A Sea of Characters from 2019-07-18T00:00

We're back! After nearly two weeks of technical issues, the show returns with an exhausted Paul and a far too amused Terry. Enjoy the punch-drunkenness.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a...

DRS Episode 552 - Incorporation? LLC? WTF? Interview With Joe Solari from 2019-07-05T00:00

DRS Episode 552 - Incorporation? LLC? WTF? Interview With Joe Solari

Writers generally suck at business. Joe Solari, someone who actually knows business, schools Terry and Paul on what to...

DRS Episode 551 - Sex Robots, Ethics, Drivelings, and Brain Bleach from 2019-06-27T00:00

As usual, a flippant remark spawns an episode.

Like the show? Considering becoming a Patreon patron or purchasing one of our stories and thanks for watching.

Support us on Patreon...

DRS Episode 550 - Common Sense Characters from 2019-06-19T00:00

Terry rage quits reading a book and Paul finds out why.

DRS Episode 549 - Malorie Cooper Sees The Future from 2019-06-13T00:00

Author Malorie Cooper joins Terry and Paul to discuss the Aeon14 universe as well as AI evolution and futurism.

Malorie Cooper - https://www.aeon14.com/

Like the show? Considering...

DRS Episode 548 - Sick and Stupid from 2019-06-06T00:00

Paul has con-crud and is barely conscious. He and Terry stumble through a slew of crazy.

Like the show? Considering becoming a Patreon patron or purchasing one of our stories and thanks fo...

DRS Episode 547 - Who Owns The Content? (GoT) from 2019-06-01T00:00

After receiving a slew of emails and messages regarding the "Game of Thrones" series finale, Terry Mixon and Paul E Cooley consider the question: "Who Owns The Content?"

[disclaimer: neith...

DRS Episode 546 - Revenge of Archivos! from 2019-05-22T00:00

Our good friend, bad ass narrator, the man with the voice of melted butter and the energy of an asteroid impact, Dave Robison joins us to talk story, Archivos, and a discount offer for DRS listener...

DRS Episode 545 - Do Androids Dream Of Fleshy Humans? from 2019-05-15T00:00

DRS Episode 545 - Do Androids Dream Of Fleshy Humans?

What makes your science fiction and fantasy sing? Having different cultures (and/or species) bumping into one another, either through ...

DRS Episode 544 - Klingons Make Everything Better! from 2019-05-08T00:00

What makes your science fiction and fantasy sing? Having different cultures (and/or species) bumping into one another, either through conflict or cooperation. Face it. Everything goes better with K...

DRS Episode 543 - Own Your Content! from 2019-05-01T00:00

Author and Narrator John Mierau joins Paul for a conversation about alternatives to current business models, the break down of social media, and how to form communities outside the advertisement-dr...

DRS Episode 542 - Arcs and Squirrels from 2019-04-24T00:00

DRS Episode 542 -Arcs and Squirrels

Terry and Paul found a topic. Pretty sure they immediately lost it.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as ...

DRS Episode 541 - A Cornucopia of Crazy from 2019-04-17T00:00

Terry has something to say and it quickly spirals out of control...

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podcast fre...

DRS Episode 540 - Leah Lederman and "Cafe Macabre" from 2019-04-10T00:00

Author and editor Leah Lederman joins Paul and Terry to discuss writing, editing and her kickstarter "Cafe Macabre."

Leah Lederman - https://leahlederman.wordpress.com/

Like the s...

DRS Episode 539 -PoV, Histories, and Choose Your Own Bad Ending from 2019-04-03T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss a little point of view, a little point of plot, and bad ideas for choose your own adventure stories.

DRS Episode 538 - Work, Life, SQUIRREL! from 2019-03-29T00:00

Terry and Paul consider work life balance before they are distracted by thought squirrels.

Like the show? Considering becoming a Patreon patron or purchasing one of our stories and thanks ...

DRS Episode 537 - How Dare You Write That! from 2019-03-20T00:00

What topics are potential third rails? How do you deal with them and, more importantly, are they worth the trouble?

DRS Episode 536 - Transitory Intransigence from 2019-03-13T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss transitions, when to use them, and how to use them.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podc...

DRS Episode 535 - F*** Your Adverbs! from 2019-03-08T00:00

Paul and Terry converse about adverb abuse and if there is such a thing. (spoiler: there is)

DRS Episode 534 - Writersplainin' Editorsplainin' from 2019-02-27T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss editing and writing...
Nothing good can come from this.

DRS Episode 533 - Indie Publishing Topics from 2019-02-20T00:00

Terry and Paul answer a question from the email inbox. Tangents galore...

DRS Episode 532 - What's In A Name? from 2019-02-13T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss naming characters, whether or there's an art to it, and possible repercussions.

DRS Episode 531 - Q&A from 2019-02-06T00:00

Paul and Terry answer questions from the facebook group.

DRS Episode 530 - Setting The Stage from 2019-01-30T00:00

How do you make that setting pop and help your characters come alive? Terry and Paul pontificate.

DRS Episode 529 - Conversation With Author Ian J Malone from 2019-01-23T00:00

Terry and Paul have a conversation with sci-fi author Ian J Malone.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podcast fre...

DRS Episode 528 - Expanding the Universe from 2019-01-17T00:00

Paul and Terry run through a gauntlet of topics.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podcast free and receive exclu...

DRS Episode 527 - When To Cut from 2019-01-09T00:00

Do you include every single possible scene in a story? What should you leave it? When should you cut? Paul and Terry throw things at each other.

DRS Episode 526 – REBOOT! from 2019-01-03T00:00

How do you get your reader to keep reading? Bait the hook and reel ’em in.

Like the show? Considering becoming a Patreon patron (https://patreon.com/drspodcast) or purchasing one of our st...

DRS Episode 525 – How To Hook from 2018-12-26T00:00

How do you get your reader to keep reading? Bait the hook and reel ’em in.

Like the show? Considering becoming a Patreon patron or purchasing one of our stories and thanks for listening.

DRS Episode 524 - Friction! from 2018-12-19T00:00

How do you insert drama into your stories? Grind those gears. Terry and Paul discuss the art of group conflict and how to use it.

Like the show? Considering becoming a Patreon patron or pu...

DRS Episode 523 - "How does this start again?" from 2018-12-12T00:00

Where do you start a story? How do you know you have the right beginning? How do you change it later? Terry and Paul discuss.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for ...

DRS Episode 522 - "In A World..." from 2018-12-06T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss melding the real and the imaginary to create your world and plots.

DRS Episode 521 - The Multiplot Problem from 2018-11-28T12:00

Paul asks the question: can you recycle conceits and characters?

DRS Episode 520 - Find The Topic! from 2018-11-21T00:00

Terry drags Paul kicking and screaming through a number of topics.

DRS Episode 519 - Subplots! (fix) from 2018-11-14T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss the subtle and no so subtle use of subplots.(This post actually points to the correct episode)

DRS Episode 519 - Subplots! from 2018-11-14T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss the subtle and no so subtle use of subplots.

DRS Episode 518 - Mind the Bridge from 2018-11-07T00:00

What is a bridge novel? How should you write them? What are the gotchas? Terry and Paul discuss.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you ...

DRS Episode 517 - Whirlwind of Crazy from 2018-10-31T00:00

Terry drags Paul kicking and screaming through a variety of topics.

DRS Episode 516 - The Last Word from 2018-10-24T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss how to write endings and drive the last section of the book toward them.

DRS Episode 515 – The First Word from 2018-10-17T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss what needs to go in the beginning of a story.

DRS Episode 514 - The Swampy Middle from 2018-10-10T00:00

Terry and Paul explore the swampy middle, the hazards ahead, and how to handle them.

DRS Episode 513 - Truth To Character from 2018-10-03T00:00

Terry has a meltdown over one of his favorite TV shows which leads to a discussion of how plot twists can ruin characterization.

DRS Episode 512 - Characters and Plots and Short Stories from 2018-09-26T00:00

Paul and Terry wander off into the wilderness and cover a host of topics. Some of which we probably shouldn't have...

Like the show? Considering becoming a Patreon patron or purchasing one...

DRS Episode 511 - To Scene, Or Not To Scene! from 2018-09-19T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss and argue over what makes a scene and how to construct them. Also? What is Terry's Mankini Size?

Like the show? Considering becoming a Patreon patron or purchasing o...

DRS Episode 510 - Exclusivity versus Going Wide from 2018-09-12T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss the age-old problem: to go exclusive, or not, with Amazon and KDP.

DRS Episode 509 - More Questions, Some Answers from 2018-09-05T00:00

Paul and Terry address questions posed by our listeners and viewers.

DRS Episode 508 - F*** The Comments from 2018-08-29T00:00

Terry questions Paul's sanity over one of his diary entries.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podcast free and r...

DRS Episode 507 - Heinlein's Rules Revisited from 2018-08-22T00:00

Terry and Paul revisit Heinlein's rules. Mainly because Terry made Paul watch a lecture series on the subject.

DRS Episode 506 - Starla Huchton from 2018-08-15T00:00

Paul and Terry interview author Starla Huchton

DRS Episode 505 - Plot Complications from 2018-08-08T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss ways to make your characters' lives hell.

DRS Episode 504 - LitRPG and GameLit from 2018-08-01T00:00

Authors Linton Bowers and Kevin McLaughlin
join Terry and Paul to discuss the genres of LitRPG and GameLit

DRS Episode 503 - Interview With Michael J Sullivan from 2018-07-25T00:00

Author Michael J Sullivan joins Terry and Paul to discuss fantasy, reader expectations, and the process of writing in the genre.

DRS Episode 502 - FEAR! from 2018-07-19T00:00

Terry asks Paul what he fears about writing. Hilarity ensues.

DRS Episode 501 - Your Questions, Our Denials from 2018-07-11T00:00

Terry and Paul respond to questions posted in the DRS Facebook group.

DRS Episode 500 - A Live Celebration from 2018-06-27T00:00

Author David Wood joins Paul and Terry to help celebrate the 500th episode of DRS. This was recorded live via YouTube.

DRS Episode 499 - 5 Things from 2018-06-20T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss 5 things they try and avoid in their writing.

DRS Episode 498 - AIs and Madness from 2018-06-13T00:00

Paul tells Terry about a conversation. All hell breaks loose. Mind the squirrels.

Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep t...

DRS Episode 497 - SFWA and Nebulas from 2018-06-06T00:00

Paul makes the mistake of asking Terry about the SWFA convention. Expected squirrel attack ensues.

DRS Episode 496 - Story Structure and Aquanaught Internet from 2018-05-31T00:00

DRS Episode 496 - Story Structure and Aquanaught Internet

Paul and Terry discuss story telling styles and Terry's ridiculously 1980s internet.


Enjoy the show? Consider becomi...

DRS Episode 495 - Team Building from 2018-05-23T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss how to team build characters and add tension.

DRS Episode 494 -Genre Mashing with Kacey Ezell from 2018-05-17T00:00

Author Kacey Ezell joins Terry and Paul to discuss genre bending, her work, and other general insanity.

DRS Episode 493 - Vamp City Brown Style from 2018-05-09T00:00

Author CD Brown joins Paul and Terry to discuss city as setting and his new novel "Vamp City."

DRS Episode 492 - Lab Rats And Brain Storms from 2018-05-02T00:00

Isabel Cushey joins Terry and Paul to brainstorm her story.

DRS Episode 491 -Betas and Side Trips from 2018-04-26T00:00

Terry and Paul revisit beta readers and take a few detours along the way.

DRS Episode 490 - Stereotypes and Archetypes from 2018-04-18T00:00

Terry and Paul wade into the morass of fundamentally linked terms.

DRS Episode 489 - Archivos and Storytelling from 2018-04-11T00:00

Dave Robison joins Paul and Terry to discuss the great progress on Archivos, a special opportunity for DRS Listeners, and new features in the application.

DRS Episode 488 - Foreshadowing and Other Crazy from 2018-04-04T00:00

Terry and Paul go off on a journey through foreshadowing, flashbacks, and how to ruin a series.

DRS Episode 487 - Musin' from 2018-03-28T00:00

Paul and Terry suffer a muse attack.

DRS Episode 486 - Why's My Line? from 2018-03-21T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss character motivation.

DRS Episode 485 - I'm not mental! from 2018-03-14T00:00

Veronica Giguere joins Paul and Terry to discuss mental illness, coping mechanisms for anxiety, and general creative craziness.

DRS Episode 484 - A Funny Happened On The Way To The Bookstore from 2018-03-07T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss new and interesting ways to screw up your book on its journey to the bookstore. Also? Amazon needs to hire us as consultants.

DRS Episode 483 – Plot Bunnies and Loose Threads from 2018-02-28T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss how to deal with those wascally wabbits known as Plot Bunnies and how to properly use loose threads (or tie them off).

DRS Episode 482 - Mech Madness with Chris Kennedy from 2018-02-14T00:00

Terry and Paul interview author and publisher Chris Kennedy to discuss his books, his publishing company, and the 4 Horsemen Universe.

DRS Special - Justin Macumber Tribute from 2018-02-07T15:00

Terry and Paul welcome former co-hosts Eliyanna Kaiser and Scott Roche to pay tribute to Justin Macumber, founder of DRS, who passed away on Jan 15, 2018.

DRS Episode 481 - EXPANSION! from 2018-01-16T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss how to expand your universe and stretch as a writer.

DRS Episode 480 - The Exposition! from 2018-01-10T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss exposition, what it is, and how NOT to use it.

DRS Episode 479 - Thieves! from 2018-01-03T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss when and how to steal.

DRS Episode 478 - Inventing Language from 2017-12-27T00:00

Paul and Terry interview author and artist Robert Stikmanz regarding his Dvarsh language and his fiction.

DRS Episode 477 - You've Got Science In My Fantasy! from 2017-12-20T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss "Science Fantasy."

DRS Episode 476 - Carl Hiaasen's "Native Tongue" from 2017-12-14T00:00

Paul and Terry review Carl Hiassen's "Native Tongue"

DRS Episode 475 - Cliff Hangerin' Bastards from 2017-12-06T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss how to write cliff hangers for scenes, chapters, and novels.

DRS Episode 474 - Josh Hayes from 2017-11-29T00:00

Terry and Paul interview author Josh Hayes

DRS Episode 473 - LEVELING UP! from 2017-11-22T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss how they plan to level up both on the business side and the writing side.

DRS Episode 472 - 5 Impediments from 2017-11-17T00:00

Author David Wood joins Paul to discuss their top 5 impediments to writing and strategies for dealing with them.

DRS Episode 471 - COMPLETION! from 2017-11-08T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss what it takes to finish a novel.

DRS Episode 470 - Jake Bible Talks Potato Soup from 2017-11-01T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss a large variety of topics with author Jake Bible.

DRS Episode 469 - Can you hear me now? from 2017-10-25T00:00

Terry makes the mistake of asking Paul how he records audiobooks.

DRS Episode 468 - Plot Knots! from 2017-10-18T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss how to handle plot holes, untying troublesome plot knots, and plots in general. No stories were harmed during the recording of this episode.

DRS Episode 467 - DISTRACTION! from 2017-10-11T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss ways to avoid distraction and focus on writing.

DRS Episode 466 - Craig Martelle Doesn't Freeze from 2017-10-04T00:00

Terry and Paul interview author Craig Martelle

DRS Episode 465 - Verisimilitude! from 2017-09-27T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss how to keep it real.

DRS Episode 464 - Your Questions, Our Denials pt2 from 2017-09-20T00:00

Paul and Terry attempt to answer questions posted in the Facebook group

DRS Episode 463 - Your Questions, Our Denials pt1 from 2017-09-13T00:00

Paul and Terry attempt to answer questions posted in the Facebook group.

DRS Episode 462 - APOCALYPSE! from 2017-09-06T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss writing apocalyptic and natural disaster fiction.

DRS Episode 461 - Glynn Stewart Gives Good Opera from 2017-08-30T08:00

Paul and Terry interview author Glynn Stewart and discuss his worlds, his writing process, and the experience of co-writing a book with Terry.

DRS Episode 460 - Rekindle and Reinvent from 2017-08-23T08:00

Paul and Terry discuss how to bring an old work back to life and various other topics.

DRS Episode 459 - A Desperate Place For Dying from 2017-08-16T00:00

Terry and Paul review Scott William Carter's "A Desperate Place For Dying." Also, Paul does his impression of Trent Reznor. Probably with the wrong lyrics.

DRS Episode 458 - Series and Breaking Through from 2017-08-09T08:00

Terry and Paul discuss closed versus open ended series, universes, and various other tangents.

DRS Episode 457 - Growing As A Storyteller from 2017-08-03T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss growing as a storyteller, how to tackle larger tales, and to not sweat the small stuff.

DRS Episode 456 - MD Cooper Ain't A Doctor from 2017-07-26T08:00

Terry and Paul interview author MD Cooper.

DRS Episode 455 - Archivos! from 2017-07-19T08:00

Paul and Terry interview Dave Robison about his new boardgame "Manifest" as well as the application for writers known as "Archivos."

DRS Episode 454 - Care And Feeding Of Narrators from 2017-07-12T08:00

Terry and Paul ask John Mierau and Veronica Giguere to come on the show and explain how best to work with audiobook narrators.

DRS Episode 453 - So Many Bobs! from 2017-07-05T00:00

Paul and Terry review Dennis Taylor's We Are Legion, We Are Bob.

DRS Episode 452 - Complete Characters with Incomplete Speech from 2017-06-28T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss how to bring your characters to life by NOT using grammatically correct sentences and etc.

DRS Episode 451 - Inspiration and Cons from 2017-06-21T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss the pros and cons of cons and how to draw inspiration from them. Also? What support group Terry should join.

DRS Episode 450 - Anthologia from 2017-06-14T08:00

Terry and Paul discuss writing for anthologies.

DRS Episode 449 - The "M" Word from 2017-06-07T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss Brandon Sanderson's "Laws of Magic" and how they pertain to both fantasy and science fiction.

DRS Live! At Balticon 51 from 2017-05-31T00:00

Paul hosts Scott Roche, Veronica Giguere, and Charlie Brown at Balticon 51.

DRS Episode 448 - BAudio Production from 2017-05-24T08:00

Terry and Paul discuss what it takes to get your book from the page and into audio.

DRS Episode 447 - Jim Butcher "On Writing" Part 2 from 2017-05-17T08:00

Paul and Terry discuss Jim Butcher's posts on writing.

DRS Episode 446 - Jim Butcher "On Writing" Part 1 from 2017-05-10T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss Jim Butcher's "On Writing" posts.

DRS Episode 445 - David Eddings' "The Diamond Throne" from 2017-05-03T10:00

Terry and Paul review David Eddings' "The Diamond Throne"

DRS Episode 444 - Chuck Heintzelman Bundles Your Books from 2017-04-26T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss the benefits of "Bundle Rabbit" with its creator Chuck Heintzelman.

DRS Episode 443 - Melzer Gives Good Arachnid from 2017-04-19T00:00

Paul and Terry invite author James Melzer on to talk about his return to monster fiction.

DRS Episode 442 – Continuing Education and Q&A from 2017-04-12T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss continuing education and answer some questions from our listeners.

DRS Episode 441 - Interview with John G Walker from 2017-04-05T07:00

Paul and Terry interview author John G Walker and discuss his cat-herding for Balticon's New Media Track.

DRS Episode 440 - Politics In Fiction: The Third Rail from 2017-03-29T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss incorporating politics and social commentary into your fiction. And the possible ramifications.

DRS Episode 439 - Interview With JR Handley from 2017-03-22T08:00

Paul and Terry interview military sci-fi author JR Handley.

DRS Episode 438 - Q&A about Cons, Reviews, and etc from 2017-03-15T00:00

Paul and Terry answer questions from our listeners posted via email and the Facebook group.

DRS Episode 437 – Wrong Tracks and Business Evolution from 2017-03-08T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss what to do when you're going down the wrong track in a story. Also? Publishing.

DRS Episode 436 - Macumber Returns! Part 2 from 2017-03-01T00:00

Terry and Paul host Justin Macumber to discuss various topics (part 2).

DRS Episode 435 - Macumber Returns! Part 1 from 2017-02-22T00:00

Terry and Paul host Justin Macumber to discuss various topics.

DRS Episode 434 - Review: The Roundhouse from 2017-02-15T00:00

Paul and Terry review and discuss Louis Erdrich's "The Roundhouse"

DRS Episode 433 - Jennifer Melzer Talks Editing from 2017-02-08T00:00

Terry and Paul host professional author and editor Jennifer Melzer. We talk about editing strategies, common mistakes from new authors, epic fantasy, and a variety of other topics.

DRS Episode 432 - Copyright and Copywrongs Part 2 from 2017-02-01T00:00

Paul and Terry host Ignacio Duran, an attorney and fiction author with a particular interest in copyright.

DRS Episode 431 – Copyrights and Copywrongs Part 1 from 2017-01-25T00:00

Paul and Terry host Ignacio Duran, an attorney and fiction author with a particular interest in copyright. This is part 1. Part 2 will drop next week.

DRS Episode 430 - The KDP Process Part 2 from 2017-01-18T00:00

Paul and Terry describe the KDP process for indie publishing (part 2)

DRS Episode 429 - The KDP Process Part 1 from 2017-01-11T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss the KDP process for indie publishing.

DRS Episode 428 - New Year's Evolutions from 2017-01-04T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss what went right in 2016, what went wrong, and how to move their careers forward in 2017, and how you can do the same.

DRS Episode 427 - The Magical Mystery Tour from 2016-12-28T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss writing mysteries and adding mysterious elements to your fiction.

DRS Episode 426 - More Questions, More Answers, More Insanity from 2016-12-23T00:00

Terry and Paul answer more listener posted questions.

DRS Episode 425 - Paranormal Romance vs Urban Fantasy from 2016-12-07T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss Paranormal Romance versus Urban Fantasy.

DRS Episode 424 – The Terran Privateer from 2016-11-30T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss Glynn Stewart's "The Terran Privateer"

Links:

Terry's new novel "Storm Divers"
http://amzn.to/2bFtbH4

Paul's Patreon:
...

DRS Episode 423 - Q&A Part 2 from 2016-11-23T00:00

Terry and Paul answer YOUR questions (part 2) to the best of their ability. Don't get too excited.

Links:

Terry's new novel "Storm Divers"
http://amzn.to/2bFtbH4 Listen

DRS Episode 422 - Q&A Part 1 from 2016-11-16T00:00

Terry and Paul answer YOUR questions. Don't get too excited.

DRS Episode 421 - Jake Bible Talks Shop from 2016-11-09T00:00

Paul and Terry welcome back author Jake Bible for a talk about writing fast as hell, publishing 40+ books in a matter of years, and Jake's near criminal abuse of vegetables.

DRS Episode 420 - Attack of the L Word! from 2016-10-19T00:00

Paul and guest host Charlie Brown discuss and suggest "literary fiction" titles for genre readers and writers.

DRS Episode 419 - The Great "Atlantis Gene" Wreck from 2016-10-14T00:00

Paul and Terry review AG Riddle's The Atlantis Gene. Ambivalence is the word of the day.

DRS Episode 418 – Romancing the Roche from 2016-10-05T00:00

Paul interviews former co-host Scott Roche about his new novella, romance, genre switching, and more.

DRS Episode 417 - The Exposition: What A Tell from 2016-09-28T00:00

Terry and Paul ramble and rant their way through the perils and pitfalls of exposition, make offensive comments, and display their general ineptitude. In other words, it was a show.

DRS Episode 416 - J. Daniel Sawyer's Extreme Sci-Fi Sports Bundle from 2016-09-20T00:00

Terry and Paul bring J. Daniel Sawyer on to talk about his extreme sports science fiction storybundle.

https://storybundle.com/scifi
http://nanowrimoeverymonth.com
http://jdsawyer.net

DRS Episode 415–John Mierau Gives Good Content from 2016-09-14T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss Patreon, podcasting, shared worlds, audiobooks, and sci-fi with author John Mierau.

DRS Episode 414 - Why Cons Are Important For Writers from 2016-09-08T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss Dragon Con and why cons can be important for writers.

DRS Episode 413 - An Interview With James Melzer from 2016-08-30T00:00

Terry and Paul interview author James Melzer, writer of suspense, middle-school, and romance.

DRS Episode 412 - "The Drafter" from 2016-08-25T00:00

Terry and Paul review Kim Harrison's novel "The Drafter"

DRS Episode 411 – Stopping the Pear Shape from 2016-08-18T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss the dangers and solutions to a sedentary lifestyle with author Charlie Brown.

DRS Episode 410 - Fear And Loathing And Beta Readers from 2016-08-11T00:00

Terry and Paul converse about beta readers, a suggested topic from our listeners.

DRS Episode 409 - Full-Time Panic! from 2016-08-03T00:00

Full-time Panic!
Terry and Paul discuss planning and dealing with sales panic.

Links:
Terry's new novel "Paying The Price"
http://amzn.to/1tyU6cz
http://amzn.t...

DRS Episode 408 - Justin Macumber is "Fragile" from 2016-07-26T00:00

Justin Macumber, erstwhile scion of the great Dead Robots' Society, joins Paul and Terry to talk about his new book, future series, ongoing challenges, and laughter.

DRS Episode 407--Review: The Killing Tide from 2016-07-21T00:00

Paul and Terry review Johnathan Daniel's The Killing Tide.

DRS Episode 406--Arcs of Misery, Elation, Success, and Failure from 2016-07-14T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss the results of the Hedonometer Project and its analysis of emotional arcs in fiction.

DRS Episode 405–Dharma Kelleher Rides The Words from 2016-07-08T00:00

Terry and Paul interview author Dharma Kelleher.

DRS Episode 404 - David Wood Is Not Found from 2016-06-30T00:00

Guest co-host David Wood joins Terry and Paul to discuss writing in the action/adventure genre.

DRS Episode 403–Future of the Show and Other Topics from 2016-06-23T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss the changes to the show format, B&N’s 3rd impending bankruptcy, and publishing plans.

DRS Episode 402 - Farewell, Scott from 2016-06-16T00:00

Terry and Paul say farewell to Scott Roche as a permanent host. We look back at his evolution as a writer and host and where he's going next.

DRS Episode 401- Nora Roberts' "The Obsession" from 2016-06-09T00:00

Terry, Scott, and Paul discuss Nora Roberts' The Obsession.

DRS Episode 400 - Balticon 50 DRS Live Show from 2016-05-31T00:00

Join Terry and Paul at Balticon 50 for a raucous live show with a no holds barred question and answer session.

DRS Episode 399 - A Myriad of Topics from 2016-05-13T00:00

Terry, Scott, and Paul discuss a series of topics suggested by our listeners. No "space marines" were mentioned in this episode.

DRS Episode 398 – Michael R Underwood Gives Good Genre from 2016-05-07T00:00

Terry, Scott, and Paul welcome author Michael R Underwood and discuss pop culture, kickstarters, and genre fiction in general.

DRS Episode 397 – Con Season, Trunking, Priorities, and Self Censorship from 2016-04-28T00:00

Scott and Paul discuss a myriad of topics posted by our listeners.

DRS Episode 396 - Ritualistic Writing from 2016-04-22T00:00

Terry, Scott (yes, he actually showed up), and Paul discuss topics of routine, rituals, and the science of finding your creative spaces, atmospheres, and etc.

DRS Episode 395 - Ringworld from 2016-04-15T00:00

Paul and Terry discuss Larry Niven’s Ringworld and other topics.
Links discussed in this episode:

Larry Niven’s Ringworld--http://amzn.to/1V5x346
Nora Roberts’ The Obsession--http:...

DRS Episode 394 - Dave Robison Does EVERYTHING! from 2016-04-07T00:00

Terry and Paul welcome the creative hurricane known as Dave Robison. We discuss all the crazy that Dave is trying to bring to the world along with several other topics.

DRS Episode 393 - Divide and Suffer! from 2016-03-24T00:00

Terry, Scott, and Paul discuss the dangers and pleasures of confronting divisive and controversial topics in fiction.

DRS Episode 392 - "The Madman's Daughter" from 2016-03-17T00:00

Scott, Terry, and Paul discuss Megan Shepherd's "The Madman's Daughter," last month's book selection. By the way? WE HATE VERIZON! Next month's selection is Larry Niven's Ringworld.

DRS Episode 391 - Oh My! from 2016-03-09T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss writing romance, erotica, and Terry gives our listeners a writing assignment...

DRS Episode 390 - Inspired Legacy from 2016-03-03T00:00

Listener Robert Slattery asked some questions about inspiration and legacy, so Terry and Paul decided to tackle it. Their answers may surprise you.

DRS Episode 389 - I'm An Imposter from 2016-02-24T00:00

Terry, Paul, and Scott discuss the ins and outs of "The Imposter Syndrome."

DRS Episode 388 - Nuts and Bolts Not Franks And Beans from 2016-02-19T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss a myriad of writing craft topics and for the first time ever, actually agree on most of them.

DRS Episode 387 - Perry Rhodan Lemuria Vol 1: Star Ark Book Review from 2016-02-13T00:00

Join the Robots' as they dissect Perry Rhodan Lemuira Vol. 1: Star Ark.

DRS Episode 386 - Howie To Be A Writer from 2016-02-06T00:00

Terry, Paul, and Scott pore over Hugh Howie's essay "So You Want To Be A Writer?". In addition, Terry struggles with living "cheaply," Scott destroys the internet, and Paul wants a singing career.

DRS Episode 385 - KDP Quality Controls from 2016-01-28T00:00

Join Terry, Paul, and Scott as we discuss the hoopla over the upcoming changes to Amazon's KDP and how you might be affected.

DRS Episode 384 - Justin's Chair Blows Up from 2016-01-21T00:00

Join Terry, Paul, and Scott as we interview Justin Macumber, the founder of the show, before he leaves the hosting chair forever.

DRS Episode 383 - Bit Parts And Related Stories from 2016-01-16T00:00

Join Terry, Paul, and Scott as they discuss writing from the perspective of beloved secondary characters, fan fiction, open worlds, and general insanity.

DRS Episode 382 - Hyperion and Literary Sci-Fi from 2016-01-07T00:00

Justin, Terry, Paul, and Scott discuss the novel Hyperion by Dan Simmons. During this conversation, we wax profane about literature, sci-fi versus fantasy, and whether or not Justin should be allow...

DRS Episode 381 - Scheduling The Future from 2015-12-26T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss what they learned in 2015, how to apply it going forward, and setting their goals for 2016.

DRS Episode 380 - Zig Zag Inspirations from 2015-12-10T00:00

Terry and Scott interview author Clarence Young.
Links:
Writeonrighton.com
http://www.amazon.com/The-Brothers-Jetstream-Zig-Claybourne/dp/0986902411
https://twitter.com/zzclaybourne

DRS Episode 379 - All Things Amazonian from 2015-12-09T00:00

Scott, Paul, Terry, and sometimes Justin, discuss the Amazon.com ecosystem for authors and publishers, what to do, what to avoid, and what to watch out for.

DRS Episode 378 - Imagine The Set from 2015-11-21T00:00

Terry, Justin, Paul and, sometimes, Scott, discuss strategies on using real settings for your stories as well as how to create them.

DRS Episode 377 - J Daniel Sawyer Talks from 2015-11-07T00:00

Terry, Justin, Scott, and Paul visit with author J Daniel Sawyer and discuss book bundles, Dan's new NaNoWriMo podcast, and various other topics.

DRS Episode 376 – NaNoWriMo This! from 2015-11-04T00:00

Terry, Paul, and Justin discuss getting prepared for and how to execute Nano. You should listen to us because we've never done it and are therefore experts.

DRS Episode 375 – A Fireside Chat With Justin And Terry from 2015-10-24T00:00

Sit back with your beverage of choice and join Justin and Terry for a casual fireside chat about publishing and writing.

DRS Episode 374 - Batteries [Not] Included from 2015-10-16T00:00

Paul, Scott, and sometimes Terry discuss how to get through the grind and strategies to prevent/deal with burnout.

DRS Episode 373 – Publishing On A Budget from 2015-10-02T00:00

Join the Robots as they explore how to publish on a budget and what you can’t skimp on.

DRS Episode 372 - Writing Short Fiction Like A Boss from 2015-09-26T00:00

Scott, Terry, Justin, and Paul think they know how to write short fiction which is: anything less than novel length. Also? Is Scott an insect?

DRS Episode 371 - Quantity Quality Quixotic from 2015-09-19T00:00

Scott, Terry, and Paul discuss whether or not it's possible to publish too many books a year, or write too many books in a year. Also, we touch on some possible writing prompts for this election se...

DRS Episode 370 - Rushing To The End from 2015-09-12T00:00

Justin, Terry, and Paul discuss issues with finding and making the ending happen. What do you do if you get stuck? Also, what the hell is a Parsec Award anyway?

DRS Episode 369 - The Meddlesome Middle from 2015-09-06T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss how they deal with writing the dreaded "middle" of the book and strategies to get past problems. Not that they work for us, of course, but in theory, we know what to do...or ...

DRS Episode 368 - Macumber Has An Evil Plan from 2015-08-27T00:00

Justin, Terry, Paul, and Scott welcome voice actor, writer, and all around great person Veronica Giguere to brainstorm Justin's evil plan for a new podcast series based around his Still Water and F...

DRS Episode 367 - Risky Business from 2015-08-20T00:00

Join Scott and Terry as they discuss taking risks in the writing business.

DRS Episode 366 - The Horrors of Back Cover Copy from 2015-08-06T00:00

Scott, Terry, and Paul discuss their most terrifying secret: all three of them SUCK at writing synopses and back cover copy.

DRS LIVE at Space City Comicon 2015 from 2015-07-29T00:00

Join Justin, Michael Willet, David Wood, Terry, and Paul as they discuss a variety of topics. This episode is pretty raw to maintain the flow of conversation. BEWARE: MEN BEHAVING BADLY!

DRS Episode 365 - Prepping To Be Conned from 2015-07-23T00:00

Justin, Paul, Scott, and Terry discuss what to bring for a dealer booth, how not to terrify the punters, and mistakes NOT to make.

DRS Episode 364 - Todd Is ANGRY! from 2015-07-15T00:00

Justin, Paul, and Terry discuss what it means to "show don't tell" as well as scriptwriting and stealing from mythology, both real and imagined.

DRS Episode 363 - The Secret of Series from 2015-07-09T00:00

Justin, Scott, Terry, and Paul discuss the tricky business of writing series and sequels. Also, what the hell is a retcon anyway?

DRS Episode 362 - Talking Marketing With David Wood from 2015-06-25T00:00

Terry, Justin, and David Wood discuss marketing and promotion.

DRS Episode 361 - Just One More Thing from 2015-06-18T00:00

Paul, Terry, and Justin discuss changes with the Amazon KU/KOLL programs, Kindle Singles, and tangents galore.

DRS Episode 360 - Collaboration With... from 2015-06-10T00:00

Paul, Terry, and Scott discuss collaborating with other authors, shared worlds, beta readers and editors.

DRS Episode 359 - 6 Rules For Writing from 2015-06-05T00:00

Paul, Scott, and Terry discuss Robert Sawyer's take on Heinlein's venerated "5 Rules of Writing."
See the article here:
http://www.sfwriter.com/ow05.htm

DRS Special Episode - Balticon 49 LIVE! from 2015-05-28T00:00

Scott and Paul discuss editing and anthologies with Sue Baiman and Charlie Brown.

DRS Episode 358 - The Write Stuff, Bundling And More from 2015-05-21T00:00

Join Scott and Terry as they talk with author and podcaster J. Daniel Sawyer about the writing book bundle he's in called The Write Stuff. We also talk bundling in general.

Go get your cop...

DRS Episode 357 - Draft2Digital and Reclaiming Pulp Fiction from 2015-05-08T00:00

Scott, Terry, Justin, and Paul welcome special guest Josh Unruh, marketing director for Draft2Digital.com and author of trope bending stories.

DRS Episode 356 - Decisions and Distributions from 2015-04-30T00:00

Justin, Scott, Terry, and Paul discuss when to abandon a series and our experiences with various distribution channels. Oh yes, it's a LONG one.

DRS Episode 355 - Style Choices and Slaughtering Grammar from 2015-04-23T00:00

Terry, Scott, and Paul opine at length about nothing although we started with something. Do you change your style to match the genre? Do you read your reviews? Do you modify your writing based upon...

DRS Episode 354 - Status: It's Complicated from 2015-04-16T00:00

Terry, Justin, and Paul discuss plot complications and how to keep the story moving, the readers interested, and the characters in lots and lots of trouble.

DRS Episode 353 - Selling Out and Not from 2015-04-09T00:00

Justin, Terry, Paul, and Scott discuss prioritizing your works between the commercial and the niche. Also, we talk about the Hugo Awards and Sad Puppies, Justin's inability to sing, the sweetness o...

DRS Episode 352 - Pace - It's Not Just Salsa from 2015-04-01T00:00

Join Terry, Justin, and Scott as they talk pacing in both their own works and how to look at the subject in general.

DRS Episode 351 - Aliens, Robots, Non-Human Entities and Cultures from 2015-03-19T00:00

Justin, Paul, Scott, Terry discuss the intricacies and issues in writing non-human characters and societies.

DRS Episode 350 - Orgs Warnings and Scams from 2015-03-12T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss professional writing organizations, trigger warnings, author solutions, and the fact Scott Roche needs to grow back his moustache.

DRS Episode 349 - Kickstarters and Patrons from 2015-03-05T00:00

Scott, Terry, and Paul discuss the ethics of kickstarters, the value of patrons, and Scott whines a lot.

DRS Episode 348 - Cornucopia of Topics from 2015-02-26T00:00

Terry, Justin, Scott, and Paul discuss a variety of topics including:

* Finding a supportive writing environment
* What to do when characters do/say unexpected things
* How to find...

DRS Episode 347 - Origin Stories of the Hosts from 2015-02-12T00:00

Terry, Paul, and Justin discuss how they got into writing, their first novels, and give tips on how to get started.

DRS Episode 346 - Digging In The Sand With Timothy Ward from 2015-02-07T00:00

Join the Robots and they talk with author Timothy Ward about his works in the world of Sand, created by Hugh Howey. We also discuss what we'd like to have known when we started writing. If only we ...

DRS Episode 345 - Corporate Whores and Amazon Bitches from 2015-01-29T00:00

Paul, Terry, Justin, and Scott discuss indie versus hybrid vs traditional publishing and we also discuss marketing with bookbub, and writing for the money. We are also terrorized by Justin's nipples.

DRS Episode 344 - Action AND Words from 2015-01-21T00:00

Terry, Justin, Paul, and Scott discuss how to make action beats, thriller beats, and horror beats. In other words, we pretend we know what we're talking about.

DRS Episode 343 - Antags and Protags from 2015-01-16T00:00

Terry, Paul, and Scott discuss making protagonist and antagonists fully realized characters. And Terry seeks counseling for his goodie-goodie characters.
Also, is 343 a prime number?

DRS Episode 342 - Dreams in Fiction from 2015-01-07T00:00

Justin, Terry, and Paul discuss using dream sequences in fiction. Due to new audio capture software, there might be a couple of audio artifacts in the audio. My apologies

DRS Episode 341 - Brainstorming LWF from 2014-12-12T00:00

Terry and Scott discuss brainstorm Terry's upcoming adventure in the world of Libertarian Wank Fiction (LWF). And yes, that is a genre WE ROBOTS ARE PIONEERING!

DRS Episode 340 - Reflecting On The Past And Looking Forward from 2014-12-05T00:00

Terry, Justin, and Scott gather to reflect on their writing during the past year and part the mists of the future to plan to do better.

DRS Episode 339 - Michell Plested and YA Fiction from 2014-11-13T00:00

Paul and Terry interview author Michell Plested and discuss Y/A fiction, collaborative writing, and various other disturbing topics.

DRS Episode 338 - Building Worlds from 2014-11-05T00:00

Justin, Paul, and Terry discuss "world builder's disease" and the smaller worlds writers should focus on.

DRS Episode 337 - Overthinking The Thinking from 2014-10-30T00:00

Justin, Paul, Scott, and Terry discuss the problems over thinking plots, characters, and etc while you're writing.

DRS Episode 336 - Corncobs, Donkeys, and Ed Lorn from 2014-10-22T00:00

Justin, Paul, and Terry have a conversation with horror author Ed Lorn. No donkeys were hurt in the creation of this episode.

DRS Episode 335 - Storming Dave's Brain from 2014-10-18T00:00

Dave Robison from the Roundtable Podcast joins Terry and Paul for a brainstorming session. Hilarity ensues...

DRS Episode 334 - Proof This, Bubba! from 2014-10-07T00:00

Justin, Paul, Scott, and Terry discuss ways to improve your proofing before the final publishing steps.

DRS Episode 333 - Thrill 'em and Kill 'em from 2014-10-03T00:00

Paul, Scott, and Terry discuss the ins and outs of pacing and story structure for writing thrillers.

DRS Episode 332 - The Finish Line from 2014-09-29T00:00

Justin, Terry, and Paul discuss the process of getting the book finished and out the door.

DRS Episode 331 - Inspiration Stations from 2014-09-18T00:00

Justin, Paul, and Scott discuss where stories come from and where you should look for inspiration.

DRS Episode 330 - Don't Be A Dick from 2014-09-10T00:00

Justin, Terry, and Paul discuss how NOT to alienate your readership and how to form relationships with them instead.

DRS Episode 329 - Stereotypes and Real Characters from 2014-09-03T00:00

Justin and Paul discuss the problems with stereotypes and how to create three dimensional characters from them.

DRS Episode 328 - R.I.P. Main Characters from 2014-08-27T00:00

Justin, Terry, Scott, and Paul discuss the pros and cons of killing main characters.

We also talk about the tragic passing of our friend P.G. Holyfield. You can make a donation to help his...

DRS Episode 327 - Jake Bible Talks Light Speed Writing from 2014-08-13T00:00

Jake Bible joins Paul, Terry, and Scott to discuss his writing process, the insanity of turning out a book a month, and his tendency to use insane characters.

DRS Episode 326 - Endings from 2014-08-07T00:00

Scott and Terry talk about endings, with the usual meandering through a few more subjects.

DRS Episode 325 - Author Earnings with Hugh Howey from 2014-07-29T00:00

This week, the guys talk with author Hugh Howey about http://authorearnings.com, KDP Select, and KDP Unlimited.

Also, check out Terry's new science fiction novel, Empire of Bones, at: http...

DRS Episode 324 - Adverbs, Edits, and Unlimited from 2014-07-24T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss everything from adverb abuse to Kindle Unlimited.

DRS Episode 323 - Prologues and Epilogues from 2014-07-17T00:00

Join the Robots as that talk about prologues and epilogues. What they are, when they should be used, and when they shouldn't.

DRS Episode 322 - Flashbacks, Tenses, and More! from 2014-07-11T00:00

Join the Robots as they talk about flashbacks, tenses, and whatever else comes across their minds.

DRS Episode 321 - Writing in Shared Worlds with John Mierau from 2014-07-02T00:00

Join the Robots as they talk with author and podcaster John Mierau about writing in a shared universe. We talk about his shared world anthologies Walk The Fire (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009GQYF6E)...

DRS Episode 320 - POD book layout with John McCarthy from 2014-06-28T00:00

Join the robots as they talk with an expert on what goes into laying out your book. John McCarthy walks us through the pitfalls of getting the interior of a print project just right.

Some...

DRS Episode 319 - Looking At Writing From Another Point Of View from 2014-06-20T00:00

Join the Robots as they discuss the use of first and third person in fiction.

DRS Episode 318 - Will Amazon Bury The Hachette? from 2014-06-10T00:00

Terry and Paul discuss the huge disaster that is the Hacette v Amazon war and how it affects writers in both the traditional publishing and independent publishing camps.

DRS Episode 317 - The Balticon Recap Episode from 2014-06-07T00:00

Join the Robots as they talk about Balticon 2014. What did they accomplish and what are they doing next.

Terry apologizes for the quality of his audio. Google didn't want to let him in and...

DRS Balticon 2014 Live Special Episode from 2014-05-30T00:00

Hosts Paul E. Cooley, Scott Roche, and special guest host J. Daniel Sawyer met the fans at Balticon 2014. At the end of the show is a read by Scott. Enjoy.

DRS Episode 316 - Authors And The Convention Experience from 2014-05-22T00:00

Join the Robots as they talk about authors and the whole convention experience.

DRS Episode 315 - Discoverability: Pricing And More from 2014-05-14T00:00

Join the Robots as the discussing pricing and how it affects discoverability.

Also, go buy Paul's new book, The Street. Seriously. http://shadowpublications.com/the-street-presale/

DRS Episode 314 - Living On The Street With Paul E. Cooley from 2014-05-07T00:00

Join the Robots as they celebrate the release of The Street with Paul E. Cooley. Head over to ShadowPublications.com and get your copy today. Also, put down your drinks before you listen to the sho...

DRS Episode 313 - Discoverability And Social Media from 2014-04-23T00:00

Join the Robots as they talk about discoverability and social media.

DRS Episode 312 - Discoverability, A General Introduction from 2014-04-17T00:00

Join the Robots as they talk about discoverability. How do people find your book? Part one of several episodes on the subject.

DRS Episode 311 - Talking Still Water With Justin R. Macumber from 2014-04-09T00:00

Join the Robots as they talk with Justin R. Macumber about the April 22, 2014 release of his new horror novel Still Water.

Also, we just found out we had a Wikipedia page. http://en.wikipe...

DRS Episode 310 - Reviewing Lion's Blood by Steven Barnes from 2014-04-02T00:00

Join the Robots as they review Lion's Blood by Steven Barnes.

Show teaser is for John Mierau's podcast Farlost, which you can find at http://johnmierau.wordpress.com.

DRS Episode 309 - Exploring Science Fiction from 2014-03-26T00:00

Join the Robots as they explore what science fiction as a genre.

DRS Episode 308 - Flashing With J.R.D. Skinner from 2014-03-19T00:00

Join the Robots as they talk with author J.R.D. Skinner about podcasting flash fiction and a whole host of other goings on.

For his stories, go to http://flashpulp.com.

For his ex...

DRS Episode 307 - Death and Taxes from 2014-03-12T00:00

Join the Robots as they talk with Terry's wife Donna about authors and their taxes.

DRS Episode 306 - Social/Political Commentary from 2014-03-05T00:00

Join the Robots as they look at how to do social and political commentary. And how not to do it.

They mentioned an article on symbolism by authors that you can read at http://mentalfloss.c...

DRS Episode 305 - The Business Of Publishing - Production Scheduling from 2014-02-26T00:00

This week the Robots talk about the challenges and pitfalls of scheduling your production. And, of course, the rewards.

This is loosely based on a an essay on the subject by Dean Wesley Sm...

DRS Episode 304 - Reviewing Horns by Joe Hill from 2014-02-19T00:00

This week the Robots fight off Skype bugs to dig into Horns by Joe Hill. Join us as we suss out where it works and where it falls flat.

DRS Episode 303 - Interview With Tyler Palmer Of Patreon from 2014-02-13T00:00

Join the Robots as they talk with Tyler Palmer, Vice President of Operations at Patreon. They discuss the unique method of fostering patronage the company offers in a wide ranging talk that offers ...

DRS Episode 302 - Being A Career Writer from 2014-02-04T00:00

The Robots return to talking about business. This time we're laying the foundation for a series of episodes on business. The start of that is to know what it means to be a career writer. In this ca...

Episode 301 - Publishing Quality from 2014-01-28T00:00

Episode 301 is on the air!

Join the Robots as they talk about minimum publishing standards indie publishers should aspire to. This discussion was spawned by two blog posts from author Chu...

DRS Episode 300 - Robots! Write! Inspiration And Rambling with Justin Macumber from 2014-01-21T00:00

Join the Robots in welcoming back their Dark Overlord Justin Macumber. We have a nice rambling conversation about his doings and inspiration.

DRS Special Episode - NYT Bestselling Author Scott Sigler Causes A Pandemic from 2014-01-18T00:00

Join the Robots as they talk with New York Times Bestselling Author Scott Sigler about his newest release, Pandemic. The book is officially released January 21st, 2014, but you can pre-order a copy...

DRS Episode 299 - Under a Graveyard Sky Review from 2014-01-14T00:00

Join the Robots as they review Under A Graveyard Sky by John Ringo.

Zombies are real. And we made them. Are you prepared for the zombie apocalypse? The Smith family is, with the help of a...

Episode 298 - The Ghosts of Writing Past and Future from 2014-01-07T00:00

Join the Robots as they look back at 2013 and plan for 2014. They do their very best to suss out how to improve and maximize productivity. Remember, aim high and you'll never shoot yourself in the ...

DRS Episode 297 - Where To Start And Stop Your Story from 2013-12-17T00:00

Join the Robots as they mull where a story starts and ends, as well as how to know where to put what falls in between.

DRS Episode 296 - Writing Holiday Themed And Niche Fiction from 2013-12-10T00:00

The holiday season is upon us! Come join the Robots as they discuss writing seasonal fiction and for niche markets.

DRS Episode 295 - The Paul Elard Cooley Makeover Show from 2013-12-03T00:00

This week the Robots' have David Wood and J. Daniel Sawyer come on to assist Paul with a makeover on his branding. Come join us and give Paul your thoughts.

Check the show notes for all th...

DRS Episode 294 - The Business of Writing Part Deux with J. Daniel Sawyer from 2013-11-19T00:00

Author and podcaster J. Daniel Sawyer joins the Robots to expand on last week's conversation on business. Come join us and benefit from his experience.

DRS Episode 293 - Getting Down To Business from 2013-11-12T00:00

Join the Robots as they talk some of the business aspects of being an author. DBAs, LLCs, taxes, contracts, and agents. Oh my!

DRS Episode 292 - Self-Editing Your Fiction from 2013-11-05T00:00

The Dead Robots' talk about self-editing your own fiction. They talk about their processes and the pitfalls.

DRS Episode 291 - Justin Says Goodbye from 2013-10-29T00:00

This week the Robots chat one last time with Justin before he heads off for a much needed sabbatical. He started the podcast over six years ago, and he's glad that it will continue in his absence. ...

Special Episode – J Daniel Sawyer Is Busy! from 2013-10-22T00:00

This is a special episode, as the title suggests, in which Justin sits down with J Daniel Sawyer to talk about his Crudrat Kickstarter campaign, his upcoming podcasts, and what his views are on the...

DRS Episode 290 - Reviewing Ready Player One from 2013-10-22T00:00

This week the Robots talk about Ernest Cline's debut novel READY PLAYER ONE. We talk about what we liked, what we thought could have been improved, and what we learned from it. Enjoy!

DRS Episode 289 - It's A Thriller Night from 2013-10-15T00:00

Tonight the Robots talk about thrillers. Is it a genre or a style, what are the elements you have to have, and should you plan or can you pants it? We hope you enjoy the conversation.

DRS Episode 288 - Keeping Our Eye On The Prize from 2013-10-08T00:00

This week the Robots get together to talk about staying motivated and inspired, but along the way we also meander around several other topics. We hope you enjoy it.

DRS Episode 287 - Reviewing Oath Of Swords from 2013-10-01T00:00

This week we FINALLY discuss the book Terry asked us to review back about five years ago, David Weber's OATH OF SWORDS. Along the way we also talk about genre tropes and whether or not they should ...

DRS Episode 286 - Brainstorming The Bastard from 2013-09-17T00:00

This week Justin and Paul sit down to help Terry brainstorm his next great work - a galaxy spanning space opera about a bastard or something! Come, listen, and enjoy.

WorldCon 2013 Panel - Self Promotion from 2013-09-10T00:00

This audio was provided by Jeff Brackett. "Self Promotion: Everything You Know About It is Probably Wrong." Done properly, self-promotion is an important part of building a career. Poorly executed,...

WorldCon 2013 Panel - Things They Never Tell You About Getting Published from 2013-09-10T00:00

This was made available by Jeff Beckett. It was recorded at WorldCon 2013. "What should you look for in a short story contract? What might you hear about your story from readers and reviewers? Wh...

DRS Episode 285 - An Argument For Self-Publishing from 2013-09-03T00:00

This week the Robots sit down to chat about the publishing industry, and more specifically self-publishing. A great deal has changed in the past few years, and the gatekeepers are nearly out of a j...

DRS Episode 284 - Writin' 2: Podcast Boogaloo from 2013-08-20T00:00

This week the Robots sit down and chat about writing a sequel/prequel. Should locations be reused, should characters' fate change to keep them around, and how much previous info should be retold. E...

Space City Con 2013 - Creating A Podcast Panel from 2013-08-13T00:00

In this week's episode we present a panel from Space City Con '13 about how to create a podcast. On the panel was Justin Macumber, Paul Cooley, David Wood of Gryphonwood Press and ThrillerCast, as ...

Space City Con 2013 Drunk Cast from 2013-08-06T00:00

Yep, this happened. During Space City Con 2013 the Robots were joined by Charlie Brown and David Wood to ramble about just about everything and nothing all at once. We hope you enjoy this sad glimp...

DRS Episode 283 - Crossing The Genre Streams from 2013-07-30T00:00

This week the Robots chat about genre mashups. The topic of genre is slippery already, but when you talk about combining them it gets more slippery still. We hope you enjoy this conversation!

DRS Episode 282 - For Love Or Money from 2013-07-23T00:00

This week the Robots chat around the table about writing for the love versus writing for the money, and what it means to try and be commercial. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

DRS Episode 281 - Biff! Boom! Pow! Writing Comics With Glenn Farrington from 2013-07-16T00:00

This week the Robots talk with Glenn Farrington about the Kickstarter campaign for his upcoming computer program to help people write comic books. It was a great discussion! We hope you enjoy.

DRS Episode 280 - Selznick's Pilgrimage And Beyond from 2013-07-10T00:00

This week the Robots chat with Matthew Wayne Selznick about his novels Brave Men Run and Pilgrimage, as well as what he'll be working on in the future.

DRS Episode 279 - Charlie Brown From Dirty Magick to Transmedia from 2013-07-02T00:00

The Robots' talk with author, screenwriter, and director Charlie Brown about his upcoming anthology and transmedia. What happens when you get a New Orleans native together with two Texans? Come fin...

DRS Episode 278 - Writing Like Thieves In The Night from 2013-06-25T00:00

Oscar Wilde once said, "Good writers borrow, great writers steal." This week the Robots sit down to chat about how true that statement is, as well as say goodbye to Richard Matheson (RIP) and talk ...

DRS Episode 277 - Robots On Inspiration Point from 2013-06-18T00:00

This week the Robots talk about what inspired them to be writers, what inspired particular stories, and what has inspired the way they write. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

DRS Episode 276 - Mid Year Check-In from 2013-06-11T00:00

This week Terry and Justin talk about where they are in their writing careers and what they think they'll be working on next year. We hope you enjoy the show.

DRS Episode 275 - Balticon '13 Historically Uncompromised from 2013-06-04T00:00

This is a live podcast from Balticon 2013 about Historical Fiction.

DRS Episode 274 - Live From Balticon 47 from 2013-05-28T00:00

This week's episode was recorded live at Balticon 47. It features the vocal magic of Paul Cooley, Veronica Giguere, and Michell Plested. They discuss the topic of superheroes. Enjoy!

DRS Episode 273 - Free Podcast or Paid Audiobook? from 2013-05-21T00:00

Terry and Paul talk about the differences between producing a free podcast edition of your fiction and doing a version someone pays for.

DRS Episode 272 - Red Adept Publishing Is In The House from 2013-05-14T00:00

This week the Robots were delighted to sit down with Lynn McNamee of Red Adept Publishing to talk about the evolution of Red Adept and the new direction they've headed in. We hope you enjoy!

DRS Episode 271 - A Brainstorm Explosion With Terry Mixon from 2013-05-07T00:00

This week Paul and Justin help Terry brainstorm his thriller idea about covert agents, terrorists, explosions, and traitorous politicians. If you have any ideas for him, head over the FB page and l...

DRS Episode 270 - Become Enchanted With Alethea Kontis from 2013-04-30T00:00

This week the Robots sit down to chat with author Alethea Kontis about her novel ENCHANTED, her path to publication, and how the state of publishing is changing. Enjoy! She was delightful.

DRS Episode 269 - David Wood And Alan Baxter Perform A Dark Rite from 2013-04-23T00:00

This week the Robots chat with authors David Wood and Alan Baxter about their joint new short novel, DARK RITE. We discuss collaborative writing, publishing, and horror. Enjoy!

DRS Episode 268 - Join The Massive Fiction Project from 2013-04-16T00:00

This week the Robots chat with Marion Jensen to talk about his interesting fan fiction Kickstarter campaign called Massive Fiction. Fan fiction is a great way to learn about writing, and we think t...

DRS Episode 267 - The Robots Get Genderfied from 2013-04-09T00:00

This week the Robots are joined by Lauren "Scribe" Harris to talk about writing to and for the opposite gender. What stereotypes should be avoided, which are true, and how should it affect your wri...

DRS Episode 266 - Back Cover Blurbs from 2013-04-02T00:00

Join Terry and Paul as they talk about back cover blurbs and how to use them to market your book.

DRS Episode 265 - The First Draft Is Only The Beginning from 2013-03-26T00:00

This week the Robots talk about all the work that has to be done once the first draft is finished. You've reached THE END, and that's great, but it's only the beginning. There's so much more to do.

DRS Episode 264 - Making Tracks With J. Daniel Sawyer from 2013-03-19T00:00

This week the Robots sit down with J Daniel Sawyer to talk about copyrights, Creative Commons, Public Domain, as well as his new book MAKING TRACKS: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO AUDIOBOOKS.

DRS Episode 263 - 14 By Peter Clines Does The Impossible from 2013-03-12T00:00

This week the Robots sit down to talk about Peter Clines' novel "14." We discuss what worked for us, what didn't, and if we'd recommend it to others. But, more than that, we marvel at the fact that...

DRS Episode 262 - From Dead Mech To Dead Mic from 2013-03-10T00:00

This week the Robots sit down to chat with Jake Bible about his decision to stop podcasting his fiction. It was once seen as a great way to gain fans and attention, but is that the case? Are there ...

DRS Episode 261 - Kickstarting Her Heart With Amy Dale from 2013-02-26T00:00

This week the Robots sit down to chat with Amy Dale, author of OFF WITH HER HEART. Amy's book is currently on Kickstarter, I've read it, and I think all of you should check it out and help it succe...

DRS Episode 260 - Biting Into Salem's Lot from 2013-02-19T00:00

This week the robots FINALLY review one of the books they said they'd read months ago. Paul offered up Stephen King's "Salem's Lot," so this week they rip open that coffin and see what's there. Enjoy!

DRS Episode 259 - It's The Genrepocalypse from 2013-02-12T00:00

This week the Robots settle in to talk about the topic of genre and all it's carious forms. Should we as writers care what genres people put stories in? Does it matter? What's the difference betwee...

DRS Episode 258 - Taking The Drama To 11 from 2013-02-05T00:00

This week the Robots talk about different ways to increase drama and tension in a story. There are lots of ways to do it, some working better than others. We hope you enjoy!

DRS Episode 257 - Setting The Scene from 2013-01-29T00:00

This week the Robots talk about description and setting the scene. How much description is too much, how much is not enough, and how do you know when to stop? We hope you enjoy the conversation.

DRS Episode 256 - Talking The Talk from 2013-01-22T00:00

This week the Robots talk about dialogue. Can you write humor? Should you use contractions? When do we use foreign words? These questions and more will be answered! Enjoy.

DRS Episode 255 - Earning Experience Points from 2013-01-15T00:00

This week the Robots are joined by listener Michael Brudenell to discuss the topic of experience. How much does it factor into writing, how much should it, and how do we writers get more of it? Enjoy!

DRS Episode 254 - Planning The Year Ahead from 2013-01-08T00:00

This week the Robots talk about how they plan out the year ahead. What stories they'll work on, when, how, what might get in the way, etc. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

DRS Episode 253 - Happy Holidays With Linton Bowers from 2012-12-25T00:00

This week the Robots have the tables turned on them. Instead of doing the interviewing, they are interviewed by Linton Bowers, a listener of the show. We really hope you enjoy it.

DRS Episode 252 - Year End Confidental from 2012-12-18T00:00

This week the robots sit down to talk about the year, their success, what obstacles they had to overcome, and what is in store for next year. We hope you enjoy the conversation and let us know how ...

DRS Episode 251 - Serial Fiction With No Added Sugar from 2012-12-11T00:00

This week the Robots have a good old fashion roundtable discussion about serializing fiction. Why would you, what do you have to gain, and what are some tips on doing it right? Listen and enjoy!

DRS Episode 250 - Giving Voice To Words With Veronica Giguere from 2012-12-04T00:00

This week the robots talk with author and voice actor extraordinaire Veronica Giguere. She has narrated and voice acted in so many productions, and she even writes as well, so settle in and enjoy t...

DRS Episode 249 - Walking The Fire With John Mierau from 2012-11-27T00:00

This week Justin and Paul chat with writer and podcaster John Mierau about his writing, podcasting, and the anthology he's putting out called WALK THE FIRE. We hope you enjoy it!

DRS Episode 248 - The Way Of The Gun With Scott Roche from 2012-11-12T00:00

This week the Robots talk with Scott Roche of Flying Island Press about his upcoming anthology, The Way Of The Gun, which is a mashup of samurai and the old west. We hope you enjoy and support the ...

DRS Episode 247 - Screenwriting With Charlie Brown from 2012-11-06T00:00

This week the Robots sit down to chat with Charlie Brown, a great guy we had on the show previously, to talk about screenwriting and the difference between that and writing novels. Enjoy!

DRS Episode 246 - Halloween Horror With Edward Lorn from 2012-10-29T00:00

This week the Robots are joined by horror author Edward Lorn to talk about what scares us, why, and how horror can not only be scary, but also therapeutic. We hope you enjoy!

DRS Episode 245 - Talking Writing With Mike Shepherd from 2012-10-23T00:00

Terry and Paul sit down with Mike Shepherd, author of the Kris Longknife military science fiction series, to talk about writing and his world. His next book, Kris Longknife: Furious, comes out at t...

DRS Episode 244 - Full Steampunk Ahead With Emilie Bush And Pip from 2012-10-18T00:00

This week Justin is joined by Philippa Ballantine and they interview steampunk author Emilie P. Bush to talk about writing, publishing, and what this whole steampunk thing is about. Enjoy!

DRS Episode 243 - Wrangling The Muse With Dave Robison from 2012-10-08T00:00

This week we're joined by Dave Robison of the Roundtable Podcast, and we talk about that slippery subject of inspiration, AKA the muse. How do we fuel it, how do we keep it, and what do we do when ...

DRS Episode 242 - Nobilis Chats Reviews from 2012-10-01T00:00

This week Justin and Paul are joined by Nobilis Reed to discuss reviews. They are crucial to getting attention and hopefully sales, but how do you get them, and are all reviews equal? We hope you e...

DRS Episode 241 - Kill 'Em All! from 2012-09-24T00:00

This week the robots discuss the topic of killing off characters. Whether they're primary or a bit player, characters are going to die, but the real questions are when, why, and is it a good idea? ...

DRS Episode 240 - Reviewing All Fast And Fury from 2012-09-17T00:00

Justin's back! This week we review David Weber's IN FURY BORN, talking about what we liked and didn't, as well as what we learned about the craft of writing through reading it. We hope you enjoy!

DRS Episode 239 - Deja  Vu All Over Again With Recurring Characters from 2012-09-10T00:00

Paul and Terry talk about the trials and tribulations of writing characters that span multiple books. Enjoy.

DRS Episode 238 - All Roads Lead To Publishing from 2012-09-03T00:00

Terry and Paul get together to talk about their divergent paths to publishing. There is no right way, only the best way for each individual writer. Come hear what they advise.

DRS Episode 237 - Feminism In Modern Storytelling With Pip And Eli from 2012-08-27T00:00

This week the Robots sit down with Pip Ballantine and Eliyanna to talk about how women are written in today's stories. Is strength too often shown through kicking a monster's butt? Is sexuality a c...

DRS Episode 236 - Small Presses And Space City Con from 2012-08-20T20:00

This week Justin, David Wood, and Ryan Span sit down to chat about small presses and what the first year of Space City Con was like. We hope you enjoy the show! And please check out our sponsor, th...

DRS Episode 235 - The Drunk Cast from 2012-08-13T00:00

This week Justin, Terry, and Paul were finally able to get together and discuss different aspects of writing and publishing, and along with us were David Wood and Michael Willett. This was recorded...

DRS Episode 234 - On A Pilgrimage With Matthew Wayne Selznick from 2012-08-06T00:00

This week the Robots sit down with Matthew Wayne Selznick to talk about his recently begun Kickstarter campaign to fund PILGRIMAGE, a new Sovereign Era novel. Enjoy!

DRS Episode 233 - A Game Of Dead Robots from 2012-07-23T00:00

This week Paul, Terry, and Justin discuss George R. R. Martin's "A Game Of Thrones" novel, not just as readers, but also as writers. What did we think Martin did well, what did we not care for, and...

DRS Episode 232 - When Get Up And Go Got Up And Went from 2012-07-16T00:00

This week the Robots talk about things to do when production is lacking, when we're having trouble finding motivation to get our butts in chairs and our hands writing. We hope you enjoy the convers...

DRS Episode 231 - The Writing Process from 2012-07-09T00:00

This week Terry and Paul discuss their writing processes, how they're similar and how they differ. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

DRS Episode 230 - All About EXPLORERS from 2012-07-02T00:00

This week Justin, Terry, and Eliyanna sit down with three of the EXPLORERS anthology authors, Andrew Hawnt, Daniel Latham, and Jeff Brackett. We discuss how it began, what we learned along the way,...

DRS Episode 229 - Being Good At Being Bad from 2012-06-25T00:00

This week Justin and Terry are joined with J. Daniel Sawyer to talk about villains and antagonists. Too often people think those are the same thing, but they're not, and learning how to properly us...

DRS Episode 228 - Brainstorming Magic With The Roundtable Podcast Crew from 2012-06-18T00:00

This week the Robots welcome the Dave and Brion from the Roundtable Podcast to help Justin brainstorm his next book, the sequel to A MINOR MAGIC. Beware spoilers for that book, which is due out soo...

DRS Episode 227 - The Pros Of Cons from 2012-06-11T00:00

This week the Roots sit down to chat about Balticon and other conventions, what we've seen, what we've learned, and what they have to offer today's writers and podcasters. We hope you enjoy the con...

Balticon 2012 Panel #4 – Small Press Versus Large Press from 2012-06-07T18:00

What are the pros and cons either way? Agents , authors and publishers discuss. Moderated by Steve Wilson, with panelists Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Ian Randal Strock, Trish Wilson, Elizabeth Black, ...

Balticon 2012 Panel #3 – Alien, Magic-wielder, God, or Demon from 2012-06-06T18:00

What is the difference between Q and YahweH? Between Voldemort and Satan? Panel moderated by Barbara Friend Ish, and included Justin Macumber, Bernie Mojzes, and Joshua Palmatier

Balticon 2012 Panel #2 – Sequels And Prequels from 2012-06-05T18:00

Are prequels really needed? And when do you decide to "shake things up" and set your sequel with a new set of characters? The panel was moderated by Walter H. Hunt, with the rest of the panel being...

Balticon 2012 Panel #1 – Publisher Non-Grata from 2012-06-04T18:00

Why authors are succeeding without a publisher of any size behind them. The panel was moderated by Elaine Corvidae, and on the panel were Paul Elard Cooley, Collin Earl, and Brandon (Brand) Gamblin

DRS Episode 226 - A Conversation With A. P. Stephens from 2012-05-22T00:00

This week the Robots sit down with indie author A.P.Stephens to talk about his writing, his promotional efforts, and his recent Kickstarter campaign. We hope you enjoy the conversation, and come sa...

DRS Episode 225 - Writing Soup To Nuts from 2012-05-14T00:00

This week the Robots have a very high level conversation about their different processes for writing a story from beginning to end, from initial idea to final edit. We hope you have fun and enjoy t...

DRS Episode 224 - A Matter Of Perspective from 2012-05-07T00:00

This week the Robots (with new co-host Paul E Cooley) talk narrative points of view, and at the end we review David Drake's HAMMER'S SLAMMERS and Butcher's STORM FRONT. We hope you enjoy.

DRS Episode 223 - Saying Goodbye To Eliyanna from 2012-04-30T20:00

This week Terry and Justin have the sad duty of saying goodbye to Eliyanna, who leaves us for the impending joy of motherhood. We hate to see her go, but we're proud to have had her as a part of th...

DRS Episode 222 - Serialized Fiction from 2012-04-27T00:00

This week Terry and Eli talk about the idea of serialized stories. Getting a tale told in one large tome is fine, but there's also a lot to be said for releasing it in smaller, steady doses. We hop...

DRS Episode 221 - Picking Up The Ghost With Tone Milazzo from 2012-04-23T20:00

This week Justin flies solo and interviews author and aspiring comic book writer Tone Milazzo. They discuss his experience writing his novel PICKING UP THE GHOST, getting it polished and published,...

DRS Episode 220 - Brainstorming An Erotic Mystery from 2012-04-16T00:00

This week Justin and Eli help Terry brainstorm his idea for an erotic mystery that takes place in a world where populated only by women. We encourage you all to send in your own ideas and comments....

DRS Episode 219 - Big Brother Is Watching from 2012-04-09T00:00

This week Terry and Justin talk about dystopian stories. What is a dystopia, what sorts of stories can be told in that environment, and why? We hope you enjoy the conversation.

DRS Episode 218 - The Way Of The Gun With J Daniel Sawyer from 2012-04-02T00:00

This week the Robots chat with J Daniel Sawyer about his new non-fiction book "Throwing Lead: A Writer’s Guide to Firearms (and the People Who Use Them)." This is his first reference book, Dan is...

DRS Episode 217 - The Sequel Part Two from 2012-03-26T00:00

This week Justin and Eli talk about writing single stories versus writing a series. Is one better than the other, more appealing, more lucrative? Listen in and see what we think. Enjoy!

DRS Episode 216 - The Robots Go HAYWIRE from 2012-03-12T00:00

This week the tables are turned, and instead of the robots interviewing a guest Terry takes the mic and chats with Justin about his upcoming novel HAYWIRE, which drops March 13th, 2012. We hope you...

DRS Episode 215 - In Suspense With Katia Lief from 2012-03-05T00:00

This week the Robots chat with suspense author Katia Lief about her books, her method, writing workshops, using pen names, and what her experience has been in publishing her own back catalog. Enjoy!

DRS Episode 214 - From The Shadows With Paul E Cooley from 2012-02-27T00:00

This week Justin and Eli sit down to catch up with Paul Elard Cooley about his Garaaga's Children series, how his self-publishing is coming along, what he things of the current state of horror, and...

DRS Episode 213 - Publishing Erotica With Selena Kitt from 2012-02-21T00:00

This week Terry and Justin sit down to chat with erotica author and publisher Selena Kitt to talk about the current state of erotica, what troubles are bubbling the waters today, and where it might...

Con-Jour '12 - World Development For Sci-Fi Fantasy And Horror from 2012-02-18T20:00

Conjour 4 - World Development for Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror: Terry Mixon, Robert Stickmanz, Jason Durall, Chris Dunbar

Con-Jour '12 - The Business Aspect Of Writing from 2012-02-18T19:00

Conjour 4 - The Business Aspect of Writing: Michael Ashleigh Finn, Rhonda Eudaly, P.L. Blair, David Doub

Con-Jour '12 - Technology For Writers from 2012-02-17T20:00

Conjour 4 - Technology for Writers: Scott Padget, Paul Elard Cooley, Michael Ashleigh Finn

Con-Jour '12 - Publishing And Marketing Realities For The Emerging Author from 2012-02-17T19:00

Conjour 4 - Publishing and Marketing Realities for the Emerging Author: Michael Ashleigh Finn, O.M Grey, Terry Mixon, Rhonda Eudaly, David Doub

Con-Jour '12 - Plot Development 2 from 2012-02-16T20:00

Conjour 4 - Plot Development 2: Paul Elard Cooley, Mel White, Charlie Brown

Con-Jour '12 - Plot Development 1 from 2012-02-16T19:00

Conjour 4 - Plot Development 1: Terry Mixon, Michael “Talthos� Willett, P.L. Blair, Rhonda Eudaly

Con-Jour '12 - How To Start Your Own Publishing Company from 2012-02-15T20:00

Conjour 4 - How to Start Your Own Publishing Company: Terry Mixon, O.M. Grey, Mel White, Chris Dunbar, David Daub

Con-Jour '12 - Character Development from 2012-02-15T19:00

Conjour 4 - Character Development: Terry Mixon, Chris Dunbar, Michael Ashleigh Finn, Robert Stickmanz, Alexis Glynn Latner

DRS Episode 212 - 52 Weeks Of Indie With Scott Roche from 2012-02-13T00:00

This week the Robots sit down to chat with Scott Roche about his 52 Weeks of Indie initiative, as well as other projects and catching up on what Flying Island Press is up to. We had a lot of techni...

DRS Episode 211 - Of Mutants And Magic With Myke Cole And Van Allen Plexico from 2012-02-06T00:00

This week the Robots sit down with Myke Cole and Van Allen Plexico to talk about the different between magic and super hero powers, how they are the same, and why the difference is important (or no...

DRS Episode 210 - Paul Byers Interview and Hunger Games Review from 2012-01-30T00:00

This week the Robots talk with Paul Byers about his novels CATALYST and ARCTIC FIRE, and about writing historical fiction. We then close the show with a review of Suzanne Collins' THE HUNGER GAMES,...

DRS Episode 209 - Brainstorming Ryan's Midlife Crisis from 2012-01-23T00:00

This week the Robots sit down with former co-host Ryan Stevenson to brainstorm his supernatural mystery story, as well as discuss what we've been up and what Apple's iBooks software might mean for ...

DRS Episode 208 - Learning To Love Editing from 2012-01-16T00:00

This week Justin and Terry talk about the joys of editing and how it can make a bad story good, and a good story amazing. Editing is where the real story gets told, and learning to love it has imme...

DRS Episode 207 - Indie Publishing With John Mierau from 2012-01-09T00:00

This week Justin and Terry talk with John Mierau about writing, podcasting, the importance of social media, and crowd funding.We hope you enjoy the conversation, and please send feedback!

DRS Episode 206 - Writing Groups And You from 2012-01-02T00:00

This week Eli, Terry, and Justin talk about writing groups and what they can offer you as an aspiring writer. We hope you enjoy this first new episode of 2012, and that your holiday season was not ...

DRS Episode 205 - Setting Goals For The Year To Come from 2011-12-19T00:00

This week Terry and Justin talk about overcoming writer's block, focusing our efforts, and setting goals for the new year. We hope you enjoy this episode, and that you have a safe and happy holiday...

DRS Episode 204 - Writing Humor with Eliyanna and Terry from 2011-12-12T00:00

Eliyanna tries to make Terry funny. Unsuccessfully.

Join the Robots' as they talk about writing humor. We promise, no old pervy guy walking into a bar with a lesbian jokes.

DRS Episode 203 - Finding The Path With James L. Sutter from 2011-12-05T00:00

This week the Robots chat with James L. Sutter, who's not only the co-creator of the Pathfinder Role-Playing Game, but also the author of the new novel DEATH'S HERETIC, which is set in that world. ...

DRS Episode 202 - The Dangerous Lives Of Characters from 2011-11-28T00:00

This week the Robots sit down to discuss the value and difficulty that can be found in making our characters' lives a living hell, if they live at all. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

DRS Episode 201 - Theft of Swords Release Interview with Michael J. Sullivan from 2011-11-21T00:00

Terry and Eliyanna talk with Michael J. Sullivan about the release of his fantasy book, Theft of Swords.

DRS Episode 200 - Looking Back On 200 Episodes And To The Future from 2011-11-14T00:00

This week Justin, Terry, and Ryan (sorry, Eli had a work emergency) celebrate the podcast reaching it's 200th official episode. We hope you join us and party along. Please enjoy.

DRS Episode 199 - Cybernetic Brainstorm With Tom Forsdike from 2011-11-07T00:00

This week the Robots sit down to brainstorm a science fiction story with listener and frequent forum poster Tom Forsdike. We had a lot of fun talking about his cyberpunk story, and hopefully you'll...

DRS Episode 198 - In Defense Of Twilight from 2011-10-31T00:00

This week Justin and Eli are joined by special guest host Krista Macumber as they finally turn the tables on all the Twilight hate and talk about what Stephenie Meyer got right in her Twilight nove...

DRS Episode 197 - Catching Up With P.G. Holyfield from 2011-10-24T00:00

This week Eli and Justin sit down with former host and good friend P.G. Holyfield to catch up with him regarding his past work, what's to come, SpecFicMedia.com, NANOWRIMO, and the upcoming TuacaCo...

DRS Episode 196 - Creating A Brainstorming Tapestry With Eliyanna from 2011-10-17T00:00

This week Justin and Terry sit down to help Eliyanna brainstorm a fantasy novel that she's having trouble with. We hope you enjoy the discussion, and please let us know if you have ideas of your ow...

DRS Episode 195 - In the Weeds with Robin Sullivan from 2011-10-10T00:00

Terry and Eliyanna get into some specific marketing advice for indie authors.

DRS Episode 194 - Short and Sweet from 2011-10-03T00:00

Terry and Eliyanna talk long about going short.

DRS Episode 193 - Robin Sullivan Develops A Marketing Strategy (Part 1) from 2011-09-26T00:00

This week the robots sit down and chat once again with Robin Sullivan of Ridan Publishing about what sort of strategy authors should develop to maximize their exposure and sales. This is part one o...

DRS Episode 192 - Getting To The Good Stuff from 2011-09-19T00:00

This week the robots get back to a roundtable discussion, and in the conversation they tackle how to handle those bits of the story that might be considered boring or not so interesting. Do we get ...

DRS Episode 191 - At The Apex With Lynne M. Thomas from 2011-09-12T00:00

This week the Robots sit and chat with Lynne M. Thomas, the new editor of Apex Magazine. Lynne is also incredibly busy with plenty of other literary pursuits, so sit down and listen as we discuss a...

DRS Episode 190 - Creating Storyworlds With Matt Selznick from 2011-09-05T00:00

This week the Robots talk with Matt Selznick about telling stories across larger canvases, utilizing other media and mediums to create larger storyworlds. The way we can tell our stories is getting...

DRS Episode 189 - Writing More Words With Rachel Aaron from 2011-08-29T00:00

This week Terry and Justin talked with author Rachel Aaron about her fantasy series "The Legend of Eli Monpress," how she became a published author, and about a blog post she wrote on how she was a...

DRS Episode 188 - Talking Text To Screen With Charlie Brown from 2011-08-22T00:00

This week Terry and Justin chat with Charlie Brown, writer and director of the independent film "Angels Die Slowly." We talk screen writing, prose, the mixing of the two, and what it takes to film ...

DRS Episode 187 - Finding Your Audience With Robin Sullivan from 2011-08-17T00:00

This week we sit down to talk with Honorary Dead Robot Robin Sullivan about one of the lesser talked about aspects of being a writer - marketing. We all have to do it if we want to have an audience...

DRS Episode 186 - Reviewing And Editing With Lynn O'Dell from 2011-08-10T00:00

This week Terry and Justin chat with Lynn O'Dell of Red Adept Publishing. Lynn reviews books as well as edits manuscripts, so the conversation covers a lot of ground on both sides of the publishing...

DRS Episode 185 - Welcoming Heroes Home With Gabrielle Harbowy and Ed Greenwood from 2011-08-03T00:00

This week the Dead Robots sit down and talk with Gabrielle Harbowy and Ed Greenwood about the new Dragon Moon Press anthology they edited entitled "When The Hero Comes Home." They discuss the origi...

DRS Episode 184 - Zombie Talkin' With Scott Browne And Scott Kenemore from 2011-07-27T00:00

This week the Robots chat with Scott Browne and Scott Kenemore to discuss the topics of zombies, a subject both men have written about to great success. We hope you enjoy it.

DRS Episode 183 - Good Writing Days And Bad With David Wood from 2011-07-20T00:00

This week the robots chat with David Wood about his self-publishing success, the formation of his small press, his newer novels, and then we transition into a discussion about good writing days and...

HWA Stoker Convention 2011 Panel #1 – Social Media and the Horror Writer from 2011-07-10T00:00

This is a panel from the 2011 HWA Stoker Convention that Eli attended. The panel is titled Social Media and the Horror Writer. The panelists are Lawrence C. Connolly, Jonathan Mayberry, Matt Schwar...

HWA Stoker Convention 2011 Panel #2 – The State of Horror from 2011-07-10T00:00

This is a panel from the 2011 HWA Stoker Convention that Eli attended. The panel is titled The State of Horror. The panelists are Don D'Auria, Ellen Datlow, Rocky Wood, and Norman Prentiss.

HWA Stoker Convention 2011 Panel #3 – Monster Mom Splosion from 2011-07-10T00:00

This is a panel from the 2011 HWA Stoker Convention that Eli attended. The panel is titled Monster Mom Splosion. The panelists are Sarah Langan, Gillian Flynn, Lisa Morton, Stephen Graham Jones, F....

HWA Stoker Convention 2011 Panel #4 – Story Caplets: Pellets of Poison from 2011-07-10T00:00

This is a panel from the 2011 HWA Stoker Convention that Eli attended. The panel is titled Story Caplets: Pellets of Poison. The panelists are Marge Simon, Michael Arnzen, Kurt Newton, Chris Conlon...

DRS Episode 182 - Taking Point With Myke Cole from 2011-07-06T00:00

This week Terry and Justin sit down with Myke Cole to talk about his upcoming book SHADOW OPS: CONTROL POINT, as well as his military past and the importance of discipline to becoming a full time w...

DRS Episode 181 - Robin Sullivan Answers Your Questions from 2011-06-29T00:00

This week the Robots and Robin Sullivan sit down to answer questions that the fine listeners of this show have submitted for her. We hope you enjoy it!

DRS Episode 180 - Diversifying Our Characters from 2011-06-22T00:00

This week the Robots sit down to discuss writing characters beyond who we are. A story is only as interesting as the characters that populate it, and the more diverse they are, hopefully the more e...

DRS Episode 179 - Looking At The Publishing Industry With Robin Sullivan from 2011-06-15T00:00

The Robots sit down and talk about the current state of the publishing industry with Robin Sullivan of Ridan Publishing. Things are not as they once were, but hopefully this conversation will help ...

DRS Episode 178 - Wandering The Wilds Of Publishing from 2011-06-08T00:00

This week the Robots, plus RYAN, sit down to talk about the current state of publishing and what their place is in it. It's a long talk, but hopefully you'll enjoy it. We also review Stephen King's...

DRS Episode 177 - Caveat Scriptor, Let the Writer Beware from 2011-06-01T00:00

The Robots sit down with J. Daniel Sawyer to talk about the dark clouds on the traditional publishing horizon. Enjoy.

DRS Episode 176 - Writing Historical Fiction from 2011-05-25T00:00

This week the Robots sit down to talk about writing historical fiction. Enjoy.

DRS Episode 175 - Pip and Tee Talk Peculiar Occurrences from 2011-05-18T00:00

This week the Robots sit down to chat with Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris about their new book, "Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel." As always with these two, it's an ene...

DRS Episode 174 - Scott Roche Introduces Ginnie Dare from 2011-05-04T00:00

This week the Robots talk with Scott Roche about his upcoming self-published story "Ginnie Dare: Crimson Sand," as well as his other writing, podcasts, and Flying Island Press. We hope you enjoy!

DRS Episode 173 - Stories So Good You Can't Tell Just One from 2011-04-27T00:00

This week the Dead Robots settle in and discuss the topic of one-off stories versus series writing. Does every story need more than one book to tell it? How do you setup follow-ups? What should you...

DRS Episode 172 - Going To The Goblin Market With Jennifer Melzer from 2011-04-20T00:00

This week the Robots were supposed to brainstorm a book with one of our old co-hosts, but he couldn't make it, so Jennifer Melzer was kind enough to step up and help us make a new episode out of it...

DRS Episode 171 - Mur Lafferty Kickstarts The Afterlife from 2011-04-13T00:00

This week the Robots settle in and talk with podcaster and author Mur Lafferty about her Afterlife series and the Kickstarter effort to publish it. Along the way we also talk about professionalism,...

DRS Episode 170 - On Differing Points Of View from 2011-04-06T00:00

This week the Robots read an email that asks us our opinion about points of view and how to handle them while writing. We also give our review of "I Am Not A Serial Killer" by Dan Wells. We hope yo...

DRS Episode 169 - Getting Erotic With Sacchi Green from 2011-03-30T00:00

This week Terry and Eli sit down to chat with Sacchi Green about all things erotica, particularly her new anthology LESBIAN COPS, which our Terry has a story in. Congratulations to the both of them...

DRS Episode 168 - Self-Publishing Success With Michael and Robin Sullivan from 2011-03-23T00:00

This week the Robots talk with self-publishing success story Michael Sullivan and his wife Robin, who founded and runs Ridan Publishing. Michael has signed with Orbit, but his success with self-pub...

Con-Jour '11 - Podcasting from 2011-03-16T00:00

This is a panel on podcasting recorded by Terry. Panelists are Jody Lynn Nye (Moderator), Paul Elard Cooley, and Terry Mixon.

Con-Jour '11 - Critiquing For Others from 2011-03-16T00:00

This is the Critiquing For Others panel recorded by Terry. The panelists are Terry Mixon (Moderator), Amanda Kimmerly, Lou Antonelli, Michael Ashleigh Finn, and Beverly Hale.

Con-Jour '11 - Revising Your Work from 2011-03-16T00:00

This is the Revising Your Work panel recorded by Terry. Panelists are Paul Elard Cooley (Moderator), Jody Lynn Nye, Beverly Hale, Julia Mandala, Lou Antonelli, and Michael Ashleigh Finn.

Con-Jour '11 - Publishing from 2011-03-16T00:00

This is a panel on Publishing recorded by Terry. The panelists are Terry Mixon (Moderator), Bill Fawcett, Rhonda Eudaly, and Olivia M. Grey.

DRS Episode 167 - Self-Publishing With J. R. Murdock from 2011-03-16T00:00

This week the Robots sit down and chat with author and podcaster J. R. Murdock about his experience with self-publishing his new book, "Astrel: Chosen." We hope you enjoy!

Con-Jour '11 - Character Development 2 from 2011-03-16T00:00

This is another panel about character development, and it was brought to us by Terry. The panelists are Terry Mixon (Moderator), P.L. Blair, Julia Mandala, Michael Ashleigh Finn, Emily Karnes, and ...

Con-Jour '11 - Plot Development 2 from 2011-03-16T00:00

This is another panel about plot development brought to us by Terry. The panelists are Paul Elard Cooley (Moderator), Julia Mandala, P.L. Blair, Jody Lynn Nye, and Lou Antonelli.

Con-Jour '11 - Writing 101 from 2011-03-16T00:00

This is Writing 101 panel recorded by Terry. The panelists are Rhonda Eudaly (Moderator), Julia Mandala, and Lou Antonelli.

Con-Jour '11 - The Price Of Magic from 2011-03-16T00:00

This is the Price of Magic panel recorded by Terry. Panelists are Terry Mixon (Moderator), Bill Fawcett, P.L. Blair, Robert Stikmanz, and Julia Mandala.

Con-Jour '11 - Plot Development 1 from 2011-03-14T00:00

Panel #3 Terry has made available from Con-Jour 2011. This is a panel on plot development, and on the panel was Terry Mixon (moderator), Michael Willett, Charlie Brown, Beverly Hale, and Bill Fawcett.

Con-Jour '11 - Engineering New Worlds 1 from 2011-03-14T00:00

Panel #4 Terry has made available from Con-Jour 2011. This is a panel on engineering new worlds, and on the panel was Terry Mixon (moderator), Michael Ashleigh Finn, and Julia Mandala.

Con-Jour '11 - Mining Myth and Folklore from 2011-03-14T00:00

This panel is about mining ideas from myth and folklore, and it was brought to us by one of our listeners, Mr. Jeff Brackett, aka Sm1ley. The panelists are P.L. Blair, Bill Fawcett, Michael Ashlieg...

Con-Jour '11 - Character Development 1 from 2011-03-14T00:00

This panel is about character development, and it was brought to us by one of our listeners, Mr. Jeff Brackett, aka Sm1ley. The panelists are Paul Elard Cooley, Michael Willet, Jodie Lynn Nye, Char...

Con-Jour ’11 – Collaborating Panel from 2011-03-12T00:00

This is the first of the Con-Jour 2011 panels that Terry was kind enough to record. It is about collaborating, and the panelists are Julia S. Mandala (Moderator), Jody Lynn Nye, Rhonda Eudaly, Beve...

Con-Jour '11 - Researching Your Story from 2011-03-12T00:00

Panel #2 Terry has made available from Con-Jour 2011. This is a panel on researching your story, and on the panel was Bill Fawcett (Moderator), Jody Lynn Nye, and Beverly Hale. We hope you enjoy, a...

DRS Episode 166 - Brainstorming Horror With Paul Cooley from 2011-03-09T00:00

This week the Robots are joined by Paul E. Cooley to help Justin brainstorm his next book, STILL WATER. This one will be a horror novel, and who better to help us out than Paul, the FiendMaster him...

DRS Episode 165 - A Chat With Alan Dean Foster from 2011-03-02T00:00

This week the Robots interview the amazing Alan Dean Foster about his method, his experiences, and his latest book, the non-fiction memoir "Predators I Have Known." He was fantastic to talk with, a...

DRS Episode 164 - PG Holyfield Talks SpecFicMedia.com from 2011-02-23T00:00

This week the robots sit down to chat with P.G. Holyfield about his writing and podcasting, but we focus our discussion on his new website www.specficmedia.com, which is to help raise awareness for...

DRS Episode 163 - Romancing The Cast from 2011-02-16T00:00

This week the Robots have a frank, but tasteful, discussion about sex and romance, but outside the context of erotica and romance stories. We then review "Dies The Fire" by S.M. Sterling. We hope y...

DRS Episode 162 - Reader Expectation With Nathan Lowell from 2011-02-09T00:00

This week the Robots talk with Nathan Lowell about reader expectation and implied promises with Nathan Lowell, who recently had to contend with these very topics with the end of his Share series. W...

DRS Episode 161 - Trapping Demons With Jana Oliver from 2011-01-26T00:00

This week Justin, Terry, and Eli talk with author Jana Oliver about her new novel "The Demon Trapper's Daughter" releasing on Feb. 1st. Along the way we talk time travel, outlines, and self-publish...

DRS Episode 160 - A Spirited Chat With Danae Ayusso from 2011-01-19T00:00

This week Justin, Terry, and Eli talk with author Danae Ayusso. She's spicy, had great success as a self published author, garnered a loyal following of fans, and with the help if the Tribe Literar...

DRS Episode 159 - The Hard Side Of Writing from 2011-01-12T00:00

This week Terry, Eli, and Justin discuss the harder side of writing, and by that they mean the hardware and software used to enable the creative process. Writing is an art, but all art requires too...

DRS Episode 158 - It's About Time from 2011-01-05T00:00

Welcome to the new year, and welcome to our new co-host, Eliyanna Kaiser! This week Eli, Justin, and Terry discuss the topic of time and how you mark it passing in your stories. We hope you enjoy!

DRS Episode 157 - Saying Goodbye To Ryan from 2010-12-23T00:00

This week Justin, Terry, and Amanda settle in to say goodbye to Ryan. He has been part of the show since it started over three years ago, and it has been an absolute blast. Ryan, you will be terri...

DRS Episode 156 - Chatting With Jeremy Robinson from 2010-12-16T00:00

This week Ryan, Terry, and Justin sit down to chat with author Jeremy Robinson. Jeremy's success covers self-publishing to the big literary leagues, as well as e-publishing. We also review F. Paul ...

DRS Episode 155 - Die Hard Isn't A Christmas Movie from 2010-12-09T20:00

This week Ryan, Terry, and Justin sit down to discuss writing to specific topics and themes, such as holiday stories. Usually we write whatever comes to mind, but sometimes we have strict guideline...

DRS Episode 154 - Rules To Remember from 2010-12-02T00:00

This week Terry, Ryan, and Justin discuss "9 Must Follow Manuscript Rules" from an article by WritersDigest.com. We hope you enjoy. And, make sure you stick around to the end for an announcement re...

DRS Episode 153 - Pulling The Trigger On Ray Gun Revival 2.0 from 2010-11-18T00:00

This week Justin and Terry sit down to talk with Lee King and Johne Cooke about the upcoming retooling of the online space opera short story zine Ray Gun Revival. Times are changing, and RGR is cha...

DRS Episode 152 - Everybody Was Dead Fu Fighting from 2010-11-11T00:00

This week Ryan, Terry, and Justin discussed the rough and tumble topic of action scenes. How detailed do you get, how fast should the pace be, and when is enough enough? We hope you enjoy.

DRS Episode 151 - Great First Impressions from 2010-11-04T00:00

This week Terry, Ryan, and Justin sit down to discuss opening lines, paragraphs, and chapters. Getting a great first impression is so important, especially if you want to get that buyer to pick you...

DRS Episode 150 - A Dead Robot Spooktacular from 2010-10-28T00:00

This week Justin and Terry chat with Jake Bible and Paul E. Cooley about the subject of horror, and then are joined by Ryan to do our long awaited review of Bill Willingham's "Peter & Max." We hope...

DRS Episode 149 - Uncomfort Zones from 2010-10-21T00:00

This week Justin and Terry originally set out to discuss comfort zones and how to break out of them, but it ended up mostly being a whining session from Justin. Enjoy the emo.

DRS Episode 148 - Brainstorming, With A Twist from 2010-10-14T00:00

This week Ryan, Terry, and Justin sat down to brainstorm the story idea a listener sent in. We had a great time, and we hope you do as well. Enjoy.

Dark Running from 2010-10-12T00:00

This is Justin Macumber's podcast short story, "Dark Running." We hope you enjoy. Please send all feedback to justin@justinmacumber.com.

DRS Episode 147 - Becoming Toothless with J.P. Moore from 2010-10-07T00:00

This week Terry and Justin interview author and podcaster J.P. Moore. His novel, "Toothless," will be out on November 1st, 2010 from Dragon Moon Press. We hope you enjoy the conversation. His podca...

Special Episode - Philippa Ballantine Talks Geist from 2010-10-05T00:00

In this special episode Justin, Terry, and Ryan sit down to chat with Pip about her upcoming book, Geist, among other things. We hope you enjoy.

DRS Episode 146 - Structuring A Story from 2010-09-30T00:00

This week Ryan, Terry, and Justin discuss the four structures that dominate writing. Milieu, Idea, Character, and Events are all parts of a story, but sometimes one dominates over another. We also ...

DRS Episode 145 - Piloting the Flagship of Flying Island Press from 2010-09-24T00:00

This week Terry and Justin sit down with Scott Roche and Zach Ricks, two of the founders of Flying Island Press. They have big dreams over there, and to kick start their endeavor they started Flags...

DRS Episode 144 - The Elements of a Great Plot from 2010-09-16T00:00

This week Ryan, Justin, and Terry sit down to discuss the elements of a good plot. Terry took a writing workshop at this year's Dragon*Con, and this week we all get to share some of the benefits. W...

Dragon*Con 2010 Panel #3 – Things I Wish A Pro Had Told Me When I Started Out from 2010-09-14T00:00

Dragon*Con 2010 Panel. On the panel are: Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta.

Dragon*Con 2010 Panel #1 – Turning Rejections Into Acceptances from 2010-09-14T00:00

Dragon*Con 2010 Panel. On the panel are: Peter David, Anne Sowards, Lynn Abbey, Christopher Golden, and Jean Marie Ward, hosted by Lee Martindale.

Dragon*Con 2010 Panel #2 – What Editors Want from 2010-09-14T00:00

Dragon*Con 2010 Panel. On the panel are: Stacy Hague-Hill, Claire Eddy, Betsy Mitchell, Anne Sowards, Katja Jensen, Jim Minz, Kerrie Lynn Hughes, Lou Anders, and an unknown, hosted by Bill Fawcett.

DRS Episode 143 - LIVE at Dragon*Con 2010 from 2010-09-10T00:00

This is a special episode coming at you live from Dragon*Con 2010. Justin and Terry were joined by former host PG Holyfield, James Durham, Gabrielle Harbowy, and Starla Huchton. Please enjoy!

DRS Episode 142 - The 10 Commandments of Writing from 2010-08-26T00:00

This week Ryan, Terry, and Justin sit down to discuss a feature from writersdigest.com about ten rules every writer should live and breathe by. We hope you enjoy!

DRS Episode 141 - Another Brainstorming Session from 2010-08-17T00:00

This week Ryan and Terry help Justin brainstorm his new novel. The story idea is in its infancy, and the three guys take that egg and give it a good scrambling. If you have ideas to add to the mix,...

DRS Episode 140 - Strange In The Mundane from 2010-08-10T00:00

This week Justin and Terry sit down to talk about telling stories about the extraordinary in the midst of a mundane world. How do you make the usual unusual, the familiar strange and special? Come ...

DRS Episode 139 - Size Matters from 2010-08-03T00:00

This week Ryan, Terry, and Justin sit down to discuss the topic of scope. When it comes to stories, when is big too big and small too small? Enjoy!

DRS Episode 138 - Gabrielle Harbowy, Renaissance Woman from 2010-07-20T00:00

Ryan, Terry, and Justin sit down to talk with Gabrielle Harbowy. She's a writer, a freelance editor, and an Associate Publisher with Dragon Moon Press. The woman is doing it all, and here's your ch...

The Dame Wore White from 2010-07-18T00:00

"The Dame Wore White" by Justin Macumber

DRS Episode 137 - Making Voices Work With Kimi Alexandre from 2010-07-13T00:00

This week Terry and Justin sit down to talk with Kimi Alexandre about what it means to be a voice actor. In this modern digital age more and more stories are hitting the air, and someone has to bri...

DRS Episode 136 - Joining The Tribe With Literary Agent Cari Foulk from 2010-07-06T00:00

This week Ryan, Terry, and Justin sit down to speak with Cari Foulk, a literary agent with the Tribe Literary Agency. This is the first time we've had an agent on the show, and we hope you get as m...

DRS Episode 135 - On The Hunt For The Elusive Agent from 2010-06-29T00:00

This week the guys sit down with A. Lee Martinez and Pip Ballantine to discuss looking for an agent. What makes for a good cover letter? Are synopses the work of the devil? Was snail mail better th...

DRS Episode 134 - Of Mechs And Zombies With Jake Bible from 2010-06-22T00:00

This week the guys sit down to talk with author and podcaster about his novel "Dead Mech." We discuss zombies, drabble, publishers, and how difficult blending genres can be. We hope you enjoy.

DRS Episode 133 - A Smorgasbord Of Goodness from 2010-06-15T00:00

This week the guys sit down to talk about where they are with their projects, catch up on some feedback, and then review "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter." Enjoy!

DRS Episode 132 - A Discussion of Dark Faith from 2010-06-08T00:00

This week the guys sit down with Maurice Broaddus, Jennifer Pelland, and Eliyanna Kaiser to talk about the DARK FAITH anthology being published by Apex Publications. We hope you enjoy it.

DRS Episode 131 - Getting a Treat from Paul E Cooley from 2010-06-01T00:00

This week the guys sit down with Paul E Cooley, author and podcaster of Closet Treats and other scary stuff! We hope you enjoy the conversation, and that you support an aspiring writer.

DRS Episode 130 - Getting Professional With J Daniel Sawyer from 2010-05-26T22:00

This week the guys sit down to talk with J Daniel Sawyer about his new project, the Association of New Media Artists and Producers. It looks to be a great source of information and assistance in he...

DRS Episode 129 - Paint Me A Word Picture from 2010-05-18T00:00

This week the guys sit down to discuss the topic of descriptions. Whether talking about a person, place, or thing, the reader only knows what they look like by how we describe it. How much descript...

DRS Episode 128 - Writing Associations from 2010-05-12T00:00

This week Ryan, Terry, and Justin sit down with three wonderful ladies to discuss the topic of writing associations. What are they, what purpose do they serve, and should you (or can you) be part o...

DRS Special Episode - P.G. Holyfield Is All Grows Up from 2010-05-12T00:00

This week Ryan, Terry, and Justin sit down to discuss the upcoming release of his novel "Murder at Avedon Hill" published through Dragon Moon Press. The Amazon rush is happening 05/15 at 12PM EST. ...

DRS Episode 127 - Reaching Critical Mass from 2010-05-04T00:00

This week the guys talk about critiquing, from both sides of the issue. Having your work critiqued is vital for an artist to grow, but it's also a good practice to help others out. We hope you enjoy.

DRS Episode 126 - The Return Of David Williams from 2010-04-27T00:00

This week the Dead Robots sit down and talk with returning champion David Williams, whose new novel, "The Machinery Of Light," is coming out soon. It is the final story in the "Autumn Rain" trilogy...

DRS Episode 125 - It's All About The Listeners from 2010-04-20T00:00

This week the guys catch up on their feeback. Some are emails, some are emails, and even Facebook makes an appearance. And, to cap things off, they finally get around to reviewing "The Adept" Enjoy!

DRS Episode 124 - Oh The Horror from 2010-04-13T00:00

This week the guys are joined with writer and filmmaker, not to mention listener of the show, Morgan Elektra. Settle in as they all discuss the horror genre, hopefully finally giving it its due. En...

DRS Episode 123 - Abbie Hilton Interview from 2010-03-30T00:00

This week the boys sit down and chat with Abbie Hilton, writer of the podcast novels "The Prophet of Panamindorah" and "Guild of the Cowry Catchers." Enjoy!

DRS Episode 122 - Suspension of WTF from 2010-03-23T00:00

This week Ryan, Justin, and Terry site down with J.R. Murdock to discuss the topic of suspension of disbelief. If you're in for a penny are you always in for a pound? Is it all on the artist, or do...

DRS Episode 121 - So You Want To Podcast from 2010-03-16T00:00

This week marks the return of PG Holyfield to the Dead Robots' Society, and this week we talk about how to make a podcast. We talk hardware, software, sites, and advice. With us is Terry and Patric...

DRS Episode 120 - From Hobby To Pro from 2010-03-09T01:00

This week the guys talk about the different types of writers out there, from your hobbyists through to professionals, what makes them different, and what methods us wanna-bes can employ so we can g...

DRS Special Episode - J.C. Hutchins and J. Daniel Sawyer Speak Out from 2010-03-05T01:00

This week the guys sit down with J.C. Hutchins and J. Daniel Sawyer to talk about their recent blog posts. A lot of talk and speculation had arisen because of their posts, and in this exclusive int...

DRS Episode 119 - John Mierau Interview from 2010-03-02T01:00

This week Justin and Ryan sit down to talk with author and podcaster John Mierau. His podcast, Serving Worlds, features short stories and short serials that cross genre lines, and it's fantastic. W...

ConJour '10 - Fantasy World Building Panel from 2010-02-28T01:00

This is a panel from Con-Jour 2010 about world building in fantasy.

DRS Episode 118 - Save The Drama from 2010-02-23T01:00

This week Terry and Justin discuss the topic of dramatic tension. A story without tension isn't a story at all, so how do you create it, and how do you maintain it? Listen in and see what they thin...

ConJour '10 - Sci-Fi World Building Panel from 2010-02-21T01:00

This is a panel from Con-Jour 2010 about world building in science fiction.

DRS Episode 117 - Matt Selznick Web Presence Discussion from 2010-02-16T01:00

Terry, Ryan, and Justin sit down with author and new media mogul Matthew Wayne Selznick to talk about what writers need to think about and do to get their "brand" ready for the internet. Writing th...

ConJour '10 - Plot Development Panel from 2010-02-15T01:00

This is a panel Terry recorded at ConJour 2010 about Plot Development.

DRS Episode 116 - Strange No More from 2010-02-09T01:00

This week Justin, Terry, and Ryan discuss the topic of making the unfamiliar familiar, the strange not so strange, and the alien believable. Can it be done? Should it? Let's find out. Enjoy.

ConJour '10 - Character Development Panel from 2010-02-08T01:00

This is a panel on character development that Terry moderated at the 2010 Con-Jour convention in Houston, Texas.

DRS Episode 115 - An Ensemble Piece from 2010-02-02T01:00

This week Ryan, Terry, and Justin discuss the topic of characterization in the midst of an ensemble. How does it change things, what should you keep in mind, and what landmines lurk out there? Sit ...

Worlds Apart from 2010-01-26T01:00

This is "Worlds Apart," the winner of our Third Annual Writing Contest. The story was written by Michelle Ristuccia, was edited and produced by Terry Mixon, and he also narrated the story along wit...

DRS Episode 114 - Research and Destroy from 2010-01-19T01:00

This week the guys sit down with listener and special guest host Wesley Swingley to talk about the topic of research. How much is enough, how easy is it to let it become too much, and where should ...

War Fish from 2010-01-16T01:00

Hey all, Terry here. I mentioned in the show that I've been working on an audio production of a short story and here it is. War Fish is a science fiction story that was inspired by the submarine se...

DRS Episode 113 - The Plot Is The Thing from 2010-01-12T01:00

This week the Dead Robots sit down together to discuss plots - how do we develop them, what sorts do we enjoy, and how can we improve? We hope you enjoy.

DRS Episode 112 - Imitation Isn't Always Flattery from 2010-01-05T01:00

It's a new year, the Dead Robots are back, and this week we discuss the topic of homage, imitation, and out-right theft. When can you, and should you, hew too close to the bone? Join us and find ou...

DRS Special Edition Episode (12/22/09) from 2009-12-22T21:00

Terry sat down with Deborah Kent, who's running Con-Jour 2.0, a sci-fi/fantasy convention held January 29th - 31st 2010 at the University of Houston Clearlake. This should get us ready for the even...

DRS Episode 111 - Beginnings Agents Hate from 2009-12-15T01:00

This week Terry and Justin discuss a recent blog entry from guidetoliteraryagents.com, where agents talk about seven beginnings they hate. We throw in a few of our own personal pet peeves. Enjoy! A...

DRS Episode 110 - Long Story Short from 2009-12-08T01:00

This week Terry and Justin settle in to discuss short stories. Just 'cause they're short doesn't mean they're easy, but they have a lot to teach and offer the aspiring writer. Hopefully you'll find...

DRS Episode 109 - Ashley Miller Interview from 2009-12-01T01:00

This week Justin sits down with Hollywood screenwriter Ashley Miller, who's worked on shows such as Andromeda, Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles, and Fringe, as well as the upcoming movie Tho...

DRS Episode 108 - J.C. Hutchins Interview from 2009-11-17T01:00

This week the Dead Robots sit down and talk with J.C. Hutchins, author of "7th Son: Descent" and "Personal Effects: Dark Art." He works harder than almost anyone we know, and the man is a joy to ta...

DRS Episode 107 - Two Interviews For The Price Of One from 2009-11-10T01:00

This week Justin sits down and chats with AP Stephens and Jeff Kirvin. AP has recently been on a tour promoting his self-published novel, and Jeff has an audacious idea. I hope you enjoy!

DRS Episode 106 - Prepare For A Triple Threat from 2009-11-03T01:00

This week the guys sit down with Philippa Ballantine and Dan Sawyer (sadly Chris Lester couldn't make it) about their upcoming simultaneous release of podcasts, which they've dubbed the Triple Thre...

Tales of the Breaking Dawn: The Ties That Bind - Part4 from 2009-11-02T01:00

This is part four of a four-part short story series I've written called Tales Of The Breaking Dawn: The Ties That Bind. It is a sci-fi series about the star-freighter Breaking Dawn and its crew. I ...

DRS Episode 105 - Scott Sigler Interview from 2009-10-27T01:00

This Halloween week the Dead Robots sit down and chat with the FD0 himself, Scott Sigler. The man is a writing machine, and you get to benefit from all his wit and wisdom, plus get all sorts of jui...

DRS Episode 104 - Sci-Fi & Fantasy From A Female Point Of View from 2009-10-20T01:00

This week Terry and Justin sit down with Mur Lafferty and Christiana Ellis to get their views on character, writing, and gender in so far as genre fiction is concerned. Finally the DRS gets a woman...

DRS Promo from 2009-10-09T01:00

DRS Promo

DRS Episode 103 - James Durham Interview from 2009-10-06T01:00

This week the Dead Robots sit down with author and musician James Durham. His podcast "FETIDUS" is a fine example of great writing, acting, sound production, and music, so settle in and listen as h...

Tales of the Breaking Dawn: The Ties That Bind - Part3 from 2009-10-04T22:40

This is part three of a four-part short story series I've written called Tales Of The Breaking Dawn: The Ties That Bind. It is a sci-fi series about the star-freighter Breaking Dawn and its crew. I...

DRS Episode 102 - Juliet Ulman Interview from 2009-10-04T22:35

This week the Dead Robots' sit down with seasoned editor Juliet Ulman to learn all the things our writing teachers should have taught us but forgot. She is a treasure trove of info! Also learn the ...

DRS Episode 101 - A Brainstorming Session from 2009-10-04T22:32

This week Ryan and Justin sit down with Terry to brainstorm his next novel idea. A lot of people have asked us about what brainstorming is like, and this session should go a long way toward illustr...

Pirates of the Crimson Sand from 2009-10-04T22:31

Pirates Of The Crimson Sand, a short story podcast by Justin Macumber

DRS Episode 100 - A Celebration! from 2009-10-04T22:30

This week the Dead Robots get their show podjacked by Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine, and together they discuss the show's past, present, and future. It's a saucy chat, and a lengthy one, so we...

DRS Special Dragon*Con 2009 Episode - JFLewis Interview from 2009-10-04T22:25

This is an interview I did with JF Lewis at Dagon*Con 2009. He is the author of "Staked" and "Revamped". Enjoy!

DRS Special Dragon*Con 2009 Episode - Podcasting Tips For Working Writers from 2009-10-04T22:23

This is a panel from Dragon*Con 2009 entitled "Podcasting Tips For Working Writers." The panelists were Dave Slusher, Michael Stackpole, Christiana Ellis, Scott Sigler, PG Holyfield, and Mur Lafferty.

DRS Special Dragon*Con 2009 Episode - Small Press Or Self Publish Or Both from 2009-10-04T22:21

This is a panel from Dragon*Con 2009 entitled "Small Press or Self Pub or both!" The panelists were Alan Gilbraith, Van Plexico, Terri Osborne, Chris Jackson, and Jana Oliver. Enjoy!

DRS Special Dragon*Con 2009 Episode - The Life And Times Of Podcast Novels from 2009-10-04T22:20

This is a panel from Dragon*Con 2009 entitled "The Life And Times Of Podcast Novels." The panelists were Michael Stackpole, Scott Sigler, PG Holyfield, Gabrielle Harbowy. Christiana Ellis, and Mur ...

DRS Episode 099 - Dragon*Con Report from 2009-10-04T22:19

Justin is back from Dragon*Con and is ready to spread all the knowledge and insight he gained onto his listeners. It was a great trip, and there's a lot to talk about, so settle in and enjoy!

Tales of the Breaking Dawn: The Ties That Bind - Part2 from 2009-10-04T22:18

As promised, here is Part Two of my four-part series “Tales of the Breaking Dawn: The Ties That Bind,� a science fiction story about the star-freighter Breaking Dawn and its crew. I hope you en...

DRS Episode 098 - Keith RA DeCandido Interview from 2009-10-04T22:15

This week the Dead Robots sit down to talk with Keith R.A. DeCandidio, a man who's written in franchises such as Star Trek, Farscape, Supernatural, and StarCraft. Enjoy!

DRS Episode 097 - From Spark To Flame from 2009-10-04T22:13

This week Justin and Terry talk about their experience with taking the spark of a story and fanning it into the blazing flame of a novel. We hope you enjoy it!

DRS Episode 096 - Answering More Listener Feedback from 2009-10-04T22:12

This week the Dead Robots hunker down in the studio to talk about some feedback that has been building up. We talk about books on writing, listeners helping listeners, and what folks have to say on...

DRS Episode 095 - Seth Harwood Interview from 2009-10-04T22:11

This week the Dead Robots sit down and talk with "Jack Wakes Up" author and podcasting luminary Seth Harwood to talk about his writing, his podcasts, and how he sees the publishing industry. We als...

Tales of the Breaking Dawn: The Ties That Bind - Part1 from 2009-10-04T22:10

This is part one of a four-part short story series I've written called Tales Of The Breaking Dawn: The Ties That Bind. It is a sci-fi series about the star-freighter Breaking Dawn and its crew. I h...

DRS Episode 094 - A Lee Martinez Is Back! from 2009-10-04T22:09

This week the Dead Robots are joined by A Lee Martinez, who had the pleasure and honor of being our very first interview way back in episode 8. We talk about his latest work, what he's learned, and...

DRS Episode 093 - Tracy Hickman Talks Social Systems from 2009-10-04T22:08

This week the Dead Robots' settle in and talk with Tracy Hickman about the creation of social systems for fantasy and sci-fi stories. We also get to talk about his new work, "X-treme Dungeon Master...

DRS Episode 092 - Kevin J Anderson Interview from 2009-10-04T22:07

This week the Dead Robots, and by that we mean just Justin, sits down to interview bestselling author Kevin J Anderson. His time was limited, but we tried to get in as much good info as we could. E...

DRS Episode 091 - Baby Got Feedback from 2009-10-04T22:06

This week the Dead Robots (sans PG) finally catch up on all the feedback that has been piling up. We love getting it, and we try to respond to it as soon as we get it, but sometimes we can't. This ...

DRS Episode 090 - Just Because You Have Character Doesn't Mean You Are A Character from 2009-10-04T22:05

This week the Dead Robots, joined by special minion J Dan Sawyer, discuss the ins and outs of characters. What makes for a good character, how do you give them a voice, and when can stereotypes wor...

DRS Episode 089 - Slogging Through A Slump from 2009-10-04T22:04

This week the Dead Robots discuss how to handle a slump. Sometimes you should wait it out, and sometimes sweat it out, but either way, you have to deal with it. Listen in and see if you agree. They...

DRS Episode 088 - Getting Caught Up from 2009-10-04T22:02

This week the Dead Robots try and get caught up by talking about their recent creative endeavors along with reviewing the book "On Basilisk Station" by David Weber. We hope you enjoy.

DRS Episode 087 - Writing For The Screen from 2009-10-04T22:01

This week the Dead Robots sit down with Matt Wallace, Earl Newton, and Patrick McLean to talk about the art of screenwriting. Enjoy!

DRS Special Balticon 2009 Episode - Creating Serialized Fiction from 2009-10-04T22:00

This is a panel that PG was part of at Baliton about creating serialized fiction. The panel was hosted by Evo Terra, and along with PG there was Nathan Lowell, Christiana Ellis, and Kimi Alexandre....

DRS Episode 086 - Balticon Panel on Multi-Voiced Podcasting from 2009-10-04T21:51

This was a Balticon panel about creating and handling a mutilple-voiced podcast production. Enjoy!

DRS Episode 085 - The Plot Thickens With Nathan Lowell from 2009-10-04T21:50

This week the Dead Robots settle in for a roundtable discussion, something we haven't done for a good long while. It felt good. And, as an added bonus, we have Nathan Lowell join us as we talk abou...

DRS Episode 084 - Erotica Roundtable (Warning - Rated R) from 2009-10-04T21:40

This week the Dead Robots add extra chairs to the table to fit all the guests, and then lower the lights, all the better to discuss writing erotica. We have Nick Scipio, Helen Madden, Nobilis, and ...

DRS Episode 083 - Kimi Alexandre Talks About Guardians from 2009-10-04T21:35

This week the Dead Robots settle in with podcaster Kimi Alexandre to chat with her about her upcoming podcast story "Guardians". And then, just when you think we're done, we get into a little revis...

DRS Episode 082 - Chatting With Matt Selznick About Selling Stories from 2009-10-04T21:32

This week the Dead Robot crew sits down with Matt Selznick to talk about his new venture in selling a short story series based in his Sovereign Era universe. And, somehow we get off on fudge pops. ...

DRS Episode 081 - Talking With Jeremy Robinson from 2009-10-04T21:31

This week the Dead Robots sit down to talk with author and podcaster Jeremy Robinson about his work, what he thinks of the current publishing industry, and what self-publishing has done for him. En...

DRS Episode 080 - Pip Ballantine Interview from 2009-10-04T21:30

This week PG Holyfield flies solo to interview PJ Ballantine about her podcast, her writing, and hear some fantastic news about her career. Enjoy!

DRS Episode 079 - Talking with J. Daniel Sawyer from 2009-10-04T21:15

This week the Dead Robots sit down and talk with J. Daniel Sawyer about writing and podcasting, with a brief foray into the BGS finale for good tangential measure. Enjoy.

DRS Episode 078 - It All Depends On Your Point Of View from 2009-10-04T21:11

This week the Dead Robots discuss the topic of third-person points of view as opposed to first-person. What does each POV bring to the table, what works best when, and why should you choose one ove...

DRS Episode 077 - Making Text Talk With Nathan Lowell from 2009-10-04T21:10

This episode has not one treat, but two. Not only do we get to talk about podcasting fiction with the incredible Nathan Lowell, but we also announce that PG Holyfield has joined the Dead Robots’ ...

DRS Episode 076 - Our CreateSpace Interview from 2009-10-04T21:06

This week Ryan and Justin sit down with Richard Ridley, Author Marketing Specialist with CreateSpace, one of the newest and largest self-publishing companies on the scene today. If you are at all i...

DRS Episode 075 - Is Cliche Such A Bad Thing? from 2009-10-04T21:05

This week Terry was away from his microphone trying to launch a shuttle or something, so in this episode you get Ryan and Justin discussing clichés in writing. Are they a bad thing, how should you...

DRS Episode 074 - Building Better Worlds from 2009-10-04T21:01

This week Terry and Justin discuss the topic of world building. What makes for a good world, what should you avoid, and how do you even get started? Settle in with us and enjoy.

DRS Episode 073 - PG Holyfield On Self-Publishing from 2009-10-04T21:00

This week we’re lucky enough to have the chance to sit down with honorary co-host PG Holyfield and discuss his experience with self-publishing his novel. Where did he go to do it, why, and what d...

DRS Episode 072 - Interactive Storytelling from 2009-10-04T20:59

This week the Dead Robots are joined by special guest James Batchelor, and together they talk about the topic of story telling in the interactive medium of video games. How does it tell a story, is...

DRS Episode 071 - Anthony Gallegos Interview from 2009-10-04T20:58

This week we talk with Anthony Gallegos and learn about the art of writing reviews and features for print and online sites. Anthony was former a writer for EGM, Computer Gaming World, and 1UP.com, ...

DRS Episode 070 - Creating A Writing Mood from 2009-10-04T20:57

This week the Dead Robots discuss the topic of writing environments. Do they need a particular place, the right music, some candles, perhaps red curtains and dancing girls? Listen in as they talk a...

DRS Episode 069 - Mur Lafferty Interview from 2009-10-04T20:56

This week our all too male show gets a needed dose of feminine energy when Mur Lafferty finally stops by for a visit. Gather around and listen in as she shares her experiences and wisdom. Learn...

DRS Episode 068 - David Williams Interview from 2009-10-04T20:55

In this week’s exciting episode the Dead Robots sit down and have a chat with a new sci-fi writer on the scene. His name is David Williams, and he is the author of “The Mirrored Heavens�.

DRS Episode 067 - Characters from 2009-10-04T20:53

This week the guys (minus Justin) take on the topic of characters. What makes for a good character, what takes away from them, and exactly what is a character? These questions and more are asked an...

DRS Episode 066 - Doin' It Yourself With Matt Selznick from 2009-10-04T20:52

This week we sit down to discuss the topic of DIY (Do It Yourself) in regards to getting your writing career going. Not everyone wants to go the “traditional� route, and some have no other choi...

DRS Episode 065 - The More You Know from 2009-10-04T20:51

Happy New Years everyone! We kick this year off with a boatload of learnin’ and info droppin’. Artists constantly grow, or at least they should, and we’re here to make sure that never stops. ...

DRS Episode 064 - They Lived Happily Ever After from 2009-10-04T20:50

So, tis the holiday season, and with that comes the close of yet another year, so we thought it would be a good idea to end things with endings. So, gather ’round the fire, sip on some hot chocol...

DRS Episode 063 - The Long And The Short Of It from 2009-10-04T20:40

Hello everyone, and welcome to this week’s episode where the Dead Robots discuss the topics of short fiction and long fiction. What do they have in common, how do they differ, and what lessons ca...

DRS Episode 062 - JF Lewis Interview from 2009-10-04T20:35

This week Justin and Terry (yes, Ryan skipped out on us, begin the tears and violins now) sit down and speak with JF Lewis, author of the urban fantasy novel “Staked�. JF was a fantastic interv...

DRS Episode 061 - In The Thick Of Things from 2009-10-04T20:30

This week the Dead Robots talk discuss the most important, and the hardest, part of any story – the middle. It’s where most of your drama and tension develops, where your characters are made an...

DRS Episode 060 - It's A Brain Storm! from 2009-10-04T20:25

This week the Dead Robots discuss the topic of brainstorming a story. You can do it on your own, or you can do it with a friend (insert your own innuendo here), but either way you have to start thi...

DRS Episode 059 - Talking Fantasy With PG Holyfield from 2009-10-04T20:20

In this episode the Dead Robots talk with friend of the show and author of “Murder At Avedon Hill� PG Holyfield about the genre of fantasy.

DRS Episode 058 - Tobias Buckell Interview from 2009-10-04T20:15

This week the Dead Robots are delighted to sit down and talk with Tobias Buckell, a young and talented writer who has worked in both his own universes, and now in the world of Halo. So please, sit ...

DRS Episode 057 - Dark Times Of The Writer's Soul from 2009-10-04T20:10

We all have our dark periods, when we think our writing sucks and that we’re worthless. No matter who you are, you will suffer times of doubt and sadness. Such is the lot of the artist. Join us a...

DRS Episode 056 - Night Of The Living Dead Robots from 2009-10-04T20:05

This week the guys talk about – and how could it be more fitting since it's Halloween – the horror genre. Listen in as they discuss scares, chills, and how much blood is too much. So settle in...

DRS Episode 055 - Rhianna Pratchett Interview from 2009-10-04T20:00

This week the Dead Robots have a chat with Rhianna Pratchett, a writer in the video games industry. She’s worked on games such as Heavenly Sword and Overlord. So sit with us and listen as she tal...

DRS Episode 054 - In The Beginning from 2009-10-04T19:55

Every story starts somewhere, and this week the Dead Robots discuss what they think of beginnings. What is the best way to start your story, what are bad ways to start it, and how can you best hook...

DRS Episode 053 - He Said, She Said from 2009-10-04T19:50

In this week’s episode the Dead Robots talk about dialog, how to create distinctive voices for characters, and how to avoid the cliches of “he said� and “she said,� topics every writer ne...

DRS Episode 052 - Lloyd Ritchey Interview from 2009-10-04T19:45

This week the Dead Robots sit down and talk with Llody Ritchey, author of the techno-thriller novel entitled “Stormdragon,� published by Arctic Wolf Publishing. Justin loved the book, and the i...

DRS Episode 051 - Doug Paul Interview from 2009-10-04T19:40

This week we bring you a conversation with Doug Paul, the founder of Arctic Wolf Publishing, a small but mighty press. Doug started out as a writer, and he decided to turn his good fortune toward h...

DRS Episode 050 - Location Location Location from 2009-10-04T19:35

This week the Dead Robots’ discuss the important topic of settings and locations. Are they just a place to have the action take place in, or can they be more? What senses best evoke the setting, ...

DRS Episode 049 - It Was The Professor In The Study With The Candlestick! from 2009-10-04T19:30

In this week’s exciting episode, Terry guides the Dead Robots down the dark and dangerous road that is the Mystery genre. So, pull your trench coats closed, tilt your fedoras, and make sure your ...

DRS Special Dragon*Con 2008 Episode - Writing For Audio from 2009-10-04T17:30

DRS Special Dragon*Con 2008 Episode - Writing For Audio

DRS Special Dragon*Con 2008 Episode - Babbling Writers from 2009-10-04T17:25

DRS Special Dragon*Con 2008 Episode - Babbling Writers

DRS Special Dragon*Con 2008 Episode - Podcasting Your Writing from 2009-10-04T17:20

DRS Special Dragon*Con 2008 Episode - Podcasting Your Writing

DRS Episode 048 - Back from Dragon*Con 2008 from 2009-10-04T17:15

Justin is back from Atlanta, and he thought this episode would be a good opportunity to relay what he learned, as well as tell a story about a chance encounter with a listener. After that Ryan talk...

DRS Episode 047 - The Hero's Journey With Tracy Hickman from 2009-10-04T17:10

In this week’s exciting episode we have Tracy Hickman back with us, and together we sit down to discuss the concept of the Hero’s Journey and how that relates to story telling. It is a fascinat...

DRS Episode 046 - One Year Of Dead Robots! from 2009-10-04T17:05

This week’s episode is where we celebrate one year of Dead Robots’. In this episode we have every co-host that the show has every had save for Graham (damn Skype!), and it is just a free-for-al...

DRS Episode 045 - Paul Glenn Interview from 2009-10-04T17:00