Can you have subplots when there's only a single main character? How do you handle it when there are no repeated secondary characters? The DRS Crew discusses. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Di…

There's more Amazon/Audible news. There's Salesforce news. There's... How do you keep up on the industry gossip, buzz, and class action lawsuits? The DRS Crew discusses and takes on chat. They've been obnoxious lately... Our links: Dead Robots' Society: https://deadrobotssociety.com Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://…

What is a "Zero Draft?" Can the processes outlined help you in your writing? Also in this episode, Paul and V discuss Lovecraft's "Call of Cthulu." Our links: Dead Robots' Society: https://deadrobotssociety.com Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discor…

Paul has returned from an eco-tour of Costa Rica. While he had a great time, he's now behind the proverbial 8-ball with a deadline. Terry knows how he feels. So does V. Why are deadlines terrifying to some, but a motivating factor for others? The DRS Crew discusses. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadow…

Terry has gone full bonkers for starships, including creating blueprints and statistics. This madness must be appreciated., The DRS Crew discusses the kinds of detail you should have for your ships, what you should ignore, and when to know the difference. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublication…

Turns out that the Audible Premium Plus scam was before our eyes all along... After that discussion, the DRS Crew explains how to go wide. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://disco…

Paul has thoughts about the new series Alien: Earth. Would the series work if it weren't part of the Alien franchise universe? The DRS Crew discusses world-building and the necessary ingredients of a cyberpunk future. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrym…

Audible's new "Audible+" program will destroy the livelihoods of narrators and authors. How will it do that? The DRS Crew discusses, and V brings cats to help explain things. For background, please watch: • Audible Is Broken Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www…

The DRS Crew discusses how to prioritize those pesky side gigs (anthologies, short-story magazines, etc) and decide whether they are compatible with your long-term goals. In other words, knowing when to say "No, thanks." Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.ter…

Terry has published over forty novels. Paul? Almost twenty. V has contributed both her writing and vocal talents to dozens of novels. None of these things happened overnight and required persistence. The DRS Crew discusses how to keep on keeping on. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com …

Author Doc Coleman joins Terry and Paul for a discussion on all things Steampunk, Gaslamp, and anything else we can think of. Doc Coleman: https://www.doccoleman.com/ Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com…

When the world is filled with darkness and despair, creating art is one of the most courageous acts most of us can accomplish. Are we allowed to find joy in our creations during times of war, disease, and civil strife? More importantly, do people need art to survive? The DRS Crew discusses. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Pa…

Writer's groups can be an excellent place to exchange ideas, discover new resources, and meet new people. They can also be toxic waste dumps. What are the traits of good writing neighbors and neighborhoods? What's the proper etiquette for becoming a good writing neighbor? The DRS Crew gives their thoughts. Chat will no doubt complain about the Disc…

Stuck for an idea? Want to pay homage to a class work? Is it in the public domain? If the answer is yes, it's your playground. The DRS Crew discusses. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: h…

What tropes do you have to have in a romance? How about suspense versus thriller? The DRS Crew once again takes a question from chat and runs off the rails. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Disc…

The DRS Crew trolled the topics channel and hit paydirt. We'll discuss how to tell when you're writing in the wrong genre, expectations of genres, and reader expectations. Should we have time, we'll also touch on getting new readers and integrating backstories. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpubli…

The DRS Crew ruminates on procrastination, corraling future works so they don't impinge on the present. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Co…

V and Paul run through the standard operating procedure for posting your audiobooks and the various outlets. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the sho…

No matter the genre, no matter the plot, characters move, talk, and occasionally resort to fisticuffs when words don't work, or the writer gets bored. How do you incorporate action into your scenes? What about reader fatigue? How do you break up those action sequences to keep the reader from becoming numb? And how do you know when you've gone too f…

How do you write for audio? Or more importantly, what pitfalls should you avoid? How do you deal with those pesky dialogue tags? And the DRS Crew pontificates on romance versus dark romance. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://…

Hey, you! What's your book's title and why? Will it bring the masses to your door? Or will it ensure they pass you by? The DRS Crew discusses the (not so) subtle art of titles. Bonus? We'll discuss those pesky chapters and whether they need names. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Te…

Chat asks what indies can learn from traditional publishers and vice versa. Prepare for opinions... Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consid…

Is there a difference between a plot and a sidequest? How do you know which one you're telling? And can an entire book be a sidequest? Terry wants to know. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Disco…

What are some of the pros and cons of using real-life events in your work? Do they make good backdrops or should you avoid them? Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQ…

What can writers learn from role-playing game design? Do role-playing games help writers grasp character and universe? The DRS Crew discusses. Chat will bring their dice. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica…

What is "binge writing?" How do you get into the zone? More importantly, are there any 12 step programs to help you recover? Creativity isn't stagnant. It comes and goes, no matter how skilled you are. Are there any strategies for conjuring it? Chat will recommend coffee. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://…

Amazon is removing the ability to download books you purchase to your computer, making all your ebooks ephemeral except via their app or their hardware. What do the DRS crew think about this change? Chat will bring their old USB cables. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site:…

Terry wonders about provocative writing, and V questions whether authenticity makes good marketing. Paul, meanwhile, thinks about the Antarctic as a setting for stories. Chat will bring their crayons. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronic…

Are you making money off your art? Or are you spending money to make art? When do you invest in yourself? Boundaries are important, especially if you have a subscriber service (Patreon, BMAC, Substack, etc). You can't always be the dancing monkey. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Te…

Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help kee…

Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help kee…

The DRS Crew helps Antowan brainstorm his sci-fi/fantasy novel. Chat will no doubt add to the chaos. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consi…

What would aliens actually look like? Are they carbon-based? Arsenic-based? Silicon? What about their chirality? Do they have DNA? The DRS Crew discusses. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discor…

What's the difference between an episodic series and a saga? And what about stand-alone stories with the same characters in a series? Is it part of a series? The DRS Crew offers their experiences and somewhat maybe informed opinions. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: ht…

Your house is filled with guests. Your children are driving you nuts. Construction people are ripping your home apart. There is no safe place to create. What do you do? The DRS Crew discusses. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http:…

V is thinking about starting a Patreon. Paul and Terry do their best to provide advice. We're sure chat will chime in, too... Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Pat…

The DRS Crew invites chat to force us to improvise plots on the fly. Prepare for insanity. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee supporter a…

Paul, Terry, and V discuss the mixed blessing of contracts with deadlines and how to meet them. Our links: Dead Robots' Society: https://deadrobotssociety.com Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Con…

As an artist, how do you cope when real life kicks you in the feels? Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee supporter and for as little as $1…

Whether they're meant to be constructive or mean-spirited, comments and reviews can shake your confidence. How do you cope? More importantly, how can you tell what comments to listen to and which to ignore? The DRS Crew Discusses. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https…

How do you describe ugly? Beautiful? Terrifying? Joyful? The DRS Crew discusses making use of the five senses. And maybe a sixth. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a…

Cyberpunk, Steampunk, Biopunk, Solarpunk, and punkcetera. What does all of it mean? What makes a genre "punk?" The DRS Crew discusses. Our links: Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee supporter an…

Dreams, nightmares, and delusions are often used to progress a story. Are there rules for including these? The DRS Crew discusses. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ Enjoy the show? Consider becoming …

The DRS Crew discusses their thoughts on titles, character and place names, and whether or not genres have rules for both. Chat will bring their crayons. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ Enjoy the s…

The DRS Crew discusses author websites, recycling old material, and handling feedback that is less than complimentary. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or…

Veronica, Paul, and Terry pull out the old Pitch Deck and deal themselves plot, characters, and complications. Chat will then choose the story they have to tell. Nothing could possibly go wrong. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: htt…

Veronica asks the age-old question: "How the hell do I write an author bio?" What details should you include? Formal, informal? Should you tailor them for specific books? The DRS crew pontificates. Chat will probably wear a dunce cap. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: h…

The DRS Crew takes aim at book releases and discusses how best not to screw them up. From ill-advised promotional techniques to best practices, Terry, Veronica, and Paul share personal anecdotes and pet peeves. Chat, as. usual, insists lead paint chips make one more intelligent. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: h…

Paul is writing to an outline for the third time in his career. Will Terry laugh at him, or will he have sage advice? What will Veronica advise after all her experiences with outlines? Dear Garaaga, what will CHAT have to say? Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://w…

Paul is finishing up Extinction and asks the question--what subplots do I actually need? The DRS Crew Discuss Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A…