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…

Terry and Paul are wrapping up their respective series. The DRS Crew discusses the challenges of ending a multi-book series and how they plan to accomplish it. 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 DRS Crew considers the question: when do you decide to rewrite or just slog on through and fix it in the edit? Chat will probably bring a napkin with a plot scribbled on it. 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.voicesbyv…

Your words are terrible. You hate them. But does that make them bad? Terry and Paul, sans Veronica, discuss. Chat will present a napkin doodle made with ketchup as their magnum opus. 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.voic…

Author, film maker, and publisher Charlie Brown joins the DRS Crew to discuss his kickstarter, his new magazine, and causes general mischief. Chat is not helpful in keeping us on topic. 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.v…

Warp drives. Wormholes. Infinite Improbability. How do you get your characters from one place to another over interstellar distances? The DRS Crew warms up their dilithium crystals, opens a space/time anomaly, and summons an infinite number of monkeys who want to show us their Shakespeare plays. Chat will no doubt join us via steam engine. Our link…

What's the difference between you and your brand? The DRS Crew discuss. Chat, on the other hand, will likely bring iron. 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 …

Do props, outlines, and other aids actually help in the writing? The DRS Crew ponders. Chat, as per usual, is chewing on lead paint chips 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 be…

Do you love dystopia and cataclysm tropes? Why? Veronica, Paul, and Terry discuss. Chat has the nuclear launch codes, and we are very afraid. 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? Conside…

Terry, V, and Paul discuss that whole "getting back on the horse after life tries to kill it" thing. Chat has promised us a glue factory. 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 be…

Veronica, Terry, and Paul discuss including drugs, weapons, and other potentially controversial elements in your stories. Chat, no doubt on illicit substances, will provide comic relief. 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.…

Veronica, Terry, and Paul discuss how to reset those bad habits and declutter your writing. 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 …

Paul, Terry, and Veronica discuss genre jumping and the art of leaving easter eggs in your work. Chat will no doubt be eating 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 show? Consider becom…

Paul and Terry discuss plot versus pacing and take questions from chat. 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…

Veronica, Terry, and Paul discuss publishing rights, what to sell, and the deals to avoid. 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…

Terry, Veronica, and Paul try and answer the question: how do you measure your long-term success as a creator? 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 …

You published a book. Now what do you do to sell it? 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 a month, you ca…

Terry, Paul, and Veronica discuss the latest moves by Spotify to usurp creators' and audiobook narrator's rights. Chat will surely have opinions. Alternatives to Findaway: Author's Republic BHF Audio Alternatives to Spotify: Bandcamp Apple Music Amazon Music Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublicat…

Veronica, Terry, and Paul discuss how to make good villains that don't fall into the "nature" or "environment" tropes. In other words, how do we create relatable scumbags? We're sure chat is bereft of utter scum, although JR might count. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site…

The DRS Crew are currently editing/beta reading manuscripts and they have more than a few thoughts on the subject. We're sure chat does, 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? Conside…

The year is not going well for the DRS Crew, and it just started. So what are they doing to keep on track? Also? Why is chat looking at us like that? 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?…

The DRS crew brainstorms about the technologies we'll need for exploring/inhabiting space. Chat might have opinions, but who cares about 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/ Enjoy the show? Consid…

What makes an iconic holiday story? How can you take one of your existing properties and make a holiday narrative out of it? Also? Chat has been bad and gets nothing but coal. 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.voicesbyver…

V goes walkabout for bowling leaving Terry and Paul the odious task of calling out all writers for abusing their beta readers. Or, more accurate, misusing them. Also? There might be something about story bibles. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.c…

Why wait for December or the end of the year to make next year's plans? What's wrong with you? Also? What's wrong with chat? 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 Patr…

Veronica and Terry regale Paul and chat with their tales of literary debauchery at the 20Books Vegas conference. 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 M…

Join the DRS Crew as they give advice they don't follow as they prepare for writing conferences, publishing books, and, Garaaga forbid, writing them. Also? Chat is a problem we aim to ignore. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http:/…

Yay. You finished your novel. Now what? Paul, Terry, and Veronica discuss where to find talent for the things you can't do and how to work with them. We're certain chat will have their own opinion, but who listens to them anyway? Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https:…

Got a boring plot? We got a solution for you. Chat, however, does not. 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 a month,…

Terry lays out his process and Paul takes him to task for claiming he's having productivity issues. Chat piles on. 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 Coffe…

The DRS crew invite chat to ask us anything (within reason, of course). Nothing good come from this... 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 …

DRS Episode 654 Terry asks Paul and V the question: is there such a thing as a bad influence when it comes to movies, books, and other media? Do they have a negative impact on your narratives? Chat proves once again that they are a bad influence. Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: …

Alternate realities, dimensional shifts, and portals that lead anywhere. Author James Peet joins the DRS Crew to discuss creating alternate worlds as well as some basic rules. Chat, however, follows no rules. Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: …

Gamemaster and RPG designer James Carpio joins the DRS crew to talk RPGs, quick stories, and adventure. Chat is a constant problem. 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 …

Terry asks about character motivation. Paul provides Voltaire's Candide as an example. All hell breaks loose with chat. 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 …

Veronica makes the mistake of asking Paul and Terry to help brainstorm a new space western. She should have known better. As usual, chat is more a hindrance than help. 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 th…

Paul, Veronica, and Terry discuss when to cut bait on editing, polishing, and worrying, and when it's time to just hit the damned publish button. In other news, chat is obnoxious. Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.c…

Paul discusses setting a publishing cadence for indie works and the budgeting that goes on. Terry and V chime in while chat is, well, chat. 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 …