Dead Robots' Society

You've taken your characters to the edge. The plot is nearly finished. Now it's time for the big reveal. How do you make it happen? The DRS Crew discusses. DRS caffeinates with  Larry's Coffee . If you want to purchase fair-trade, organically grown beans that brew into smooth, balanced, never-bitter coffee, visit LarrysCoffee.com/drs , receive a free gif with your purchase, and help support The De...

"Captain! The doomaflachie is reaching critical something-or-other!" Science fiction literature is rife with technobabble, questionable science, and straight-up fantastical solutions to both celestial and relatively mundane problems. How much is too much? The DRS Crew discusses. Our links: Paul's site:   https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www....

Publishers sometimes require a minimum word count, while magazines, contests, etc might impose a maximum word count. While adding words is easy, how do you decide what to cut? Also, what is an "unhappily ever after" story, and why does Paul write them? Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site:   https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Ver...

Paul is on a walkabout, so Terry and Veronica are on deck to extoll the virtues of John Wick. Chiefly, how he responds to animal abuse. Join Terry and V as they discuss how best to use animals in stories. Also, what not to do... Unless... Chat will bring their favorite pet. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site:   https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://w...

Gunfights? Explosions? Marvelous melee mayhem? Non-stop action scenes that go on for dozens of minutes? Works great in visual media, but how well does it translate into literature? 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 Disc...

It's Valentine's Day, and the DRS Crew is in the mood for romance. And maybe a little "rumpy-pumpy." Chat will bring flowers and chocolate. 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 becom...

The DRS Crew recently discussed violating reader expectations. But what should writers expect from their readers? Can you trust them to remember vital clues or key details? Or do you have to repeat them every so often? The DRS Crew has thoughts. We're sure chat will, too.   Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site:   https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://w...

When as a reader do you draw the line on suspension of disbelief? Should writers mash up genres without significant tells that the story will have left turns? And if you're going to write that kind of story, what should you be concerned about? The DRS Crew discusses.   Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site:   https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.te...

The DRS Crew didn't do their homework and have nothing planned for today's lesson. Therefore, we'll regale you with whatever comes to mind... Perhaps chat will help/hinder us. 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/pgmQx...

It's 2026, and the DRS Crew has plans. What are they doing to make 2026 more successful? What are you doing to make your 2026 successful? 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 becomin...

While Terry is on a walkabout, Paul and V discuss plans for 2026, including ad budgets, editing budgets, cover budgets, etc. Also? Aren't we supposed to write, too? 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: https://dis...

Monsters are not always forces of nature. Sometimes they only come for those who deserve them. 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: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy...

A DRS Patron asks the question: Do you need an author website? Do you need a store?  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: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A Cof...

How does fiction influence society? What about the inverse? Also, can one pull plots from classic literature or films and repurpose them in modern works? 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: https://discord.gg/pgm...

Veronica and Terry have returned from the "Author Nation" convention and have more than a few thoughts. Paul will heckle. 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 B...

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 Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the s...

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://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesby...

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 Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show?...

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://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.ter...

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://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/...

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://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consider becomi...

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.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica....

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.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voice...

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.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveroni...

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 Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veroni...