We are kicking off 2019 the only way we know how at The Shared Desk. We’re bringing in a special guest who has never been on the show, but is practically art of the family. Welcome to The Shred Desk author Tim Dodge.
Tim Dodge is a regular fixture at the Smoke Writers Retreat, and is taking first steps into professionally writing fiction, but he is no stranger to writing professionally as he writes technical documents on a freelance basis.
The Shared Desk, now recorded LIVE on Twitch at Tee’s Twitch Channel, after looking back on a year that was very 2018, turns its attention to what is coming this year, as well as looks at the not-so-simple life of a writer when writing is a 9-to-5 occupation.
00:00 — Introduction
Oh yeah, we’re kicking off the new year right…with a show recorded last year. (See what I did there?)
It is a night of firsts!
A mild spoiler from Bandersnatch
It’s a night of adult beverages and seamless plugs.
From one of the authors behind Podcasting for Dummies, Twitch for Dummies (advance copies) has arrived!
02:56 — Episode #93: Looking Ahead to 2019 (with Tim Dodge)
Meet Tim Dodge
He was passing through and decided to spend some time with us.
Did you know that there is more to New York than just a big city?
Head north for some beautiful country
Tim is a writer of many backgrounds.
The Life of a Working Writer
How does writing “day job” content affect productivity with fiction projects?
Tim’s initiation into The Shared Desk.
Tee’s own work with Code.gov and writing for them while working with other projects.
How does working on “day job” stuff affect your creativity?
The lure (and dangers) of a day job writing gig
….and juggling projects.
Tim’s got both indie and professional publishing credits under his belt. Take a look at what he’s got available.
Tim Dodge goes back home in his steampunk tale for Tee & Pip.
Looking ahead to 2019
We already looked back to 2018.
So, what’s next? Well, we’re doing something special for Writers Digest.
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account, leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701, or leave us a comment here at the blog. We’ll talk about it! And remember, you can find the show on iTunes or Stitcher! Subscribe, listen, and review.
Yeah, we know. We thought we were done with the hiccups in the schedule, but this thing called February happened. Things didn’t get better in March. And April was not shaping up to be any kind of improvement. Sure, we had content in the hopper, we had stuff we wanted to talk about, and we wanted to talk to you all. Problem is, we had a full plate of ADULTING to cope with, and that is what this comeback episode of The Shared Desk is all about — when Life refuses to cut you a break.
We have some thoughts on what to do about it.
00:00 — Introduction
Remember us?
So that’s why Tee is so interesting to people…
Are you feeling defeatist? BETTER NOT!
It’s been some time, not that we are light on content…
01:04 — Episode #88: Writing in the Midst of Bad News, Bad Luck, and Grief
We’ve got some really cool stuff in the backlog…
Chatting with K.T. Bryski about the 2018 Smoky Writers
An interview with Chris Lester
A reunion of Verena & Christina on the show
…but we were sidetracked. Or maybe we were derailed.
A bit of a bomb was dropped in Tee’s lap two weeks after the last show.
Sure, Tee would love to go full time with his writing. But there’s this thing called health insurance.
Attention was dedicated to finding Tee a job.
Not all bad news. Despite our efforts, our daughter is taking first steps into a writer’s life.
Coming off of Smoky, Tee was riding a wave. This is probably why Tee’s “short story” for Tales from the Archives is…not so short.
Tried accessing TeeMorris.com or HappyHourFromTheTower.com last month? Well, yeah, black (ass)hat hackers made that a little difficult.
So…job is in trouble, the hunt is on for a new gig, two of Tee’s sites get hacked. Could things get any worse?
Whenever your mom calls you at 6 a.m., it cannot be good.
Tee’s mom, Tee’s brother, and Tee sat down…and decisions were made.
Saturday, March 24.
Nope. Life is still not done with Tee as he returns to his Day Job to discover…
How do you get back on your feet?
Hold up, Fam —Tee’s good.
My Twitch streams have been helping him cope. It’s like the early days of podcasting, but with video games.
Tee kept the Day Job situation close to the vest for a reason.
The new Day Job coming has got Tee grooving to this song…
How having the new job already lined up helped Tee through his Dad’s Memorial.
There may be good intentions behind “Get back on the horse…” but sometimes, you need to keep your pie-hole shut. Tee knows this. Sadly. Concerning his friend, Kim Headlee.
Writers react to death, grief, and stress differently. That is a truth.
To the people who think Tee and Pip should be full time in writing by now…
Interviewing for Day Jobs — especially ones that are just for show — are exhausting.
There are different ways to cope with death, grief, and stress. It’s okay to ask for help.
What writers need to do: set a date for a return.
Escapes are good. Escapes are essential.
Tee’s Dad may never appear in a novel of his, but there will be influences and reflections a-plenty.
The Case of the Pitcher’s Pendant will always be that story for his father.
Too bad his dad liked the first one more.
Allow yourself to grieve.
And remember, you are not alone in the world. You are not.
Tee shares his breaking point.
Cheesy as it may sound, there is something good about hitting rock bottom.
Through all this, Pip discovers a super power.
Embrace your Tribe.
When you are ready, turn your grief, your darkness, your pain, into characters that resonate with readers. When you are ready.
29:02 — Writers Off the Clock
Holy shit, this soundtrack is AWESOME!!!
Spoilers, Will Robinson! We are going to riff a bit about…
To really understand this reboot, you have to travel back in time to the original Lost in Space… …which doesn’t quite age well. At all. Let’s discuss.
Decades later, Hollywood decided to take Lost in Space into a darker corner…
…and no, things didn’t really fall apart with Matt LeBlanc. It started with the script.
“But early Doctor Who is pretty chintzy,” you say? About that…
GENERAL FANDOM:Lost in Space is a sacred cow. No need to remake it, reboot it, or retool it for a modern audience. NETFLIX: Hold my beer.
What Tee and Pip did not like about Lost in Space…
What did Tee and Pip like about Netflix’s Lost in Space? Where do we begin?
Acting — on point and incredible
Women were taking the lead without emasculating the men,
The management of huge cast — everyone had their moment!
Everyone felt real.
Let’s talk about Parker Posey, Dr. Smith, and how she polished this turd-of-a-character and redefines this science fiction villain.
The creative crew of this new Lost in Space slip in a lot of nods to both the original television and film.
Opinions on the Robot
Already planning a re-watch.
Kid-Friendly…but there are some tense moments…
54:19 — The Wrap-Up
Tee and Pip had a lot to share with the class.
What will Tee do on his off-week before the new day job?
Play video games.
Mulch the garden…if weather permits.
Read up on Open Source.
Write. Write. Write.
Where will Pip and Tee be, you might wonder?
20-22 April — RavenCon in Williamsburg, VA
Shout out to the Steampunk Symposium…which, if you were wondering why they were not there, now you know.
25-28 May — Balticon 52 in Baltimore, MD
13-14 July — GuardianCon in Tampa Bay, FL (just Tee with the Kelly family)
Other news you should know about…
Operation: Endgame coming to print in February. Audio soon to follow. (Do leave us a review!)
Other irons in the fire for Pip and Tee…
Tales from the Archives, Season V is underway.
Happy Hour from the Tower is still going strong, including new fiction from Tee!
Pip’s Patreon is still rocking and rolling!
Yep, she’s got a website for that new podcast of hers, We Don’t Talk About That
And you can hear it first….if you become a subscriber.
If you have an event and want The Shared Desk to appear there, or if you just want to share an opinion about the show, here’s where to find us…
Watch for those shows from our audio vault! They are en route!
[display_podcast]
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.
Comments Off on Episode #88: Writing in the Midst of Bad News, Bad Luck, and Grief
18 - 21 May, The Nebula Awards Conference in Pittsburgh, PA (It will be Katie, Tee, and Pip…along with others from the Smoky Retreat!)
Tee and Pip will be visiting Balticon…
Events in the works…
A steampunk tea in Ellicott City, Maryland…
Guest speakers at a Mystery conference…
…and a return to Revel Grove in October!
And Tee isn’t busy enough so he’s launch a new podcast all about the video game, Destiny!
[display_podcast]
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.
Comments Off on Episode #73: Something Old, Something New
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or questions for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
We’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find the show on iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.
Comments Off on Episode 72: The 2017 Smoky Writers Retreat Wrap-Up (featuring K.T. Bryski…and even MORE Hamilton!!!)
With Tee and Pip flying solo in studio, the original topic for The Shared Desk is set aside for the controversy and the (important) debate fans, geeks, and writers of Game of Thrones have been engaging in since Sunday night. Has everything that could have been said about what happened in Westeros been said already?
Tee and Pip don’t seem to think so…
00:00 — Introduction
Angry drop-ins set the tone for this episode
Where are our in-studio guests?
What has Tee been working on since the last show?
Tee is still working on the new platform, but Logic Pro X is up and running in the studio!
The Shared Desk is a 2014 Parsec Nominee. Submission made. Now, we wait….
Ministry Protocol production for Audible rolls along.
Have you heard the latest Tales from the Archives?
Pip refuses to slow down after the launching of Dawn’s Early Light.
Pip’s Kickstarter story, Tangi A Te Ruru/The Cry of the Morepork featuring Aroha Murphy, is close to release.
Her latest idea combining early Hollywood and Mesopetanian Gods has been submitted.
Continuing development on Immortal Progeny, and Silver Pharaoh featuring Verity Fitrzroy and the Ministry Seven.
There’s another idea in the mix about a social media guide for writers…
6:20 — Game of Thrones, Hot Buttons, and Responsibility…from a Writer’s Point-of-View
Multiple Alarms for this Shared Desk…
Spoilers Ahead.
Hot Buttons Ahead.
Trigger Warnings.
If this kind of talk bothers you, please, JUMP AHEAD TO TIME MARKER 38:49
THAT scene from last Sunday’s Game of Thrones from both a fan’s point-of-view and a writer’s point-of-view.
Jamie rapes Circe.
It was rape. Pure and simple. We’ve established this.
Since Sunday, the Internet has lost its mind over this episode…
…but a LOT has happened over three seasons, hasn’t it?
Comparing the book to the miniseries. Not much better.
Back on the project organization…
Lauren does the longhand approach.
Pip can’t read her own handwriting, but she still grabs random scraps of paper to get notes down.
Tee prefers the digital approach to notes.
One issue (of many) that Tee has with the scene/episode: It’s being handled by George R.R. Martin and HBO terribly.
Westeros — not the safest place to be…
Tee and Pip agree — Circe did not ask for it.
Is anyone really “entertained” by rape?
Citing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as an example.
What about Theon? Any love for Theon? No? No.
What about some of the other brutality in Westeros?
Tee (and Chuck Wendig) go on record about Jamie that few (if any) admits to with Jamie — people started to LIKE and TRUST Jamie Lannister.
Pip goes into the relationship of Jamie and Brianne.
Jamie Lannister. Not really a nice guy.
Jamie Lannister in the baths. Okay, we LIKE him.
Tee spells out Jamie’s rough and bumpy homecoming, and shows the build-up and the psychological snap that led to this moment.
Where did Tee get his degree in Psychology? The ID Channel, of course.
Comparing Jamie Lannister to Ted Bundy. (Yeah, we go there.)
Fans don’t understand why “good” characters make terrible choices.
Jamie doesn’t know what true honor is.
Should rape be addressed in fiction or in movies, television, and other mediums?
Tee really doesn’t like “entertainment” used in the same sentence as “rape.”
Pip echoes Chuck’s opinion while playing the Woman Card.
Rape as a character flaw…
….and how Vikings plays rape strictly as a character flaw, and offends both Tee and Pip
No kidding, Pip and Tee have been talking about this FOR DAYS!
The difference between the Angle-Saxon Princess and Jamie Lannister — we got to know him.
Does this episode of Game of Thrones mean we as writers should not write about these topics? Not at all.
Tee lays himself on the chopping block with Legacy of Morevi…which he wishes GRRM and HBO would do.
If you’re going to write about ugly issues, prepare to research things you won’t like to research.
Showing love for Hannibal…and recognizing the difference between serial killers and rapists.
Be aware of your audience.
We love Vikings…but we didn’t care for this particular moment.
Take responsibility for your writing and understand the impact of your words.
38:49 — The Wrap-Up
That bumper music feels a little inappropriate, doesn’t it?
YES! We want your feedback! On this topic…or others.
703.791.1701
Leave us comment here!
This podcast needed to happen. Words have weight.
Where will we be in the next few weeks?
RavenCon, April 25-27
DemiCon 25, May 1-5 (where Tee is the Guest of Honor!)
P.C. Haring will be there.
We’re meeting Aly Grauer! Check out her new Kickstarter!
Balticon, May 22-26
The Frederick Book Festival, June 27-28
See you in two weeks!
And if you’re still listening to us after this show, thanks!!!
Featured People in this podcast:
K.T Bryski
Chuck Wendig
cover art by J.R. Blackwell
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Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or question for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
Enjoy the ride
and we’ll catch you later.
Comments Off on Episode #33: Game of Thrones, Hot Buttons, and Responsibility…from a Writer’s Point-of-View
When you have house guests, you make sure you show them a good time. When you have house guests who happen to be writers, you get them on the mic which is exactly what Pip and Tee did when writer and podcaster Lauren “Scribe” Harris came up for a visit, enjoyed a visit to the Madison Tea Room, and quality time with the Boom. Today on this episode of The Shared Desk, these three multitaskers sit down and talk about what they do to stay organized.
00:00 — Introduction
Wow, get a guest in the studio and she comes out of the box swinging!
Welcome for the first time in-studio our special guest (and recent house guest) Lauren “Scribe” Harris!
Lauren — Working between the lines between Starbucks, Audible.com, and her High Fantasy novel, Song of the Heretic
Tee — Using the Ministry Protocol to cut my teeth on Logic Pro X.
10:21 — Getting a Writer’s Life Organized
So many plates spinning for all three of us…
Tee attempts to rattle off all the ideas we have working right now…
Pip reveals her new idea concerning Hollywood and accent gods and demons.
Tee is torn between where to focus his own attention between writing projects and contracting.
Most writers are terrible at organizing their projects. True or false?
Lauren gets scared of über-organized people
…but she herself is wicked-organized!
Lauren: “That’s called worldbuilding.”
Scribe shows what a bad influence she is.
Pip completely derails the show with a drop-in request…and then it delves into wacky fan fiction…
Back on the project organization…
Lauren does the longhand approach.
Pip can’t read her own handwriting, but she still grabs random scraps of paper to get notes down.
Tee prefers the digital approach to notes.
Lauren uses checklists to keep on track with her day.
Tee and Pip meltdown in front of PJ Schnyder, not in a nasty way, but just in a self-imploding sort of way.
PJ was thinking [cue Archer drop-in]
We were terrified by what we were facing on our To Do List.
Tee remembers the first thing erased off the list.
Colored “thumbtack” magnets help prioritize ideas and things to do.
Scribe gets bored with the conversation and starts playing with Tee’s magnets.
Pip wonders how having two writers in the same house affects our productivity.
Before you get organized, find where your “hub space” is and hang your white board there.
Scribe reveals the Covey Quadrant…and Tee gets an ice cream headache.
And Tee uses that Archer drop-in again for the social media addicted ladies in studio.
Downtime/Self-time for yourself needs to be a priority.
33:56 — Writing Advice from Crazy Uncle Charlie
Scribe and Crazy Uncle Charlie are reunited…and it feels so good.
Scribe has a fangirl moment. We’re not sure why.
Pip doesn’t want to admit it…but she has missed Crazy Uncle Charlie.
Charlie gives his own approach to organizing projects…which resembles something of a jumbles mess.
37:46 — The Wrap-Up
And once again, the studio smells of cheese.
Got some organization tips? A question for Crazy Uncle Charlie?
703.791.1701
pip (at) pjballantine (dot) com
tee (at) teemorris (dot) com
Later on in April…
Pip Ballantine will be speaking at the Library of Congress in 2 days!
RavenCon, April 25-27
DemiCon 25, May 1-5
Balticon, May 22-26
Lauren describes Balticon for anyone who may be coming to the con.
Pip, even with her power as the Dark Goddess, can’t get fast service at the Hunt Valley bar…
The Podcaster Cookout. It’s coming!
And…..
The Ministry of Peculiar Pajamas: The Pajama Initiative
How did this idea come around?
People want this to be a thing.
Maybe Sunday night, starting early.
This is an idea in progress. Bear with us.
Pip’s glad March is done, but April is coming in hard…
Lauren’s got another mini-writing/mini-podcasting stretch coming soon!
The power of a Phil Rossi drop-in.
Go out and get Dawn’s Early Light! NOW!!!
51:22 — The Outtake
Featured People in this podcast:
Gail Carriger
Thomas Willeford
Alex White
Tiffany Trent
K.T Bryski
cover art by J.R. Blackwell
[display_podcast]
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or question for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
It’s taken us a while to get back to the miss but get back to the miss we did! Pip and I took a few minutes before a Writers’ Retreat to fire up the studio and let loose their tongues on works-in-progress. What’s coming down the pike? What will be percolating while in Pigeon Forge? And is it a good idea to talk about works-in-progress? It’s back in black for Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris on this, the first show of 2014!
[display_podcast]
00:00 — Introduction
Working to get back your trust…
The Shared Desk returns! (And what do you know — more drop-in’s!)
Nine years ago, MOREVI went live. Where did the time go?
Tee laments on the lost “new” job.
Vinnie over at Trinity Manassas Church gives Tee a little perspective
A Writer’s Retreat is now in our future!
Organized by Alex White
What Pip is looking forward to.
Living like rock stars for five days!
Woah! Tee’s sleeping with his new boss!!!
A promise of recording audio at the Writers’ Retreat….and other audio that we captured…
Big thanks for the writing keeping us sane…
08:11 — Talking about Works-in-Progress
Tee reflects on The Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy.
Pip and Tee disagree on revealing works-in-progress
Pip likes teasing her audience.
We have found a new favorite drop-in for Pip.
Talking about works-in-progress is good.
Shows the audience you have new stuff in the works.
Actually delivering on an idea as opposed to just talking about it.
Pip’s new work-in-progress — The Immortal Prodgeny
Talking about works-in-progress is bad
Tee Morris and Billibub Baddings
How the Powerpuff Girls worries Tee about returning to the Billibub Baddings Mysteries
Tee’s work-in-progress — Wolf in the Fold
Has Tee done urban fantasy before?
Will this be a spoof or will Tee turn tropes on their head?
Another idea from Tee — Villainy LLC
No, this is not Playing for Keeps. It’s more like The Tick…taken to the next level.
In this story, Tee goes after Richmond and Social Media douchebags.
If NYC and the agents pass on it, Tee can always go the self-publishing route.
Anxieties on sharing works-in-progress
Pip’s attitude on sharing works-in-progress with the readers: FOLLOW THROUGH!
Another idea taking shape for Pip: Verity Fitzroy and the Ministry Seven in The Mystery of the Silver Pharaoh.
And to add to the retreat’s schedule — Tee and Pip’s next idea: Broken.
Continuing to look ahead with the Ministry in 2014…
Upcoming news on Pip’s latest Pip blanks on her special New Zealand day…
30:30 — The Wrap-Up
Keeping it simple on account of the upcoming road trip.
Pip gives Tee a truly “Bazinga” moment….but Tee doesn’t play that drop-in.
Write by the Rails is holding a blog tour! Come join us!
What’s coming soon…
James River Writers’ The Writing Show, March 27-29
Pip Ballantine at the Library of Congress, April 11
RavenCon, April 25-27 (Oh, Proper Pie Company, why can’t we quit you?)
DemiCon 25, May 1-5 (And who is the Guest of Honor? This guy!!!)
Thank you, everyone, for the kindness and support through the false start that was Tee’s “new” job.
And Tee pulls out a flawless ending. Not too shabby after nine years….
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
leave us a voicemail or question for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
…which doesn’t quite age well. At all. Let’s discuss.
