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.
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Following a super-sized Shared Desk, Pip and Tee fly on their own in this fast-paced, jammed-packed episode that we put together based on some current events happening both online and close to home. First, your hosts comment on the 800-pound gorilla of social media, Facebook. Changes have taken place and authors are freaking out. But should day? Do you have options? Well, of course you do; and after breaking down the Facebook situation, Tee and Pip talk about the good in diversifying your social media platforms.
The next current event is a rant. Tee lets loose on shenanigans happening in his hometown, and these shenanigans involve a con-artist The Shared Desk is more-than-familiar with.
00:00 — Introduction
This is a suitcase we need to unpack seriously…
it was a good day today in Tee’s Twitch stream.
Always remember where you park your TARDIS.
How nice — a backlog for Smoky 2018!
01:25 — Episode #87: Part One - Facebook Changes
Pushing back a chat with K.T. Bryski in light of Facebook changes that may affect authors.
Additional thoughts on this big change from social media rockstar Erika Napoletano on Facebook.
And The Oatmeal has some commentary on this as well.
So here we are — at a crossroads with Facebook.
Can authors still cope with Facebook?
The challenge of handling ads and handling boosted posts
The decision to launch an Author Page and just keeping a Facebook Page doubling for Personal Use
Blurring Lines
Diversifying Social Media Platforms for yourself
Where is your audience?
Resurrecting old platforms
Have you fired up that Twitter account again? Tee has, thanks to Twitch.
Instagram Tips and Tricks: Part One
Why active boosts with Instagram is great for Likes…but the Conversion Rate is crap. Here’s why.
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.
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This is a super-sized episode featuring the Geek Wolfpack Podcast crew in studio and recording a 2018 episode for their own feed, so have fun as two podcasts join forces to kick off 2018 with style!
00:00 — Introduction
Wait a minute…this isn’t your podcast!
We have a lot of people in studio!
Big Love to Doctor Who’s Christmas Special!
And here’s where the show falls off the rails.
Hey, let’s start a rumor…
You need to watch the Christmas Special with perhaps the most epic “Previously on…” introduction.
Nice end to 2017!
Hold back your enthusiasm on being here!
Best way to start 2018 — killing Christmas trees!
What is Battlefield: Earth doing on the Hallmark Channel?
07:00 — Episode #86: Looking Ahead to 2018
Looking back to Christmas…
Brandon refuses to let up on the snark for the New Year.
Teenagers love socks.
Serena’s rocking electronics while Brandon has got hockey skates for the ice!
The Canadian shakes her head at the oddities of Americans.
Penguin Trivia
Katie reflects on her Canadian Christmas
Butt Jokes
What are we planning for 2018?
Serena and Brandon, the youngsters, are making plans…
Serena now decides to clam up.
Brandon can control celebrity deaths? What?!
Serena is planning to study “creative stuff.“
TALKING SHOULD NOT BE THIS HARD.
Holy cow, we’re talking a dark turn!
Brandon looks into Colgan, as well, for their Music Tech program.
Pip plans for the upcoming year!
Lots and lots and lots of audio production.
FOUR. BOOKS.
And four books may not be
Nick’s 2018 Plans
He’s already got a new book out!
What is the Catwalk series?
And Stacia is also cranking out the words!
Looking ahead to the conventions we want to attend…
GuardianCon 2018
MAGFest…which has come and gone, but you can hear all about it here!
What about our Canuck? What is she planning and plotting for 2018?
There’s enjoying her own successes from 2017!
What is the Six Stories Told at Night podcast?
Adaptation ain’t easy!
Wait—there’s a Beer Magic novel coming from K.T. Bryski?!
Whenever you make a bet about writing a story, chances are…
The return of the novella
Curling is a thing in Virginia, eh?
Tee’s turn. What is waiting for him in 2018?
A solo novel, but he’s torn between two projects…
You can do both, sure, but focus is somewhat split. Pip’s got an idea…
Twitch for Dummies…and Brandon calls Tee out.
Tee answers Brandon’s callout.
Katie now calls out Tee on a completely different issue, and it’s a good call out.
Tee’s hesitancy with the Twitch for Dummies pitch
The Adpocalypse on YouTube. This is a thing!
Our Personal Focus point for 2018
Brandon: Landing a spot in Colgan High School’s Music Tech Program
Nick: Writing more. Meeting people.
Katie: Writing with joy and kindness.
Serena: Landing a spot in Colgan High School’s Creative Writing Program
Pip: (amidst the heckling) Her word for the year — “Build”
Tee: His word for the year — “Complete”
45:13 — The Loot Crate Lookie-Loo
The last box of 2017 — the December Loot Crate: EXPLORE!
Tee speculates very little from this Loot Crate will make it to the Giveaway Box.
Welcome to the EXPLORE Loot Crate!
A miniature from Mobile Suit Gundam! Classic anime FTW!
A Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2 calendar
From IDW Comics — Star Wars: Destroyer Down, a prequel story concerning our girl, Rei
A sweet Destiny 2 tee-shirt, featuring the Wanderwing, your first in-game ship
The Loot Crate pin — a classic rocket ship
Loot Crate is holding back on a booklet this go round. Nothing wrong with that.
Tee, are you ever going to make that Ghost?
Serena calls dibs on the comic book!
49:38 — The Wrap-Up
Shout-out to Rob Aldrich who also attended MAGFest!
Katie is heading back to Canada, but she will be planning to hit…
ReaderCon
Ad Astra
CanCon
Tee and Pip will be heading to RavenCon…and that is when the madness begins for them!
Writing Advice for 2018
Nick: Invest into an “Accountability Partner.”
Katie: It’s okay to do your own thing. (Echoing something Tee said here.)
Pip: Keep flying.
Tee: Avoid excuses. (Another huge shout-out to Piper J Drake for this.)
Serena’s listening…we think.
More butt jokes.
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…
Pip’s Patreon will feature the first episode of her ALL-NEW PODCAST!
Yep, she’s got a website (with a teaser) — We Don’t Talk About That
And you can hear it first….if you become a subscriber.
Here we come, 2018!
[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.
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Did you hear? We have a new book on the shelves! (The digital ones anyway.) With Operation: Endgame out and waiting for you to read, The Shared Desk is looking back on the ministry of Peculiar Occurrences and talks about everything a writer thinks, feels, and fears when wrapping up a series and dropping the curtain on familiar grounds.
And really, are they done with the Ministry? Well……
00:00 — Introduction
Whew! It’s been a week…
If you want to relax, Dunkirk is NOT the movie to help you with that.
Okay, if you didn’t hear about it today…
Operation: Endgame is coming out today in all digital formats.
And did you know a new Christmas story is out for Tales from the Archives?
Audio and print books are coming in January/February 2018.
There’s also a special offer on 12/26 and 12/27 so download your copy now!
04:08 — Episode #85: Ending a Series
You are having so much fun with this series, but now comes a time to wrap it up.
Nothing new for Pip with the Books of the Order.
For Tee, reaching the end has been proving elusive.
There’s a lot of time invested into a series, its characters, its world…and you wonder if you have one more book in you.
Is the drive and the desire there?
Pip was sad to see Sorcha and Raed go…but she got over it.
Tee’s issue with getting Operation: Endgame done — REAL LIFE.
Tee’s failed attempts at writing a series
MOREVI (which has fans on PSN and Twitch apparently)
The Billibub Baddings Mysteries
Tee may not have wanted to say goodbye to Books & Braun just yet…
The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences is not going anywhere. The podcast and this series, however, are done.
Ending on your own terms feels pretty damn good.
Kickstarter made it clear: A demand was there.
Tee finished Operation: Endgame…and fell apart.
Achievement Unlocked: We reached the end we had planned.
Verity Fitzroy is making the sting of ending a series less painful.
Change of all kinds take place in Operation: Endgame.
We do resolve things in the book…mostly.
BIG SHOUT-OUT to our editor, K.T. Bryski who will be here next week!
Humble beginnings to the series and the wild ride that ensued…
And we’re still married…but there was that one time during Curse of the Silver Pharaoh….
Taking a break from now until the summer because we got stuff to do on our own!
How can we forget Countless Hues of Crimson? Rivaled only by this amazing work of literature…
Taking a bittersweet Victory Lap
26:40 — Writers Off the Clock
We just finished a book. LET’S GO TO THE MOVIES!!!
Let’s talk about some of the movies we saw over the weekend….
Dunkirk
Hans Zimmer decides to actually give us a really amazing score for this cinematic triumph.
Wait? you mean, things happened in World War II before Americans got involved?
Just brace yourself for those first ten minutes.
Hands down, Nolan’s best film.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Spoiler Alert — JUMP TO TIMECODE 42:09 TO AVOID SPOILERS
LAST CHANCE —42:09 TO AVOID SPOILERS
Tee liked it more than Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, but did not like it as much as Rogue One
Thoughts on the middle section
Thoughts on Rose
Thoughts on humor in Star Wars
Thoughts on Mary Poppins
Thoughts on Fan Rage
Thoughts from someone else about how we’ve been here before…
Bright
Bright is, according to Pip, Shadowrun.
It was more like Training Day: Shadowrun, but here’s the rundown of this (pretty damn clever) plot.
This is not high art, but it does not pretend to be anything else than what it is. AND IT WORKS!
Definitely rocking a Men in Black or Alien Nation vibe.
We talked about Suicide Squad, but this is a better film.
Critics are hatingBright…but Netflix is listening to the audience.
Why Alien Nation was a better television show than it was a movie.
Is race an issue in this movie? Yes. Because LOOK AT OUR FREAKIN’ HEADLINES!
50:42 — The Wrap-Up
The Adventures of Centaur Cop, coming soon from Pip Ballantine.
We’re done for the year. So, go out, use that Amazon.com gift card, and buy our new book!
K.T. Bryski is coming!
2017 was better than 2016, that’s for damn sure.
Foreshadowing for the next show — Your Author Word for 2018!
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…
Pip’s Patreon will feature the first episode of her ALL-NEW PODCAST!
Yep, she’s got a website (with a teaser) — We Don’t Talk About That
And you can hear it first….if you become a subscriber.
See you in 2018!
54:15 — The Last Word
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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.
Closing in on the end of the Dog Days of Podcasting, Tee covers a simple mantra for writers everywhere: Just write. You love to write in your office, in your favorite slippers, during a rainy day with a cup of coffee. That’s cool and all, but there are those times where the setting won’t be picture perfect. Too bad. Write.
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Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
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Shout out to Brian “Arkle” Webber from Shameless Cashgrab and other podcasts for the comment and inspiring today’s Dog Days of Podcasting entry.
Recorded this morning and posted this evening, Tee settles in to talk about something else but follows the rabbit hole Arkle opens up about the “Mary Sue” complex that haunts fiction. The question is, should it? Can developing characters from your own experiences, hopes, and dreams, work in fiction?
It is a tricky tightrope to walk — very tricky — but it’s possible.
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leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
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Shout out to Nobilis Reed from Nobilis Erotica and This Kaiju Life for the voicemail. Thanks!
For today’s Dog Days of Podcasting entry, Tee returns to the subject of raising the stakes; but instead of doing so from the character’s P.O.V. we think bigger, we look bigger. How safe is the world or the environment they are in? The real world is a dangerous place. How dangerous is yours?
He also ties this episode back to the bad book he was reading. He finished it. And Tee talks about it.
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Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
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With all these podcasts coming through this feed (and yes, welcome to the Dog Days of Podcasting, ya’ll!), would you believe we lost track of when we needed to post a Shared Desk?
My bad.
With inspiration from Germany, Tee and Pip are talking about writing in the zone, those wonderful times when the ideas and words show no signs of stopping. How do you manage — you know — the outside world? Well, here are a few tips for you to consider.
00:00 — Introduction
Mmmmm…Blue Apron.
How about those drop-in’s from The Defenders?
Kreg Steppe, this is all your fault!
Closing in on the end of Dog Days of Podcasting…
Pip liked Tee’s theme so much, she stole it for her Patreon podcast!
Shout out to Corbin J Drake, the four-legged addition to Piper J and Matthew J Drake, for being the face of Tee’s DDOP 2017.
Tee got so into this that he lost track of The Shared Desk posting’s schedule.
What a ride this challenge has been!
Tucking in with Operation: Endgame…finally.
Pip’s been having a long week along with Jessica Jones.
Also working on Operation: Endgame…
Also working on Immortal Sisters…
AND ALSO…working on a BRAND NEW novel!
05:45 — Episode #79: Writing in the Zone
Got a note from a friend and fellow Guardian from Germany asking a question that inspired this show topic.
What happens when writers find themselves in “The Zone” and Real Life is still happening?
A quick look at The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers
Pip feels less impulsive, more disciplined into her writing,
Multitasking happens with adulting, apparently.
When it comes to non-fiction, Tee does need to take a break. Fiction? Tee can still lose himself.
“The Smoky Effect”
It sucks when Habitica reminds Tee and Pip of what needs to be done.
A truly Kiwi Approach to Writing
It’s tough to stop when you get on a roll, but there’s an advantage to leaving words in the tank.
Quick shout-out’s to…
Jirani Coffeehouse, here in Manassas.
Headshots, here on teh Interwebz
Tee’s a little obsessive about having a clean kitchen.
What about the opposite of the Zone — what happens when the desire is there but the focus and the energy is not.
Good times in Mechanicsburg, PA and the Mystery As You Like It Conference!
A tease of what our next episode may be…
Pip calls it meditation. Tee calls it a nap.
The pros and cons of slipping deep into “The Smoky Effect” in the real world.
Cats are great listeners, but lousy conversationalists. This is why it can be tough for Tee when he gets home.
23:47 — Writers Off the Clock
Pip had to get in the last word.
Taking the scenic route home from Mechanicsburg, PA…
The other world along Blue Ridge Mountain Drive
So, Pip wanted to watch the highway fight scene from Episode 3 of The Defenders on the flat screen…
Five episodes later, we were done.
We’re big enough to go back to Marvel’s Iron Fist and say, after our original review, “Well done, Finn Jones.”
Luke Cage said everything we wanted to say to Danny Rand,
Iron Fist needed more crossovers with the headliners the way Jessica Jones and Luke Cage did.
In light of Jones’ ill-chosen words, he makes up for with this performance.
Evil Sigourney Weaver.
Awesome.
You had me at Sigourney Weaver.
Marvel Studios, rocking diversity
Again, The Defenders shows how rushed Iron Fist was.
Final thoughts.
Props to Mike Coulter and Finn Jones for creating some serious chemistry.
41:27 — The Wrap-Up
How are we ending of the summer?
Tee’s challenge of The Dog Days of Podcastingis still happening. AND WE’RE ALMOST DONE!
1-4 September, Escape Velocity in Washington, D.C.
October, The Maryland Renaissance Festival’s “Day of Wrong” is coming. Stay tuned for details.
28 October, Tee will be alongside Chuck Tomasi, hosting the P.I.Y. Workshop, a launch event for Podcasting for Dummies, 3rd Edition
If you have an event and want The Shared Desk to appear there, here’s where to find us…
And did you know that Pip has a Patreon? SHE DOES, YOU KNOW!!!
It would be great if Pip knew where our newsletter is. It’s here, by the way, and you get a free book when you sign up!
Announcements coming up concerning Operation: Endgame
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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.
You want to know the best way to really make a book dull? Let people know that “everything is going to be okay” because the author may be worried that audiences can’t handle the tension. No kidding. Authors do this. And today on the Dog Days of Podcasting, Tee cites his current read and his determination in getting through it to the end, despite the author’s insistence that “It’ll be okay…” again and again. Tee suggests to torture your audience a bit. Raise the stakes. Make that book of yours a page-turner.
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leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
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Thanks for the run in Destiny last night, P.C. Haring and Indiana Jim! That was good fun!
False start this morning, but the Dog Days of Podcasting rolls on with Tee breaking down the “Big Three” of the Justice League, and how characters should not be super-human and all-knowing. That way lies lazy storytelling and zero tension.
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leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
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Tee’s on the road, but the Dog Days of Podcasting continues as he looks back on yesterday’s show. Tee explores the #WriterGoals hashtag he’s been kicking around since an evening at Wolf Trap with Neil Gaiman.
So what are your #WriterGoals?
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leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
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Leave it to the Dog Days of Podcasting to remind Tee that TODAY he and Pip were supposed to put out a new episode of The Shared Desk.
Ooops.
Staying organized is hard, but Tee’s got a few tricks that help him out with projects, timelines, and appointments. What are you favorite organization methods? Share them with us here!
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Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
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Fresh from the workout, The Dog Days of Podcasting takes you on a nostalgic trip, or at least on a bumpy ride, to the 80’s. Okay, the 80’s that Tee remembers…and he addresses the dangers of too much nostalgia and too much meta. Remember — it’s your story people want to hear.
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leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
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You might be worried about him, considering recent events in Virginia. He’s okay. So’s the fam.
Today’s Dog Days of Podcasting may seem a little rough, but there’s a light Tee’s offering. He writes what he writes because of stuff like this.
Thanks for listening.
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Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
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That is just messed up. Not to mention hitting very close to home.
And on the Dog Days of Podcasting Tee has got some heavy writing advice for you this morning: “Don’t listen to what I have to say.”
Now listen to the podcast, and rate it. (See what Tee did there…)
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Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
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The Dog Days of Podcasting has its first crossover with Tee’s other passion project, Happy Hour from the Tower. An interview with Twitch streamer 3vil_Aura has Tee thinking about guy instincts and how important they are to follow.
Listen close that feeling, and have a great weekend!
[display_podcast]
Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
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WE’VE BROKEN INTO DOUBLE DIGITS! And thank you, everyone, for the feedback through voicemail, Twitter, and Facebook, over the Dog Days of Podcasting. Tee goes long on this episode (hey, it took him until the TENTH episode to shatter the 15-minute mark, so that is saying something…) but it was a real hot button for him: Rejection. It’s a matter-of-fact that in life—not just the arts, but in real friggin’ life, rejection is going to come into play. How do you cope? Does it get any easier? Why bother?
Tee doubles down on a fistful of observations and opinions, and offers up a perspective on the big R.
Hold on to something…
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Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
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Two worlds collide today on the Dog Days of Podcasting as Tee looks back on his theatre days and finds a lesson that also applies to the writer’s craft.
There’s a lot you can learn about the story you’re telling when you listen.
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Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
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It may seem a little off that for this installment of the Dog Days of Podcasting, Tee is talking about cats. In particular, Benedick, his unexpected rescue cat…
…but it can be unexpected how furry, four-legged companions have a lot to teach us about artistic passions.
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Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
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I’m working on the routine of the elliptical again for the Dog Days of Podcasting and catching up on a Netflix cue. Back on track with Sens8 which is a tremendous show on all fronts. It also reminds Tee how important connection is in writing. A photo of Lauren and Verena (Facebook Link) also tugged at his own connection with people far off but not that far away in his life.
It all comes back in the writing.
[display_podcast]
Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
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He make it six days into the Dog Days of Podcasting before his better half hopped on mic with him.
Today, Tee and Pip talk about the importance of writing experiences. Sure, word count matters, but so is living life to the fullest. Lauren’s adventures reminded us of this.
There’s also talk about dragon eggs and comparing them to this:
[display_podcast]
Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
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Tee will argue that this is the sweatiest 2017 Dog Days of Podcasting challenge ever. At least, for Tee.
That being said, Tee’s talking about negativity which includes chatter about Destiny, the ridiculousness of remaking Death Wish, the value of positive people in an author’s life, and love for guys named Chuck.
[display_podcast]
Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
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Has the 2017 Dog Days of Podcasting challenge become a routine yet? Tee hopes so. See, a routine for a writer is a good thing. Routines help you get things done, and there’s real value in having routines for the day. Does this mean that routines go missed? Well, yeah, that happens. Life is not set in its patterns, and routines are sometimes disrupted. This is why they are so valuable to you as a writer.
[display_podcast]
Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
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For this next installment of the 2017 Dog Days of Podcasting challenge, Tee looks at the challenge of exploring a world that you are familiar with. It’s a world you as the one who created it should know inside and out and intimately, but can you still discover something new within it, surprising yourself as well as your readers?
That’s the rush you feel when facing a new challenge.
[display_podcast]
Find Tee on Twitter at either here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
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Welcome to the 2017 Dog Days of Podcasting challenge. The Shared Desk is hosting this bold venture, and Tee will explain more about it in this week’s show. For now, just expect something completely different appearing in your feed this month alongside regular episodes of the writerly podcast you know from this site.
This episode looks at Writer’s Rage. At least that’s what Tee is calling it.
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Find Tee on Twitter at either here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
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We’ve been busy lately with wrapping up one project and starting a brand new one. However, we are never too busy to learn new things, and Pip is doing that presently with Nick Stephenson and his course, How to Find Your First 10,000 Readers. This may sound like we’re drinking the marketing guru’s Kool-Aid (mmmmm…fruity) but we are asking hard questions. Nick’s got answers.
00:00 — Introduction
All the SEVENS!
Shameless plug for Happy Hour from the Tower…
Sonic Boom is encouraging bad behavior at home.
What are we up to?
Podcasting for Dummies, the Third Edition
Operation: Endgame
Listening to Geo again, and still loving that skeptical goofball!
Where is Tee going to be ON HIS BIRTHDAY? Well, he’s launching Podcasting for Dummies in Phoenix, Arizona!
Jack Mangan needs to get back into podcasting.
04:50 — Episode #77: Pip Is Learning New Things
You can be marketing books for years (like us) and still miss steps.
When marketing goes bad…
Pip decided to take a deep dive course in marketing with Nick Stephenson of Your First 10,000 Readers
Who is Nick Stephenson?
Who is endorsing nick? Well, Joanna is, for one…
You can see some of these changes happening here.
Pip begins to share her newfound knowledge…and channels a Beatnik instead.
Your website should be doing this. (I didn’t know that!)
Free really isn’t “free” when you look at it.
Tee wants to buy Nick a pint based on his sense of humor.
Nick practices what he preaches.
A look at how to value your work.
Pip is learning a HECK of a lot!
When covers go bad, it’s EPIC.
Authors can really be cheap.
With lessons learned and learning from the lessons of others, it’s time to a To-Do List.
Launching a book? Tee’s got that covered.
23:45 — The Loot Crate Lookie-Loo!
Who’s opening THE BOOOOOOXXX?!?!?
June’s Theme: Alter-Ego (Something Pip and Tee are familiar with.)
Tee-shirt: A Classic Transformers shout-out.
A Spider-Man Q-fig
An Incredible Hulk bowl, perfect for a raging teenage barbarian!
A poster book of DC Comics’ New 52 comic book covers
Nice Loot Crate pin nod to Spider-Man’s nemesis, the Green Goblin
We made a dent in our Geeky Prize Giveaway Stash at AwesomeCon, but we’re filling it up again…
28:52 — Writers Off the Clock
It was a VERY special weekend at the Morris household….
Introducing our daughter to ALIENS…
She handled The Matrix really well, but it wasn’t the R rating that bothered us.
Do you have to show someone Alien before you introduce them to Aliens?
Pip will not be writing freehand anytime soon.
There is only ONE — DEFINITIVE — VERSION — of Aliens…
What the Director’s Cut adds to the Aliens experience.
Aliens have inspired successful games. One of them scared Phil Rossi!
After 30 years, the movie is still solid. Masterful storytelling in film.
Character development in Aliens
Even the music plays a part.
The writing question: Why do the sequels and prequels fall so short? Where do you go after Aliens?
Tee’s one question for Alien: Covenant…
43:51 — The Wrap-Up
Well, AwesomeCon lived up to the hype!
Where are we going to be?
30 June-July 2, BlerDCon in Washington D.C. (Sunday only! BRIGHT AND EARLY!!!)
14-16 July, Motor City Steam Con in Detroit, MI (Break out your PJ’s!)
19-20 August, Mechanicsburg Mystery Weekend in Mechanicsburg, PA (Lots to do during this Mystery conference…)
1-4 September, Escape Velocity in Washington, D.C. (A weekend of hardcore geekery with Nick Kelly!)
If you have an event and want The Shared Desk to appear there, here’s where to find us…
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.
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Tee and Pip invite the newest member of the the Smoky Writers Mafia to the show after she — that’s special guest M.K. Backstrom, if you’re curious — suggested we all get on mic and talk about Wonder Woman…
…and that’s just what we did. And you’ll find out VERY QUICKLY why we fell in love with this Power Blogger.
00:00 — Episode #76: Wonder Woman from a Writerly Perspective (with Mary Katherine “M.K.” Backstrom)
Welcome to the podcast Mary Katherine Backstrom of Mom Babble and Scary Mommy!
Tee cashes in on the new friendship with M.K.
Tee is the odd man out with this discussion on Wonder Woman, and that is just fine.
Quick check of the household, kids-wise to find out who did you go see Wonder Woman with?
For M.K., the movie was way more emotional than she expected.
Pip’s emotions swelled with both Moana and Wonder Woman.
Tee knew it was going be a good ride with the film’s soundtrack.
Tee found a few takeaways from Wonder Woman…
That moment when Lynda Carter rendered Tee speechless.
Differences between Carter’s Diana and Gadot’s Diana
When dudes write for Wonder Woman…
There wasn’t eye candy for guys in this movie? Well, depends on the guy…
“Why, yes, I do like older women.”
How Steve Trevor was written…
Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman with men writing for her…
Both Pip and M.K. want to vacation on Themyscira.
A quick House of Cards tangent…
Some love for Etta!
The scene at Trafalgar Square
M.K.’s advantage over Tee and Pip: No other Wonder Woman eras to compare to.
The emotional impact of World War I (and Pip’s trivia on that moment)
Social commentary in Wonder Woman? It could happen.
The storytelling of Wonder Woman compared to the storytelling of Batman Vs. Superman
Girl Power in Wonder Woman: Organic or Heavy Handed?
M.K. gets the Analogy Bell!
Tables turned back to Tee
Is Tee getting woman-splained? Well, yeah, he is. *LOL*
SERIOUS FEMINIST LOVE FOR ALIENS! (Where was the male outrage there?)
Commentary on the inevitable love scene…which still caught Tee, Pip, and M.K. by surprise.
Did we think Wonder Woman was perfect? Oh no, not by a longshot…
Tee’s simple question to ask if things in Wonder Woman were looking to take a wrong turn.
An odd tangent over Marvel’s Pepper Potts
When you have to dig this deep for flaws, you’re reaching.
Wonder Woman raises the bar for Justice League.
A debate over Batman.
Does Diana dig sushi?
Joss Whedon has now stepped in. What is in store, you think?
51:34 — The Wrap-Up
time flies when you are having fun with new friends.
Ranking Wonder Woman against the other superheroes to date. Marvel and DC lines be damned!
Where can you find M.K.? Check her out at BlogHer in Orlando, FL!
Where are we going to be?
16-18 June, AwesomeCon in Washington D.C. (TEE IS SPEAKING TODAY! DON’T MISS IT!)
30 June-July 2, BlerDCon in Washington D.C.
14-16 July, Motor City Steam Con in Detroit, MI
[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.
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If you have not seen the seasonSERIES finale of Penny Dreadful, turn back now.
As fond the Victorian Gothic (with just a dash of steampunk) series is at quoting literature, let us give a quick quote of our own:
Do you hear, let them be well used; for
they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the
time: after your death you were better have a bad
epitaph than their ill report while you live.
While Tee and Pip would never go on record about their thoughts on another writer’s work, they let loose with the ranting as they feel betrayed both as fans and as writers. If you have been wanting a rant from Tee, here it comes NOW WITH 100% MORE KIWI!!!
00:00 — Introduction
Pip is working very hard to make everything interesting, even the show numbers…
We are nailing the posting schedule for 2016! How about that?
Jon Snow’s Tribute to Leeroy Jenkins — best thing on YouTube RIGHT NOW!!!
There are going to be a LOT of spoilers in this episode! Turn back now…
Deep breath, everyone…
00:44 — Episode #59: Calling “Shenanigans” on Penny Dreadful
Better buckle up…
Penny Dreadful. Some of the best television ever aired…UNTIL…
A word from show creator, John Logan.
45-second audio from the video posted by Logan and Showtime
Series finale airs on Sunday night. This clip goes live the day after.
Finale ends. Announcement drops the day after of cancellation.
Then, all this week, images like these…
“It was always intended to be three seasons…” Really? REALLY?!
S-Bombs Ahead!
If Penny Dreadful was Vanessa’s story, then what about all these OTHER characters we’ve gotten to know?
Who introduces a whole new set of characters for a final season?
One of these characters is introduced in Episode 6 of a 9 Episode season?
A total of eight new characters…all set up for a final season centered around the six principles.
Concerning Dr. Henry Jekyll
Tee is a bit envious as to Penny Dreadful’s take
A season of dropping hints about his temper
Building, building, building…and then, Jekyll “goes on his rounds”…
Frankenstein caves, and Jekyll is more than okay with it. Well, okay…I guess?
Fan service in 3…2……..
Characters betraying themselves, and Jekyll’s potential reduced to a Lab Assistant.
Kaetenay tells Ethan “I have given you the power to save her…” but he forgets that somewhere on the way.
How did Cat do what she did in the final fight?! Sir Malcolm noticed!
“Hey, Victor—fancy bumping into you here!” Are you kidding me? You want Frankenstein in a firefight AFTER SEASON 2?!
Time Wasters for (what was) the Final Season
Dorian & Lily — Anyone else remember the end of Season 2?
The Creature — The problem with that was the actor. Rory Kinnear was SO — DAMN — GOOD!
…but this is Vanessa’s story. Remember?
And now we get to Vanessa…oh Vanessa…
This is how we know her…
This was how the writers ended her…
Wouldn’t Vanessa had fought to the last? (The Vanessa we got to know would have…)
The Woman/Girl in the Refrigerator (and the website where you find out the fate of these characters)
Be true to the character you have spent so long building!
And Dracula? What does he do when he sees his soulmate dead in Ethan’s arms?
What the hell, John Logan?!
Penny Dreadful was a fantastic show, and then Logan punted.
To say “That was the plan all along…” is a disservice. and terrible writing to boot. From people who know better.
Tee and Pip are still pissed. Turns out they aren’t the only ones.
30:27 — The Loot Crate Lookie-Loo
Good thing we never not a Penny Dreadful crate.
Two boxes (again!) this go round!
May Clearance box
June Theme — Dystopia
Inside the May Clearance crate…
Funko Pop’s Han Solo from The Force Awakens
Star Trek Car Air Freshener of the Live Long & Prosper greeting
Batman v Superman indestructible wallet
Space Invaders necktie
Spy Mad Libs (Always cool!)
Inside the June Dystopia crate…
The tee-shirt — Robocop!
A Bioshock: Infinite blank key to turn into a house key
The lapel pin is a bomb….of course
A jigsaw puzzle from The Matrix
A Dorbs from Fallout
A Terminator 2: Judgment Day metal sign
What are we keeping, and what are we setting up for giveaways…
Still haven’t topped the Aliens crate. Yet.
36:12— Wrapping up
Between the Loot Crates and the Penny Dreadful rant, Tee has worked up a sweat!
With all these Loot Crate leftovers, where are we going to give away stuff? How about our Facebook Party THIS FRIDAY at 7:00p.m. EST!
Gail Carriger
Tiffany Trent
A.F. Grappin
…and many more!
We will have shenanigans and party games…like the “Dress Tee for Escape Velocity” game!
What’s coming up in the next two weekends?!
26 June — The Second Annual Science Fiction and Fantasy Online Conference (Register Today)
1-3 July — Escape Velocity (in conjunction with the Museum of Science Fiction) at the National Harbor, MD
On Saturday: Steampunk in Amine, Comic Books, and Film
On Sunday: The Big Score — The Evolution of the Soundtrack
We briefly slip back into a Penny Dreadful rant…
…and Tee will never forgive John Logan.
The Ghost Rebellion is out now on Audible! But on the Ministry website, you can find all the formats…
Wrapping up this phase of the Kickstarter…
Hey, Lauren, want to go visit a cidery?
What is next for Tee & Pip?
Operation: Endgame
Countless Hues of Crimson
The Curse of the Silver Pharaoh
Magical Mechanations (the audio book)
Season V of Tales from the Archives
Pip forgets who is running Tales from the Archives. She blames the cider.
If Leanna Renee Heiber wants to write for you, SHE WILL WRITE FOR YOU!
Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
on Tee, or the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences on Periscope
leave us a voicemail or question for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
In our previous episode of The Shared Desk, Pip, Tee, Matt, and PJ all looked ahead to a week at the Smoky Writers’ Retreat. Now we jump ahead to the end of the week, and this time we are joined by KT Bryski. Cracking over an hour of word count goals, reflections on the fun, and serious talk about moonshine, The Shared Desk presents the Post-Retreat podcast.
Be warned — This way lies shenanigans!
00:00 — Introduction
The drop-in’s reflect the week, pretty much…
It’s a NEW drop-in, just for Foo!
What is the name of this event?
Matt and Tee are ending the week as they started it — with Ole Smoky Moonshine’s Apple Pie!
03:54 — The Post-Retreat Podcast (with Piper, Matt, and KT!)
Only one hit of the shine, and Tee’s off the rails already.
What we accomplished at the Retreat…
Pip finishes The Silver Pharaoh, begins The Iron Lily, and continues into the Broken Galaxy; and she hit a Lowell! Just over 30,000 words accomplished.
Piper J Drake rocks her deadline with the True Hero series. 40,000 words in the can.
K.T. Bryski was a short story machine. BE AFRAID OF THE AWESOME!
Tee finally wrote Little Red Flying Hood, got handouts sorted for an upcoming RT workshop, and kicked off Blackstar Rising. Over 30,000 words in the week.
And now, Matthew J Drake, our accidental author…landing in over 20,000 words in a week!
A quick tangent on the Apple Pie Moonshine…and then, back to Matt….
Matt’s ascension into a full-fledged writer’s life.
Just avoid the dreaded note from KT Bryski, editor…
KT Bryski does NOT care for the new drop-in.
The story behind Piper’s new drop-in. (We love you, Foo!)
That drop-in and Penny Dreadful…KT’s kryptonite.
And now—what happened after hours….
KT’s favorite time — the presence of Lauren, and composing music with Starla!
Matt’s favorite time — the first group reading
Jumping back to KT’s off-hours visit to the Titanic Museum…a surprising find in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and what an experience!
Piper J Drake’s favorite time — visiting Ripley’s Aquarium and the somewhat-lubricated, off-hours chatter between authors.
Moderating Nebula Panels for SFWA’s 2016 Nebula Conference
…and meeting deadlines.
What Matt is working on…
Finishing his science fiction novel.
Tee and Pip set a due date for Matt’s progress — 11 June 2024.
Working on a podcast with Tee called the Square One podcast…that is, if we call it that…
What Tee and Pip are working on…
Alongside PJ and Matt at the RT Convention
2016 Steampunk World Fair
2016 Motor City SteamCon
Got thoughts or comments on this show? We have voicemail — 703.791.1701
And we end on a super-classy note…
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Find us on Twitter at either Tee’s or Pip’s account,
on Tee, or the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences on Periscope
leave us a voicemail or question for the show at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
After a month of writing, blogging, event planning, and deering-do, Tee and Pip return to the mics (finally!) for a brand new Shared Desk…but wait, didn’t we talk about Amazon last time? Well, yeah, we did, and once again we return to the latest “sweet deal” for you. It’s a look at Kindle Unlimited, and a look back to Tee’s Past all caught on video in this latest podcast.
Have a listen, comment on the blog, and feel free to reach out to us at 703.791.1701 to share your thoughts with us!
00:00 — Introduction & Catching Up
Waxing nostalgic over Eva Marie Saint and Cary Grant…
July got by us. Let’s just say that.
Pip’s feeling the sting of hard-core audio editing.
Pip’s been spending a lot of time in Deadly Hollywood.
If anyone has zero room to talk about our edits as being “light tweaks”…
Tee and Pip are waiting to hear from ACX and Writers’ Digest…on separate subject matters.
We may not be at San Diego ComicCon, but our work is.
One degree closer to Del Toro!
Got to love that agent-of-awesome, Laurie McLean, and the way she’s working our works-in-progress…
Darkwater is going through the pitching phase again.
Tee’s still working on Wolf in the Fold.
Publication date for The Diamond Conspiracy: End of March 2015.
Sometimes Pip will let Tee in on what ideas she’s hatching…
9:04 — Kindle Unlimited…and Bad Timing on Amazon’s Part
We’re not turning our Shared Desk into the “What the Hell is Amazon up to this show?” show…
Kindle Unlimited
Spotify for Books. (Don’t you call that a library?)
Another great idea for Amazon…until the details come to light.
How “deep” does this pool reach?
There’s a deal for Kindle Unlimited for the Big Six, for indie authors, and for indie authors of a certain caliber.
Hugh Howey got this “special” deal.
And we turned to Joe Konrath for an opinion….
Just so you know, it’s not just us who are stopping to wonder…
Michael A. Stackpole (sharing Chuck’s blogpost on Facebook along with other resources…)
Michael J. Sullivan
Chuck Wendig
The feudal system of authors on Amazon
How Amazon surprised — or strong-armed — indie authors into this program…
It’s a great idea with terrible timing.
We’re trying this, but only with a couple of our titles.
Three months of exclusivity? In book terms, that’s an eternity.
Seriously, Jeff Bezos — between that letter to Hachette authors and now this little stunt, are you not thinking about how this looks?
And Tee, once again, turns to Joe for comment on this matter of KU.
If you think the comparison to Spotify is good, it’s not.
Kindle Unlimited is not really about the author, or author equality…
Tee reflects on his own follow-up concerning erotica authors.
Kindle Unlimited is a nice idea, but we want to try it on our terms.
When it comes to Amazon and their services, know the terms.
Exclusivity is never a good thing!
25:27 — “Writers Off the Clock”
In this household, we support a swash and a buckle…
It was The Musketeers that motivated Tee to go through stacks and stacks AND STACKS of videotapes.
What have we discovered in this deep dive into Tee’s Past?
Tee in his long-haired-hippie days.
Tee taps!
Tee on stage with ComedySportz, JMU, and Vpstart Crow
My plan: Go through VHS footage, and then edit it all down to one “master” performance.
Still searching for an edited rehearsal and footage of The Three Musketeers, on stage with Vpstart Crow.
Why go through and edit all this? New ideas for #ThrowbackThursday.
Signing with Swords — coming soon!
Other great gems discovered…
Some footage of me and my father, spinning tunes for WXJM
Glyn Jones‘ Red in the Morning, premiering at JMU
Tee discovers in this stumble down Memory Lane an interview in 1986…and I had the worst acne on my chin…
35:41 — The Wrap-Up
Tee puts up a case for hanging on to some of these VHS tapes.
The Curse of the Blair Witch Project…a better production than The Blair Witch Project.
Besides digitizing video, we are…
Having a sale on One-Stop Writer Shop. Check it out!
September 13 — S4, coming soon!
September 26-28 — Steampunk Unlimited in Strasburg, PA
October (possibly November) — a special event at Huzzah Hobbies in Ashburn, VA
October 25 — HallowRead (alongside Kate Smith and PJ Schnyder) in Ellicot City, MD
Tales from the Archives — yeah, we fell off the rails…but we’re getting back on track.
Anxiously waiting for word from The Parsec Awards…
…and ACX on the audio edition of Ministry Protocol.
Onward, to the future…
Related Links
Lauren “Scribe” Harris
Abney Park
Brute Force Studios
Tiffany Trent
The Museum of Interesting Things
American Imperial Air Corps
The Mango and White Rice Podcast
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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.
After two days of recording and a plethora of technical glitches, we are back for another episodes with our new intern and return Canuck, ForeWord-nominated author, Katie Bryski! Join us as Katie, fresh from Stonecoast, come in-studio to talk about this amazing experience that she has embarked upon…
00:00 — Introduction
We are on a roll!!!
G’day, eh? We have a guest in the studio again! Throw on the back bacon — it’s Katie Bryski!
Things you shouldn’t do after the Smoky Writers: Have your liver tested.
Pip bitches about the drop-in’s. Again. (And remember this…for later on in the show…)
Since the Smoky Writers events, what have Tee & Pip been up to?
The Silver Pharaoh is submitted to Laurie.
Wolf in the Fold is also submitted to Laurie.
Audio recording for Ministry Protocol is underway.
Tee’s still job hunting, still working on Wolf in the Fold, and also working on something for Valentine’s Day.
What Katie has been up to since Stonecoast?
She’s our intern for February!
Katie is still working on a book that is formally known as formerly known as Styx.
In Season Three of Tales from the Archives, things get very Canadian!
14:48 — All about Stonecoast (with Katie Bryski)
The first challenge of Stonecoast: Get to the right Portland!
What exactly is Stonecoast?
Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Low-Residency (so you can do this from home…)
Residency is in Portland, ME
Tee’s mic problems and Pip’s odd need for editing…eh, just go with it!
Working with Mentors (who are working authors)
This isn’t NaNoWriMo or a writers’ retreat, folks. This is graduate school. For writers.
And there is Tee, just being far too ‘Murican.
From #MicFAIL to #DropInFAIL
Pip asks who would Tee want to have as his Writing Mentor…and Pip makes an uber-#SteampunkFAIL.
But Katie is a published author already…so why does Katie need a Masters Degree in Writing?
Katie looks at the goals of Stonecoast she’s looking to accomplish through this program.
Tee and Pip are a touch green with envy over Katie’s journey with Stonecoast.
For someone who hates drop-in’s, Pip’s asking a lot from Tee in this episode.
Does Stonecoast have business angles covered?
Stonecoast offers another aspect of the writers’ community
33:44 — Seriously?! Seriously.
Another #DropInFAIL but we’ll get this…
It’s kind of important before you go into a blog tour to know what to do when you’re on a blog tour.
Copy-Paste-Here’s-Your-Blogpost….no, that’s not what you do.
If you are too busy to go on a blog tour because you are too busy promoting, you’re lost in #EpicFAIL
There are bigger problems afoot if you don’t have evergreen blog content to offer a blog tour.
Is the problem a lack of ideas? (As we show, nope.)
41:25 — The Wrap-Up
So excited that we have Katie for a little more time!
Katie is gathering a lot of dirt on it.
And she’s a good intern ’cause she’s getting Tee coffee!
Pip and Tee struggle to keep the show on target
Weather Child now has a cover.
Tee & Pip head down to Richmond for The Writers’ Show!
Dawn’s Early Light hits the shelves at the end of March!
Something special coming up in February….
Oh yeah, RavenCon as well!
Sweet as! Katie is coming to Balticon!!! And she’s talking about beer!!!
We need a better sign-off for Katie…
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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.
Recorded on the final night in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, writers of different backgrounds, interests, and works waiting to become works-in-progess gather around the microphones and look back on an amazing five days of food, booze, words, and hut tub soakings.
Welcome to the Smoky Mountains Writers’ Retreat of 2014.
Wear earbuds or send the kids and your mom out of the room. The authors are hitting the sauce, so we get saucy…
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00:00 — Introduction
Yes, two shows in a week! How about that?
Tee’s appetite is still adjusting to realistic standards.
Trust me — Chuck Wendig is right about living a lifestyle…
The Shared Desk steps back to the last night in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee…
02:36 — Reflections on the Smokey Mountain Writers’ Retreat
And here is the origins of The Shared Desk and getting Pip to the mic
The participants of #SmokyWriters2014 and what they were working on…
Philippa Ballantine (Y.A. novel entitled The Silver Pharaoh)
Rosemary Tizledoun (short story entitled “Snap Dragons”)
Lauren “Scribe” Harris (high fantasy novel entitled Song of the Heretic)
Hugh O’Donnell (urban fantasy novel entitled Changeling and superhero short story)
Bryan Lincoln (high fantasy audio script)
Tee Morris (urban fantasy novel entitled Wolf in the Fold) who gives a special “thank you” to his eight-day employer…
AWKWARD MOMENT [REDACTED]
Alex White (the man behind the long weekend and dark comedy novel entitled Domains.)
Picture The Office set on Mount Olympus.
We call it CubicalPunk.
The goal in getting writers together under one roof
Alex wanted to have a setting where people would get along.
Alex wanted people to produce.
Rules were set to maximize productivity.
Meals were seen to.
Hopes & Realities for Rosemary
Hopes & Realities for Lauren
A break in Lauren’s assessment to quote our mantra: Food. Booze. Words.
Hopes & Realities for Lauren (continued)
Hopes & Realities for Hugh
Feeling as if he was stepping in the house of the “Big Dogs” in his mind.
In praise of Hugh’s short story featuring the Spirit Animal of Smoky Mountain Writers’ Retreat
Meeting expectations and intimidating those around them…
Hopes & Realities for Bryan
“Drinkin’ Lincoln” in college…and in the Smoky Mountains
Writing audio scripts and the challenges within.
Hopes & Realities for Tee…and putting his put in his mouth in the process.
And now…THE FOOD.
OMNOMNOMNOMNOM!
Alex White…a sneaky culinary bastard…
Eating like Mother F-ing Rock Stars
Bryan’s favorite meal — The Salmon with Spinach Artichoke Orzo
Meet Cookie!(His favorite meal — the Steaks. Those fantastic steaks…)
Hugh’s favorite meal — the Ruben with Butternut Squash
Lauren’s favorite meal — the French Toast and Bacon (with strawberry compote)
“I don’t usually like [insert dish here] but this…”
Rosemary’s favorite meal — the Strata (with props to the Flan dessert)
Cookie’s favorite dessert — the Jameson Bread Puuding
Pip’s favorite meal — the Salmon dinner
Tee’s favorite meal — the Ruben with Butternut Squash
Pip offers the most awesome segue to the weirdest conversation we had…
Tee’s going on the grill.
Pip’s a lovely rack…
Hugh Stew
Pip’s survival instinct kicks in with an interrupting stinkbug.
TITANIC would have been a different movie with Pip.
Alex’s cynical side comes out to play.
Where Jack Dawson wound up after TITANIC…
Improving #SmokyWriters2015
Planning around con season…
More people?
Lauren asks for more time.
Planning the trip
Will Hugh dare to stay with the Morris clan?
Tee proposes a full week with a field trip set aside one day.
Gatlinburg, Tennessee — “Myrtle Beach in the Mountains”
Pip’s concerns about the number of participants.
Tee also suggests more games, especially Cards Against Humanity and Poker Night.
Breaking up into other Reading Groups and Brainstorming sessions
Congratulations, Alex White — you did it. And he totally brain-dumps his heart on the retreat…
…and Tee goes for Pip’s jugular….
Returning to Alex’s heart-felt reflection.
How do you throw a writers’ retreat?
Look for a place.
SmokyMountains.com
HomeAway.com
Consider hiring a chef.
Find people who will pay their share.
Be prepared to use the credit card.
Lay down Rules and Expectations for the weekend. Get. Work. Done.
Pip’s expectations for next year…
1:02:41 — The Wrap-Up
Congratulations, Alex White — you did it. And he totally brain-dumps his heart on the retreat…
…and Tee goes for Pip’s jugular….
Returning to Alex’s heart-felt reflection.
How do you throw a writers’ retreat?
Look for a place.
SmokyMountains.com
HomeAway.com
Consider hiring a chef.
Find people who will pay their share.
Be prepared to use the credit card.
Lay down Rules and Expectations for the weekend. Get. Work. Done.
Pip’s expectations for next year…
And yes, Tee’s got his ending memorized and ready for this remote recording…
RELATED LINKS
The Pendragon Podcast
The Roundtable Podcast
The McDowell Colony
The Way of the Buffalo Podcast
The Ministry Of Peculiar Occurrences
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.
Tee and Pip pull off the miracle podcast and reach NUMBER 25, but they don’t do it alone. From the headquarters of The Gearheart comes Renaissance Man Alex White. He’s an artist. He’s a writer. He’s a musician. He’s brought so much of his talent to the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, and now he comes on mic with The Shared Desk to talk about how he got his black belt in collaboration fu.
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00:00 — Introduction
Tee goes with a HBO theme on the opening drop-in’s…
Welcoming a special guest, Alex White, who is in town…because he wants to be!
What’s going on with the three of us?
Pip’s turning in new pitches. (Titles need a bit of work…)
Tee’s closing in on his Kindle Worlds’ deadline.
Alex has a new work-in-progress that delves into the paranormal.
Paying authors: We think it’s fun!
7:29 — An Audience with Alex White, Master Collaborator
Apart from Jack Mangan, Alex White has contributed and collaborated with us the most concerning the Ministry.
Alex and the crew of Disasterpiece Theatre
What’s the pitch? (Not the show, but that is the show.)
It was a great show…until Shia LaBouff was brought into the Ministry.
What’s the fun in prepping your guests?
Be careful, Alex. Hollywood, SyFy, and Michael Bay is listening…
…and Tee goes there. “Inappropriate.”
The recent collaboration(s) between Alex and the Makers of the Ministry
On working with Tee Morris and Pip Ballantine, the editors
The importance of editing
Making editors into the “bad guys”
On working with Tee Morris and Pip Ballantine, cover art clients
We got a beautiful cover….
….but it was a tough journey getting there.
RELEASE THE DROP-IN’S!!!
Revealing what’s behind the curtain when cover artists and clients work together…and when things are not what are expected.
Beware the “sternly-worded nut-slap” from Pip Ballantine.
And then came the back pedal…
Working with Friends: the Pros, the Cons, and the LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY EXCHANGING HANDS…
Again, beware Pip’s sternly slap-to-the-nuts.
Alex gives some advice for the author when working together to create the cover you want.
39:18 — Seriously? Seriously.
Alex reveals a cold, hard truth about The Shared Desk.
Talking about trust — how about that Cuckoo’s Calling book?
Hold on…who’s writing this book again?!
QUICK LOO BREAK!
Should J.K. Rowling be pissed?
A look at the insecurity of a successful problem…and how we wish we had it…
You hire a lawyer with a degree of privacy in mind.
The dangers of when besties get together, whippin’ out their secrets….
…and Tee goes there. Again.
47:24 — The Wrap-Up
Big props to Alex White for joining us on the 25th show!
Alex made us love him all over again.
Alex White and Harvey Keitel — worth every penny!
What’s coming soon…
For Alex
Dragon*Con appearing, including a LIVE Disaterpiece Theatre
A possible BIG reveal for DTP fans
Catch him at the Parsecs as Fire in the Snow by Starla Hutchton is in the running….
For Pip & Tee
Authors After Dark
Baltimore Book Festival
Strasburg Steam Festival
Cover Reveal of Ministry Protocol — August 8!
And an unexpected sale that is coming to bookshelves for the holidays!
And how about this for an ending — hitting it on all cylinders!!!
RELATED LINKS
Tee Tate
Delilah S. Dawson
Scott Westerfeld
HBO
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 #25: An Audience with Alex White, Master Collaborator
Deadlines, distractions, and…something else that starts with D…but who cares? WE’RE BACK and we’re kicking off August with news about the Parsec Awards, where we will be this month, and that time when you have to say “Goodbye” to the worlds you have created.
00:00 — Introduction
Since when is “17” a landmark?
What the hell is Pip thinking about stepping on my drop-in’s?!
Whodathunkit? We’re a Parsec Finalist for 2012!!! (And we blanked on the good people at Roundtable Podcast! Don’t hate the game, bros — hate the playas!)
Flashing back to sharing the desk with P.J. Schnyder…
02:47 — Ending a Series
Pip is gearing up for the big goodbye to the characters of Geist.
What are the feelings an author harbors when writing that final scene in a series?
Pip compares ending her adventures with Sorcha, Raed, and Merrick against her adventures with Shakespeare and Puck.
How (and why) do authors grow so attached to their characters?
Is this the end of Pip’s journey with The Order, or just this generation?
How do authors plan a series? Well, a lot it hinges on the contracts.
Wow…Tee is kinda quiet….at least, with his comments. (The drop-in’s on the other hand…)
What about the Ministry? Well, if Pip gets her way…
Searching for the sweet spot in a series length.
Looking at The Dark Knight Rises from a writer’s perspectives.
When you wrap-up, how do you handle loose ends? Bloodbaths?
Suddenly, Pip’s Ace pixie-like editor sounds like a mobster.
THE GEM FROM PIP: When do you know you’re done? (And here’s Pip’s answer…at 16:22…)
16:50 — Writing Advice from Crazy Uncle Charlie
Taking questions from Twitter for Crazy Uncle Charlie…
From @PaperBullets
How do you make sure you’re showing, not telling?
What are your suggestions for writing peyote-fueled dream sequences?
Charlie goes deep into the philosophy of writers and the mantra of “Show, Not Tell”…
…but when it comes to the peyote, Charlie keeps it brief.
From @Goochi26
I finally finished my book, what do i do now?
Charlie shares his own little rituals (and maybe PVC fetish) when finishing a manuscript.
21:58 — The Wrap-Up
Pip is still weirded out by Crazy Uncle Charlie. (I wonder why?)
The Parsec Awards 2012
We shut out the Short Story-Small Cast Award! (Bad ass!!!)
It’s an award-winning podcast…
…but Pip really wants one for the case with HER name on it.
The Ministry then appears twice in Short Story-Large Cast.
Tales of the Archives in the running for Best Anthology.
…and The Shared Desk. (Wow!) And we’re up against….
AUGUST 8-11 — Authors After Dark (with a shout-out to Stella Price!)
AUGUST 25 — Watch the Skies’ Steampunk Extravaganza with Sarah Hunter and Jared Axelrod & Steve Walker
AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 3 — Dragon*Con (where we can stalk Lou Anders
SEPTEMBER 21-23 — FenCon (once again!)
SEPTEMBER 29 — The Baltimore Book Festival
Tee slams the Creative Commons tag, Pip doesn’t care, but Tee revels in the glory…all the while keeping it short.
RELATED LINKS
Katherine Kerr
Website of Alastair Stephens
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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.
So it’s been a while since we have sat down and recorded a Shared Desk, but how about this — when we finally got a chance to record a Shared Desk, we did it with the lovely P.J. Schnyder. This episode is about tough choices we make as authors in bringing about the demise of a character. Why do we do this to our creations? Is it for shock value? Is it for impact? And do we really care in the end?
00:00 — Introduction
A brand new Shared Desk, and this time we brought a friend!
Who is P.J. Schnyder?
The way to a woman’s heart: Meat and Explosives
Letting the drop-in’s fly!
And God said “Okay, Tee, enough with the drop-in’s!”
02:46 — Making Tough Choices
What happened between Shared Deskepisodes
Making a book trailer
The Steampunk World’s Fair
Balticon
Blogworld and B.E.A.
…or what we remember of Blogworld and B.E.A.
The dangers of drinking with agents, editors, and new friends…
Getting complaints — a second one from a book critic — concerning a choice Pip and I made in The Janus Affair…
Do we create characters simply to kill them?
Evoking the name of Joss and when he kills beloved characters in his works.
When do authors cross a line?
Did J.K. Rowling go too far (or not far enough) in The Deathly Hollows?
Tee’s gripes on Farscape and clever twists on bringing characters back
Jumping genres and discussing a gratuitous death (or was it?) on M*A*S*H*
We do care about the characters we kill.
Do we write for entertainment, or to make an impact?
TANGENT: Waxing happily about random drop-in’s for computers and future shows…
20:51 — Writers Off the Clock
Sonic Boom is away at summer camp…so we have been indulging…in watching movies…
Tee and Pip are talking about John Carter. (P.J. is talking about porn, we think…)
A pleasant surprise of John Carter
Terrific characters
A lot of charm
Fantastic visuals
Tee, Pip, and P.J. go into Disney’s bungling of John Carter‘s marketing
This movie had a lot going for it! (Even the credit sequence was good!)
Bringing it back to marketing of books — when it works, when it doesn’t, and when it boggles the mind….
What does P.J. do to relax?
Shout-out to his special man, Ord
The Good as Gold Tournament
How does P.J. manage her time?
Shout out to Stella Price!
36:23 — The Wrap-Up
Drinks to mix, food to prepare, and stuff to blow up!
Time to plug away!
And here’s where we drop a little surprise on P.J. Schnyder as we all wait to hear from The Parsec Awards…
What’s coming up for us…
Pip has Hunter and Fox out and Wrayth coming soon…
Pip is aiming to start a new series in November
Now that The Janus Affair: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novelis out, Tee & Pip work on Dawn’s Early Light
Tee is looking up Tales from the Archives: Volume 2 launches on April 10 with new stories from the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences
Upcoming Conventions
Dragon*Con
The Baltimore Book Festival
…and FenCon (once again!)
P.J.’s Upcoming Conventions
Otakon
Authors After Dark
…and maybe Dragon*Con
…and Pip shows up Tee on the Creative Commons tag. Again.
RELATED LINKS
Linnea Sinclair’s Savvy Authors workshop
Patricia Briggs
M*A*S*H* (the feature film)
Destined to Play (The “If you liked 50 Shades of Grey…” book)
Write or Die
Gimmie Shelter
[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.
WOW! We collected enough comments, questions, and overall opinions from you, the listeners, to make this show our second Listener Appreciation Show! We got some questions on Kindle, Scrivener, and Book Reviews, but we also got questions on topics we have never tackled before on mic.
And Pip gets not one but TWO drop-in’s of her own…
00:00 — Introduction
A quick shout out to Geek Radio Daily for their own touch on the show…
Even more of YOUR CALLS, YOUR EMAILS, YOUR SOCILA NETWORK COMMENTS!
Yeah, Tee is showing the kind of love that only Soundboard can truly deliver.
…and the Shared Desk Voicemail Line for the next one — 703.791.1701
04:30 — Your Voicemail and Email
Guy Barber from Cornwall, UK, sends us kudos for the audio version of HarperAudio’s Phoenix Rising and The Shared Desk, and puts in his vote for an audio version of Geist.
Ben from Florida asks close on the same question as emails from Valkyrie Page and Chris Forshner on how we collaborate and the creative process between the two of us.
Tee talks about Pip’s strengths and then discusses his own.
How other authors collaborate against what Pip and Tee do.
Melissa Hay surprises us with a call, and brings up the topic of book bloggers and how authors and publishers are keeping the peace, at least for now…
Terry Arman asks us what we thought of the promo he cut for us…but has us at a loss.
Nobilis Reed wants to know how we collaborate using Scrivener.
P.C. Haring Calls “Shenanigans!” on our Scrivener…and we call him to the mat with some help from Phil Rossi!
David from the Scrivener Crew writes us a killer “thank you” note.
A discussion on the differences between Mac and Windows Scrivener
A video on how to use Scrivener to create eBooks
A video (or two) on tracking changes in Scrivener without “Track Changes”
Our Anonymous NYT Bestseller gives inside dirt on Amazon and their own titles…
Pip finds herself derailed by her bumper and a lack of breakfast.
Is there anyone “big enough” to stand toe-to-toe with Amazon? Well, yes…
More discussion about Amazon, and a shameless plug for The Janus Affair
Rick Asplund calls in to give us BVL (big Viking love) from Chicago.
Dan Dan the Artman drops a voicemail that calls forth the humbled (and slightly vaklempt) Crazy Uncle Charlie.
Michael Spence mainlines The Shared Desk and gives his own opinions on shared universes.
Tony Mast takes Tee to task for releasing Aladdin and His Wonderfully Infernal Device for the Kindle exclusively.
Gail Carrigerwants to know what the “Shared Desk” really looks like……so here it is:
And from the Great White North comes Steve Saylor, asking of working with video to promote your writing.
1:03:03 — The Wrap-Up
The Second Listener Appreciation Show is DONE, and now we need your comments for Show #20!
Hunger may be pushing Pip closer to PIP RAGE!!!
Where to leave your comments for us…
April 10 — Volume 2 of Tales from the Archives goes live!
Tee’s cheat-sheet is swiped from him…but he nails the Creative Commons exit.
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Some Related Links
Audible
Tee on ACX
Balticon
Brute Force Studios
The League of S.T.E.A.M.
Mark Yoshimoto Nemkoff
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.
Yes we wound up being a day late on this show, but as you will hear in the end we have been anything but idle. This episode is all about Scrivener, that popular software authors swear by. Tee and Pip share their likes, dislikes, and future possibilities for the application, and then Tee shares a rant about Seth Godin and a liberal use of the C-word.
UPDATE: With special thanks to Steve Saylor, we have discovered that YES, you can export your Scrivener works in digital publishing formats. Under the “File” menu, scroll down to “Compile” (keyboard shortcut is Option + Command for the Mac) and select from the sub-menu of “Compile for:” the “Kindle” option. (Click on the image for a larger version.)
Well played, Scrivener. Well played.
UPDATE: And with extra special thanks to Nobilis Reed, we have discovered that Scrivener has a Linux version, currently in Beta.
00:00 — Introduction
A voicemail from Dan Shurette that provides Tee & Pip with instpiration
The show launches with a moment’s pwnage!
01:49 — All About Scrivener
And the show kicks off with Tee giving the wrong URL for Literature and Latte.
Scrivener makes TechRadar’s Top Ten Most Loved Programs
Scrivener ranks #9 between Lotus 1-2-3 and Solitaire.
Tee reads off the other Top Ten
Tee’s Metallica impersonations still hold up apparently.
Also on the list — Fotoshop (for fashion models everywhere!)
When did we find Scrivener?
What Pip Likes: Keeping all your notes, thoughts, and research in one file
The price of Scrivener — $45USD
What Tee Likes: The Research Mode and the ability to import web pages
What Tee & Pip Like: The Corkboard
What Pip Likes: Rearranging chapters with a click-and-drag ease
Pip calls for the put-down of the Courier font.
What Tee Likes: Comments
What Pip Likes: Customizing your workspace
What Tee Would Like to See: A “Track Changes” Feature
What Pip Would Like to See: More “Export Options”
What Tee Likes: Project and Text Statistics
What Tee Would Like to See: More people in the industry using Scrivener
What Tee Would Like to See: An easy transition between Mac, Windows, and Linux platforms
Getting schooled by Scrivener: A history that Tee and Pip didn’t know….
What Tee Can’t Wait to See: Scrivener for the iPad
31:22 — Seriously, Seriously: Going for the Godin
Seth Godin…using his evil powers to mess with Tee’s mic
So what does Tee have against Seth Godin? (Just listen….)
What Tee doesn’t get: When the Press and Bloggers Rally around Seth Godin
An excerpt from Seth Godin’s “Who Decides What Gets Sold” from The Domino Project
Pip finds out Godin doesn’t write books. He writes manifestos.
And Tee winds up…
Seth Godin is not being censored. He’s trying to take advantage of Apple.
Tee then goes off…and goes…and goes…and goes….
And here’s the post that gets Tee going EVEN HARDER…
41:15 — The Wrap-Up
A moment of silence and some reflection for the Encyclopedia Britannica
A call for your feedback and your voicemail. If we get enough feedback, we will bump up our Listener Appreciation show to Show #15. Comment, send us voicemail, and let’s talk!
What’s coming up for us…
Digital arcs are coming of The Janus Affair: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel
Pip announces the wrap-up show we’ll do in 2013 concerning EXPERIMENT 2012
Pip releases her first novella, Magic by Gaslight
Tee releases The Case of the Singing Sword, and makes a conditional promise concerning new mysteries from the dwarf detective.
Aladdin and His Wonderfully Infernal Devicestill online and waiting for you at Amazon. (Other formats coming soon.)
Tales from the Archives: Volume 2 launches on April 10 with new stories from the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences
And between Pip’s family visiting, the Steampunk World’s Fair, Balticon, their May is done.
…and after Pip shows up Tee on the Creative Commons tag, Tee breaks into Key & Peele to try and save face.
RELATED LINKS
Stone Design, the people behind Twittelator
Web Pro News
[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.
Bleah! Between the Power Bug that Sonic Boom brought home from school and final reviews of The Janus Affair, Tee and Pip are finally back behind the mic, bringing a perspective on book bloggers, book reviews, and keeping it classy in light of a bad review.
00:00 — Introduction
We’re back! (Did you miss us?)
The joys of school-bred viruses
The Janus Affair is now heading to press.
What to expect from Wellington Eliza, and friends in the next few months…
A plea to whomever sent me the drop-in’s.
Working on steampunk faerie tales
Elder Cat says “Oh hai!”
08:01 — Concerning Reviews
We’d love to do a show on Scrivener, but writers (and now agents) keep doing some really stupid things!
Elder Cat says “Oh hai!” again…
Goodreads — an online network that loves Phoenix Rising.
It all started with a review…or two….
…and it ended with agents getting into the scrap.
Rule #1 of Reviews: Not everyone will love you.
How bad behavior affects your book
Tee still hasn’t read The Night Circus on account of spam.
The Tom Cruise Effect
How bad reviews reflect positively on authors’ works
An Authors’ WTH Moment: When Agents Attack
Respecting the Book Bloggers
How Book Bloggers Stand Taller than Amazon/Goodreads Reviewers
If you don’t want an honest review, don’t approach Book Bloggers.
Taking the fight to other networks like Twitter, Facebook, et. al.
When is it a good time to question a bad review?
Looking for common threads in good and bad reviews
Why you must love Book Bloggers…like our girl, Mel!
33:58 — Writers Off the Clock
Hold on — Tee’s got a WotC for Pip?
The name of the game is Skylanders…and we bought it for Sonic Boom. (No. Really. We did!)
A friend of Starla’s. A friend of ours. And her (bad) influence on the Boom…
Sonic Boom was fighting back, so we were looking for and advantage. (In comes Skylanders.)
And at 38:02, this happens…
What Skylanders is all about
How Sonic Boom plays into this new obsession
Feline distractions
Laying down the Law (and enjoying the results)
44:39 — The Wrap-Up
Places where we are going to be this year:
Balticon 46
SteampunkWorld’s Fair
Dragon*Con
Emerald City Steampunk Expo
Pip’s upcoming releases…and her Jell-O Decorated throw-Down at Dragon*Con
Big congrats to J.R, Jared, and their recent collaboration!
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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.
With the 2011 Con Season behind them and friends jumping into the writerly madness of November, Pip and Tee spend the show looking at NaNoWriMo or the National Novel Writing Month. They got rants, they got opinions, and they got their own bits of advice for those brave enough to jump into the competition.
To all those taking the NaNoWriMo challenge — good luck!
00:00 — Introduction
Hold on…it’s November?!
Quick — Get to the topic!
00:51 — NaNoWriMo
What exactly is NaNoWriMo?
1:53 — FIRST MENTION OF NATHAN LOWELL
The Two Camps of NaNoWriMo…and the camp that Evo Terra rules over.
Drawing a line between a Writer and an Author
Why November?!
5:41 — SECOND MENTION OF NATHAN LOWELL
Just because you win NaNoWriMo doesn’t mean you’re ready for publishing. (Shame on you, Smashwords!)
A few words of love (both tender and tough) for NaNoEdMo.
February? The shortest month of the year?! Seriously?!
Tee & Pip find out why NaNoWriMo is in November…and Tee goes on a rant…
Why NaNoEdMo is so important
What we truly love about NaNoWriMo
It’s a fantastic way to get into the regiment of writing.
13:22 — THIRD MENTION OF NATHAN LOWELL
An inside look at putting together a novel, from soup to nuts
If you’re going to do NaNoWriMo, you should commit to NaNoEdMo.
15:01 — FOURTH MENTION OF NATHAN LOWELL (and some pining from Tee…)
Pip is derailed by Tee…
Advice in approaching NaNoWriMo…before, during, and after November…
19:50 — Writers Off the Clock
Unplugging in Autumn…a beautiful time to do so
Pip is digging the change of seasons.
A quick photo break…
Showing some love to the vineyards, especially to Corcoran’s Vineyard and Brewery
Take the Doctor’s advice: “A straight line may be the shortest distance between two points, but it is by no means the most interesting.”
26:21 — Seriously? Seriously.
And here we are with yet ANOTHER rant…
Pip adopts Wil Wheaton’s philosophy concerning panelists that don’t play well with others.
Some advice for being a good panelist.
Some advice for being a good moderator…and how to be a good panelist when you got a qualified moderator.
As a moderator and a panelist, read your audience. (If you don’t know how, learn.)
When panels work, it’s like a fine-tuned symphony. Cue Pip at New York Comic Con.
As a panelist or moderator, DON’T BE THAT GUY!
37:06 — The Wrap-Up
After all this ranting, Pip and Tee are exhausted!
Ending our 2011 con season with the badasses of steampunk, The League of S.T.E.A.M.
What’s coming in 2012
The Janus Affair: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel— May
Hunter & Fox — July
Wrayth: A Book of the Order — September
40:03 — FINAL MENTION OF NATHAN LOWELL
Pip, stop with the whining.
And there’s even more stuff coming from the Ministry…
Working on the 2012 Con Schedule
Where to find us online
And check us out on Goodreads AND VOTE!!!
Drop-Ins: The Silence of the Lambs, Battlestar Galactica, Sideways
More Shout-Out’s During the Show…
Ash Robbins
The Writing Excuses podcast
NanoMonkeys
Nathan Lowell (of course)
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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.
Fresh from their WorldCon experience, Tee & Pip bring to The Shared Desk their first interview and introduce a new segment to the show. There is also talk of their next con appearance and what lies ahead for the Fall.
00:00 — Introduction
Two episodes and fresh from the land where finding a cab is a Herculean labor…
Do you remember the D-Con Roach Motel?
A few thoughts on WorldCon in Reno, Nevada.
02:28 — Working with Agents: An Interview with Laurie McLean
Introduction of the Agent Savant herself, Laurie McLean
What exactly does an agent do?
Laurie names off the top of her head the “Six Sisters” of Publishing
06:50 — An idea for an alternate Worldcon
The evolution of publishing and where an agent fit in
How some agents are reacting to the change in publishing
On the adversarial relationships people harbor against agents (Note to J.K. Rowling’s former agent: RETIRE!!!)
Something to know — all agents are different
What happens backstage between agents, editors, and bookstores
The challenges an agent has when representing a collaborative writing team
What is “hot” in the Science Fiction and Fantasy market
35:26 — A sneak peek at a new segment coming later in the episode…
Where to find Laurie online
39:59 — Writing Advice from Crazy Uncle Charlie
Introducing a voice of our generation, and the sage advice he wants to bestow to writers everywhere…
The question for Crazy Uncle Charlie: How do you know you have found a good literary agent?
Crazy Uncle Charlie reveals his foolproof method of researching a literary agent.
Another method Crazy Uncle Charlie endorses: Writers Beware ®
42:56 — Wrap-Up
Why does the studio smell of cheese?
Where you can find us and send questions, comments, and feedback…
Feeling the love after two episodes…
Where we will be in September: FenCon (September 23-25,2011)
With folks like Matt Bowerman and Beth Case helping out the fans, we’re thinking a tweet-up is in order.
Anticipation for FenCon — yes, we are stoked!!!
Shout out to Hurricane Irene!
Websites We Give a Shout-Out to
Alex White’s The Gearheart
Laurie’s Agency — The Larsen-Pomada Literary Agency
San Francisco Writers’ University
Gail Carriger’s Retro Rack
Show Photos by J.R. Blackwell
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.
A general scope out of who we (Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine) are, what we plan on doing with the Shared Desk podcast.
Hopefully this gives you an idea what you can expect as we proceed forward in this new endeavor.
If you have any ideas, queries or comments then please email either pip AT pjballantine DOT com or tee AT teemorris DOT com, or drop us a voicemail at 703.791.1701.
…which doesn’t quite age well. At all. Let’s discuss.
is out, 
still online and waiting for you at Amazon. (Other formats coming soon.)
The Dog Days of Podcasting 2017: Concerning Mary, Gary, and Ensign Jones
Special thanks to Corbin J Drake for the photo.
Shout out to Brian “Arkle” Webber from Shameless Cashgrab and other podcasts for the comment and inspiring today’s Dog Days of Podcasting entry.
Recorded this morning and posted this evening, Tee settles in to talk about something else but follows the rabbit hole Arkle opens up about the “Mary Sue” complex that haunts fiction. The question is, should it? Can developing characters from your own experiences, hopes, and dreams, work in fiction?
It is a tricky tightrope to walk — very tricky — but it’s possible.
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Find Tee on Twitter here,
leave a voicemail or questions for the Dog Days of Podcasting at 703.791.1701,
or leave us a comment here at the blog.
I’ll talk about it!
And remember, you can find this show on iTunes or Stitcher!
Subscribe, listen, and review.
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