special guest Archives | Writers Drinking Coffee

A pencil, a ball point pen, and a quill sitting in lounge chairs drinking coffee; Title: Writers Drinking Coffee

Episode 86 – Charlie Stross, Harbinger of Our Times

There are writers who can take one genre and then turn it into multiple genres before they’re done – and you can’t put the books down. We sat down one of our favorites who gets away with it all the time. Charles Stross, unrepentant Pantser, as he labels himself, tells us all about his books, his inspirations, his process, and his latest projects. … Continue…Episode 86 – Charlie Stross, Harbinger of Our Times

Episode 82 – Writing Political Satire

This is our first foray into discussing satire, and how to make fun of politics. Whether cartooning, focusing a microscope on an individual trait or issue, or simply drawing attention to an injustice, satire has a place in writing and the arts. … Continue…Episode 82 – Writing Political Satire

Episode 78 – What’s in a Quirk?

People with quirks are called eccentric, unusual, strange, or even bizarre, but the truth is bigger. Quirky people play weird games, wear different clothes, have unusual hobbies, or say what they mean in company. Quirky people have less fear. Jeannie submits the theory that all good protagonists need to be a little quirky. The committee pokes at her theory with examples from books, television, and movies. … Continue…Episode 78 – What’s in a Quirk?

Episode 77 – Alternative History with Harry Turtledove

It’s not every day we get to talk to someone who single-handedly launched a genre. Harry Turtledove is the father of alternative history fiction, alongside his many fantasy and science fiction novels and stories. We caught up with him to talk about how to play the “what if” game in historic storytelling. … Continue…Episode 77 – Alternative History with Harry Turtledove

Episode 76 – Community Theatre with Damian Trasler

There’s the novel, and then there is short fiction. There’s multi-act plays, and then there’s one-act plays and community theatre. We sat down with stunningly successful community theatre playwright and author Damian Trasler to talk about how to write (and run) custom shorter plays and productions for local productions. … Continue…Episode 76 – Community Theatre with Damian Trasler

Episode 75 – Interview with Jacey Bedford

In which Karen and Chaz enjoy an old home week of sorts with the incomparable Jacey Bedford from Milford. Jacey chats with us about the MIlford process, her favorite tools for writing, and describes her process for both historic fantasy and science fiction. … Continue…Episode 75 – Interview with Jacey Bedford

Episode 73 – NANONANO

NaNoWriMo is the National Novel Writing Month and coffee give us life. John sits down with Violette Woods and Liz Hamill to discuss writing, motivation, and coffee. … Continue…Episode 73 – NANONANO

Episode 72 – A Creature by Any Other Stripe

The coffee couch welcomes back Alma Alexander, who wrote a lovely series on shapeshifting with an entirely new view on biology and shifter change mechanisms. She takes us through her Were creature books before we delve down into genetics, mass, blood types, and possible triggers. … Continue…Episode 72 – A Creature by Any Other Stripe

Episode 70 – Dude! – The Hero & Sidekick’s Excellent Journey

Does every hero need a sidekick? When they have one, what roles do they fill in a story? How can a sidekick help you tell your story more effectively? We explore our favorite sidekicks through time and how they effectively advance each story. … Continue…Episode 70 – Dude! – The Hero & Sidekick’s Excellent Journey

Episode 68 – Sympathy for the Devil

In which our committee sits down and talks about who our favorite story villains are and why. There’s some advice in writing villains, more admonitions on what to avoid, and how to romance your audience while horrifying them at once. … Continue…Episode 68 – Sympathy for the Devil