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Episode #94: Writers Consuming Content

Remember The Shared Desk? That was a pretty cool podcast. Too bad it podfaded, right?

Well, no — we didn’t go anywhere! Well, hold on, actually, yeah, we did go somewhere. It was Clockwork Alchemy and it was a right blast!

The Shared Desk, now recorded LIVE on Twitch at Tee’s Twitch Channel, finally got behind the mics after the dust from a government furlough and a trip out west finally gave them a chance to catch their breaths and record. What are we talking about, you wonder? Well, we’re specifically talking about writers consuming media. Sometimes, writers need to relax. Thing is, that can be hard when we’re always critically looking at how other writers do things. Can writers effectively turn their brains off, relax and enjoy the show?

Let’s find out.

00:00 —  Introduction

  • Well yeah, there was another Episode #94, but Tee never got to the editing part of it…
  • the audio may sound a little weird. Wait until you find out why! (At the end of episode, of course.)
  • Adult beverages all around?
  • When is Game of Thrones coming back? Oh yeah…
  • Tee is not hip, but he is old.
  • Addressing the stream and a changing of the guard.
  • A nod to Destiny and Happy Hour from the Tower
  • Sorry, Katie! Maybe we can do something special with that episode? Maybe drop it into Pip’s Patreon?
  • The original bell will not go quietly!

05:18 —  Episode #94: Writers Consuming Content 

  • So where did this all start?
    • As many ideas comes from, it started with a series of rants on Facebook…
    • Pip defines “turning your brain off” as a writer.
    • What inspired the show topic …
  • Tee and Pip have really been enjoying Star Trek: Discovery.
    • Is it worth the cost of CBS All Access?
    • This will be a spoiler-free episode, we promise!
  • Going back to Season One, we meet THIS CHARACTER…
    • We want to know MORE about THIS CHARACTER.
    • The, in Season Two, we get an episode dedicated to THIS CHARACTER…
    • …so we could watch THIS CHARACTER die.
  • Then we get Discovery’s next stop in the galaxy: Talos IV.
    • A bit of Star Trek history
    • Some nods throughout the series coping with canon
    • Where Tee is triggered in all this
  • The writing crew of Discovery handles canon with real reverence, but the new, original stuff is slightly clumsy.
  • Sprinkling seeds throughout chapters or episodes versus cramming it all into one moment
  • After a moment’s rant, Tee asked “Maybe I’m expecting too much from these writers?”
  • Pip thinks writers make terrible media consumers.
    • Pip’s current read is dickering around with time jumps, and she’s got issues.
    • Writing passages in time are not always easy.
    • Tee still believes he can relax and enjoy it, but Pip is struggling…
  • The dice-roll in reading another’s book for the purpose of blurbing it
  • Tee loves a slow burn, and it triggers him when shortcuts are taken.
  • A good example of new canon and a slow burn done right…
  • Massive shout-out to Ethan Peck who gives great Nimoy without doing an impersonation of Leonard Nimoy.
  • As a writer and an actor, Tee’s got a jelly on.
  • Want a glimpse at Lauren Harris‘ next cosplay?
Ensign Sylvia “Space Merida” Tilly
  • Where you can find them, watch “Short Treks” in between seasons.
  • No, not all writers are perfect. It’s when you show how good you are, but then take cheap or manipulative short cuts?
  • A spoiler from Season One that shows ridiculous, shoddy writing: grafting a personality to someone. (Beg your pardon?)
  • Yes, we get it. We suspend disbelief. But there are limits.
  • Can writers appreciate good writing better than their own? Oh yes!
    • True Detective, Season 3
    • The Marvel Cinematic Universe
    • Game of Thrones, Seasons 1 – 8
  • But really? Cat scratch fever? Really? (Okay, we can give that a pass.)
  • Good writing — no matter the media — should be inspirational to other writers.
  • Since we’re talking about good writing and bad writing in media, it’s time to re-open this old wound…

32:04 — Writers off the Clock

  • This is a beautiful theme, but it’s not ready for The Big Score (coming soon to AwesomeCon this weekend)
  • How about this for an unexpected surprise?
  • You’re going to want to see this. Seriously.
  • Why Shazam! works
    • Giving Shazam’s suit a makeover
    • Really coherent, cohesive writing by keeping it simple but not stupid
    • Billy Batson is a teenager, so Shazam acts like a teenager. And it works!
  • This was a fun ride, but it does go dark when it needs to. Billy Batson’s story, for example…
  • Zachary Levi delivers as the Big Red Cheese.
  • This is DC’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
  • Tee and Pip wonder why Dwayne Johnson is an Executive Producer? Well, rumor has it…

39:57 — The Wrap-Up

45:32 — Behind-the-Scenes Blooper

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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Episode #26: On the Growing World of the Ministry and eBooks Deconstructed

TSD-what

We’re making eBooks. We’re making print books. We’re gaming. And we’re winning Parsecs! We’re talking about what we’ve learned in creating Ministry Protocol, and we’re going into the details of putting together a great looking eBook. Hang on for this crash course in InDesign, digital publishing, and what to expect when your eBook is ready…for testing.

Also, in light of this unexpected Parsec win, Tee and Pip give shout-outs and thank you’s to everyone keeping tabs on the bumpy year-so-far that has been 2013.

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00:00 — Introduction

13:40 — eBooks Deconstructed 
  • The eBooks are done and we are now working on the final details for the print
  • Pip goes through her workflow in making the 99-Penny Dreadfuls (and other works we produce) into ePubs
    • Keep your fonts simple.
    • Formatting. Not a good idea.
    • Short stories are a piece of cake compared to a novel or anthology.
    • Rethinking the workflow
  • The challenges of eBooks and digital reading devices
    • Control is in the readers’ hands, not the publisher.
    • Each ereader handles the source file differently.
  • Tee’s workflow for eBooks and print books
    • First stop — Adobe InDesign, Tee’s weapon of choice.
    • Next stop — Calibre, as InDesign was squirrelly about exporting something to Kindle.
    • What Tee prefers: a file per chapter as opposed to one massive file. Insane? Well….
    • Creating a Book file in InDesign: why it works so well.
    • Tee’s fastest turnaround time: 24 hours (for Pip, actually…)
  • The difference between eBooks and print books — personality.
  • Workflow, Part Two
    • Create two copies of the InDesign files, label one “PRINT” and the other collection “DIGITAL”
    • In the DIGITAL folder, use “Find Font” and remove all instances of “unique” fonts.
    • Times New Roman — the “go to” font for eBooks.
  • Tee’s looking ahead with Weather Child, re-worked by Pip and edited by Tee Tate.
  • Before you release your eBook, test it on as many platforms as possible.
  • And after you do test it, test again! Otherwise, your eBooks can wind up like George R.R. Martin’s…and not in a good way.

35:03 — Writers Off the Clock

  • Hard to believe Pip is a two-time Parsec-winning podcaster…
  • Tee, Pip and the Boom head out to Comics and Gaming of Gainesville, VA.
    • Great place, and kid-friendly!
    • Enjoying some “geek parent” moments…
  • Purchasing some games. One is called Planet Steam. (Anyone know this?)
  • A COOL DISCOVERY — Pacific Rim: Shuffling the Deck
  • What looks like a gimicky card game actually works as a great game of strategy and concentration.
  • Wait — hold on — is Pip REQUESTING a drop-in?!
  • A great game for fans (or giant robots fighting monsters) of the film that doesn’t get too cutthroat.
  • This game has been Boom-Approved.
  • …and while you’re visiting your local bookstore…

44:35 — The Wrap-Up

  • Lamenting about Dragon*Con. There was some people and things we missed.
  • There was also a lot of things we didn’t miss.
  • Big shout out to Mike seals who made it on live Atlanta news shows!
  • What’s coming soon…
  • And Tee’s got some contract work. w00T!
  • Tee’s waiting to hear from Kindle Worlds on his Valiant Comics novellas.
  • Quick shout-out of condolences for the friends and family of Frederick Pohl.
  • Works in progress for both Tee and Pip
  • Another shout-out — this one, a warm fuzzy — to Steampunk India.
  • Thanks, everyone, for keeping us in your hearts this year.
  • And Tee gets cocky…
 
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.

 

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