Writers Drinking Coffee
161 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 12 ratingsCoffee & Ideas
This is a podcast based on writers sitting around, drinking coffee and/or occasionally wine, and talking about anything and everything.
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Episodes
Episode 59 – Silver Screenwriting with Christy Marx
August 04, 2020 15:15 - 39 minutes - 23.8 MBWe welcome our first writer of scripts for TV and Film – Christy Marx. While Christy is a veritable “Jill of all Trades” in writing talent, we sat down to quiz her about how one comes into a career writing for movies, tv, and cartoons. … Continue...Episode 59 – Silver Screenwriting with Christy Marx
Episode 58 – Interview with Carrie Vaughn
July 28, 2020 16:14 - 32 minutes - 20.6 MBWe welcome a NY Times Bestselling author to the coffee house, as she takes a break from WorldCon. Come hear how Carrie found her way into writing, her thoughts on genres and trends, and how she measured her own success and KPIs as a writer of commercial fiction. … Continue...Episode 58 – Interview with Carrie Vaughn
Episode 57 – Scene it, Done that!
July 21, 2020 15:32 - 36 minutes - 21.8 MBJeannie, John, and Raymond Miller wish they were at the Bean Scene, and run through a creative writing site for paranormal Authors. Being delighted by the find, our intrepid writers click on the random generator and talk out how to use this to create a story treatment. … Continue...Episode 57 – Scene it, Done that!
Episode 56 – How to Sum Things Up
July 14, 2020 15:38 - 42 minutes - 25.4 MBThere you are, your first great country novel written and ready to go. You start sending it out to agents and websites and they ask you for things. Shorter things. Summaries. Synopses. Hook lines. Elevator Pitches. Start thinking about how to market yourself and your work so you can re-use your work over and over. … Continue...Episode 56 – How to Sum Things Up
Episode 55 – Interview with the Duchess of Fantasy
July 07, 2020 15:41 - 32 minutes - 18.8 MBAlma Alexander was born on the banks of the Danube in a country that no longer exists, grew up in Africa, and is married to an American she met online. We caught up with her via Zoom, and had a long chat about her writing. (60 minutes) … Continue...Episode 55 – Interview with the Duchess of Fantasy
Episode 54 – An Interview with Raymond Miller
June 30, 2020 16:35 - 33 minutes - 14.3 MBWe’re happy to welcome author Raymond Miller back to the coffee house. Raymond reads part of a story for us, and takes the listener on an emotional roller coaster through Kentucky and From the Train Station, along with his experience writing in the time of Covid19. He talks about understanding life through the stories you’ve been told, and the styles and choices of authors. … Continue...Episode 54 – An Interview with Raymond Miller
Episode 53 – Interview with Ellen Klages
June 23, 2020 16:29 - 49 minutes - 28.6 MBWe’re thrilled to have a long sit down with the amazing Ellen Klages. Did she really win an award for everything she’s ever written? Sure seems like it. Let’s hear about her work with children’s fiction along with the Nebula win, and every major award nomination. Wow. How does she do it? … Continue...Episode 53 – Interview with Ellen Klages
Episode 52 – Interview with Cat Rambo
June 16, 2020 16:24 - 30 minutes - 19.3 MBWe’ve been at this a year now! Happy anniversary to us! In celebration of being alive for a year, we welcome new Nebula Award winner Cat Rambo! She’s also the past president of SFWA. … Continue...Episode 52 – Interview with Cat Rambo
Episode 51 – A Wild Card
June 09, 2020 16:10 - 33 minutes - 19.7 MBWe interviewed Kevin Andrew Murphy, a frequent contributor to the Wild Cards series edited by George R. R. Martin. Kevin talks about his various Wild Card projects from short stories to graphic novels, and what he's up to lately. … Continue...Episode 51 – A Wild Card
Episode 50 – Tech Writing for Fun and Profit
June 02, 2020 15:48 - 33 minutes - 18.6 MBAs we keep maintaining that there are many career paths open to the aspiring writer, we’re focusing today on technical writing for fun and profit. We interviewed Paul Gustafson of Expert Support to hear about his views on what makes a good technical writer. … Continue...Episode 50 – Tech Writing for Fun and Profit
Episode 49 – Kate Elliott Totally Rules
May 26, 2020 15:15 - 31 minutes - 18.7 MBFrom space opera to fantasy and YA, Kate writes great character-driven stories for everyone. We contacted Kate from the ground-to-space zoom medium on Planet Hawaii, and with minor robotic interference here and there managed to get her to tell us how she does it. … Continue...Episode 49 – Kate Elliott Totally Rules
Episode 48 – The Rising Sun
May 19, 2020 14:45 - 14 minutes - 9.34 MBAlone. All alone. Jeannie considers how much she misses drinking coffee with her cohosts, and reads you a short science fiction story about a space maneuver called The Rising Sun … Continue...Episode 48 – The Rising Sun
Episode 47 – With a Song in my Heart
May 12, 2020 15:00 - 31 minutes - 18.8 MBToday we zoom into focusing on writing song lyrics and music. Our guest Jeff Brown is a singer and songwriter who talks about his writing process, how he got started writing his own music, and inspiration as well as methods. … Continue...Episode 47 – With a Song in my Heart
Episode 46 – David Levine
May 05, 2020 15:50 - 32 minutes - 24.3 MBToday we sat down with Hugo-award winning author David D. Levine to talk about how he got started in writing from short stories up to his latest novels. Grab a coffee and come learn his path to being a novelist, from engineering to fiction. … Continue...Episode 46 – David Levine
Episode 45 – Oh, the Horror!
April 28, 2020 15:29 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBWe welcome John Baltisberger - horror writer, poet, publisher, and all-around amazing guy. John made the leap of faith into being full-time involved in the writing biz, and has enjoyed success through thrilling, chilling stories, hard work, and a lot of diversification. … Continue...Episode 45 – Oh, the Horror!
Episode 44 – An Interview with Jeff Berry
April 21, 2020 14:10 - 32 minutes - 19.7 MBThe Jeff Berry? Well, -A- Jeff Berry. Redeeming the name, we bring you the story of a man who studied Computers so he wouldn't have to wait tables, then ran away to New York to be an actor and playwright. Now he lives in England, and writes Medieval cooking articles as well as plays and stories. … Continue...Episode 44 – An Interview with Jeff Berry
Episode 43 – An Interview with Madeleine Robins
April 14, 2020 16:34 - 38 minutes - 23.5 MBJeannie and John sit down with the splendid Madeleine Robins, author of multiple books and series. She talks about how she got started writing, her inspirations, and the constant love of research that helps her write great historic fiction. … Continue...Episode 43 – An Interview with Madeleine Robins
Episode 42 – Life, the Universe, and Everything
April 07, 2020 13:23 - 40 minutes - 24.3 MBWe have the answers – what were the questions? With so many universities and classes starting to have their various curricula online, we shopped around to look at various definitions and opinions on what elements make up stories of varying lengths. Then we throw out some of our favorite stories and compare against the formula, to test for accuracy. … Continue...Episode 42 – Life, the Universe, and Everything
Episode 41 – The Writer’s Identity
March 31, 2020 16:37 - 33 minutes - 20 MBOnline writing sessions with friends has produced some interesting questions, and we chat about them today. How does the identity of the writer make a difference? How does identity inform the writing, and how does it portray the characters? We invite Alice Cornwell and Tiana Hanson back to the coffee couch to discuss the topic. … Continue...Episode 41 – The Writer’s Identity
Episode 40 – A Charming Fetish
March 24, 2020 15:31 - 30 minutes - 18.6 MBWelcoming back Sandra Brenchley to chat about amulets, charms, talismans, and other fetishes. To this day, everyone has a lucky charm of some sort. What do they mean in antiquity? What should they mean for the characters in your story? #WhatsInYourGrisGrisBag? … Continue...Episode 40 – A Charming Fetish
Episode 39 – Podcasting in the Time of Cholera
March 17, 2020 16:24 - 32 minutes - 20.5 MBHere we are, all safely quarantined. How do we stay focused on our creativity? How do we keep creating art? Can we use these current events as inspiration for characters, for scenarios, for plot points? I think we can. Have a cup of coffee with John and Jeannie as they chat on the topic of creativity in a stifling, stressful environment. … Continue...Episode 39 – Podcasting in the Time of Cholera
Episode 38 – Interview with a Sword Master
March 10, 2020 15:53 - 31 minutes - 19.3 MBJohn sits down with Steaphen Fick, a master of sword fighting, to talk about their favorite books on fighting and weapons as well as how to think about choreographing fight scenes. … Continue...Episode 38 – Interview with a Sword Master
Episode 37 – A Rose by any other Poetry
March 03, 2020 15:50 - 30 minutes - 18.7 MBIn which the coffee club writers sit down and talk about Poetry. From romance to horror to comedy, and even mixed up therein, we look at all the forms and nature of poems we collectively love and memorize for no reason. … Continue...Episode 37 – A Rose by any other Poetry
Episode 36 – Systemic Magic
February 25, 2020 16:49 - 31 minutes - 19.6 MBWhen you're world building for a story or novel, you need to figure out how magic works. The coffee shop writers chat about how to build something coherent, something that makes sense, and the pondering of magic that doesn't get in the way of a story. Or how magic can become a story. And how red coffee is the best coffee. … Continue...Episode 36 – Systemic Magic
Episode 35 – Divination and Prophecy
February 18, 2020 17:22 - 30 minutes - 19.2 MBAre you writing a historic fantasy which contains divination or prognostication? Want to make it more historically accurate? Sandra Brenchley joins the coffee club to talk about her studies into mediaeval divination, soothsaying, and other prognostication devices. … Continue...Episode 35 – Divination and Prophecy
Episode 34 – Knife Fight to the Death, baby!
February 11, 2020 16:20 - 32 minutes - 20.4 MBWith special guest L. Douglas Garrett. Doug writes novels about the life of an operative in various parts of the world. From dirt, tribal loyalties, and the importance of family, he describes bringing real life experience as an operative to create realism in his thrillers. … Continue...Episode 34 – Knife Fight to the Death, baby!
Episode 33 – Crime and Mystery
February 04, 2020 19:24 - 32 minutes - 20.6 MBChaz, Karen, and Jeannie sit around talking about their favorite crime and mystery novels. What makes a crime or mystery work? How has the genre changed over time? What is believable vs. credible for the writer? … Continue...Episode 33 – Crime and Mystery
Episode .5 – Captain’s Log, Supplemental
February 02, 2020 08:02 - 13 minutes - 413 MB VideoOver the Christmas holidays we collected ghost stories. Here's one told with pictures, narrated by Heather Rose Jones herself. … Continue...Episode .5 – Captain’s Log, Supplemental
Episode 32 – Deadlines Go Woosh!
January 28, 2020 15:39 - 31 minutes - 19.7 MBIn which we talk about the motivational power of the deadline, and missing them, and what to do instead of making a deadline. How do they affect the creative process? … Continue...Episode 32 – Deadlines Go Woosh!
Episode 31 – Romancing the Romance
January 21, 2020 15:49 - 33 minutes - 20.9 MBWe are joined in the coffee house by Violette Woods, a writer of romance novels. Violette has five guidelines for successful writers of romance (or, we think, anyone) to share with you! … Continue...Episode 31 – Romancing the Romance
Episode 30 – Not Safe For Work
January 14, 2020 15:58 - 33 minutes - 21.3 MBYes, indeed friends, welcome to Season 2. This is episode Triple-X, and it would be wrong not to honor that numeral designation with a talk about sex. There’s an ocean of possible targets here, so we’ve narrowed our focus how we and some of our favorite authors use sex to advance plot. … Continue...Episode 30 – Not Safe For Work
Episode 29 – A Year in Retrospect
December 31, 2019 15:50 - 33 minutes - 21.4 MBA year in retrospect; we published things, we wrote things, we inflicted poetry on innocent bystanders. We also invited people to asking us questions on Twitter and FB, and today we read the questions and answer them for you. … Continue...Episode 29 – A Year in Retrospect
Episode 28 – Interview with Heather Rose Jones
December 24, 2019 14:09 - 34 minutes - 21.4 MBJeannie sits down with novelist Heather Rose Jones to talk about her creative processes, mainstream lesbian publishing, historic romance for LGBT, and other topics. … Continue...Episode 28 – Interview with Heather Rose Jones
Episode 27 – Storytelling by Episodes
December 17, 2019 16:11 - 31 minutes - 20.1 MBTelevision, Movies, episodic podcasts; in storytelling there’s a definite trend for watching or following a series of stories with an over-arching theme or plot presented in episodes. … Continue...Episode 27 – Storytelling by Episodes
Episode 26 – Death by Cliche part Deux
December 10, 2019 16:06 - 31 minutes - 19.2 MBAdjectives and verbs and adverbs and more! Cliches are made of words. Most cliches derived from accuracy, but lose their meaning over time. Our eggnog-sodden team looks into old ones. We pick at many of our favorites. … Continue...Episode 26 – Death by Cliche part Deux
Episode 25 – Death to Cliches!
December 03, 2019 15:59 - 37 minutes - 23 MBThe Silver Anniversary episode! Jeannie goes on a rant (Many F Bombs) on the topic of cliches found in writing. The words used to only describe women, or only men, and it may be time to move past them in writing. Also Chaz asks are odd numbers sexier? … Continue...Episode 25 – Death to Cliches!
Episode 24 – Interview with a Publisher
November 26, 2019 16:50 - 31 minutes - 19.9 MBIn which Chaz and Jeannie interview Geralyn Lance from Subterranean Press. How does a publisher’s Production Manager…. Manage words? How do they find artists? How do they wrangle bookbinders? … Continue...Episode 24 – Interview with a Publisher
Episode 23 – Meet Marie Brennan
November 19, 2019 16:07 - 29 minutes - 19.8 MBChaz and Jeannie managed to capture the elusive and mysterious Marie Brennan at World Fantasy Con. If you love alternative history and dragons, you’ve got to give her a read! … Continue...Episode 23 – Meet Marie Brennan
Episode 22 – Going Out into the World
November 12, 2019 15:54 - 31 minutes - 20.1 MBIn which Chaz and Jeannie go to World Fantasy Con and sit down with Caitlin Blasdell - Chaz’ American agent. What does an Agent do? How do you become one? Why do you need one? Caitlin tells all! … Continue...Episode 22 – Going Out into the World
Episode 21 – The Inspiration to Get Things Done
October 29, 2019 17:06 - 29 minutes - 19.1 MBJeannie and John chatting about how they get inspired to get things done, as well as keep track of what they're writing and what resources are available. … Continue...Episode 21 – The Inspiration to Get Things Done
Episode Twenty-One – The Inspiration to Get Things Done
October 29, 2019 17:06 - 29 minutes - 19.1 MBJeannie and John chatting about how they get inspired to get things done, as well as keep track of what they're writing and what resources are available. … Continue...Episode Twenty-One – The Inspiration to Get Things Done
Episode Twenty – Ashes to Ashes
October 22, 2019 17:10 - 29 minutes - 17.3 MBIn which Chaz reads Jeannie a story he wrote recognizing the immortal genius of David Bowie, our Starman who fell to earth forever. … Continue...Episode Twenty – Ashes to Ashes
Episode Nineteen – How to Build a World
October 15, 2019 16:44 - 33 minutes - 20.4 MBToday our guest star Juliette Wade talks in the coffee shop about World Building. She runs a regular online workshop on on the topic for all kinds of fiction - it used to be on Google Hangouts, but now has a YouTube channel. … Continue...Episode Nineteen – How to Build a World
Episode Eighteen – Voice Work and Audible
October 08, 2019 15:38 - 31 minutes - 19.6 MBToday we invited Tiana Hanson in to talk about how to pursue a career in reading things out loud. If you write a book and want to read it on Audible, or really just enjoy reading aloud, there is a path to success. … Continue...Episode Eighteen – Voice Work and Audible
Episode Seventeen – From Gaming Beginnings
October 01, 2019 16:02 - 31 minutes - 20 MBJeannie and Dave invite Doug Garrett and Ray Greer into the coffeehouse to talk about how they started writing for games, writing a first novel, process, and the general crossovers of game writing to mysteries and more … Continue...Episode Seventeen – From Gaming Beginnings
Episode Sixteen – Live at Maly’s
September 24, 2019 17:16 - 24 minutes - 14.4 MBChaz Brenchley reading his "Live at Maly's" which is found in the pages of Tales from the House Band v. 2 … Continue...Episode Sixteen – Live at Maly’s
Episode Fifteen – The Play’s the Thing
September 17, 2019 15:00 - 30 minutes - 17.8 MBWe have guest lecturer and playwright Carol Wolf with us, teaching the most important elements in creating a play: Creating tension, 3D characters, and writing for a confined visual space. … Continue...Episode Fifteen – The Play’s the Thing
Episode Fourteen – Those Tricksy Muses
September 10, 2019 19:17 - 32 minutes - 21.5 MBLiz (Squishy) Houchin wrote in via the Writers Drinking Coffee FB page asking about muses. John and Jeannie sound off on the topic of muses they've seduced and left sated in their wake. … Continue...Episode Fourteen – Those Tricksy Muses
Episode Thirteen – World Con Dublin Recap
September 03, 2019 14:52 - 32 minutes - 18.9 MBIn which one of our co-hosts and his wife go off to Ireland and all they brought me is this… oh hey! Jamesons! Here’s your reading list, according to who drank with Chaz and Karen. … Continue...Episode Thirteen – World Con Dublin Recap
Episode Twelve – Online Zines and Game Writing
August 27, 2019 17:35 - 32 minutes - 20.4 MBHow do you end up the editor in chief for a major online Zine? You volunteer, of course. David Speakman joins Jeannie and Dave (Web Spider) to talk about his writing career progression, Tightbeam Magazine, and more. … Continue...Episode Twelve – Online Zines and Game Writing