Drunken Pen Writing Podcast

#220: Books So Hard You Will Throw Them

Tue, 19 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today's cold open, we discuss some old/new publishing news as of the recording of the episode. After that, we discuss some of the most infamously difficult books in literature and why you should either read them or throw them over a mountain.

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#219: Books We Want To See Turned Into Movies

Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

The government has decided to pay us not to work and instead focus on our art! Or at least that's the scenario we discuss in today's cold open. What would you do with your free time if you received a universal basic income and no longer had to work a day job?

After that, and on the back of Andy Weir's hit book turned movie, Project Hail Mary, we learn about plans for a new sci-fi flick adapted from a popular book series. This leads us to a conversation about what books, sci-fi and others, that we would like to see adapted into a movie or TV series.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #137: Publishing Updates And Car Crashes

Tue, 05 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400

While this is our most recent recording, we bumped this up to air before our other episodes in the queue because we discuss a bunch of current events. Mainly, fresh publishing news, an on-air car accident announcement, and some current reads.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

BOTM #24: The Road Graphic Novel Adaptation

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

We begin today's episode with a conversation about collecting vinyl records. After that, we discuss the graphic novel adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel "The Road" by Manu Larcenet.

We also talk about what books we would like to see adapted into graphic novels, and what books we think would be impossible to adapt.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#218: Talking About Pulp Novels Again

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today's cold open, we discuss the nonsense that is Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon. It's about rockets and man boners. That's probably all you need to know.

After that, we settle in and talk about famous literary novels that started off as pulp. Or so we're told! There's a lot of goofiness packed into this one.

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @dpwpodcast.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #136: Nailing Bukowski

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

We begin today's episode by discussing the importance of joining a writing group. After that, we talk about our recent reads, including the absolutely crazy novel, "Pulp" by Charles Bukowski. Things take a turn for the weird very quickly in this one!

After all of that, we have a quick ranking of Haruki Murakami's books and discuss possibly comparing his work to that of Ryu Murakami's in a future episode.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#217: Violent Books And Blue Dongs

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

We kick off today's episode with some publishing news and an update on what we're reading. After that, we discuss the most violent books ever written, according to Google AI. We also have a ridiculous conversation about inbreeding turning folks blue.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#216: Famous Books With Terrible Original Titles

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

We kick off the episode with some good publishing news and a quick discussion about writing snacks, which devolves into us talking about drinking booze.

After that, we go over a list of famous literary works and their terrible original titles.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#215: Getting Blasphemous With David Scott Hay

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we sit down with author David Scott Hay and discuss how one goes about killing Jesus. More specifically, we have a long conversation about his new book, The Butcher of Nazareth, in which our protagonist has been given that very task to prevent the apocalypse. We also talk about giant disgusting goats!

David also breaks down his writing style, the unusual origin of this book (you'll never guess what it was originally supposed to be about), the book's amazing cover, and the grueling nature of putting together a period piece.

You can order The Butcher of Nazareth at Whiskey Tit

You can follow David Scott Hay on Instagram @david.scott.hay.official

You can also check out David's other work at https://www.davidscotthay.com/

DBS #135: Ranting And Raving Writers

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Today's cold open ended up taking over the entire episode. What began as a rant against writers using AI to create their novels transforms into a bitch-fest about the state of the US, the outrageous cost of living, and the greedy bastards who are destroying everything for everyone.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#214 Fancy Book Q&A

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

We begin today's episode by discussing two trending and controversial topics in the writing world: writers who don't read and writers who rely on AI to perform the actual writing portion of their work.

After that, we participate in a fun Q&A about books, sent in from our 2nd most loyal listener, Mike!

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #134: Reading Awful InstaPoems

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Spencer shares some good news in the cold open. After that, we discuss a list comprising some truly heinous InstaPoetry by the most popular InstaPoets.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#213: Books Written Masterfully In Unique Perspectives

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

We kick off today's episode with some stupid updates. After that, we discuss some notable books written masterfully in unique perspectives, such as the 2nd person.

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #133: Men Describing Women Cringe

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

We kick today's episode off by giving our take on the Super Bowl and its halftime show. After that, we rage out about intrusive advertisements. This goes on for too long, and right as our madness reaches its peak, we settle down and read a list of the cringiest lines about women written by idiot men.

Dumb fact: today's featured thumbnail image (or regular image if you're seeing this on social media) has been made by the AI slop feature that comes with our WordPress subscription. This is how it interpreted the episode title. TRASH! Imagine how nice it would be if we could ditch the AI crap for a cheaper subscription. Perhaps that will be an upcoming episode topic. What do you all think?

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

BOTM #23: The Butcher of Nazareth

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0500

We kick off today's episode with booze talk. After that, we settle in and discuss our latest Book of the Month, "The Butcher of Nazareth" by David Scott Hay. Trust us when we say, this is a brutal 5-star read!

You can pre-order The Butcher of Nazareth at Whiskey Tit

You can follow David Scott Hay on Instagram @david.scott.hay.official

You can also check out David's other work at https://www.davidscotthay.com/

#212: Overrated American Novels

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:34:42 -0500

We begin today's episode talking about a giant snowstorm and Russian literature. After that, we revisit an old topic with a twist. We discuss American novels that are overrated.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#211: Words You Should Cut From Your Work

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

We begin today's episode by discussing how our podcast has entered the future on Spotify. After that, we get downright weird, but also informative! We talk about the words and phrases you should cut from your writing.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #132: Why You Should Level Up Your Reading

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

We start things off with a rousing review of the movie The Smashing Machine starring Dwayne The Rock Johnson. After that, we settle in for an in-depth discussion about the importance of reading challenging books.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

BOTM #22: The Sugar Man

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

We open today's episode by discussing some bad publishing news, TV shows, and a bit of nonsense. After that, we settle in and discuss our latest Book of the Month, The Sugar Man by Nicolás Obregón.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#210: Our 2025 Writing Year In Review

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0500

We open today's episode with some book talk. After that, we reflect on how 2025 treated us regarding our writing. We discuss our writing successes, failures, and future goals.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#209: 2025 Reading Recap

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

It's that time of year again! Time for our yearly reading recap, where we discuss all the great, and not-so-great, books we've read this past year. But first, we open the episode with a most seductive reading from Moby Dick.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

#208: The Funny Side Of Poetry With Kurt Luchs

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Well, it's been some time, but we finally decided to have another guest on the show! Today, we're excited to share this great conversation we had with award-winning humor writer and poet Kurt Luchs.

Though we discuss Kurt's new book, Tributaries: Essays & Verses Flowing From & Celebrating Favorite Poems, we also navigate countless other topics about creativity, literature, cinema, radio, and the arts in general.

You can pick up a copy of Kurt's book at Sagging Meniscus.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

BOTM #21: A Short Stay In Hell And The Divine Farce

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We kick off today's episode by discussing the importance of reading and how it helps develop empathy. After that, we have our first-ever Books (plural!) of the Month. We talk about A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck and The Divine Farce by Michael Graziano.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#207: Discussing Future Classics

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We kick off today's episode with some Tim Allen nonsense. After that, we discuss a list of books that are said to become classics in the future. We talk about what constitutes a classic, as well as which books we think will one day be considered classics.

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#206: Be A Man And Read These 100 Books

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In today's cold open, we talk about domestic gender roles and how most modern people lack basic knowledge that all adults should know.

After that, we discuss a list of 100 books that men should read according to The Art of Manliness.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#205: Running Through Hell

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We kick off today's episode with our review of the movie The Running Man, based on Stephen King's novel of the same name. After that, we have a quick poetry reading followed by a conversation about various depictions of Hell in fiction.

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #131: Existential Elks And Toxic Friends

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We begin today's episode with philosophy! More specifically, we discuss the Existential Elk Theory and the sad, soul-crushing reality that is the human condition. Fun! Oh yeah, we also talk about Moby Dick for a bit.

After the extended cold open, we settle into a conversation about how the support of family and friends is important to creatives, but also how their negativity can be a sign to cut ties and elevate the class of people you associate with. If you have a certain goal you want to reach, you need to be around like-minded individuals who will help you reach those goals, not hold you back.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#204: Best Lines In Gothic Literature According To The Internet

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We begin today's episode by discussing a problem we're experiencing with the show. After that, we sit back and read some of the supposed best lines in Gothic literature according to the smart people on the internet.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

Horror Of The Month: The Boatmore Butcher By L. Stephenson

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We begin today's episode with a long, long discussion about online jerks and some critiques of Wuthering Heights. Things quickly devolve into shaming said online jerks, but if you don't care about any of that nonsense, you can skip straight to our Horror of the Month book review by going to the timestamp 26:29.

For our November Horror of the Month read, we're discussing the gripping slasher, "The Boatmore Butcher" by L. Stephenson:

Three paramedics are drawn into the mystery of a bizarre spree unfolding in a quiet island town. Devastated by the loss of his son, Liam Price, must hold it together whilst leading his team against a killer who finds new and twisted ways to prevent them for saving the lives of their victims.

If you're interested in checking out The Boatmore Butcher or L. Stephenson's other work, you can follow him on Instagram @lstephensonauthor.

BOTM #20: The Medusa Zone

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We start today's episode discussing how we got canceled! After that nonsense, we talk about our October Book of the Month, "The Medusa Zone" by Paul E. Cooley.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #130: Rejected Losers

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We kick off today's episode with a review of the movie Sinners. After that, we discuss what it's like to be a couple of giant losers who keep getting rejected from literary publications. It's not all doom and gloom, though. We also discuss some upcoming projects and works we're excited about.

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#203: Top Deaths In Fiction

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We begin today's episode by talking about the fatigue we've been feeling from reading a bunch of indie horror books in a row. After that, we discuss the top deaths in fiction.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #129: Reading The Scariest Lines In Literature

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We open up today's episode with some strange vacation news. After that, we try to define what kinds of writers we consider ourselves to be.

Once all that is established, we settle in and read "the scariest" lines in literature according to people who may or may not be idiots. Either way, we have a fun time.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

Horror Of The Month: Deathbed Confessionals By A.D. Jones

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We kick today's episode off with a conversation about rage bait and people only sharing things they hate online.

After that, we discuss the new horror short story collection "Deathbed Confessionals" by past guest and friend of the podcast, A.D. Jones. We briefly talk about each story, what we liked, didn't like, and why we think readers should check out the collection.

Deathbed Confessionals drops October 1st.

If you want to check out more from A.D. Jones, you can head on over to his Instagram page @the_evergrowing_library

#202: Ranking Stephen King Movie Adaptations

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Today, we relax with a list of 69 Stephen King movie adaptations and discuss their freshness on Rotten Tomatoes.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#201: Popular Phrases Still Used From The Middle Ages

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We open the episode with a quick review of Stephen King's Pet Sematary and some publishing news. After that, we discuss 20 popular phrases and their medieval origins.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#200: A Special Author Spotlight

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb begins today's episode with a revelation! One that deals with some Stephen King criticism.

After that, we settle in for the long haul as we shout out some notable writers who have been guests on the podcast or are affiliated with us in some capacity. Things get a bit weird as the whiskey flows, but we have a fun time talking about some of our favorite people in the writing world.

You can check out most of the writers mentioned in the show on Instagram:

Nicolás Obregón - https://www.instagram.com/obregonbooks#

David Scott Hay - https://www.instagram.com/david.scott.hay.official/#

Tyler C. Gore - https://www.instagram.com/tylermustwashhands/#

A.D Jones - https://www.instagram.com/the_evergrowing_library/#

Hayden Robinson - https://www.instagram.com/geekwriter92/#

Amber Hathaway - https://www.instagram.com/amber_hathaway_writes/#

Michael Wegener - https://www.instagram.com/_michael_wegener_/#

Shane Joaquin Jimenez - https://www.instagram.com/shane_joaquin_jimenez/#

Stevie Hosler - https://www.instagram.com/steviehosler_writes/#

L. Stephenson - https://www.instagram.com/l._stephenson/#

Harriet Everend - https://www.instagram.com/h.everend.author/#

DBS #128: Famous Literary Haters Part 2

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:45:46 -0400

We kick off today's episode talking about the cutest kitty, aka Caleb's new promo tool. After that, we continue our conversation about famous authors who hated other famous authors' famous works.

And because we love to torture our audience, Caleb decides to read some Finnegans Wake in his terrible Irish accent.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #127: Famous Literary Haters Part 1

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We begin today's episode with an interesting hypothetical: If you had to pick, what writer from history would you trade lives with?

After that, we discuss a bunch of famous authors who hated the famous works of other famous authors. The bastards!

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #126: Writing Tips With Hunter S. Thompson

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We open things up today with some publishing gripes. After that, we discuss three writing tips from the legendary madman, Hunter S. Thompson. We also break off into a discussion about the disaster that is life in 2025, as well as how we've been going about writing.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #125: Two Dumb Guys Flapping Their Heads

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

No cold open today. Instead, we jump right into a whole bunch of nonsense. Just as the great Cthulhu intended.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#199: Great Writing Tips From Kurt Vonnegut

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We open today's episode talking about Happy Gilmore 2. After that, we settle in for a fun discussion about one of our favorite authors, Kurt Vonnegut, and five of his great writing tips that are still applicable today.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#198: What Is Good Splatterpunk?

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We open today's episode with some more great publishing news! After that, we talk about splatterpunk. More specifically, we discuss what makes splatterpunk good or bad, and we give seven examples of great splatterpunk works.

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#197: 15 Examples Of Great Dialogue Part 2

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We kick things off with some gripes we have regarding submissions. After that, we continue our discussion on great dialogue.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#196: 15 Examples Of Great Dialogue Part 1

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We open today's episode with the worst news! After that, we move on to part one of a two-part discussion about great dialogue. We share 15 examples of great dialogue and explain cool, unique ways to make your dialogue stand out.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#195: Discussing A Ranking Of Cormac McCarthy's Darkest Novels

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We begin today's episode by discussing our new guest policy. After that, we settle in and dissect a ranking we found of Cormac McCarthy's darkest novels.

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @dpwpodcast.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #124: Revisiting Famous Writing Routines

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We begin today's episode with a look at some current events. After that, we revisit a topic we covered a long time ago. We discuss the daily routines of some famous writers, and since we're on our way to literary stardom, we also talk about our personal writing routines.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#194: Rediscovering Famous Writing Styles

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We open today's episode with a double dose of good publishing news! After that, we settle in and learn about the writing styles of famous authors.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #123: What Male Hobbies Do Women Find Attractive And Unattractive?

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Today, we kick things off with some BAD publishing news. You know, to change things up!

After that, we discuss two interesting lists. One is a list of the top male hobbies that women find attractive. The second list is the top male hobbies that women find unattractive. Guess which one reading and writing fall under. We also include what makes the list of female hobbies that we males find unattractive.

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#193: What Is Narrative Voice? Part 2

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We open today's episode with a round of great publishing news! After that, we continue last week's discussion on narrative voice. In this episode, we delve deeper into the mechanics of narrative voice and explore some interesting tricks you can use to tell a unique story.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#192: What Is Narrative Voice? Part 1

Tue, 27 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We open today's episode with some life stuff and book talk. After that, we have a detailed discussion about narrative voice. What is it? How do you use it? Why does it matter? We answer all these questions and more in this first part of a two-part conversation.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #122: A List Of The Worst Marvel Comic Books

Tue, 20 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We kick off today's episode with tales of woe from being a writer.

After that, we discuss a list of the worst Marvel comic books ever. Incredibly, people got paid to make some of these!

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's stuff at www.calebjamesk.com.

BOTM #19: A Confederacy Of Dunces

Tue, 13 May 2025 02:00:00 -0400

For May's Book of the Month, we're discussing John Kennedy Toole's Pulitzer Prize-winning absurdist classic, A Confederacy of Dunces.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#191: Mediocre Advice For Writing Crime

Tue, 06 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We open today's episode with some great publishing news about Spencer. After that, we discuss a list detailing the best ways to write crime fiction. Here's a hint: the list isn't great!

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#190: Our Storyteller Tier List

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We open today's episode with news about our good friend Nicolás Obregón and his newest novel, The Sugar Man.

After that, we sit back and discuss the greatest writers in history and where they fall on our tier list as storytellers. Believe it or not, some of the best writers are actually terrible at telling stories. You might be surprised by who tops the list and who gets a bad rating.

You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#189: Revisiting The Slush Pile Q&A

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Today, we are diving back in and discussing a second Q&A email we received from the editor of Story Magazine. We learn more about the story publishing process used by major literary magazines and your chances of acceptance.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#188: Breaking Down Amazing Lines Of Prose Part 2

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We start today's episode with some excellent publication news, and then quickly digress into a best storyteller tier list.

After that, we attempt to finish discussing a list of the top 51 amazing lines of prose. Here's a bit of a spoiler, most of the lines are neither amazing nor worthy of being on such a list. Our disgruntled rebuttals are peppered throughout.

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#187: Breaking Down Amazing Lines Of Prose Part 1

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We kick off today's episode with some excellent publishing news! After that, we discuss some of the "greatest" lines of prose. Despite the title of this episode, we do not take things seriously at all.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#186: Reading The Best Lines In Fiction

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We begin today's episode with some publication updates. After that, we read a list of what are supposedly considered the best lines in fiction. Unsatisfied with said lines, we go ahead and read some of our favorite lines from our own stories.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #121: An Awful List About The Most Awful Authors

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We open today's episode with some decent writing updates. After that, we discuss an absolutely awful list of the "most awful authors" of all time. Do not expect a serious conversation from this one!

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #120: Rediscovering Dead Book Genres

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We begin today's episode with some "what if" talk regarding famous writers. For instance, what if Robert E. Howard lived for another 30 or 40 years? How much would his writing style have evolved? What if Stephen King stopped writing in the 1980s? You get the idea.

After that, we cover some defunct (dead) book genres. We discuss whether the mentioned genres are actually dead, why some deserve to be dead, and which ones we want to make a comeback.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #119: Editing Woes

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb starts today's episode with some trouble he's having reading Ulysses by James Joyce. After that, we sit back, relax, and discuss the numerous obstacles we've encountered from editors when reviewing the edits for our works set for publication.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#185: Should You Still Read Neil Gaiman And Other Problematic Authors?

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We begin today's episode with a quick review of "The Monkey, " adapted from the Stephen King short story of the same name.

After that, we go into a deep and nuanced discussion about reading the works of authors who have done terrible things in their personal lives. The main culprit we discuss is Neil Gaiman who has recently come under fire for allegedly assaulting women in the worst ways.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#184: Solid Tips For Writing Dialogue Better Than Stephen King

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We kick things off with a rant about people who boycott art they were never going to purchase in the first place—especially the jerks who try to cancel books even though they don't read.

After that, we settle into a fun discussion about writing good dialogue. This begins with David Foster Wallace's opinion on Stephen King's method for writing dialogue and why Wallace thought King wrote below his capabilities for the sake of quantity over quality.

This leads us to the meat of the matter in how we write dialogue in our work. We give a bunch of great tips and examples from great writers and how they go about crafting realistic dialogue.

You can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

BOTM #18: Native Son By Richard Wright

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Caleb opens today's episode with a mini (sarcastic) review of "As I Lay Dying" by William Faulkner.

After that, we discuss our Book of the Month, "Native Son" by Richard Wright. We cover the topics of racism, social injustice, class status, and poverty.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #118: Crime And Punishment And Terrible Writing

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We have an extra-long cold open as we discuss some good, bad, and worse news. But that's not what takes so long. Caleb dives into his recent read of Crime and Punishment and shares what he took away from the book.

After that, we discuss the supposed downfall of contemporary fiction and the belief that nearly all modern writing is terrible (not our words). This takes us down an interesting road full of literary potholes made by snobs.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#183: The Formula For Writing Pulp Stories

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In today's cold open, we discuss the AI tool for plot development on Microsoft Word. Things get a bit heated!

After that, we discuss Lester Dent's formula for writing easy-to-sell pulp stories. Things don't go quite as planned, but we do our best to relay the information provided.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#182: What Really Happens When You Enter The Slush Pile

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We start with an extra "cold" cold open as Caleb talks about his recent illness and working in frigid temperatures.

After that, we read an AMA from the Editor-In-Chief of Story Magazine and learn about their submission reading practices. We discuss how different publications handle submissions, what we think is fair, and what is absolute garbage. Overall, this is a really informative episode.

You can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

Storycast #4: The Crimson Tower

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In today's special Storycast episode, we read The Crimson Tower from L. Stephenson's upcoming short story collection, When Strange Things Bite.

A mythical monster stalks a farming community -- A titan from the stars brings destruction to a small costal town -- A centuries old curse takes hold of a family -- A sea creature hunts a young group of trespassers -- A university professor receives a late-night visit from the dead -- A message board murder mystery is investigated -- An everyday morning takes a turn for the worse -- A sister becomes paranoid of her brother’s disease -- A young witch must gather a few risky ingredients -- A cannibal pays someone an unexpected visit -- A carpenter's daughter demands bloody satisfaction -- A psychopath fights to survive an alien invasion -- A boy is hunted by the devil -- A young boy faces his fear at the dentist.

You can preorder the collection now on Amazon.

#181: We Try To Upset Goodreads Reviewers

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0500

We kick things off with some writing and submission news. After that, we discuss a controversial topic in the reading community. We also figure out a fun way to make Goodreads reviews more legitimate. Here's a hint, it deals with users getting assigned a difficulty score based on the books they read.

You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

DBS #117: Getting Drunk And Ranking WWE Wrestlers

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 18:25:30 -0500

We spent New Year's Eve getting drunk and talking about the greatest 50 WWE wrestlers of all time. There's also some brief literary talk.

You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#180: 2024 Writing Recap

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Caleb starts the episode by announcing his new favorite book. After that, we talk about how 2024 treated us regarding our writing and what publications we got. We end by discussing our writing goals for 2025.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#179: Our 2024 Reading Recap

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Caleb opens the show with some writing woes. After that, we discuss all the books we've read in 2024, including our biggest disappointments and best reads of the year.

You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#178: The Downsides Of Getting Your Work Accepted For Publication

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We open things off with some good publishing news! After that, we settle in for a discussion about some unexpected problems authors might encounter after getting their work accepted for publication. We also talk about getting paid as a writer and when you should stop submitting to publishers that don't pay for your work.

You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #116: A Terrible Christmas Horror Book Discussion

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Caleb opens things up with a follow-up to an issue from last week's episode. After that, we discuss a list of Christmas horror books. But we do a terrible job!

You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's publication history at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #115: Offending Publishers And Your Audience

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We begin the episode by discussing Cormac McCarthy and a specific scene in his novel Suttree that depicts a young man fornicating with watermelons.

After that, we have a much longer discussion about offending publishers and your audience. We start with what big comic book creators and movie studios have been doing wrong by alienating their core audience, how that correlates with authors on a much smaller scale, and the simple fixes that can avoid many headaches.

Around 40 or so minutes in we finally get to the heart of the episode by discussing a specific scene (or in this case, word choice) that might derail one of Caleb's future submissions. We talk about when you should be brave and stick to your guns, and when it's important to know when to concede and make the proper changes to a work to get it published.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

BOTM #17: Violent Advents: A Christmas Horror Anthology

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We kick off the episode with some publishing news, a quick discussion about putting your previously published stories into your own collection, and what changes we think are acceptable from a publisher's editors.

The actual episode begins around the 17:36 mark for those who want to jump straight to our review of Violent Advents: A Christmas Horror Anthology which features Caleb's story, Maggot Party. We digress several times in this one with one of the more interesting topics being that of contemporary authors writing in first person present tense. If you're a fan of horror anthologies, you will love this collection!

You can follow us on X, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #114: Sick Conspiracy Novels

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We open the episode with some publishing talk. After that, a very ill Caleb does his best to talk about conspiracy novels. Things do not go well.

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#177: Investigating The Best Detective Stories

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We start the episode with some BAD publishing news with a good outcome. At least for us.

After that, we attempt to discuss 20 of the best detective crime stories according to the good people at Forbes. Our train seems to have a bad track though, and we go off the rails every 30 seconds. Despite this, we have a great time. Also, make sure to get checked for HAUNTED BONES! It's a serious ailment.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #113: A Halloween Spooktacular

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We kick things off with some controversial Edgar Allan Poe news. Did he steal The Raven from another writer!?

After that, we discuss some potentially bad publishing news, a newly found Bram Stoker book, and Caleb ends the episode by reading a scene from his story "Dead Men Don't Scream" which will be featured in Beautiful Darkness 3: A Dragon Soul Press Anthology released on October 30th.

You can check us out on Facebook, X, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can find Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

BOTM #16: We Have Always Lived In The Castle

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We discuss "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" by Shirley Jackson. We review the book by breaking down the characters and their motivations, the feminist themes throughout, and what we took away from the story.

You can follow us on X, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #111: Bonus Review Of Basketful Of Heads By Joe Hill

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 18:53:08 -0400

After an exhausting recording gauntlet, we do a terrible job of reviewing Basketful of Heads by Joe Hill. We constantly interrupt ourselves with giggly nonsense, but we had a great time, which is all that really matters!

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

Bonus Horror Of The Month: The Boy At No. 9 Whitlock

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We open the episode with more great publishing news—a trend we hope never ends! After that, we get into the episode proper with a review of L. Stephenson's new horror novella, The Boy at No. 9 Whitlock.

At first it was bad parents, bullies, and budding romances. But the tragic life of young Matthew Rose is about to get much worse...because the boy who lives at No. 9 Whitlock is about to meet a demon.

"One of the darkest coming-of-age horrors I've read. Grizzly and unrelenting. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't." - KEV HARRISON, Author of Shadow of the Hidden & Below

"Stephenson shows that horror isn’t all about sending chills down one’s spine; sometimes, it can be about moving the heart." - REBECCA ROWLAND, Shirley Jackson Award-nominated Author of White Trash & Recycled Nightmares

You can purchase the novella now on Amazon.

You can follow L. Stephenson on Instagram @l._stephenson

#176: The Raven By Edgar Allan Poe

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We were so eager to record this episode that we forgot to do a cold open and the introduction! What we did record is an entertaining discussion of Edgar Allan Poe's masterpiece, The Raven.

While we break down the poem in style and structure, we also discuss how it came to be, its influences, the life of Poe after writing The Raven, and some writers he influenced. We also talk about some of his other notable works.

You can follow us on X, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#175: Boogie Down With The Best Horror Authors

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We discuss a list featuring the best horror authors of all time. Some we know very well, some we've never heard of.

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

Horror Of The Month: Born Of Bloodshed

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

After getting our hands on an early copy of Born of Bloodshed by A.D. Jones, we give our honest review of this fun, gory novella just in time for the spooky season.

Born of Bloodshed:

Nothing exciting ever happens in the border towns of Scotland, and the village of Newcastleton, with a population in the hundreds, is no exception to the rule. That is until kids start going missing and turning up dead, and violently mutilated, in the surrounding forests.

A group of teens will be forced to put down their NES controllers, walk away from their VHS collections, and try to figure out what has descended upon their quaint, little village.

Born of Bloodshed from A.D Jones, author of Sacrificial Waters, will transport you to 1990 Scotland for this terror-filled, coming of age story which promises nostalgia, stomach-churning violence, and a group of teens that you will fall in love with. Perhaps don't get too attached!

You can pick up a copy of Born of Bloodshed on Amazon now.

#174: Halloween Poetry Nonsense

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

For a slight change of pace, Spencer is the one who opens the episode with some good publishing news! After that, we settle down and read some of the greatest Halloween-time poems. Of course, this leads to instant nonsense things continuously go off the rails.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

DBS #110: Halloween Book Giggle Fest

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We kick things off with even more great publishing news! After that, we attempt to cover a list of great Halloween books. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your view, we succumb to an intense giggle fest and aren't able to take things seriously.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#173: Greatest Satirical Novels

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We open the episode with more good publishing news! After that, we discuss the greatest "satirical" novels of all time. However, there is some contention on what constitutes satire.

Make sure you stick around to the end because we play something especially odd and stupid for your listening pleasure.

You can follow us on Instagram, X, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

A Murakami Minute: Manga Stories Vol 1 Part 4

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In our final installment discussing Manga Stories Vol 1, we cover Haruki Murakami's short story and manga adaptation, The Seventh Man."

DBS #109: Our Big Plans For October

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb opens the episode with his biggest publishing news to date! After that, we discuss our big plans for October, including reading a novel, short story, poem, and graphic novel throughout the month. We also decide to do a special Halloween episode that'll include an excerpt from one of Caleb's newest stories.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

A Murakami Minute: Manga Stories Vol 1 Part 3

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We discuss the short story and manga adaptation of Birthday Girl by Haruki Murakami.

DBS #108: The Costs Of Being A Writer

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb opens the episode with some more exciting publishing news! After that, we discuss some of the costs associated with writing. We first dive into the publishing world and what you can expect to get paid for your work. Then we talk about what struggles indie authors face when putting out their own work. A lot of which revolves around hiring other people such as editors and cover artists.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

A Murakami Minute: Manga Stories Vol 1 Part 2

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We discuss Where I'm Likely to Find It by Haruki Murakami, featured in Manga Stories Volume 1 and the prose version in The New Yorker.

#172: Two Morons Discuss Speculative Poetry

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb opens the episode with some super exciting publishing news! After that, we discuss speculative poetry, a topic we're both woefully ignorant about. We talk about the various forms of speculative poetry, how they differ from traditional poetry, and how absolutely awesome genres like sword and sorcery poetry are. For a bonus, we read many examples of these kinds of poetry.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

A Murakami Minute: Manga Stories Vol 1 Part 1

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We discuss two versions of Haruki Murakami's short story, Super Frog Saves Tokyo. We compare Murakami's original story to the manga adaptation in Manga Stories Volume 1.

#171: That's So Cliché

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We open the episode with a bit of housekeeping. After that, we have a fun discussion about cliches and better writing methods. Things go askew fairly quickly but we cover a lot of useful information. To add an element of pure chaos to things, we end the episode by changing some common cliches to much dumber versions.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

A Murakami Minute: Manga Stories Volume 1 Introduction

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We are back with A Murakami Minute! This time, we are covering Haruki Murakami's Manga Stories Volume 1. In this first volume, Jc Deveney has adapted four of Murakami's stories into a manga collection with art by PMGL Pierre-Marie Grille-Liou.

The four stories in this collection are:

Super-Frog Saves Tokyo: A few days after an earthquake, Katagiri discovers a giant frog in this home. The frog promises to save Tokyo from another earthquake, but Katagiri must help him. Is this real, or is Katagiri dreaming?

Where I'm Likely to Find It: A woman's husband goes missing so she hires a detective. As the detective traces the man's whereabouts, he reflects on the meaning of his own life.

Birthday Girl: A woman tells her friend the story of a surreal encounter she has on her twentieth birthday with the owner of the restaurant where she works, who grants her a wish.

The Seventh Man: The story of a man scarred by the death of his childhood friend in a tsunami.

#170: We Get Lyrical

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Spencer starts the episode with a grievance against a certain group of people urinating into his breakfast cereal of choice. After that, we have an interesting conversation about lyrical prose. Specifically, what constitutes lyrical prose, how to write it well, and how to realize that you've gone beyond lyrical prose into the dirty category of purple prose.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

BOTM #15: NSFW By David Scott Hay

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We open the episode with a few reviews and some possibly upsetting Neil Gaiman news. After that, we have a fun discussion about the novel NSFW by previous DPW guest David Scott Hay. We talk about the themes of the book and how they reflect our current world, why experimental fiction might not work for all readers, and the dark road our society might be going down.

You can snag a copy of NSFW on Amazon or go to David's website.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

DBS #107: How Two Dumb Guys Write

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We open the episode with a recap of our moonshine-filled weekend. Also, submission grievances!

After that, we take a fan suggestion and discuss our writing processes: what software we use, how we get our ideas, the types of outlines we use, and what writing techniques we want to implement in the future.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#169: We Discover Rare Literary Genres

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb opens the episode with a rant about the social media generation. After that, we get into a fun discussion about rare literary genres that most people have never heard of.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #106: Why We Suck As Writers

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We start the episode with some cool book purchases. After that, we discuss why we suck as writers. Specifically, the things we individually fail at and need to work on. This leads to some interesting shop talk about narrative structure, ways to tell stories, and some other things we could improve upon in our writing.

Check out Caleb's stuff at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #105: How To Write A Comic Book Script

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We open the episode with an absurd hypothetical question. After that, we discuss what goes into writing a comic book script and how the medium can be used to tell unique stories.

Stick around after the outro if you want to listen to us talk about our book club.

You can follow us on Instagram, X, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #104: We're Big Shot Writers Now!

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Hey, this is a fun episode! We discuss our recent experiences within the publishing world, including the downsides of working with editors, how terrible it is waiting for news about submissions, what kinds of publishers absolutely suck, and plenty of other random nonsense to tantalize your earholes.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#168: Uncovering The Past With David Winner

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Author David Winner joins us to discuss his book Master Lovers. We have a great conversation about David's great aunt Dorle and her whirlwind life during the 1930s. The book details her many romances with notable political figures, run-ins with Nazis, the Black and Tan, and numerous celebrities.

If you want to check out Master Lovers, you can buy a copy at Amazon or find out more information on David's website, or his publisher, Outpost19.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#167: This Long, Difficult, Beautiful Life With C.E. Hoffman

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Author C.E. Hoffman joins us to discuss their newest short story collection, Losers and Freaks. While we talk about the book a good bit, we also touch upon many interesting topics such as writing urban fantasy, getting pigeon-holed as a genre writer, delving into experimental fiction, the importance of being authentic, how literature gives hope, what kinds of things inspire artists, and why the arts are so important to mental health.

If you want to check out C.E. Hoffman's work and where to order Losers and Freaks, you can follow them on X @CEHoffman2 and go to their official author site https://www.cehoffman.net/

#166: What Scares Us With A.D. Jones

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we were originally scheduled to talk with Irish writer Frances Flannery about her debut novel, Writing Man. Unfortunately, the computer goblins have attacked us for a second week in a row and we couldn't do the interview. But we refused to let that stand!

So, after calling an audible, we got horror author A.D. Jones to join us to discuss his new book, Sacrificial Waters. The conversation dips in and out of various topics such as indie publishing versus traditional, the difficulties of writing horror and adding twists on popular tropes, what really scares a horror author, and what kinds of things horror writers describe that even make them cringe.

If you want to see what A.D. is up to, you can follow him on Instagram @the_evergrowing_library.

You can order a copy of his new book at https://www.amazon.com/Sacrificial-Waters-D-Jones/dp/B0CY962F45

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #103: Does Stephen King Suck At Writing Women?

Tue, 28 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We kick off the episode with some bad news. Poet Joy Sullivan was scheduled for today's episode, and she did join us on the podcast via computer, but unfortunately, we had some tech issues and couldn't record the episode.

Since we couldn't talk with Joy, we decided to discuss a topic that came to our attention recently. Some people think Stephen King is bad at writing female characters. Well, Spencer couldn't let this King slander stand. So he found a list of great female characters in Stephen King's work.

After we talk about the list, we go into some more details about this supposed fault of his. We discuss the faults of other writers and the problems with poorly written characters beyond gender.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#165: How To Make Your Own Zine

Tue, 21 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We open the show with some shop talk. After that, we go into a detailed discussion on how to make a zine. Whether it be a fiction zine, poetry zine, art zine, or any of the other countless types of zines out there, this episode just might inspire you to create one.

Check out https://thecreativeindependent.com/guides/how-to-make-a-zine/ for a detailed breakdown of how to make a zine.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #102 A F***ing Shark!

Tue, 14 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We settle into one of the dumbest episodes to date, discussing the worst movie villain motivations. The topic isn't bad, but when we encounter the motivation for the shark from Jaws, things go off the rails.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#164: Sick Literary Quotes

Tue, 07 May 2024 16:00:23 -0400

After some opening announcements, we discuss some of the greatest literary quotes. The catch is, Caleb is getting over a sickness, and it seems to have altered the workings of his brain!

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#163: The Shapes Of Stories With Kurt Vonnegut

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We kick off the episode with a quick correction from last week. After that, we discuss a lecture series by Kurt Vonnegut that features his master's thesis about the shapes of stories.

To add to what Mr. Vonnegut talked about in his lecture, we also revisit the seven kinds of stories and do our best to fit them into Vonnegut's shapes theory.

You can check out his lecture at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOGru_4z1Vc

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #101: Controversial Neil Gaiman Book List

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We open the episode with an interesting discussion about international publishing and how the differences in British versus American style guides can change an author's work.

After that, we go over a list of Neil Gaiman's "best" books and give our immature critiques on the substance of said list. We also discuss some of our favorite Neil Gaiman books and get pretty dumb while doing so.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#162: Writing Sword And Sorcery

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We open things up with some publication news! After that, we set our arms aside and find out how to go about writing sword and sorcery stories. We break down all the nuances of the genre and the best ways to get the most out of your characters.

If you're interested in reading the article we used for reference, check out https://www.servicescape.com/blog/might-and-magic-how-to-write-a-sword-and-sorcery-tale

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's publication history at www.calebjamesk.com

#161: Top Pulp Crime Authors Recommended By Stephen King

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 18:22:26 -0400

Spencer kicks off the episode with some annoying book news. After that, we discuss pulp crime authors recommended by Stephen King. We also cover a list of pulp novels that have been rebranded as literary gems. There's also lots of giggles and toilet humor in this one!

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and YouTube @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

DPW News: Two Dumb Guys Are Dumb

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Since the episode we recorded for this week was complete garbage, we decided to do a fun little update instead. It's mostly just nonsense with a bit of publishing news thrown in.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

#160: More Strange Than True With C.J. Spataro

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We sit down with author C.J. Spataro and discuss her debut novel, More Strange Than True. We also talk about the publishing world, current literary trends, how to submit your work to publishers and get accepted, and what type of magic turns a man into a dog.

You can check out C.J.'s work at https://www.cjspataro.com/

You can keep an eye out for her book, More Strange Than True at https://www.saggingmeniscus.com/catalog/more_strange_than_true/

DBS #100: A Drunken Celebration

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

For our 100th DBS episode, we drink a bunch of booze and discuss some of our favorite guests over the years, terrible politics, great superhero names, and old DPW bits. A lot is going on in this one and most of it is nonsense!

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DPW News Update 1

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

A quick publishing and news update.

#159: Ideal Bookshops

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We open the episode by recapping our weekend trip to Columbus Ohio for the Arnold Fitness Expo.

After that, we discuss what our ideal bookshop would be. We also talk about a bunch of the different bookstores we've been to over the years.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's stuff at www.calebjamesk.com.

#158: Do Indie Publishers Get A Bad Rap?

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We kick things off by discussing the trash heap that is made up of Sony superhero movies.

After that, we talk about the publishing industry. Specifically, we discuss why we feel indie publishers and indie presses get a bad rap.

You can follow us on X, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's stuff at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #99: Books Better Than Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Caleb opens the show with some bad news about his most recent publication, HorrorScope Volume 4.

After that, we discuss a list of science fiction books that have been judged to be better than Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep. As soon as we finish the list, we delve into a good bit of nonsense for your listening pleasure.

Check us out on X, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

Follow Caleb and his work at www.calebjamesk.com.

A Murakami Minute: The Problem With Haruki Murakami Feat. Nicolás Obregón

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Our friend, author Nicolás Obregón joins us for a special edition of A Murakami Minute. In this episode, we discuss some problems we have with Haruki Murakami's writing. We also dive into a few controversial topics and why we feel it's important to separate art from the artist.

If you want to check out Nic's work, you can head on over to https://obregonbooks.com/

If you want to see what Caleb has been up to, you can check out his stuff at https://calebjamesk.com/

You can follow us on X, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

DBS #98: A Terrible Recap Of DPW's History

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

With high-energy nonsense, we discuss some funny publishing stuff and then do an absolutely terrible job of reviewing the history of DPW.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#157: Forgiving The Son Of Sam With Dr. Michael Caparrelli

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0500

In this special episode, we sit down with Dr. Michael A. Caparrelli and discuss his new book, Monster Mirror: 100 Hours with David Berkowitz, Once Known as Son of Sam.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Caparrelli breaks down what a psychopath truly is, what evil is, how we're all capable of committing horrible acts, and most importantly, he gives us a lesson in forgiveness and why we shouldn't write people off.

If you want to check out Dr. Caparrelli's book, you can find it on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Mirror-Hours-David-Berkowitz/dp/B0CK3QD25N

If you want a deeper dive into all the other things he's doing these days, you can head over to his Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/cappyphd/

#156: Turning Your Life Into Comedy With Tyler C. Gore

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We sit down with Tyler C. Gore, author of My Life of Crime: Essays and Other Entertainments.

In this episode, we jump all over the place with numerous topics. We discuss essay writing, comedy writing, standup comedy, classic literature, contemporary fiction writers, what the modern writing landscape is like, how publishing has changed over the years, how the short story market has crumbled, genre fiction, the literary scene in New York City, why artists and writers are leaving big cities, and of course, Tyler's latest book.

You can find Tyler and his work at https://tylergore.com/

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

Caleb's work can be found at www.calebjamesk.com.

#155: The Best Worst Opening Sentences

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We kick things off with some exciting publishing news! After that, we read 33 of the best entries in the Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest, which is a contest dedicated to the worst opening sentences for novels that don't exist. We also discuss the ideal bowel movement, but that's at the very end.

Check us out on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

DBS #97: Pop Culture Nonsense

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We have a mini-tournament for great TV sitcoms, give our take on the cartoon wars, and then we discuss a bunch of celebrities who most people don't know have written fiction novels.

Check us out on X, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#154: What Are You Trying To Say?

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Caleb opens the episode by describing how he would write a gripping story using one of Batman's goofiest villains.

After that, we get into a discussion about the art of translating fiction. We read some popular excerpt translations of The Brothers Karamazov. This leads us down the road of good and bad translations we've read over the years, as well as our opinions on authors changing their novels years after release.

You can follow us on X, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#153: 2023 Writing Recap

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500

We open the episode with some gripes we've found with Dante's Inferno. After that, we have our yearly writing recap. This year, we discuss our worst failures, greatest successes, and our writing goals for 2024.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#152: 2023 Reading Recap

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

We start the episode off with some quick announcements. After that, we discuss all the books we read in 2023. We also talk about our reading goals for 2024.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can check out Caleb's stuff at www.calebjamesk.com

DBS #96: Brain Freeze

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

In today's cold open, we discuss the ramifications of becoming a henchman.

After that, we brainstorm ideas for cold, winter-themed anthology stories.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

DBS #95: Getting Funky With Mark Twain

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

During the cold open, we give an estimation of our yearly writing goals.

After that, we cover a list of the best Mark Twain books you should read. Unfortunately, Caleb is on the first day of a water fast and his brain has stopped functioning properly. This leads to some strange digressions and bizarre readings of Anglish newsletters.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's writing at www.calebjamesk.com.

#151: Historical Fiction Noir With Stephen G. Eoannou

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we sit with author Steven G. Eoannou to discuss his latest novel, Yesteryear. Steven gives us a brief history of the Lone Ranger and then talks about how he took the famous character's creator, Fran Striker, and made up a fantastical history that celebrates the author by turning him into the hero of his own story.

If you're looking for a fun yet gritty noir story with real-world roots, check out Yesteryear by going to:

https://www.sgeoannou.com/

Amazon

SFWP

You can also follow Stephen on:

Twitter (X) @StephenGEoannou

Facebook

Yesteryear Synopsis:

It’s 1930s Buffalo, New York. The Great Depression rages, and scriptwriter Fran Striker’s job is on the line at WEBR. He must write the pilot for a new radio show but, to do so, he needs to overcome writer's block, defeat a Gypsy curse, foil a plot to assassinate FDR, deal with an insane, alcoholic midget, and recover stolen diamond rings belonging to an equally insane, alcoholic boxing champion.

Who was that masked man? Based on the real-life and often controversial story of The Lone Ranger creator Fran Striker, Yesteryear takes us on a magical journey that led to the iconic hero’s debut, a show that provided hope to Americans during the country’s darkest days. Populated by characters who lived during that era—radio actor John L. Barrett, Mafioso Stefano Magaddino, former boxing champion Jimmy Slattery, and president-elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt -- Eoannou breathes new life into the immortal Lone Ranger and the man who struggled to create him.

#150: Modern Writing Blues

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

We kick things off by discussing if we think any movie or movie franchise will ever be able to replicate Avengers Endgame. We also go into the current state of Marvel movies and comic books a bit.

After that, we go into some fun writing talk. We cover reading and writing burnout, the problem with writing stories in a contemporary setting, and why these darn kids today are screwing up text messaging.

You can follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

DBS #94: We Analyze Famous Short Stories

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

In the cold open, we talk about a few writing pet peeves we have. After that, we read a few famous short stories and discuss why they're good.

You can follow us on X, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

#149: We Ruin Celebrity Love Letters

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

After recording one of the worst episodes we've ever done, we immediately deleted it and recorded this one instead.

We start off reading some wholesome love letters written by famous people throughout history, but things take a hard turn and we end up ruining them with our awful, dirty brains. And then we read James Joyce's smut letters and things really go off the rails. This episode is definitely not NSFW.

You can follow us on social media @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #93: Spooky Halloween Special

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500

We kick off our DPW Halloween Special with our annual toast to and poetry reading of Edgar Allan Poe.

Once we finish with the business portion of the show, we get hammered drunk on moonshine and discuss what books, movies, and TV shows have scared us. We also discuss some real fears and end on what people truly find scary.

You can follow us on social media @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

BOTM #14: Becoming The Boogeyman By Richard Chizmar

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today, we are reviewing our October Book of the Month, Becoming the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar.

The sequel to the critically acclaimed Chasing the Boogeyman, Becoming the Boogeyman picks up where the first novel leaves off.

SPOILER ALERT: We discuss and spoil both novels in this episode. But we do give two separate warnings before we do so, which means you can listen to some of the episode even if you haven't read either book.

You can pick up a copy of Becoming the Boogeyman on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or wherever you get your books.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#148: Our Last Stand With Angie Elita Newell

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today we sit down with indigenous author and historian Angie Elita Newell to discuss her debut novel, All I See is Violence.

Along with her book, we discuss many historical topics, go into politics (specifically, Canadian politics from an indigenous perspective), talk about how absurd the US TSA system is, and end things with an otherworldly alien conversation.

You can see what Angie is up to at https://www.angieelitanewell.com/

You can follow us on the main social media platforms @dpwpodcast

And you can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

#147: Dystopian Shenanigans With David Scott Hay

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We discuss creating movies, plays, and novels with author, playwright, and screenwriter David Scott Hay. We also go in-depth about the use of AI in the movie and publishing industries, what goes into writing and putting on stage plays, how writers get screwed over during contract negotiations, how on-point classic sci-fi writers were about where modern society would end up, and many other interesting topics.

You can check out David's work at https://www.davidscotthay.com/ or follow him on Instagram @david.scott.hay.official

If you want to buy his books, go to https://whiskeytit.com/ and use code dsyay for a 30% discount.

If you want more DPW, you can follow us @dpwpodcast on most social media platforms.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#146: Getting Angry With Terena Elizabeth Bell

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today, we have a long chat with author Terena Elizabeth Bell about her short story collection, Tell Me What You See.

We discuss the impact of Covid in writing, the anger caused by January 6th, getting labeled or mislabeled as a specific type of writer, the annoying nature of trigger warnings, the delight of high society fart jokes, and many other topics.

You can check out Terena's work at www.terenabell.com

You can follow us on most social media platforms @dpwpodcast

And you can follow Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #92: Worst Books Ever!

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we talk about books. Books We like. Books that have disappointed us. And some books that have been voted the worst of all time! If you want drunken rambling without the drunk part, this episode will be right up your alley.

You can follow us on most social media platforms @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#145: Talkin’ Tequila Tatas With Miette Gillette

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today, we get straight down to business. Whiskey business! More specifically, Whiskey Tit business!!

Another whiskey aficionado joins us drunken boobs to discuss whiskey, books, the publishing industry, and tits. That's right! Miette Gillette from Whiskey Tit brings her unique perspective of the book publishing industry (as a publisher herself) and graces us with some insider knowledge. We talk about the origin of Whiskey Tit (and how it got its name), the cultural need for experimental literature, the importance of cover letters in the submission process, what role AI plays in the publishing industry, and many more interesting topics.

For some truly great and possibly outlandish literature, be sure to check out Whiskey Tit.

You can also follow us on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#145: The Top Book Genres To Make Money In

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

For today's cold open, we discuss the downward spiral of children's television programming. We talk about the creeps in the children's show industry, the ruined lives of child stars, and how stupid everything has become.

After that, we cover a list of the top 23-selling book genres. You might be surprised at where some of your favorite genres land on the list!

You can check us out @dpwpodcast on Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

You can follow Caleb at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #91: Has Inclusive Language Gotten Out Of Hand?

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We start the episode with some harmless Dragon Ball talk. After that, we continue the civil conversation with a fresh look at our writing habits: We discuss the importance of setting, hooking the reader early, establishing characters, and creating atmosphere.

Once we exhaust the civil conversation, we get into the meat and potatoes of the stew and discuss inclusive language in writing. This includes a list of words you used to be able to say but are now considered outdated and what you should use instead. This of course digresses into our opinions of inclusive language. And boy howdy do we give our opinions!

You can follow the show on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can read Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

#144: To Revenge, Or Not To Revenge, That Is The Question

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We start the episode by sharing our personal gripes about public restrooms. Especially the ones at large events!

After that, we have a great discussion about how to write a killer revenge story. We go into the minute details of crafting a good revenge tale, the different kinds of revenge stories, and some of the most famous revenge novels.

You can follow us on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

#143: We Get Absurd

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We start off with an existential crisis! After that, we discuss absurdism and what are some of the best absurdist novels ever written.

You can follow us on Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

BOTM #13: The Plague By Albert Camus

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we discuss our Book of the Month, The Plague, by Albert Camus. We dissect the allegory of the Nazi Occupation of France during WWII, talk about how relevant the book is after living through the Covid-19 pandemic, and give our official rating of the book.

You can follow us on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#142: The Best Stream Of Consciousness Novels

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 18:19:14 -0400

Caleb kicks the episode off by airing out his beef with the literary publishing scene. After that, we discuss the best stream-of-consciousness novels, what stream-of-consciousness is, and why we think some books shouldn't be on these types of lists.

You can follow us on X, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #90: Books For Black Mirror Fans

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today we find seven book recommendations for fans of the show Black Mirror. After that segment goes down in flames, we discuss the best Black Mirror episodes according to another terrible list, which leads to us ranting about evil tech and corporate America.

You can follow us on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#141: Crime Fiction With James Michels

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We kick the episode off with a quick chat about cozy mysteries. Very exciting!

After that, we have a long conversation with crime writer James Michels. We discuss what got him into crime writing, the dirty truths of indie publishing, his failures and successes as an author, and what things inspire him to write the things he does.

You can check out James' work at www.jamesmichelsbooks.com

You can also follow him online at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestherealmike

Twitter: @jamesrealmike

Instagram: @jamesmichels

TikTok: @jamesrealmike

YouTube: @jamesmichelsbooks

#140: How To Write Comedy

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb begins the episode with an exciting announcement!

After that, we dive deep into how to write comedy, the different types of comedy, how to write or perform bad comedy, and why modern comedians are not as good as many of yesteryear.

We end things by listing some of the best modern physical comedians and the top 20 of all time.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can also check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#139: How To Stop AI From Taking Over The Writing Industry

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today we're talking about the rise of artificial writing software and the fear many writers have about its potential to replace them. We also discuss eight ways to improve your writing to stay ahead of the AI for as long as possible.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

#138: Worst To Best Stephen King Endings

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb begins the episode by reading an excerpt of his new story written for Taco Bell Quarterly. Yes, there's a Taco Bell themed literary journal!

After all that jazz, we cover the ten worst Stephen King book endings and follow it up with the ten best endings. Obviously, we spoil the books. So, SPOILER WARNING!!!

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#137: Why You Should Join A Book Club

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

For the cold open, we discuss something not so cold. Fire! Then we get into the main topic of why we think it's important to join a book club. We discuss our reasons for joining and the various benefits you get can get from one.

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

DBS #89: Who Is The Greatest Living Author?

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Spencer kicks the episode off by giving his opinion on The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea by Yukio Mishima. After that, we discuss who we think takes the title of the greatest living author now that Cormac McCarthy has passed away.

You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#136: RIP Cormac McCarthy

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we discuss the work of the late and great Cormac McCarthy. We also talk about the public school system and why everyone is dumb.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

#135: We Get Profound

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 18:36:15 -0400

We kick things off by discussing our recent adventure in Pittsburgh during the Pride parade. After that, Caleb reads some more dirty smut because he's a freak!

Once we get to the actual topic at hand, we have a long conversation about some profound book excerpts and our honest opinions about them.

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

DBS #88: Fairy Tales And Dirty Smut

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb opens the podcast by reading an excerpt from The Marquis De Sade's 120 Days of Sodom. You may want to skip straight to the episode if you're easily grossed out.

Today we discuss what makes something a fairy tale instead of a fantasy. We also figure out if some famous works count as fairy tales, such as The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and even the Bible!

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

#134: Best Neil Gaiman Books

Tue, 30 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb starts the episode by airing his grievances toward a particular celebrity. After that, we cover Neil Gaiman's best books.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#133: Best Video Game Narratives

Tue, 23 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Spencer starts the episode with some grievances he has toward Spider-Man. After that, we cover the best narratives in video games according to CBR.

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

DBS #87: Classic Sci-fi, Wrestling Promos, And A Hard Question

Tue, 16 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We open things off with a quick discussion of the novel I Robot. After that, we talk about classic sci-fi, have fun with reading book summaries in the style of old wrestling promos, and we answer a very difficult question.

You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

#132: Drinking To Latin American Authors

Tue, 09 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today we're talking about the best Latin American authors that you should read. But first, Caleb has a story idea!

We also discuss writing translations and our future plans to read the Divine Comedy.

You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

A Murakami Minute: Pinball 1973

Fri, 05 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Pinball, 1973 is a novel published in 1980 by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. The second book in the "Trilogy of the Rat" series, is preceded by Hear the Wind Sing, followed by A Wild Sheep Chase, and is the second novel by Murakami.

In this episode, we discuss Pinball's relationship to the first novel, the themes that run through both, and some of Murakami's trademark weirdness.

#131: How Dumb Are We?

Tue, 02 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We open things off with some everyday things that cause us great aggravation. After that, we go over high Lexile books, which is the measurement of book difficulty.

We discuss if we think the books mentioned are actually difficult which leads us to discuss our self-perceived intelligence levels.

Check us out @dpwpodcast on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

You can also follow Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

A Murakami Minute: Hear The Wind Sing

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Hear the Wind Sing is the first novel by Haruki Murakami; it first appeared in the June 1979 issue of Gunzo, one of Japan's most influential literary magazines.

There’s not a whole lot to say story-wise. A young man drinks a lot of beer and has strange conversations with a mysterious young lady he has just met. So, classic Murakami.

DBS #86: Best Stoner Movies And Books For 420

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In celebration of 420, we discuss the best stoner movies and the best stoner books. We also deviate and discuss classic literature that's non-stoner related. This is a pretty chill episode.

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

A Murakami Minute: Hear The Wind Sing And Pinball 1973 Introduction

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We're back with a new series of A Murakami Minute. This time around we are going to discuss Haruki Murakami's first two novels, Hear the Wind Sing and Pinball, 1973.

In this introduction, we give a quick synopsis of the two books and talk about how Murakami got his start as a writer, as well as how he developed his unique writing style and became one of the most beloved authors of the last 50 years.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

DBS #85: Catching Up On Our Lives

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We needed a break from our rigorous podcast schedule so we take it easy in this one and discuss our current reading endeavors as well as our writing.

Some of the topics at hand are Shakespeare, Denzel Washington's The Tragedy of Macbeth, Stephen King's work, Japanese fiction, and our next reading goals.

You can check us out on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

#130: Massacre At The Comic Shop With Nick Ulanowski

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We sit down with author Nick Ulanowski to discuss the Kickstarter for his upcoming novel, Massacre at the Comic Shop. We also discuss book promotion, publishing work as an indie author, and at the end of the episode Nick reads one of his great poems. There's a lot of great information throughout this episode and even more laughs.

Check out Nick's Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/starvingauthor/massacre-at-the-comic-shop

You can also follow him on

Twitter: @StarvingAuthor

Instagram: @cynical_but_fun

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nick.ulanowski/

Medium: https://urza216.medium.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ANick+Ulanowski&s=relevancerank&text=Nick+Ulanowski&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/StarvingAuthorPress?ref=profile_header

#129: Drunk Writing Talk With Author Matt Holland

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We welcome Liverpool-based writer Matt Holland to the show to discuss any and everything. Fair warning, we get pretty inebriated in this one and touch on some bizarre topics, such as the inbreeding of the Royal Family.

We open the episode by discussing what writers have influenced our writing styles for the better and the worse. Then, Matt tells us a little about himself and his work, including his novel Hair of the Dog (which we covered on the podcast as our first-ever Book of the Month in 2019). After that, the booze takes hold and all bets are off!

You can check out Matt's work at www.matthollandauthor.com

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

You can also see what Caleb is up to at www.calebjamesk.com

#128: Talking Sci-fi And Stand-up Comedy With Jeremiah Ukponrefe

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we talk with writer and stand-up comedian Jeremiah Ukponrefe. We open things up with a quick chat about what current comedians we enjoy.

Afterward, Jeremiah tells us about Hive, his first sci-fi novel in a nine-part series. We also discuss the hardships of promoting work in an oversaturated market and how being a stand-up comedian actually helps with book sales.

Jeremiah also tells us about the comedy landscape in his home country of Canada, the difficulties of touring, and his goal of moving to Europe to further his career in stand-up.

Due to time constraints, Jeremiah had to leave a bit early, so to make up for it, Caleb ends the show with a needlessly gross story that we know you will enjoy.

Check out Jeremiah's work at www.jeremiahu.com

You can also follow him on Twitter @JeremiahUAuthor

You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

DBS #84: We Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day With Big Beers And Dirty Literature

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We pack a lot of fun in this St. Patrick's Day celebration episode. If you want some great Irish book recommendations, listen to us act like buffoons, and end things by reading James Joyce's dirty fart letters, this is the episode for you!

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#127: How To Submit To Magazines And Journals

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb opens the episode by updating the world on his most recent woes with Alan Moore's Jerusalem. This time, he does so while drinking a rancid beer.

The main topic of the day is how to submit short stories, flash fiction pieces, and poetry to literary magazines and journals. We discuss the proper ways to submit, give some tips on how to improve your chances of getting accepted, and we talk about some of the differences between submitting to literary journals and genre publications. There's a lot of great info in this one.

You can keep up to date on Caleb's work by going to www.calebjamesk.com

DBS #83: Rewriting James Bond

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we touch on all sorts of controversial topics such as religion, abortion, flat Earthers, politics, conspiracy nuts, and many others. The main topic, though, is the censoring and or rewriting of classic books. The main example we discuss is the new revisions of Ian Flemings' James Bond series.

You can also check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

#126: Why Don’t People Like Reading Classic Literature?

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Caleb, for some terrible reason, kicks the episode off with a reading of Macbeth. After that, we discuss why we think people don't enjoy reading classic literature.

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

DBS #82: Alan Moore Breaks Caleb’s Spirit

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Caleb has lost his will to read thanks to Alan Moore and his impractically large novel, Jerusalem. Spencer, on the other hand, has simply lost the will to live. There is some good news though. Caleb has gotten another story published!

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

You can also follow the podcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

#125: Creating Comics With Dan Nokes

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

We begin the episode by discussing whether or not we would take a job writing comics for DC or Marvel if it meant we could no longer create our own original content. After that, we welcome a special guest to the show.

Dan Nokes is a comic book artist, writer, novelist, and many other things. We have a long conversation with Dan about his early work, his recent novel, his highs and lows in the comic book industry/convention circuit, his success with Kickstarter, and numerous other topics.

If you want to check out Dan's work, you can head on over to https://www.21sandshark.com/ and while you're at it, be sure to take a look at his current Kickstarter for CHICKEN: Battered & Fried.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

#124: Developing A Creative Work-Life Balance

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0500

There's a lot going on in this episode. We open things with a quick reading from Alan Moore's Jerusalem. This is so you can feel a twinge of Caleb's pain as he works through the book.

We discuss the importance of developing a creative work-life balance but end up ranting on numerous topics such as capitalism, crappy jobs, religion, etc. All of which coincide with your creativity.

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com and read his most recently published story at SPANK the CARP.

DBS #81: Storming Our Brains

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Spencer needs help with a new story! Do you know what that means? Yes, brainstorm time! We discuss AI and some ideas to create an original story. Let us know if what we came up with is something you'd like to read.

Check us out on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

See what Caleb is up to at www.calebjamesk.com.

DBS #80: How Money Ruins Art

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

In the cold open we have a highbrow discussion about the failings of literary magazines. After that, things go off the rails as we talk about the different yet wonderful words for a man's private parts.

When we do get back on track we have a long conversation about how money ruins art. We use specific examples from movies, television, and books. Even though this is a fun episode, there are still a lot of important things peppered throughout.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

#123: Should You Reread Books?

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

This was supposed to be a DBS episode, but we stayed on topic the whole time. We kick things off by discussing Lex Fridman's recent book list controversy. After that, we have a long conversation about the importance of rereading books.

We go over the stress caused by the desire to constantly read new books, thus ignoring any possible rereading of work, and how that might not be the best way to enrich your life through reading. There is a solid conclusion reached in this one.

Check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com.

You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

#122: Why Does Everything Suck Now?

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Today we go deep into the muck and grime of modern content creation. We discuss in detail the mediocrity of modern art, movies, literature, and comic books, as well as how we got to this point.

It's not a complete bitch fest, though. We also bring up some outliers that are artistically innovative and unique.

You can check out Caleb's work at www.calebjamesk.com

And you can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

#121: 2022 Year In Review

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500

We open things up by talking about anime for way too long. After that, we discuss our biggest successes, failures, and controversies of 2022. We talk about submitting work, creating author websites, the importance of social media, the publishing industry, and many more exciting topics.

We end the show by going over our personal writing and reading goals for 2023.

Check us out on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast.

You can follow Caleb's writing journey at www.calebjamesk.com

#120: 2022 Reading Recap

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

With Christmas here and the year coming to a close, we take a look back and discuss all the books we've read in 2022.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

#119: Name That Author!

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we are doing something different. We're playing a game! More specifically, Name That Author!

The rules of the game are simple. Caleb has given Spencer a long list of authors and as he reads a random excerpt from the work of those authors, it's up to Spencer to see if he can guess who wrote what.

If you'd like to play along, here is the list:

Kurt Vonnegut, David Foster Wallace, Haruki Murakami, James Joyce, Anthony Burgess, Yukio Mishima, Cormac McCarthy, Natsume Soseki, Stephen King, Ryu Murakami, Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, Paul E. Cooley, Bram Stoker, J.D. Salinger, Chinua Achebe, Andy Weir, Walt Whitman, H.P. Lovecraft, H.G. Wells, Edgar Allan Poe, F. Scott Fitzgerald, J.R.R. Tolkien, Máirtín Ó Cadhain, Nicolás Obregón

DBS #79: Deconstructing Characters, Critics, And Being Uncomfortable

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

We start the episode off with a quick announcement. After that, we discuss Alan Moore's method of deconstructing characters and building them back up. Then we move on to critics and why we dislike them. Finally, we talk about the importance of breaking your routine and doing things that make you uncomfortable.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

#118: Writers Roundtable

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0500

For the cold open, we talk about epistolary storytelling. After that, we have a long conversation about what five writers we would most like to have a roundtable discussion with. We also include honorable mentions and dishonorable mentions with our picks.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

DBS #78: Black Friday BS Session

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

We go British with our cold open because Caleb started watching Peaky Blinders. After that, we go into a lot of unprofessional ramblings and musings about languages, different cultures and their impacts on literature, modern and past US politics, and why Caleb is so damn adamant about making dueling to the death legal again.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

#117: Our Problems With Modern Fiction

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

For the cold open, we have a quick chat about nostalgia and how it might be ruining fiction. After that, poet and fiction writer Bryce Johle joins us to discuss some of the problems with modern fiction and to a degree, modern TV and movies as well.

Some of the issues we discuss are how modern fiction isn't challenging, doesn't take artistic risks, has boring characters, and many other things.

This is a long one but we had a great time recording it. If you want to share your opinions, you can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

DBS #77: Birthday Brainstorm

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

It's Caleb's birthday! Well, at least it was when we recorded this episode. To celebrate taking his next step toward the grave, Caleb drinks some fine Hibiki whiskey and uses Spencer as a means to brainstorm his latest story.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

DBS #76: Great Novels And Bad Submissions

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0500

Today we discuss some novels that we consider great. Not good, not awesome, but truly great! After that, we talk about what things literary magazine editors are tired of seeing in submissions. Here's a hint: EVERYTHING!

Caleb ends the episode by doing some live editing of an old story he's fixing up.

You can follow us @dpwpodcast on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

#116: True Crime With Nicolás Obregón

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We begin our episode with our annual Edgar Allan Poe toast to celebrate Halloween. This year we read Spirits of the Dead and then discuss Poe's booze of choice. We also talk about the absinthe we drank for the toast.

After that, we are super excited to have Nicolás Obregón back on the podcast. Author of the Inspector Iwata trilogy—featuring the novels Blue Light Yokohama, Sins as Scarlett, and Unknown Male—Nic is the host of the new true crime podcast, Faceless.

Throughout this episode, we discuss the infamous Setagaya family murder that occurred in Tokyo in the year 2000. The murder was so brutal that it not only shocked Japan, it changed its society. We cover some possible theories of the murders as well as discuss some things that didn't make it on Faceless (put out by USG Audio, the podcast arm of Universal Studio Group).

At the end of the episode, Nic tells us about his current projects and we discuss writing for a bit.

You can read more about Faceless at https://deadline.com/2022/09/usg-audio-faceless-true-crime-podcast-1235128782/

You can also check out Nic's other work at http://obregonbooks.com/

Finally, you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @dpwpodcast

DBS #75: Clerks 3, Beer, Absinthe, And Writing Submissions

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We open things up with a mini-review of Kevin Smith's Clerks 3. After that, we somehow stumble upon the topic of beer which eventually leads to the discussion of absinthe and Caleb's annual Poe Toast. We end things by talking about our recent foray into the world of literary magazine story submissions.

Check us out on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @dpwpodcast

#115: Guess That Stephen King Story

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We open the episode with a mini-review of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick. After that, we get into some fun by reading Stephen King excerpts and seeing if Spencer is able to guess what story or book they came from. Since we liked it so much, we also broadened our range and did the same thing for other famous works.

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #74: Story Submissions And Writing Gimmicks

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 19:48:45 -0400

This is a packed episode! We discuss some tips on submitting to literary journals and our current efforts. Then talk about people's weird obsession with serial killers, the importance of creating a writing gimmick, woke vs anti-woke bs, and why manufactured outrage is hurting the movie and TV industries.

BOTM #12: Chasing The Boogeyman

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

After an unnecessarily long cold open about math, we discuss the novel Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar. We highly recommend it. Five out of five whiskey shots!

#114: Why We Shut Down The DPW Website

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Well, it has been a sad week. We had to shut down the Drunken Pen Writing website and are no longer accepting submissions, nor can you read any of our back catalog of work. In today's episode, we discuss what led to this awful outcome and what the future holds for DPW.

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#113: Talking Shop In The Bog

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb informs the world of his new status in life. After that, we discuss our current writing projects, what it's like getting stuck in a literary bog, and a bunch of other writing-related topics.

This episode was recorded before certain events unfolded, but our Halloween Submission period has been canceled and the website is shut down for the time being.

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#112: These Books Are Hard!

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 18:52:34 -0400

After we botched the first take of recording this episode, we decided to go easy on you by ditching the cold open and just reading about some of the most challenging books ever written.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#111: Banned Book Madness

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Oh, this episode is PACKED full of goodies! We kick things off by discussing literature's evolution (or devolution) and why challenging fiction is necessary for the progression of art.

After all that, we go into the real topic of the day, banned books. We cover two lists. The first list is the top ten books currently banned or being boycotted in the United States. The second list is the top ten banned books of all time.

We spend most of our time on the first list which deals with many LGBTQ+ and racial issues. Specifically, and why most of these books are banned, is that many of these books on the list cover sexual topics that seem to be aimed at children and teenagers.

These are tough waters to navigate but we did our best in seeing both sides of the book banning issue.

You can check out our non-banned work or enter our Halloween Submission Period at www.drunkenpenwriting.com.

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

BOTM #11: The Sirens Of Titan

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We discuss our August pick for book of the month, The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut. There are many sci-fi shenanigans to cover, but we also cover the book's essential themes: free will, religion, war, and loneliness.

This was a fun book to read and we highly recommend checking it out.

#110: Bird Is The Word

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We begin the episode with our opinions on the Freewrite, a distraction-free writing apparatus that is sort of like a keyboard with a Kindle attached. After that, we get into a great discussion on the importance of word choices.

We use multiple examples from the work of famous authors to show how and why being purposeful with your word choices is so damn important. We offer the simplicity of Jk Rowling's word choices aimed at children, how Stephen King's word choices build unique characters, why Hemingway's work cannot be changed, and we end things by explaining the madness of James Joyce's Ulysses.

Check out our word choices at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #73: What Makes A Hero?

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We start by discussing what a great show The Orville is. After that, we have a good conversation about what really makes a hero in fiction (or real life). We use examples from a bunch of superhero movies and comics, plus some other sources that exemplify what it truly means to be a hero.

Check out our work at www.drunkpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #72: Do Audiobooks Count As Reading?

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We start by discussing diversity in literary magazines and how the submission process can be unfair to some authors. After that, we talk about a poll we ran which showed that the majority of people (who follow us on Twitter) consider audiobooks to be the same as reading a book.

We break things down further and give our definitive opinions on the matter, factoring in things like visual impairment that doesn't allow one to read in the traditional sense, how one absorbs an audiobook compared to a written book, and how effort plays a role.

Once we settle that matter, we discuss the age-old question, book or movie? Which is better and why? We give many examples.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

#109: Publishing Trends

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We start things off with a comic book review for the first volume of Crossover by Donny Cates (if you want to skip straight to the main topic, the episode begins at 12:35). For the main topic of the day, we discuss publishing trends until Caleb loses his voice.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#108: Drinking Wine And Talking Romance

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We kick things off with a wine tasting inspired by the Prosseco N Prose Podcast. And you know what? It was alright!

After that, we get into the heart of things by discussing what goes into writing a good romance novel. Here's a hint, do the opposite of what we would do!

Be sure to listen to the Prosseco N Prose podcast and check out all the fun things Wendy and Amy are up to.

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting where you can see pics from our wine tasting.

And be sure to like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #71: We Try To Get Cancelled

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Oh, fudge. There's a lot to unpack in this episode. We start things off with Caleb reading an excerpt from his most recent story submission failure. Then we get into a discussion about writing and reading children's books and YA books.

After that, we really go into this weeds and spend the rest of the show ranting about fake woke people, cancel culture, bad conservative comedy, and the importance of freedom of speech.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#107: Caleb Flaps His Gums About Aesthetics

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb is alone in today's episode and uses the opportunity to ramble about aesthetics in literature. He talks about the romance period writers, the beauty in the language used by authors such as James Joyce and Professor Tolkien, and why he feels that contemporary writers should focus more on aesthetics in their work.

If you want to check out our work, head to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #70: Push It To The Limit!

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We open things up by discussing how we dislike this new Hollywood trend of making villains likable or turning classic bad guys into anti-heroes. After that, we have a long conversation about the pitfalls of becoming a writer.

The central ideas we discuss are the importance of effort, improving as a writer, and why it's more important to finish work as opposed to simply showing up and hoping for the best.

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#106: Different Ways To Write A Scene

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Ever wonder how many different ways there are to write the exact same scene? How about a simple, two-sentence scene?

Today we do just that by giving examples of a simple scene written in the literal form, with similes, one using metaphor, and a lyrical style. Then we end things off by mimicking specific famous authors and how they would write that scene. We try David Foster Wallace, James Joyce, Haruki Murakami, Stephen King, and H.P. Lovecraft. It's a lot of fun!

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

BOTM #10: A Study In Scarlet

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We're back with another Book of the Month! This time around, we're discussing the very first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

We have a lot of fun breaking down the origin of Holmes and Watson, as well as how unique this first story was written.

DBS #69: We Love Writing, Spencer Said

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We discuss different ways of using dialogue tags and Caleb gives some examples from his current work in progress.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

IRC #15: Oblivion Finale

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

This is the end of the Inebriated Reading Challenge for Oblivion: Stories by David Foster Wallace. In this episode, we discuss the final story, The Suffering Channel. This is by far the poopiest story of the bunch. And we mean that literally. The Story is all about poop!

We give our overall rating of the collection and talk about what we took away from it, including the things we disliked most. But most importantly, we had a lot of laughs to end things.

#105: Find Your Voice, You Bum!

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We start things off by talking about the new season of Stranger Things. After that, we cover one of Caleb's articles on developing your personal author's voice to better stand out from other writers. We discuss the importance of being unique enough in your writing that the readers will be able to recognize your work even if they don't know it's your story.

Caleb also gives tips on how to find and develop your author's voice and gives examples of famous authors with the most recognizable writing styles.

Check out the article at https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2018/04/02/the-art-of-originality-how-to-become-a-unique-writer/

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

IRC #14: Oblivion Part Five

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we cover the stories "Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature" and "Oblivion" by David Foster Wallace. We go into more detail about the things we dislike in DFW's writing style and why we feel that you shouldn't always have to dig deep into a story to find the true meaning.

#104: Discussing The Great Books

Tue, 31 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we discuss the great books, or rather, the books that are considered to be the greatest ever written. We deliberate on some of them and their place on the list, as well as what books we think are important and should be there.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

IRC #13: Oblivion Part Four

Fri, 27 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Today we are discussing the short story "Good Old Neon" by David Foster Wallace. We take a deep dive into imposter syndrome, what it means to truly be a fraud, and the importance we put on how others view us.

We also correlate the story with the current state of social media and the constant need people have to be seen and heard, often through the sacrifice of their authentic selves. Finally, Caleb breaks down why he believes actor Kelsey Grammer is ultimately responsible for the death of David Foster Wallace.

DBS #68: Read Or Die!

Tue, 24 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We open things up by discussing the importance of subtext in your writing. After that, we talk about the benefits of reading, how the habit can make you a more virtuous person, and why reading is so important for kids.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

IRC #12: Oblivion Part Three

Sat, 21 May 2022 14:01:12 -0400

Today's episode discusses two more stories in Oblivion: Stories by David Foster Wallace. First, we read and discuss his deeply disturbing flash fiction story, Incarnation of Burned Children. This one comes with a trigger warning as the imagery and subject matter are incredibly traumatic.

The second story, Another Pioneer, offers a meditation on storytelling, knowledge, self-consciousness, societal evolution, and societal destruction. We cover this complex story and touch upon post-modernism, AI, the burden of knowledge, the breakdown of society, and many, many other things.

This might just be our favorite episode of this series!

#103: We Need To Be Honest With You

Tue, 17 May 2022 18:14:22 -0400

We open things up with a clip of Alan Moore telling the three things that drive him to writer. After that, we have a discussion about the importance of being honest with yourself and your work.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

IRC #11: Oblivion Part Two

Fri, 13 May 2022 19:35:06 -0400

We're back with more Oblivion: Stories by David Foster Wallace. In today's episode, we discuss his short story "The Soul is Not a Smithy" and go in-depth with his narration style, storytelling elements, and the deeper meaning of this unique story.

DBS #67: We’re Dying Here

Tue, 10 May 2022 17:41:50 -0400

We decided to have an upbeat episode and discuss DEATH! More specifically, we talk about how to kill off characters in your work and why some ways are worse than others.

We end the episode by discussing the importance of finding your purpose in life and why we don't think everyone has a purpose.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

IRC #10: Oblivion Part One

Fri, 06 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

What's the point? That's the question we ask ourselves a lot as we discuss Mr. Squishy, the first story in David Foster Wallace's short story collection, Oblivion: Stories.

We talk about corporate America, focus groups, analytics, information overload, and how all of it seems so pointless through the lens of David Foster Wallace. This isn't our favorite story in this collection, but it certainly is the most interestingly written.

DBS #66: Reboots Galore

Tue, 03 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We kick things off by answering a few questions from some of our listeners. After that, we talk about reboots and our opinions on reimagining established works. We also discuss the use of public domain works and if it's ethical to make money from other people's creations.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

IRC #9: Oblivion Intro

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We're back with another Inebriated Reading Challenge. This time around we're discussing Oblivion: Stories by David Foster Wallace.

In this introductory episode, we briefly discuss David Foster Wallace and what we hope to get out of his collection of short stories. From what it looks like, we're in for a real wild ride!

#102: Sexy Brain Time

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Caleb talks about writing his first-ever sex scene! After that, we discuss writing styles, processes, and why all writers should do their own thing instead of following advice from things such as creative writing classes.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

DBS #65: There’s An Imposter Among Us

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

We discuss imposter syndrome and the importance of being kind to yourself. Adding unneeded pressure to yourself will only hinder your writing output. We also talk about some unexpected obstacles of writing a novel.

Check out our work @drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#101: Asking The Right Questions

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

There's a lot to unpack in this episode. We start the cold open off by discussing some... incest in popular fiction. Yeah. Then we follow that up with a conversation about The Stranger by Albert Camus.

Once we get to the topic of the day, we go over the important questions you must ask yourself as a writer. This leads us into a more personal discussion about things like depression and the importance of escapism through fiction. And guess what, there's more talk after the outro!

That's right. We had to break up the cold open because it went too long, so there's some Lord of the Rings talk after the outro music.

Check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #64: Back In Our Day...

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 12:00:00 -0400

We start the episode off with a quick character study. Then we talk about Stephen King and his totally terrifying horror story, The Jaunt.

After the cold open, we have a long conversation about the past. More specifically, some of the first books we've read, bought, and how we started our reading journeys. Then we discuss what we think the future of fiction will look like in the hands of Gen Z and the importance of used book stores.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

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#100: Does Size Really Matter

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 18:36:09 -0400

We open the episode with some current reading and writing business, then we introduce our new music for the podcast! After that, we celebrate our 100th official episode by listening and commenting on a snippet of our very first episode.

We eventually get into the topic at hand, which is book length! How long should your book be and what are the parameters of book length in various genres? We discuss all this and more, plus a special 100th episode montage at the end. Don't miss it!

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

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DBS #63: Caleb Is Sick!

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 16:10:55 -0400

Well, Caleb went and got himself sick. Lucky for you, you get to listen to him suffer throughout the whole episode!

We start things off by discussing The Batman and what we thought about the movie. After that, we talk about our writing (or lack thereof) and what we've been reading. This is a fairly short but entertaining episode.

Check out our Spring Submissions at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

Storycast #3: APOTcalypse

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Original story by Spencer Church about a man who lives through the apocalypse in a unique way.

Check out the story at Drunken Pen Writing

DBS #62: Using Cell Phones In Your Stories

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0500

We start the episode off with a quick conversation about J.R.R. Tolkien's writing style. Eventually, we get onto the topic of how to write a modern story using, or not using, cell phones. It's a lot more interesting topic than we first realized.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

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#99: We Get Emotional

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0500

We start the episode by discussing the greatest opening paragraphs and lines in literature. After that, we get down to business and take a deep dive into the importance of emotions in your writing. We break down how we go about eliciting emotions in the reader, ways to go about doing so without being boring or over the top, and the art of nuance in your writing.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #61: How To Write A Good Review

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0500

We start things off with an extra-long cold open where we discuss what books we're reading and how our writing is going. After that, we cover a great article on how to write good reviews and break down the things you need to know to become a good reviewer.

Check out the article at Lithub.

You can also read our reviews over at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

Make sure to follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

BOTM #10: Devil In A Blue Dress

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0500

For February's Book of the Month, we've chosen to read "Devil in a Blue Dress" by Walter Mosley. We highly recommend you start reading the Easy Rawlins series right away! You won't regret it.

Storycast #2: My First Kiss Of Shame

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Caleb reads Brian Abbey's hilarious story, My First Kiss of Shame.

An American moves to Romania and attends a party. Things are going alright until the guest of honor shows up. To the American's surprise, that guest turns out to be Lucifer! Even more surprising, or horrifying depending on how you look at it, all the other partygoers begin lining up to take turns kissing Lucifer's anus. And pretty soon, it will be the American's turn!

Check out this story and others at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #60: Greatest American Authors Of The 20th Century

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0500

This episode is PACKED with great topics! We start things off with a quick bit about the intro of Walter Mosley's The Devil in the Blue Dress. Then we discuss Lord of the Rings and its literary merit.

Once we get to the main topic, we go over the top ten greatest American authors of the 20th century. We cover an interesting list we found online and tweak it to our liking. We end things by discussing what novels we feel should be considered as The Great American Novel.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#98: Reclaiming Your Creative Life

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

We start things off with an interesting conversation about Microsoft Word's new "woke" editing feature. After that, we chat it up with some dialogue talk. Finally, we get to the real topic of the day and devote a good portion of the episode to discussing how to reclaim your creative life.

Many of us struggle with creating (in our case, writing) because life seems to always beat us down. It's hard to find your rhythm and get things going the way you want them to. But we might have a solution. One you probably won't like to hear.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#97: How To Become A Better Reader

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

We discuss some tips on how to read better and Caleb yells at Spencer for hating poetry.

DBS #59: A Drunk Tells You How To Pace Your Story

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

If you want to learn how to properly pace your stories, there are probably better ways to do that. But they probably won't be nearly as entertaining.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #58: Is Stephen King Canceled?

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

We open up things by briefly discussing how our writing and reading goals are starting this new year. After that, oh, we get into it! We have a long conversation on an article written about Stephen King recently. In the article, Stephen King has been exposed as being fatphobic and possibly having negative views of women.

Also, make sure to stick around after the outro for a brief bit of absolute idiocy created by yours truly.

You can check out the article we discuss at Fantasy Magazine.

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#96: 2021 Recap And New Year’s Resolutions

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We start things off with a conversation about languages. After that, we go over the books we've read this past year and what we plan on reading in 2022. Then we talk about our writing goals for the upcoming year, and boy are they lofty!

There's also a discussion about the future of DPW, this podcast, and the possibility of starting new podcasts.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: The Elephant Vanishes Finale

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 13:00:04 -0500

We discuss the final stories in The Elephant Vanishes. One of which turns out to be the weirdest story of them all!

Be sure to listen to the end to get our final rating of The Elephant Vanishes, as well as a quick breakdown of the stories we liked the most.

#95: 50 Of The Best Books Under 200 Pages

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We talk about 50 of the best books that are under 200 pages. We get a bit ridiculous in this one but we do our best to keep things moving.

You can check out the list at https://lithub.com/50-great-classic-novels-under-200-pages/

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute:The Elephant Vanishes Part 5

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 19:16:11 -0500

We break down three more weird Murakami stories. In this one, we meet a young man who works for a bizarre letter reading company, a guy who has unnerving encounters with the "TV People" who nobody else seems to notice, and a guy who reminisces about all the Chinese people he's ever met in his life.

DBS #57: Indie Publishing VS Traditional Publishing

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We open things with a chat about freelance writing jobs. After that, we get into the gritty details of indie publishing, traditional publishing, working with small publishers, and what it all means for us writers.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: The Elephant Vanishes Part 4

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

In the stories we cover today, we meet a hopelessly romantic little green monster who falls in love with a dangerous woman. After that, we're dropped into the world of a young man who refuses to grow up while his younger sister plans to get married and live a mature life.

#94: Our Prose Is Going Purple

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We start today's episode off with a discussion about the use of adverbs in your writing. Specifically, whether you should follow the old adage of cutting them out of your work or if it's not actually that bad to use them. After that, we have a long conversation about purple prose.

For those who don't know, purple prose is essentially overwriting to the point that it harms the story you're telling. We talk about whether we think purple prose gets a bad rap and if it should hold a place in your writing.

We end the episode by talking about allegory (not analogy, which we so egregiously say over and over again).

Check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: The Elephant Vanishes Part 3

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0500

This week we cover three more wild stories from Haruki Murakami's short story collection, The Elephant Vanishes. We meet a man who has a very odd diary, a miserable wife who shops for lederhosen, and a mysterious rich guy who has a passion for burning down random barns.

DBS #56: Appreciating Pulp Fiction Writers

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We cover a lot of topics in this one. We start off by discussing Professor Tolkien's view on escapism and what we think about people who use entertainment as a means to escape their lives for a bit. That transforms into a quick conversation about media personalities who purposely say and do outlandish things to garner attention.

When we finally get to the topic at hand, we have a wonderful discussion about how underappreciated we feel classic pulp writers are. Writers like Robert E. Howard, Raymond Chandler, Ian Fleming, and H.P. Lovecraft. Then Spencer takes things to a controversial level by naming who he thinks is the greatest living American author. This opens up a whole new discussion that gets really fun.

Check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: The Elephant Vanishes Part 2

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 19:20:41 -0500

In today's episode, we discuss three more stories from Haruki Murakami's short story collection, The Elephant Vanishes. In this one, we cover themes of obsession, living a mundane, unfulfilling existence, and weird creeps!

DBS #55: The Best Fantasy Characters Of All Time

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We had wayyyy too much fun recording this episode. We start things off with a quick conversation about the appropriate size for cupcakes. After that, we get into the heart of things and break down 50 of the best fantasy characters from books, movies, and TV shows.

Spoiler alert, there are a lot, and we mean A LOT, of characters left off of the list we found. But we still think there were some solid picks on the list and we had a blast acting like buffoons while discussing them. Also, be sure to check out what comes after the outro music.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: The Elephant Vanishes Part One

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 11:53:05 -0500

We're back with a new season of A Murakami Minute! This go around we're reading and discussing Haruki Murakami's short story collection, The Elephant Vanishes.

In today's episode, we talk about the first two stories in the collection, The Wind-Up Bird and Tuesday's Women, and The Second Bakery Attack. We discuss how the first story is a part of Murakami's most famous novel, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. We also go over our feelings on the translations (which are done by different translators) and how they change the writing styles of the stories.

#93: Talking About Character Motivations

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 18:13:47 -0500

Caleb opens things off with his one-second Fellowship of the Ring review and an update on how his novel is coming along. After that, we get into a discussion about the importance of character motivation in storytelling. We talk about how important character motivations, character goals, and overcoming obstacles are to telling a good story.

There are some examples of well-known characters and their motivations discussed throughout the episode. We end things by talking a little about future social media plans for DPW.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #54 Taking New Reading Paths

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0500

We start things off by discussing some of the recent backlash (and praise) we got for our Blood Meridian Book of the Month episode. After that, we get into the topic at hand, which is something we love talking about.

For a long time, we have traveled similar roads on our individual reading journeys. But recently we have finally split. Caleb has gone down a hard fantasy road, and Spencer has decided to check out some classic science fiction. We go over our reasons for taking the reading directions we have, and more importantly, how it has impacted our writing.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

BOTM #9: Blood Meridian

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0400

WARNING: This episode deals with discussions of violence and sexual assault.

It's been some time since we last did a Book of the Month episode. So for the month of October, we felt it would be fitting to cover the ultra-violent novel, Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. We do our best to give our honest opinion of this highly regarded piece of literature. Though, we might be a bit too honest!

We discuss violence and what it means in this book. We also have a conversation about masculine fiction and how we categorize what is considered masculine fiction. There's a lot going on in this episode so if the topics we discuss interest you, make sure to listen to the whole episode because even after it seems like we're done, we find more ground to cover.

You can check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#92: Books Perfect For Fans Of Squid Game

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Caleb kicks things off by reading a poem suggested by a listener of the show. After that, we cover a list of awesome (and one that's not so awesome!) books that are perfect for people who enjoyed the new Netflix show Squid Game.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#91 We Mess Up Celtic Mythological Creatures

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 17:50:58 -0400

We start things off with some brief Lord of the Rings talk. Then we get into the thick of it with a list of awesome Celtic mythological creatures put together by our friends over at The Irish Road Trip. There are 31 creatures in total and some are really messed up!

Check out all the Halloween submissions going on at www.drunkenpenwriting.com for some good reads.

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#90: Monster Madness

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 18:12:13 -0400

We're talking about monsters! More specifically, what makes a good monster, what our favorite monsters are, and what is truly scary about fictional monsters.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #53: Caleb Botches Scary Stories

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 17:28:49 -0400

Caleb starts the podcast off with some good news! Then everything goes terribly downhill from there. We were supposed to cover the ten scariest short horror stories, but Caleb seems to have forgotten how to read and botches the entire thing.

Not all is lost though. There are plenty of laughs and near rage quits throughout the show. Plus, a critical breakdown of the article we read.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #52: Growing As A Writer

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 18:32:36 -0400

In this episode, we take a look back at our humble beginnings and reminisce about the simpler times when we first started writing. We discuss how far we've come, the things we've learned, and some of our future plans.

We also talk about the good ol' days of Drunken Pen Writing and the DPW Podcast: how we started, the troubles we've had, and how much we've improved upon things.

Check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#89: How To Develop A Theme For Your Story

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 19:43:51 -0400

We're talking about themes! That's right, we're taking a deep dive and discussing how to write themes for your story. We go over ways to come up with themes, the most common themes used, and the types of themes that show up in our work.

Speaking of our work, you can check out our stories at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#88: Best Horror Manga You Must Read!

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 12:00:00 -0400

We start things off by talking about Stephen King's newest horror story. Then Caleb decides for some reason to give us his best Paul Bearer impression.

After all that nonsense, we get into a list of some of the best horror manga out there. You can check out the list with accompanying artwork at https://www.rightstufanime.com/post/top-10-horror-manga

You can also check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #51: Top Horror Novels To Read This Halloween

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 21:32:48 -0400

We start the episode off by talking money! More specifically, what greedy things we would do if we suddenly acquired one billion dollars.

After that, we talk about the top horror books you should read. We cover a few lists and give some of our recommendations.

Check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #50: Red Flag Fiction

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 12:00:00 -0400

"I'd rather read a book that I'm offended by than read one that I'm bored by."

We start the episode off by discussing our recent trip to Ann Arbor where we attended this year's Astronomicon. After that, we discuss red flag fiction, what that means, and what it means for content creators like writers.

At some point, we also dive into a conversation about the public school system, where we think it fails in regards to discussing racial issues, and why we think it's important NOT to ban classic fiction that has gross depictions of racism.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting.

#87: Should Stephen King Retire?

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 20:55:58 -0400

We get a little weird during the opening as we're joined by Ashleigh Hatter, but then we get into a very interesting conversation about the work of Stephen King. We discuss a bit about the differences between his past work and current work, as well as his editing choices (or lack thereof) as of late.

Then we answer the big question: should Stephen King retire? Also, be sure to check out a bonus track after the outro music.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#86: Pittsburgh Authors You Should Read

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Spencer opens the episode by telling us about his recent theater-going experience. After that, we talk about some of the best Pittsburgh authors you should read. We also discuss regional slang and what accents we think are especially terrible.

Check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #49: Working With Established Properties

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 19:22:31 -0400

Spencer opens things up with an unusual scenario. After that, we discuss the controversy with Kevin Smith and his take on Masters of the Universe. This leads us into a conversation about working or writing new stories for established properties and franchises.

There's a lot of talk about comics and comic book characters, as well as movies and TV shows.

You can check out our fiction (and Caleb's sad dog story!) at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#85: Real Irish Fiction And Samurai Novels

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 12:00:00 -0400

We kick off the episode by discussing the Irish language and some real Irish fiction. We discuss the legendary Irish writer Máirtín Ó Cadhain and his most famous novel, "Cré na Cille" or "The Graveyard Clay" as it's known in English.

The focus of the episode, though, is on the ten best Samurai novels. We also talk a bit about classic samurai movies, some Japanese history, the Japanese language, and the most famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi.

Caleb ends the episode by going on an epic rant against ads. Specifically, a certain insurance company that constantly ruins his YouTube video binges.

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#84: Why Guys Should Read Jane Austen

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 18:24:40 -0400

We start things off by discussing our lack of productivity. After that, we get into some raunchy Jane Austen talk. That's right! We discuss why guys should read what people often consider to be "lady books" and things get pretty wild in the studio.

Check out the article on the website.

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #48: Once Upon A Time At DPW

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Caleb starts the episode off by giving his review of Quentin Tarantino's first novel, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. After that, we get into all kinds of book-related topics like meeting girls at the bookstore and the magical nature of used bookstores.

We end things in the best way we know how, by bitching about the weather and our lame town.

If you want to check out our work, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

#83: How To Write With Balls!

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 12:00:00 -0400

We start things off by talking about Amazon Kindle Vella and what that could mean for indie authors. Then we get into the meat of things as Caleb covers one of his more ridiculous articles.

Despite the title, there is a lot of great information on passive versus active voice, why you should mostly write in active voice, and instances where passive voice is actually the better option. We end the episode by discussing different writing style elements you can use to improve your story and better engage your readers.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: First Person Singular Finale

Sat, 10 Jul 2021 13:22:00 -0400

Well, we've reached the end of Haruki Murakami's short story collection, First Person Singular. We discuss the final story of the same name and give our overall thoughts on the collection. We also talk a bit about Murakami's writing style and the next Murakami collection we're going to cover for the podcast.

DBS #47: Podcast Trash Talk

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 19:20:23 -0400

Spencer opens things up with his quick review of H.G. Wells' book "The Invisible Man." After that, we discuss what we're currently reading, and then we go deep into the weeds with some Joe Rogan smack talk. We talk about his recent interview with Quentin Tarantino, the Bruce Lee controversy from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and why we both stopped listening to the JRE Podcast.

We end things by listing the podcasts we currently listen to and why we recommend you check them out as well.

You can check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram and Facebook @drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: FPS Yakult Poetry Collection

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 15:06:21 -0400

In this episode, we discuss butts! Mainly, we're talking about the next story in Haruki Murakami's First Person Singular short story collection which just so happens to have a poem about the beautiful butts of baseball players.

This "story" called The Yakult Swallows Poetry Collection is a biographical piece written by Murakami and deals with his love of baseball and the poetry he wrote at baseball games long ago.

#82: Is Reading Screwing Up Your Writing?

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400

We open the podcast with a conversation about book hoarding and why we feel the need to keep books we have no intention of ever reading again. Why not give them away!?

After that, we get into the topic of reading and how it can alter your writing habits. Does reading too much take precious time away from your writing? Does what you read have an impact on how or what you write?

We end the episode with a discussion on content output and how publishing too much, too often, can actually hurt your sales and turn off your readership.

If you want to check out our work, head over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com where you can go to individual author profiles and read our work.

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: FPS Carnaval

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 19:00:58 -0400

This week we are discussing Haruki Murakami's short story "Carnaval" from his collection "First Person Singular." We go over what it really means to be beautiful, ugly, and talk about classic music.

DBS #46: Comic Book Writers And Their Novels

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400

We start the episode off by talking wayyyy too long about superheroes and their sexual abilities. Blame Batman!

After that nonsense, we discuss known comic book writers who also have great novels on the market. We end things with some more book talk about what we're reading or plan to read next, as well as some stuff we feel like we need to check out in the future.

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: FPS Confessions Of A Shinagawa Monkey

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 14:27:10 -0400

We finally touch on some Murakami weirdness with Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey from Haruki Murakami's short story collection, First Person Singular. In this story, we deal with themes of loneliness and unrequited love, all told from the perspective of an unusually intelligent monkey.

DBS #45: Writing With Style

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400

We open the episode with some new movie talk. Then we ramble on about nonsense until we get into a discussion about our writing processes.

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: FPS With The Beatles

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400

In this week's Murakami Minute we discuss the next story in Haruki Murakami's short story collection "First Person Singular." We talk more about nostalgia, music, and how music can bring about memories. Also, maybe a little head-smashing with a hammer!

#81: Why Your Work Is Stuck In The Slush Pile

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Caleb starts the episode talking about his new writing routine and what he's currently reading. Then we get into a discussion about submitting work to publications and why your work might get rejected or why you can't seem to get out of the slush pile.

We end things with some ranting about licensing and how it leads to the limiting of artistic output.

You can check our work out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: FPS Charlie Parker Plays Bossa Nova

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400

We discuss Haruki Murakami's short story, Charlie Parker Plays Bossa Nova, from Murakami's collection First Person Singular. We talk a bit about music and the benefits of writing while listening to certain music.

DBS #44: DPW Short Story Collection

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 18:09:33 -0400

We open the podcast with some sad news, then we talk about the respect we feel various kinds of artists should get for their work. The topic of today's episode is the planning of our upcoming DPW Short Story Collection!

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: FPS On A Stone Pillow

Fri, 28 May 2021 12:00:00 -0400

We continue our dive into Haruki Murakami's newest short story collection, First Person Singular, and discuss the second story in the collection titled "On A Stone Pillow." In this episode, we talk about memory, nostalgia, and all those forgotten slivers of life that come back to us at the most random of times.

IRC #8: Jerusalem Is Canceled

Tue, 25 May 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Welp, we have some news for you. As you know, Alan Moore's Jerusalem is a challenging book. This is why we chose it for our Inebriated Reading Challenge. Unfortunately, life can be even more challenging. This is why we have chosen to cancel this particular IRC series. But fear not! We do discuss the book one last time before we ride off into the hazy sunset.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

A Murakami Minute: FPS Cream

Fri, 21 May 2021 12:00:00 -0400

With this new series, we will be exploring the works of legendary Japanese author, Haruki Murakami. We are starting things off by reading his newest short story collection, First Person Singular. In this episode, we are discussing the first story in the collection called "Cream."

#80: Forgotten And Future Classic Books

Tue, 18 May 2021 12:00:00 -0400

We start the cold open off with an announcement! Then we spend the first half of the episode talking about forgotten books that were once considered classics but are now bargain bin books.

The second half of the episode is about what modern books and authors might be considered classic literature in 100 or more years in the future.

Check out our work at www.drunkepenwriting.com

Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #43: Books, Writing, And Japanese Fiction

Tue, 11 May 2021 12:00:00 -0400

During the cold open, Spencer gives us his mini-review of Stephen and Owen King's co-written novel, Sleeping Beauties. After that, we get into a mix of reading and writing talk.

We discuss some words we avoid using in our writing, and then the conversation morphs into narration styles and storytelling techniques that bug us. We end things by talking about what we want to read next for the podcast and get into a conversation about Japanese authors.

If you want to check out our work, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

Caleb's Twitter @calebjames1986

Follow our Instagram page @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#79: Drinking With Hemingway

Tue, 04 May 2021 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we discuss the new Ken Burns PBS documentary on Ernest Hemingway. We cover some of the wild parts of his life, what made him the writer (and drinker) he was, and what we could take away from his writing style.

We also go over his writing process and how he compares to that of Hunter S. Thompson.

You can check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #42: Cyberpunk And Porn

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0400

This episode is 100% NSFW and also, it's probably not our best. We start off harmless enough by discussing dumb TikTok trends and whatnot.

Eventually, we do get into the supposed topic at hand and talk about some awesome cyberpunk books. But we get derailed numerous times talking about how stupid we find certain porn genres/tropes to be. In fact, we struggle to stay on topic for most of the episode, which is why it's a Drunken Bullshit Episode!

#78: Should You Quit Your Job To Write Full-time?

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 21:31:00 -0400

In the cold open Caleb shares some quick news about a project. Then we discuss some of our personal pet peeves when dealing with book, anime, manga, and comic book snobs.

After that, we get into the meat of the episode and have a long talk about what it takes to quit your day job to become a full-time writer. We don't pull any punches here and give you the harsh reality of what it'll take to make that dream a reality.

You can find the original article we used, written by Spencer, at https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2017/09/04/10-questions-you-must-ask-yourself-before-quitting-your-day-job-to-become-a-full-time-writer/

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #41: Indie Authors And Story Titles

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0400

We open the episode by announcing the books we've chosen for Indie April. We read the descriptions of the books and where you can find the authors. We also give you a handy tip in regards to Amazon book reviews.

After that, we get into the episode. Though, it really isn't much of an episode. We simply discuss book and story titles and what we think makes for a good or bad title. We also give plenty of examples of good titles.

Here is the list of our Indie April books:

Ballad of the Dead: A Modern Fairy Tale by D.N. Moore - Twitter is @therealdnmoore

No More Tales To Tell by Thomas Muller - Twitter is @ThomasM20073887

Feminine Shades by Tracey Chizoba Fletcher - Twitter is @zobafletcher

Life of Maggot by Paul Jameson - Twitter is @Modquokka

Neon Druid: An Anthology of Urban Celtic Fantasy edited by I.E. Kneverday - Twitter is @kneverday

DBS #40: DPW Is Back!

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Guess who's back... back again! DPW's back. Tell a friend!

We open the episode with our mini-review of the hit anime Attack On Titan. After that, we discuss in detail Caleb's recent ordeal with covid-19, how it derailed DPW, and how it almost landed him and his fiance in the hospital.

Then we talk at length about indie publishing, traditional publishing, the different types of readers, and what we think of people who brag about not reading. We end things by discussing the importance of getting your kids interested in reading and how the public school system absolutely fails at turning kids into readers.

If you want to check out our fiction, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

IRC #7: Jerusalem Part One

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0400

A new Inebriated Reading Challenge? We know not a single person in the world asked us to do this, but here we are! We're reading the girthy hunk of chunk known as Jerusalem by Alan Moore.

Will we go mad reading all 1266 pages? Will us reviewing this book cause the end of the world like Mr. Moore wishes? You'll just have to listen and find out!

In this first episode, we discuss the 40-page prelude and the writing style of Alan Moore. We plan to cover longer sections in future episodes as not to have this series go on until the legit end of the world.

Check out our fiction, which is slightly less crazy than that of Alan Moore, by going to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting and Caleb @Calebjames1986

And be sure to like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

You can also like Caleb's author page at www.facebook.com/calebjamesk

#77: Are We Finished?

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0500

Caleb opens the podcast by talking about his new bidet, because why not start things off in the toilet? After that, we discuss the two most important things writers need to do to become successful.

We also go over our failures and the things, or bad habits, that cause us not to finish projects. We end the episode by coming up with a new type of editing software aimed at the "woke" audience.

Check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting and @calebjames1986

And like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

You can also check out Caleb's author page at www.facebook.com/CalebJamesK

#76: Terrible Writing Advice You Should Ignore

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0500

This is a wonderful episode! We start off by discussing the problems with the introductions at the beginning of books. Then we get into a list of terrible writing advice and why we think the tips are so terrible. We also talk about certain Twitter writing drama, the Nobel Prize in Literature, and even briefly discuss the history of language in modern Japan and how it and their culture correlates to a specific writing style.

If you want to check out our fiction, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#75: Writing Talk With Author Benjamin Cross

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 12:00:00 -0500

We're joined by archeologist and author Benjamin Cross to talk about his new novel, Colony. But that's not all! We discuss a whole litany of topics.

Benjamin tells us what it's like to use his archeology background to help shape the world of Colony as well as how it helped with forming a more realistic setting for his horror thriller. We also discuss his writing process and how it has evolved over the years, the trials of getting his first novel published including working with literary agents and editors for the first time, and how he has been able to build up his social media following and the importance that has with book sales.

We also touch on book reviews, creating characters, and the importance of pacing. There's a lot of great stuff in this one!

You can find Benjamin and his work at:

https://www.benjamin-cross.com/

Twitter @BenCross_author

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/benjamincross.author/

And on Instagram @benjamincross.author

And on Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56807194-colony

BOTM #8: Casino Royale

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 12:00:00 -0500

In today's episode, we're joined by Ash from the Ear Read This Podcast to discuss the James Bond book and movie franchises. We get a bit cheeky as we go over some of the more... erm... erotic aspects of James Bond and the kinky weirdness of the creator, Ian Fleming.

We also talk about the nature of genital torture as well as why we think Sir Christopher Lee is more of a badass than Ian Fleming.

Be sure to check out the Ear Read This Podcast for great episodes about classic literature.

You can also check out our fiction by heading on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #39: Books, Movies, And Prostitutes

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 12:00:00 -0500

We start the episode by discussing which one of Stephen King's stories was the most gruesome. After that, we have a short brainstorm session with one of Spencer's story ideas.

We also discuss some books we're currently reading or want to read, we break down some of the pros and cons of traditional publishing, and at some point, we talk about prostitution and why it should be legal.

Check out our new stories at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BOTM #7: Slaughterhouse-Five

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 12:00:00 -0500

We open to a dire situation as Caleb reveals that his clone, Caleb 2, has escaped confinement and is now on the loose.

After all that, we discuss our double Book of the Month. We go over the novel Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut and the graphic novel adaptation by Ryan North. And in our opinion, both are five-star reads!

You can check out our work on www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#74: To BS Or Not To BS?

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0500

We talk about boobs in the cold open. Not sure why or how we got on the subject, but sometimes these things can't be helped. Once we get into the episode, though, we begin a long discussion on how to bullshit your way through a story. More specifically, how to handle science (and magical) elements in your story. Do you play it safe and give sparse details on, say, space travel? Or do you go into great detail and describe how the ship is able to reach warp speed?

Caleb ends the episode by revealing his clone on air. Fun is had by all.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #38: New Year New Me

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0500

If you want a coherent, normal episode, this isn't the one for you. We're all over the place as we discuss a wide range of topics. Enjoy the insanity!

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#73: The Elements Of Crafting A Good Story

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0500

We discuss the many elements and writing techniques that go into telling a good story. The main things we cover are setting, character, plot, and narration style.

We also talk about formatting and experimental story layouts.

If you want to read our fiction, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#72: The Big Fantasy Talk

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 12:00:00 -0500

Caleb opens up the episode by telling us how he almost accidentally killed himself in the gym. Then we get into the heart of the matter with a great conversation about fantasy stories.

We discuss why we don't read a lot of fantasy, what would make us read more fantasy, and what elements we want or don't want in our fantasy stories. We also talk a bit about fantasy movies, tabletop games such as Dungeons and Dragons, RPG video games, and Magic the Gathering.

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

If you have any suggestions for fantasy novels that you think we would like to read, hit us up at

Twitter @drunkpenwriting

Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #37: 2020 Reading Recap

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0500

After a bit of pure nonsense, we go over the books we've read this past year. Then we look to the future and what we plan on reading in 2021.

Check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#71: Why Do People Like Heroes And Adventure Stories?

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0500

We start the episode by talking about our awful writing output and cool narrative structures. Then we get into an open discussion on why we think people are so drawn to heroes and stories about overcoming obstacles.

We also discuss the adventure story and why we think people like reading about epic adventures that could never really happen but wish would.

Check out our work on www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And be sure to like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #36: 2020 Writing Recap

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0500

Well, we're closing in on the end of the year, so we figured it would be a good idea to discuss our writing successes and failures for the awful year of 2020. We spend most of our time talking about our 2021 writing goals and the different things we'd liked to do, such as traveling and hopefully going back to conventions.

Check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#70: Tips That Will Instantly Improve Your Writing

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0500

We start off talking about manscaping and other nonsense, but things really pick up when we get into a long talk about things that will drastically improve your writing in a short period of time. Some of the things we talk about are why metaphors are better than similes, how to structure your paragraphs for optimal pacing, and the importance of using active voice instead of passive voice.

If you want to check out our fiction, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#69: 20 Great Winter Reads

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we talk about 20 great books you should read this winter. We also give our opinion on audiobooks and briefly discuss what we're currently doing writing and reading-wise.

You can check out the list at https://modernmrsdarcy.com/cozy-winter-books/

You can also check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #35: Best Movies About Writers

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 12:00:00 -0500

We're talking about movies! More specifically, movies about writers. We also discuss some tv shows about writers and then go on about some old Oscar controversy.

Check out the article we read at https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/films-about-writing/the-writing-on-the-screen-20-great-movies-about-wr/

You can also check out our stuff at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#68: Literary Comic Books?

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 19:01:06 -0500

We start the episode off by talking about what we're each currently reading. Then we go into 13 comic books that are closer to literary fiction. We also get into an interesting conversation about literary themes in mainstream superhero comics.

Finally, we end the episode with a ridiculous live reading of King Arthur.

If you want to check out the list, head on over to Bustle.

You can also check out our fiction by going to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #34: Weird Erotica To Tickle Your Fancy

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 12:00:00 -0500

WARNING: This episode is very NSFW!

We open the episode lamenting the length of the US presidential election. Then we discuss ten of the weirdest erotica sub-genres on the market today. After that... well, we have a way-too-long talk about poop porn. So, maybe don't let the kids listen to this one.

You can check out the list at https://www.yourtango.com/2016285789/10-weird-genres-erotic-stories-you-didnt-know-existed

You can check out our non-sexual work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BookCast #10: Dracula Finale

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 19:25:45 -0500

We open up the episode with a quick talk about the dangers of vampire STDs. Then we discuss the final seven chapters of Dracula and why we think a modern take on the ending would make the story better.

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #33: Flirting With Novels

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:37:27 -0500

We open up the episode with a quick conversation about what novels we're going to read now that we're done with Dracula. Then we get into a much longer discussion about our future writing projects and the idea of tackling a full-length novel.

And to finish things off, we talk a bit about our personal writing styles and what types of novels we would be best suited to write.

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com as well as follow Caleb's new Facebook Author Page.

Also, follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BookCast 9: Dracula Chapters 15-20

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 19:27:08 -0500

We're joined by Ashleigh Hatter as we attempt to discuss chapters 15-20 of Bram Stoker's Dracula. We do stay on topic for ten minutes or so, but not much happened in these chapters. So we partake in a good amount of nonsense throughout the episode.

We also talk about one of the funniest submissions we've received this year.

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#67: Most Bizarre Author Deaths

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 13:44:50 -0400

We are joined by Ash from the Ear Read This Podcast as we discuss some of the most bizarre deaths from the literary world. From getting stabbed in the face to drowning after trying to make love to the moon, there is no shortage of strange deaths on this list.

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

Also, be sure to follow Ear Read This on Twitter @earreadthis

BookCast #8: Dracula Chapters 10-15

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 14:04:03 -0400

We discuss chapters 10-15 of Dracula. We also talk about a bizarre description of candle wax and uncover a few more interesting vampire tropes.

If you want to check out any of our fiction, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#66: When Horror Taboos Go Too Far

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400

We open the episode with a wholesome talk about Caleb's new kitten. Then Spencer and Caleb spark their eternal blood feud that will ultimately lead them to their graves.

After all that fun, we get into the topic at hand. We have a conversation about how and why certain taboo subjects can ruin a horror story, and we give specific examples of failed usage of these taboo subjects, as well as possible ways to utilize them properly.

If you want to read some great horror stories, check out www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BookCast #7: Dracula Chapters 5-10

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400

We're back with chapters 5-10 of Bram Stoker's Dracula. In this episode, we talk about the mysterious case of Lucy's blood illness and that damn bat that's been harassing her every night. We also go over a tale of terror on the high seas.

If you want to check out our stories, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #32: The Big Horror Talk

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we have a long discussion about horror monsters and classic horror tropes. We talk about what types of monsters, creatures, and types of horror stories we want to see make a resurgence or get reinvented.

We also discuss the current horror trends we dislike and what we think needs to take a break from the genre.

Check out our horror stories at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BookCast #6: Dracula Chapters 1-5

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400

We open the episode with a toast to the late, great Edgar Allan Poe on the anniversary of his passing at the young age of 40. Then we discuss the first five chapters of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

We also have a great conversation about Bram Stroker's contribution to the vampire genre, the origins of the modern vampire leading up to the creation of Dracula, how Dracula has established the classic vampire tropes we all know and love, and we talk about the narration and writing styles of classic literature around the time of Bram Stoker.

Even though this is a shorter episode, we cover a lot of great topics.

If you want to check out our work or the many Halloween pieces we're currently publishing, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And be sure to like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #31: Brainstorming Horror

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, the dynamic duo of Caleb and Spencer brainstorm the horror story Caleb is currently working on. Of course, it wouldn't be a DBS episode if there wasn't a lot of drunken madness throughout.

You can check out our fiction and all the great horror submissions we've accepted at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#65: The 7 Different Types Of Stories

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 12:00:00 -0400

Caleb opens up the podcast by sharing a personal matter that affected him deeply. Then we go on and half-ass our way through the seven different types of stories that make up fiction. Spencer also goes on a mini-rant about King Arthur and his hatred for questing.

If you want to read great fiction, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram at @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#64: How To Start Writing When You're A Noob

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 12:00:00 -0400

We start off this episode by talking about J.K. Rowling's newest controversial book as well as the negative reaction of the movie "Cutie" on Netflix. After that, we get into a discussion on the basics of how to get started as a writer.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #30: Bring On The Funk And Surge

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we briefly discuss creative funks and how to get out of them. But we spend much, much more time discussing old soda commercial slogans. Fortunately, this helps us fight the funk as we sit back and SURGEEEEEE!

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#63:The Worst Opening Sentence Of All Time

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 12:00:00 -0400

It was a dark and stormy night, the beer fell down our throats in torrents, except when we missed our mouths and soiled our trousers.

Today, we cover what is considered to be the worst opening line to a novel in all of human history. But don't take our word for it. There's a whole contest dedicated to it! We discuss why the opening sentence is bad, then read a bunch of winners and losers from the 2019 Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest.

You can check out the contest at https://www.bulwer-lytton.com/

You can also check out our work and hopefully better fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #29: DPW News And Writing Talk

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 12:00:00 -0400

We discuss some changes coming to DPW, as well as our writers' lounge and where our current writing output is. There's also plenty of other nonsense thrown in, including a quick conversation on why we think people don't like to read anymore.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #28: When Do You Dump A Book?

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 12:00:00 -0400

We're changing things up and talking about bad books today! More specifically, we discuss when and why you might give up on a book before finishing. How far do you read a bad book before dumping it? What pushed you over the edge and made you trash it? We also talk about how writers can get and keep readers interested in their books so they don't find their novels tossed into filthy garbage cans.

But before all that noise, Caleb regales us with a recap of his weekend trip to the Virginia mountains and the beach.

If you want to see what else we're up to or want to submit to our Halloween Submission period, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#62: What The Blurb!

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 12:00:00 -0400

We spend some time discussing the dos and don't of writing burbs. We also read a few examples of good book blurbs and then we do an awful job of coming up with blurbs for some of our stories.

If you want to submit for our Halloween Submission Period, check out the guidelines at https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2020/08/05/halloween-submission-period/

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#61: Trash Talking Overrated Classic Novels

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 12:00:00 -0400

We begin this episode with Caleb talking about his recent experience of reading Moby Dick. This segues into a full-blown discussion about some of the most overrated novels in history. Then we go on about what books we feel are overrated and some stuff that we think is underrated.

We also briefly talk about our current Halloween Submission Period. If you're a writer, you don't want to miss out.

If you want to check out our work or read up on our Halloween Submission period, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

Or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#60: The Future Of DPW

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 12:00:00 -0400

Hey! This is our first episode from the new DPW Podcast studio. Or at least, the under-construction studio. We still have a bit to do.

In this episode, we talk about current events with DPW, future projects, and our plans with DPW going forward. It's a pretty chill vibe on this one.

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #27: Weird Comics That Would Make Great Movies

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we discuss the move to our new podcast studio. Then we talk about Spencer and his anger toward his most viral comic book article. Finally, after a lot of nonsense, we get into the topic at hand and talk about a bunch of weird comic books that would make great movies or tv show adaptations.

We also want to let you know that the DPW Podcast has recently made it onto FeedSpot's list of their top 30 writing podcasts. Check it out at https://blog.feedspot.com/writing_podcasts/

You can also check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BOTM #6:The Hike

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we discuss the wild novel "The Hike" by Drew Magary. There's so much to unpack in this one. So we highly recommend reading the book before listening to this episode. Also, we SPOIL the ENTIRE novel as we break down the whole thing.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram at @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#59: What You Should Never Do As A Writer

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 12:00:00 -0400

J.K. Rowling has been acting like a giant butthole and we talk about it. But that's not all we talk about. In fact, we have a long discussion about some bad writing habits you should kick and how to better improve your life as a writer. There's a lot of real-world advice in this episode that can be applied to your life outside of the arts as well.

If you want to read our work, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #26: Farting It Up With Dirty James Joyce

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 12:00:00 -0400

Warning: This episode is 1000000% NSFW due to strong language and graphic old time sex descriptions. Listen to with headphones on and not in public or you may get some very dirty looks!

In this episode, we start off discussing what the new National Anthem of the United States should be. Here's a hint, we come up with the best possible choice! Then we dive hard into some nasty stuff from our temporary space station podcast studio. We read all of James Joyce's dirty, filthy, gross love letters to his at the time girlfriend and future wife. This one is a real kick in the pants!

You can read the letters for yourself over at https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2018/02/02/james-joyces-love-letters-dirty-little-fuckbird/

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#58: Weird Fiction

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 12:00:00 -0400

Things get weird in this episode. Real weird. First, we discuss what it would be like if instead of becoming a werewolf, you became a Flairwolf. Yes, transforming like a werewolf but instead of a monster, you turn into Ric Flair.

We do a lot of rambling and talk about various topics. The main topic at hand is weird fiction that you should read. We also discuss Stephen King a bit and if we think he's a better short story writer or novelist. We end things by recommending some weird fiction that we've read over the years.

You can check out the articles from this episode at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-read-down/want-read-weird-fiction-heres-start and https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/introduction-weird-fiction-10-books/

You can also read our weird fiction by going to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#57: How To Write Successful Fanfiction

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 12:00:00 -0400

This episode is all about writing fanfiction and what we think makes good fanfiction. We also bring up a few absurd topics and get a bit raunchy. All in all, it's great fun!

Check out the article at https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/books/a37440/tips-to-becoming-a-successful-fan-fiction-writer/

You can read our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#56: Writing Routines Of Famous Authors

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 12:00:00 -0400

We start this episode ranting about the real world, then we move on and have a long discussion about the daily writing routines of famous authors. There's a lot of great information here so be sure to listen all the way to the end.

Check out the article at https://jamesclear.com/daily-routines-writers

You can check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#55: Writing Talk With Author Nicolás Obregón

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we sit down and have a long discussion with crime fiction author Nicolás Obregón. Known for his Inspector Iwata trilogy, we talk about his books Blue Light Yohokama, Sins as Scarlet, and his current novel Unknown Male.

We go in-depth on various topics including the covid-19 pandemic, how to create a good protagonist, the importance of setting and atmosphere, what makes good crime fiction, the difference between gritty noir and literary style crime fiction, the pressure of having a book deal, Nazis, copyright stuff, and many other things. Trust us folks, a lot of great info in this one.

You can find Nicolás Obregón's work at http://obregonbooks.com/

You can also check out more of our stuff at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

Or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #25: Drunken Book Talk

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we talk about some of the best and worst books we have read over the past year. We also get into a discussion about whether or not H.P. Lovecraft was actually a good writer. Also, there are a few Moby Dick rants you don't want to miss!

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #24: Our Writing Journey

Tue, 26 May 2020 11:54:24 -0400

We start the episode discussing the strange times we live in and our hatred for unnecessary taxes. Then we have a great conversation talking about some of our greatest writing failures, successes, and what work we're most proud of.

If you'd like to check out our work you can find it on www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#54: How To Score A Literary Agent

Tue, 19 May 2020 12:00:00 -0400

We open the episode discussing the possible resurgence of drive-in movies. After that, we give a lot of helpful information on how to get a literary agent. We also cover some things you shouldn't do when trying to score an agent.

You can check out the article at https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2017/08/14/4-things-you-should-know-when-looking-for-a-literary-agent/

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#53: Outlines Vs Discovery Writing

Tue, 12 May 2020 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we go into great detail on the pros and cons of creating outlines for your stories and for practicing what is known as writing by the seat of your pants; meaning that you don't plan anything out ahead of time.

We also discuss what we think is the best style of writing and which we use in our personal work.

Check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BOTM #5: The Big Sleep

Sat, 09 May 2020 19:43:38 -0400

That's right, we have a new Book of the Month review! It's been a while since we last had one of these. In this episode, we're covering The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler.

With the original hardboiled noir story starring the classic Private Investigator Philip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler created many of the familiar detective story tropes we all know and love. Though fairly basic compared to modern detective crime stories, The Big Sleep still holds up as a classic in the genre.

Check out our work on www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

Or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#52: Editing Like A Drunkard

Tue, 05 May 2020 12:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we have a long conversation about editing. We go over our personal editing processes as well as what we think works and doesn't work when editing your work.

Check out our fiction at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#51: Drunk Narrative Talk

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 16:48:49 -0400

There's some drinking involved in this episode as we discuss different kinds of narrative structures. We also stumble over our words, talk about comics, and go over the types of narratives we've used in our works.

Check out the article at https://www.nownovel.com/blog/narrative-examples-strong-narration/

Read our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #23: Weird Comic Book Sound Effects

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 12:00:00 -0400

We get goofy in this episode by discussing some... umm... unique comic book sound effects. We also cover current world news and talk about the importance of adding cool sound effects in your fiction writing.

Check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#50: How To Come Up With A Funky Book Title

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 12:18:01 -0400

There's a lot going on in this episode. We come up with dumb breakdancing names, then we get more serious and talk about our struggles with coming up with story titles. We go through a helpful article on how to come up with a good, memorable title for your book or story. Afterward, we discuss modern authors and why we think Stephen King is one of the best when it comes to naming his books.

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #22: Lockdown And Current Projects

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 17:29:30 -0400

In this episode, there's some talk about how we're dealing with the state lockdown due to the Coronavirus. Then we discuss our current projects and revisit the topic of episode #49 and how we've implemented powerful first sentences into our writing. We also do a little brainstorming on current projects.

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#49: The Importance Of Having A Powerful First Sentence

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 19:11:07 -0400

In this episode, we start things off by discussing the prestige that comes with being essential members of the workforce during the coronavirus pandemic. After that, we talk about the importance of the first sentence in your work. Then we spend a long period of time reading some of those most famous first sentences in fiction history and break them down accordingly.

If you want to read our work, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#48: Talkin About The Apocalypse

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we come up with the greatest superhero story ever told! Spoiler, it's about super-herpes. After that, we talk about 10 of the best post-apocalyptic novels as suggested by our friends at https://reedsy.com/discovery/blog/best-post-apocalyptic-books

Check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

IRC #6: The Catcher In The Rye Review

Sat, 21 Mar 2020 21:23:09 -0400

In this episode, we give our complete review of the cult classic, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. We breakdown the writing style, what we liked and dislike, what we took away from the novel, and why we think it's so popular. We also discuss its cultural significance to the United States and how it might be interpreted around the world.

Check out more of what we do at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS 21: Best Non-Marvel Or DC Comic Book Movies

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 12:09:56 -0400

In this episode, we talk about some of the best comic book movies that aren't connected with Marvel Or DC. We also give a mini-review of the movie Knives Out.

Check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram at @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

IRC #5: The Catcher In The Rye Intro

Sat, 14 Mar 2020 15:40:49 -0400

To kick off another Inebriated Reading Challenge, Caleb is joined by author Ashleigh Hatter to discuss our reading of J.D. Salinger's cult classic, The Catcher in the Rye.

This episode features classic DPW nonsense, as well as some interesting talk about the greatest American authors in history. We also break down the book a little bit and discuss what we hope to gain creatively, if anything, from The Catcher in the Rye.

To check out more of our work, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#47: Reading The Worst Romance Novel Quotes

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 12:10:52 -0400

In this episode, we actually start things off by discussing who we put on our Mount Rushmore of American writers. After that, we get down and dirty and read some of the worst quotes from romance novels. And trust us, some of them are pretty BAD!

Check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #20: Detroit Astronomicon And Drunk Roller Skating

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 12:00:00 -0500

We talk about mumble rap, our recent trip to Detroit for Astronomicon, and get interrupted by a drunk girl on roller skates.

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BookCast #5: Conan The Cimmerian Finale

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 12:39:58 -0500

Well, we've done it, folks. We've reached the end of our Conan journey. In this final episode, we talk about the final two stories in The Coming of Conan The Cimmerian collection.

We start things off with the super racist "The Vale of Lost Women," and go over "The Devil in Iron." We end the episode by giving our ratings for the whole collection as well as Robert E. Howard's writing style.

Check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#46: Talking About Black Excellence In Literature Part Two

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 12:00:00 -0500

In the second part of our discussion on great books written by black authors, we finish out the list we began in part one. We also talk more about the poetry of Langston Hughes, what books on this list we are most interested in reading, and what books we want to read in the near future.

Caleb also goes on a mini-rant about racism in boxing and what types of poetry he likes and despises.

Check out the original list at https://earlybirdbooks.com/must-read-books-by-iconic-black-authors

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BookCast #4: Conan The Cimmerian 9-11

Fri, 21 Feb 2020 12:00:00 -0500

In this rousing episode, we talk about the Conan stories "Xuthal of the Dusk," "The Pool of the Black One," and "Rogues in the House." We have a lot of fun talking about the wild Conan adventures here, as well as how weird it is reading adventure stories written in the 30s when racism and sexism were handled much differently than they are now.

If you want to check out our work, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#45: Are You Really Cut Out To Be A Writer

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 12:00:00 -0500

Caleb is solo in this episode, but that's okay! It's a short one. He talks about his current struggles with writing output and when or how a writer knows when it's time to call it quits. There's some useful information in this one.

Read the article mentioned in the episode at https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2018/03/26/are-you-really-cut-out-to-be-a-writer/

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BookCast #3: Conan The Cimmerian 6-8

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 12:00:00 -0500

In part three of our Conan BookCast series, we discuss the stories “Queen of the Black Coast,” “Black Colossus,” and “Iron Shadows in the Moon.” We also go over the tired helpless damsel in distress trope that's so prevalent in some of these stories. We also break down some of the things we dislike about Robert E. Howard's writing style and overuse of specific descriptions.

If you want to read along with us, go to www.drunkenpenwriting.com and check out our BookCast book guides posted every Monday. We have links to where you can read the stories for free, as well as YouTube audio versions you can listen to.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#44: Talking About Black Excellence In Literature Part One

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 12:00:00 -0500

We start things off by discussing the Barnes and Noble diversity book cover controversy. Then we get lost talking about our favorite classic TV shows like The Jeffersons and All in the Family.

The actual episode begins somewhere around the 12-minute mark. We have a long conversation about the best black writers in history and their greatest works. And since things go a bit long, we decided to make this a two-parter!

If you want to check out the list we read from, head on over to https://earlybirdbooks.com/must-read-books-by-iconic-black-authors

You can also see what we're up to at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BookCast #2: Conan The Cimmerian 4 And 5

Thu, 06 Feb 2020 22:14:54 -0500

We're going to Detroit this weekend! Which means we're dropping this episode on you a day early.

For our second episode of the DPW BookCast, we go over the Conan stories “The Tower of the Elephant” and “The Scarlet Citadel.” We start the episode with a rousing reading of the opening to Tower of the Elephant. Then we spend a good chunk of time going over the stories and talking a bunch of our usual nonsense. It's a good time!

By the way, make sure to stick around to the very end. We've included the blooper take of the opening reading.

To check out our work, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And on like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #19: January Blues

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 12:00:00 -0500

There's a lot of nonsense in this episode but we come up with a few interesting topics. We discuss how winter has affected our writing, what strange, possibly murder inducing day jobs might contribute to writing success, and our plans once winter is over.

If you want to check out our work, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can follow us Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BookCast #1: Conan The Cimmerian 1-3

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 12:00:00 -0500

In our first ever DPW BookCast, we cover the first three stories of "The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian" collection written by Robert E. Howard. We start the episode off with a reading of the poem "Cimmeria" that kicks off the collection of stories.

After that, we talk a bit about the illustrations in the collection, the life and writing style of Robert E. Howard, and some of the overall things we enjoyed so far. Then we go into detail and discuss the three stories "The Phoenix on the Sword," "The Frost-Giant's Daughter," and "The God in the Bowl."

We end the episode with a discussion of where we feel Robert E. Howard's work and writing style falls among the great literary writers of the 19th and 20th centuries. We also go back into a familiar conversation on what makes something classic or fine literature and if the Conan stories should get such a grand distinction.

If you want to check out our work, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#43: How To Write Like Quentin Tarantino

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 12:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we briefly talk about Quentin Tarantino's creepy love of feet and Spencer's dislike for Arby's. Then we get to the real topic and go over Quentin Tarantino's top ten writing tips.

If you want to read the article, you can check it out at https://writingcooperative.com/how-to-write-like-quentin-tarantino-6aaac77e7f09

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #18: Conan, Cthulhu, And Butt Stuff

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 12:00:00 -0500

We decided to chill out with this episode and talk about books and writing. We go over what we hope to get out of our upcoming BookCast series, The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian. Then we get into a discussion on the work of H. P. Lovecraft as well as our current writing productivity. Don't be fooled, though, the title is accurate. We start the episode off on a raunchy note. So don't listen to this one with the kids around!

And if you can, please donate to help Australia as they deal with these horrific fires.

Check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#42: We Learn To Dialogue So Good!

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 12:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we learn how to write good dialogue. We also discuss our methods of writing dialogue and what we want to improve upon in our own work.

If you want to check out the article we read, go to https://nybookeditors.com/2017/05/your-guide-to-writing-better-dialogue/

You can also check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

Also, make sure to follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #17: DPW Drunken Year In Review

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 12:00:00 -0500

With 2019 coming to an end, we felt like it would be fun to revisit all the things that made this past year great and not so great. We discuss the things we failed at, accomplished individually and through the DPW brand, and we go over what we hope to accomplish in 2020.

There's a lot of drunken nonsense in this one, and be sure to stick around until the very end for one last dose of low brow stupidity to end the year off right.

Be sure to check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Twitter @drunkpenwriting

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

And follow us on Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

#41: A Christmas Book Extravaganza

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 12:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we talk about 16 of the must-read Christmas books. We also talk about our favorite holiday movies, celebrity steroid use, and our plans for un upcoming fantasy Bookcast episode.

Check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Twitter @drunkpenwriting

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

And follow us on Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

#40: Knocking Out The Hero's Journey

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 12:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we go over the complete steps of the Hero's Journey. We also accidentally critique the Rocky movie franchise, give a lot of great tips on incorporating the Hero's Journey into your writing, discuss how we use it in our writing, and we talk about our favorite books that use it as well as authors such as Stephen King who have a unique way of incorporating the Hero's Journey into their work.

There's a lot of useful info in this one, folks. And if you want to check out the article we used in this episode, you can head on over to https://blog.reedsy.com/heros-journey/

You can also follow our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

And check us out on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

DBS #16: Don't Sleep On Doctor Sleep

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 12:00:00 -0500

In this fancy episode, we give our review of the movie adaptation of Stephen King's Doctor Sleep. We break down what we liked and didn't like about the movie, as well as some key differences between the movie and novel of the same name.

At the 24 minute mark, we switch over and talk about Stephen king's writing and work our way to discussing the pros and cons of writing a book series versus writing standalone fiction.

Check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #15: Why Alan Moore Hates Your Childhood

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 12:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we discuss Alan Moore's controversial opinions on comic book culture and comic book movies. We also talk about letting go of your childhood and what it means to be an adult in the modern world.

Check out or work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Twitter @drunkpenwriting

Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#39: How To Become A Better Reader

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 12:00:00 -0500

We start this episode off with a discussion about the downsides of becoming a Lovecraftian fish monster. Then we cover 19 Powerful Techniques to Build a Reading Habit by Nick Wignall.

If you would like to check out Nick's article, you can find it at https://nickwignall.com/reading-habit/

You can also find our work at www.drunkenpenwritinga.com

You can follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #14: Frozen Poop, Beer, And Batman

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 12:00:00 -0500

We get really drunk in this episode and things go off the rails immediately. We hit all kinds of topics including some fun movie talk. We do manage to discuss Joker and the upcoming Batman movie with some semblance of seriousness, but it doesn't last long.

Check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#38: Two Idiots Talking About Writing Poetry

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 12:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we learn how to write poetry. Or at least we try to. We also try our hand at awful slam poetry, read some pretentious modern poetry, and essentially make asses out of ourselves. Not like that's hard to do.

You can read the article from this episode at https://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative1/poetry-writing-tips-how-to-write-a-poem/

You can check out our work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

And follow us on Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

#37: 7 Bad Writing Habits You Learned In School

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 12:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we discuss the seven bad habits we all learned in school and whether or not you should give up on doing them. We also talk about how poorly the human body is assembled and why Caleb's kitchen stinks so bad.

To check out the article we based this episode on, go to https://www.copyblogger.com/bad-writing-habits/

To see what we've been up to, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

And follow us on Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #13: Giveaway Winner!

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 12:00:00 -0400

We have a winner! That's right, we announce the winner of our first-ever DPW giveaway. We also go into all kinds of drunken nonsense as we discuss books, movies, and other random things that come to us. After the outro music we have a flash fiction reading as well, so be sure to stick around for that.

To see what else we're up to, check out www.drunkenpenwriting.com

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

And on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

ConCast #2: Wizard World Columbus 2019

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 12:00:00 -0400

We just returned from a fun-filled weekend in Columbus Ohio covering Wizard World and immediately recorded this review of the con. We had a lot of fun and will most certainly be attending this show again in the future.

You can check out the full write-up at www.drunkenpenwriting.com as soon as we publish it.

Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

And on Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

DBS #12: Fine Cinema VS Marvel Movies And Joker Review

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 12:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we discuss Martin Scorsese's controversial comments about Marvel movies, how they compare to fine cinema, and end things with our review of Joker. There's a lot to unpack in this episode. So, sit back, sip a fine beverage, and enjoy.

If you want to check out our work, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

Or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

Classic Reading #1: Ulalume By Edgar Allan Poe

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 12:15:46 -0400

Written in 1847 by Edgar Allan Poe, this poem takes place on a night in the "lonesome October" with a gray sky as the leaves are withering for the autumn season. In the region of Weir, by the lake of Auber, the narrator roams with a "volcanic" heart. He has a "serious and sober" talk with his soul, though he does not realize it is October or where his roaming is leading him. He remarks on the stars as night fades away, remarking on the brightest one, and wonders if it knows that the tears on his cheeks have not yet dried. His soul, however, mistrusts the star and where it is leading them. Just as the narrator calms his soul, he realizes he has unconsciously walked to the vault of his "lost Ulalume" on the very night he had buried her a year before.

Unlike Poe's poem "Annabel Lee", this poem presents a narrator who is not conscious of his return to the grave of his lost love. This reveals the speaker's dependence on Ulalume and her love; his losing her leaves him not only sad but absolutely devastated and, by visiting her grave, he unconsciously subjects himself to further self-inflicted anguish. The poem has a heavy focus on decay and deterioration: the leaves are "withering" and the narrator's thoughts are "palsied". Like many of Poe's later poems, "Ulalume" has a strong sense of rhythm and musicality. The verses are purposefully sonorous, built around sound to create feelings of sadness and anguish. The poem employs Poe's typical theme of the "death of a beautiful woman", which he considered "the most poetical topic in the world". Biographers and critics have often suggested that Poe's obsession with this theme stems from the repeated loss of women throughout his life, including his mother Eliza Poe, his wife, and his foster mother Frances Allan.

The identity of Ulalume in the poem is uncertain. Poe scholar and distant relative Harry Lee Poe says it is autobiographical and shows Poe's grief over the recent death of his wife Virginia. Scholar Scott Peeples notes that "Ulalume" serves as a sequel to "The Raven". Poetically, the name Ulalume emphasizes the letter, a frequent device in Poe's female characters such as "Annabel Lee", "Eulalie", and "Lenore". If it really stands for a deceased love, Poe's choosing to refer to Ulalume as "the thing" and "the secret" do not seem endearing terms. In one possible view, Ulalume may be representative of death itself.

If you want, you can read the poem at https://drunkenpenwriting.com/?s=ulalume

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

On Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

or on Instagram @drunkenpenwriting

BOTM #4: Tower Of The Dead

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 12:00:00 -0400

For October's Book Of The Month we review Tower of the Dead by Ray Wenck. Here's a synopsis of the book:

"Five years after the still-unexplained event that altered the world, killing millions, the residents of what is now known as Tower Island, go about their lives with an uneasy, but confident feeling of safety. The zombies, or 'crits' as they have become known, are no longer a danger to the community, thanks to the efforts of Captain Evan Stewart and his troops. But something strange about the crits recent behavior has him on edge. Though the crits are massing near the gate, they make no effort to gain access to the island.

Attending a party in the elite Tower, a twenty-six story apartment complex, Evan notices muzzle flashes near the perimeter gate on the causeway leading to the island. Fearing an attack, he attempts to contact his troops, but finds the breach has reached to the island, crits are roaming the streets. Unable to reach the island defense forces, Evan tries to get to the ground to lead the fight, but discovers the Tower is already overrun. Unarmed, with thousands of somehow organized crits between him and escape, Evan must find a way to lead the tower residents to safety. As the muzzle flashes of his troops diminish, he realizes the battle is lost—no help will be coming. With the tower overrun, Evan decides there is only one way down. They must descend the tower from the outside."

We had a lot of fun reading this book and recommend it to all fans of the zombie genre. If you want to check out this book or more of Ray's work, you can find him at www.raywenck.com

You can also follow him on Twitter @RayWenck

Or check out his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/authorraywenck/

#36: Classic Short Horror Stories You Must Read

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 12:00:00 -0400

We talk about movies for the first ten minutes of this episode, but after that, we get into a great discussion on some classic short horror stories that we think everyone should read at least once in their life. Then we end the episode with some brainstorming on how to branch out on social media by starting a DPW Instagram account.

If you want to read some of the stories mentioned in this episode, head on over to https://theweek.com/articles/458068/9-classic-horror-stories-read-right-now

Or you can check out the growing number of horror classics at DPW by going to https://drunkenpenwriting.com/category/classic-literature/classic-horror-stories/

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

Or check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting/

#35: How To Write A Good Sex Scene

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 12:00:00 -0400

We start the episode off with a quick discussion on outrage culture getting people fired from their jobs, then we go into a great conversation about how to write good sex scenes. We break things down in a fun way by describing the right—and wrong—ways to write a sex scene.

If you want to check out the article that this episode is based on, you can read it at https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2017/05/25/lets-talk-about-sex/

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

Or hit us up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

BOTM #3: The War Of Art

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 12:00:00 -0400

For our newest Book of the Month review, we are covering The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield. We also discuss a few other wacky topics, briefly talk about our current projects, then end things with a few announcements.

Check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

Twitter: @drunkpenwriting

Facebook: www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

DBS #11: 25 Of The Best Modern Comic Book Writers

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 12:00:00 -0400

Spencer starts to get itchy if we don't discuss comic books for a while, so we take a laid back approach in this episode as we talk about 25 of the best comic book writers from the last 25 years.

If you want to check out what we've been up to, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

Or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting

#34: When Can You Call Yourself A Professional Writer?

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 12:00:00 -0400

We decided to have a short, relaxed episode for a change. So instead of a long educational episode or one breaking down our favorite books and movies, we take things easy and have a simple discussion on what we think makes someone a professional writer.

If you want to check out our work you can head on over to:

www.drunkenpenwriting.com

Twitter: @drunkpenwriting

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting/

DBS #10: Giveaway And Movie Talk

Fri, 30 Aug 2019 12:00:00 -0400

It's giveaway time! In this Drunken Bullshit episode, we go over the rules to our giveaway, which is a sweet vegan leather DPW journal. We also discuss John Travolta, go into some hot movie takes on IT Chapter 2 and Doctor Sleep, and cover a few other random topics. But here's what you came for!

If you want to enter the giveaway you have three options:

1. Send us a funny name for Spencer. We give Spencer a funny name every week using alliteration. Such as "The Manitoba Mauler" or "The Babbling Brute of Baghdad." Just make sure to use a real city, state, or country in the name.

2. Send us a flash fiction story on any topic or theme of up to 500 words.

3. Send us a funny name for Spencer and a flash fiction story to double your chances of winning.

We're keeping things simple and pulling names out of a hat. If you send us a funny name you get your name entered one time into the hat. If you send a flash fiction story you get three names entered into the hat. And if you send us a funny name and flash fiction story, you get your name entered FOUR times in the hat. That's four whole chances to win the sweet DPW journal!

You can DM us funny names on Twitter @drunkpenwriting or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting/

DO NOT SEND US FLASH FICTION STORIES ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK

You can send your flash fiction stories in the body of an email by going to our contact page at https://drunkenpenwriting.com/contact-us/

You can also send your funny names, or funny names and flash fiction together in an email. This would be most preferred.

We will let the giveaway ride out until we have a decent number of submissions. We will announce the winner on the podcast as well as contact the winner privately.

#33: How To Write A Good Story

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode we have a special guest, Ash Caton from the Ear Read This Podcast, and he helps us go over the essential rules of how to write a good story. We also break out into a few ridiculous discussions about classic writers, Ernest Hemingway fighting Orson Wells, and the weird differences between England and the US.

If you want to read the article this episode is based on, head on over to http://www.aaronshep.com/youngauthor/elements.html

You can check out the Ear Read This Podcast on:

Podbean: https://earreadthis.podbean.com/

Twitter: @earreadthis

Instagram: @earreadthis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earreadthis/

If you want to check out our work you can go to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

Twitter: @drunkpenwriting

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting/

#32: Going African

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 12:00:00 -0400

Our white American ignorance shines extra bright in this episode as we cover ten of the best African writers and their amazing work. We also have a discussion on the differences between African fiction and American fiction, cultural appropriation in literature, and how writing has become somewhat segregated as of late.

We struggle to pronounce some of the names on this list so you should definitely check out the article at https://theculturetrip.com/africa/articles/the-top-10-contemporary-african-writers-you-should-know/

You can also check out our work over at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

Hit us up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting/

And if you enjoy the podcast please feel free to donate to help keep the lights on by going to https://drunkenpenwriting.com/about/donations/

#31: The Shining: Book VS Movie

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 12:00:00 -0400

All work and no play makes for a boring podcast! That's why we decided to go over the differences between Stephen King's The Shining and the movie adaptation by Stanley Kubrick. And with Doctor Sleep coming to theaters in a few months we also touch on the novel version of that as well.

Make sure you stick around until the end of the episode for a few important announcements related to the future plans of the podcast.

Be sure to check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

And make sure to follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

And like our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting/

#30: Tequila With A Side Of Jesus

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 12:00:00 -0400

Boy howdy, where do we even start with this one? Well, Spencer had other plans and couldn't be in this episode. So we got a friend of DPW, Mr. Dominick Welsh, to hop behind the mic to discuss ten of the best novels dealing with God.

This discussion takes many twists and turns, especially since we get hammered drunk on a fine bottle of tequila as the episode goes on. We cover plenty of controversial topics and how they relate to the article at hand, including the death of God, if we think God is real, the current state of religion, creationism, the Catholic Church scandal, why Mr. Rogers was the real Jesus, and much more.

If you want to check out the article that this episode is based on, head on over to https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/dec/06/top-10-novels-about-god

If you'd like to donate to the DPW Podcast, please do so at https://drunkenpenwriting.com/about/donations/

You can also follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting

Or like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting/

BOTM #2: The Black Review

Fri, 02 Aug 2019 12:00:00 -0400

For our second Book of the Month episode, we cover The Black by Paul E. Cooley.

"Under 30,000 feet of water, the exploration rig Leaguer has discovered an oil field larger than Saudi Arabia, with oil so sweet and pure, nations would go to war for the rights to it. But as the team starts drilling exploration well after exploration well in their race to claim the sweet crude, a deep rumbling beneath the ocean floor shakes them all to their core. Something has been living in the oil and it's about to give birth to the greatest threat humanity has ever seen."

"The Black" is a techno/horror-thriller that puts the horror and action of movies such as Leviathan and The Thing right into readers' hands. Ocean exploration will never be the same."

We go into our usual bouts of nonsense but we keep on topic for the most part in this one. Even as Caleb fights off a wicked hangover.

You can check out the book at https://www.amazon.com/Black-Paul-Cooley-ebook/dp/B00NLWVMA6

You can check out our work at:

www.drunkenpenwriting.com

Twitter: @drunkpenwriting

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drunkenpenwriting/

And if you'd like to donate to DPW to help fund the podcast and website, you can head on over to https://drunkenpenwriting.com/about/donations/

ConCast #1: Wizard World Pittsburgh 2019

Mon, 29 Jul 2019 12:00:00 -0400

Today we have for you our first ever ConCast episode! As members of the press, we were fortunate enough to cover the Wizard World con in Pittsburgh for the first time since the event was last here in 2016. In this review, we go over what we liked and disliked about the event, as well as our suggestions on how to make the event better in the future.

This is a quick review for those who don't want to read our write-up at www.drunkenpenwriting.com

#29: Ray Bradbury Teaches Us How To Write Like A Pro

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 12:00:00 -0400

After a bizarre intro dealing with the personal hygiene of hairy men, Jason Momoa getting shamed for his "dad bod," and rapper Method Man eyeing up a role in the MCU, we get into a long and wonderful discussion about Ray Bradbury's best writing advice. You can skip the intro if you like but you'll definitely want to check out the topic at hand. There's a lot of great info in this episode.

If you want to check out the article that this episode is based on you can go read it over at https://lithub.com/ray-bradburys-greatest-writing-advice/

#28: How Successful Authors Use Social Media

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 12:00:00 -0400

This turned out to be a very informative episode. We discuss, sandwiched between dick jokes and talking about boobs, how successful authors use social media to build their brand as well as their readership. We give great tips on how to improve your social media presence and get quality followers who actually care about you and your work.

You can check out https://insights.bookbub.com/how-successful-authors-use-social-media-content-ideas/ to read the tips in more detail.

DBS #9: What We Hate About Comic Book Culture

Sat, 13 Jul 2019 15:26:14 -0400

In this episode, we have a great discussion about the current state of comic book and media consumption culture. Unfortunately, our audio got a little screwy on this episode, so we went ahead and made it a DBS episode rather than a normal one. Though, we think you'll really enjoy the conversation regardless.

We really go deep into why critique culture is bad and how alienating potential fans has created a toxic environment online.

You can check out the article this episode is based on by going to https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2019/06/19/5-reasons-i-hate-comic-book-culture/

#27: Quick Ways To Defeat Writer's Block

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we discuss some quick ways to overcome writer's block and get your creativity flowing again. We also go over what traps we personally fall into and what we do or should do to get back on the creative path.

If you want to check out the article that inspired this episode, you can give it a read at https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2018/05/07/writing-quick-tips-how-to-defeat-writers-block/

IRC #4: House Of Leaves Ending

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 12:00:00 -0400

We have reached the end of House of Leaves and couldn't be happier to be rid of this doorstop. Come listen as we share our gripes about the book, as well as go over the things (as few as they may be) that we actually liked about it.

We also discuss a bunch of things unrelated to the book and end the episode by trying (and failing) to come up with the next book we want to cover. As a warning, things get pretty noisy and random at the end of the episode, but by that point, we have already finished discussing House of Leaves. So feel free to dip our early if the ruckus is too much for your delicate sensibilities.

If you have any book suggestions, feel free to contact at drunkenpenwriting@gmail.com or hit us up on Twitter @drunkpenwriting.

#26: Brainstorming Extravaganza!

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 12:00:00 -0400

Spencer wants to write a novel! In this episode, we come up with some possible ideas for a novel Spencer wants to write. Then we brainstorm some ideas for our short stories we're currently working on.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Drunken Pen Writing episode if we didn't go completely off the rails a few times.

If you want to check out our fiction you can head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

IRC #3: House Of Leaves Part Three

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 12:00:00 -0400

As we near the end of House of Leaves, we dive deeper into the madness of the novel and breakdown all the crazy we've experienced thus far. We also give our harsh criticisms of what has so far turned out to be an underwhelming read.

We apologize if Ashleigh's audio sounds off in this episode. Like the typical drunkards we are, we forgot to plug his mic into the mixer. We promise that next week's episode will have much better audio quality.

#25: Facing Rejection And Fighting Imposter Syndrome

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we get serious (at least for us) and tackle two things all writers experience at some point in their careers. That's right, we're talking about how to face rejection and fight off imposter syndrome.

We give tips on how to deal with getting rejected and some ways to overcome it. Then we discuss imposter syndrome and why you shouldn't let it screw up your writing. Somebody call Dr. Phil because we're dishing out all kinds of advice today!

To check out our non-podcast stuff, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting to see what we're up to.

IRC #2: House Of Leaves Part Two

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 12:00:00 -0400

In part two of our House of Leaves Inebriated Reading Challenge, we go into what we like and dislike so far about the book. We also break down the author's writing style and formatting decisions.

There's also plenty of classic DPW nonsense for you to laugh at even if you aren't or haven't yet read the book. Despite the book's tone, we keep things light and fun.

To check out our fiction, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com for plenty of great, and free, content from your favorite drunks.

#24: Sci-Fi Madness

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 12:05:51 -0400

In this episode, we discuss the 7 tips on how to write sci-fi by science fiction author Max Barry. We break down his tips and go over how we would do things. Then we go over the types of genre fiction we need to start reading and how the tips previously discussed fit into all types of novel writing.

If you want to check out Max's article, you can go to https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-to-write-a-great-science-fiction-novel-in-7-easy-st-1565393502 and follow along.

IRC #1: House Of Leaves Part One

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 12:00:00 -0400

In our first IRC (Inebriated Reading Challenge) episode we read the cult classic, House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski.

Mr. Ashleigh Hatter, the expert in weird fiction himself, joins Caleb James for this new weekly reading episode where they'll be discussing their progress of the book and break down all the weird ass things that happen in this novel. Though, novel might be a generous title for what this is.

If you are interested in reading the book, this is the perfect jumping on point as the guys spend the episode introducing the work, author, and discussing what they hope to get out of House of Leaves.

Years ago, when House of Leaves was first being passed around, it was nothing more than a badly bundled heap of paper, parts of which would occasionally surface on the Internet. No one could have anticipated the small but devoted following this terrifying story would soon command. Starting with an odd assortment of marginalized youth -- musicians, tattoo artists, programmers, strippers, environmentalists, and adrenaline junkies -- the book eventually made its way into the hands of older generations, who not only found themselves in those strangely arranged pages but also discovered a way back into the lives of their estranged children.

Now, for the first time, this astonishing novel is made available in book form, complete with the original colored words, vertical footnotes, and newly added second and third appendices.

The story remains unchanged, focusing on a young family that moves into a small home on Ash Tree Lane where they discover something is terribly wrong: their house is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.

Of course, neither Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Will Navidson nor his companion Karen Green was prepared to face the consequences of that impossibility, until the day their two little children wandered off and their voices eerily began to return another story -- of creature darkness, of an ever-growing abyss behind a closet door, and of that unholy growl which soon enough would tear through their walls and consume all their dreams.

#23: Gettin' Nasty With Fine Literature

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 12:00:00 -0400

Holy Moly Donut Shop! We actually stayed on topic this episode. That's a new record for us. And that topic is fine literature. Mainly classic literature. But if you think this episode is going to be a bit dry, you're completely wrong!

We wax philosophical on the classics, what makes for good literary fiction versus pretentious modern art BS, and what work we recommend to those who are interested in checking out literary fiction but don't know where to start. We even bring up comics without going into a full-blown comic book discussion.

Side note: we weren't drunk in this episode which may have contributed to the rise in quality.

If you want to check out OUR fiction, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com and see what we've been up to.

Storycast #1: The Ocean The World Ignored

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 12:00:00 -0400

In our first Storycast episode, Caleb James reads a short story entitled "The Ocean The World Ignored" by DPW writer, Ashleigh Hatter.

"This is for the men and women, for the families and communities and livelihoods that have been lost and forever altered. I can never know how much you’ve lost in these floods, and I know these words won’t fix anything. But I wanted to show you that you aren’t forgotten, your trials are not insignificant, and no matter how hard the media tries to ignore the pain this catastrophe has inflicted on you, I will do my part to make sure your needs are voiced and your stories heard.

For all the victims of the 2019 Midwest Flood, we remember you."

You can read the story at https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2019/05/25/the-ocean-the-world-ignored/

#22: Does YA Fiction Suck?

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 12:00:00 -0400

In this week's episode, we bring fellow DPW writer Ashleigh Hatter on to discuss why YA fiction is so popular and why we don't care for it. This was our first attempt at bringing a guest on via Skype and the audio isn't the best, but the discussion is pretty fun regardless.

We do divert from the main topic multiple times and go into some random craziness (much like the cold open), but it's all in good fun.

To check out our fiction, you can head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com for some great, free content.

#21: Most Hated Characters In Literature

Tue, 28 May 2019 12:00:00 -0400

After some technical difficulties, we go into this episode talking about some of the most hated characters in literature. Then we discuss some of our personal favorite characters to hate.

If you want to check out the list, head on over to https://www.bustle.com/p/10-of-the-most-hated-characters-in-literature-from-heathcliff-to-umbridge-2446564

#20: Wacky Words From Around The World

Tue, 21 May 2019 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we travel around the world and find words that we should incorporate into the English language. Of course, it wouldn't be a DPW Podcast without the butchering of these words' pronunciation.

We also go off topic multiple times and get into some bizarre discussions, but for the most part, we keep our focus on the strange words and their meanings.

If you're interested, you can check out the list here at http://mentalfloss.com/article/50698/38-wonderful-foreign-words-we-could-use-english

#19: Going Japanese

Tue, 14 May 2019 12:23:53 -0400

In this episode we start off by talking about the many words and phrases used to describe boobs and penises, then we try to act like adults by going over a list of the top Japanese authors you should check out.

Not only do we break down the authors and their work, but we also go into Japanese culture and how it differs from the western world. Then we end things with a quick rant about the new trailer for the Watchmen TV show.

If you want to read our fiction, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com and don't forget to check out our new book group on Goodreads while you're at it. A lot of fun stuff going on there.

#18: Where The Magic Happens

Tue, 07 May 2019 12:03:20 -0400

In this episode, we discuss the rules of writing magical realism. We break down what magical realism is and how it differs from fantasy. Then we knock some smarts into you by going over the differences between hippies and hipsters, why Caleb dislikes Philadelphia, and what kind of events we want to cover in the future.

Head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com for more great content. And be sure to follow us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting.

You can check out the inspiration for this episode by going to www.penandthepad.com/write-magical-realism-2159950.html

DBS #8: Talkin' Press Gigs And Comic Books

Fri, 03 May 2019 12:03:58 -0400

In this Drunken Bullshit episode, we talk about our hatred for people who purposely post movie spoilers online, our upcoming press gigs, and our issues (no pun intended) with the current state of the comic book industry. This is a pretty relaxed episode. At least for our standards.

If you're interested in checking out our writing you can head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com for plenty of great content.

#17: The Golden Rules Of Show Don't Tell

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 12:06:54 -0400

After discussing the dynamics involved in the revolting practice known as boofing, we actually have a good writing discussion about the importance of showing rather than telling in regards to your fiction.

Of course, it wouldn't be a DPW episode without some shenanigans, but we manage to stay in line in this episode. And for once we didn't talk about comics at all. That might be a new record for us!

You can check out the article used in this episode written by Leona Brits over at https://writingcooperative.com/my-golden-rules-to-show-dont-tell-f4d030eca8c9

You can also check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com where we share fiction, poetry, articles, and more.

DBS #7: The 420 Special Aftershow

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 11:56:09 -0400

We'll be honest with you, this isn't our best episode. In fact, we probably rambled nonsense for the first ten minutes. But we do eventually get to talking about new movies such as Glass, Hellboy, and we even talk about E. L. James' new book, The Mister.

If you're interested in seeing what other things we get into, check us out @drunkpenwriting on Twitter.

You can also give our writing a read at www.drunkenpenwriting.com if you feel so inclined.

#16: It's 420 And We're Gettin' Stoned On Fiction

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 12:05:06 -0400

On this special 420 episode, we discuss some must-read works of fiction for all the marijuana enthusiasts out there. We also go into the most memorable movie stoners and what movies shouldn't actually be considered stoner flicks. So sit back, spark up a J, and have a good time as we delight your ears with our off brand of humor.

If you want to read the article we based this episode on, check out https://www.bustle.com/articles/76006-9-stoner-reads-for-you-to-get-lost-in-on-420

DBS #6: Too Drunk To Think But Not Too Drunk To Talk Writing

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 12:03:32 -0400

In this Drunken Bullshit episode, we have a long discussion about our current projects, our writing processes, and our dreams of one day getting published. Then as the booze really begins to take hold, we talk about the awesomeness that is Into The Spider-Verse, the disappointment of the new Pet Sematary movie, What books we're currently reading, accidental book purchases, and a lot more drunken nonsense. There's plenty to unravel in this one!

If you want to check out our work go to www.drunkenpenwriting.com

BOTM #1: Hair Of The Dog Review

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 12:02:03 -0400

In our first Book of the Month episode, we get drunk and do a terrible job of reviewing Hair of the Dog: Book One, by Matt Holland. We give this book 4 out of 5 whiskey shots. It's a title any drunkard can get behind. Check out the synopsis below.

"Magic has cured every disease, wiped out hunger, and made most fuel obsolete. The only problem it hasn't solved is war. But there's no profit in peace is there?

Layla Redford is a mercenary for hire. She's good at it too. Way better value for money than her competitors. Her latest contract? Track down and put the boot to a group of kidnappers who've been dragging innocent people off to the desert.

A good job and a rare chance to do some good. But Layla's only lead is disgraced military sergeant, Dominic Asruan. And she's not the only one on his trail. Dominic is wanted for murder, with a half million bounty on his head. Cash like that is drawing all the scum out of the desert: cannibals, bounty hunters, slavers, a guy who dresses like a snake. Layla has to outsmart, outgun, and outfight them all if she wants to finish her job and free dozens of innocent people.

And get paid, obviously."

You can pick up the book at https://www.amazon.com/Hair-Dog-Part-Gallaetha-Book-ebook/dp/B0099RG1OE

DBS #5: Gettin' Drunk And Talkin' Comics

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 12:05:06 -0400

In the drunken aftermath of our last episode, we talk and slur our way around a slew of interesting topics: comic books, movies, superhero genitals, our writing failures, anime, manga, public restroom etiquette, annoying teenagers, terrible rappers, the book of the month.

We go on and on about any and everything while enjoying the finest of beverages. Good or bad, this episode was a lot of fun to record.

To check out our comic book reviews, check out https://drunkenpenwriting.com/category/fast-and-easy/comic-book-news-and-reviews/

#15: Talking Characters And Why You Can't Kill Off The Joker

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 12:03:14 -0400

We capsized the boat immediately in this episode and never quite managed to right ship. We do talk a lot about comics, movies, and why people need to chill out in regards to changing famous characters for various adaptations. This especially rings true when it comes to the character of the Joker, who has another iteration coming out this fall with Joaquin Phoenix's Joker movie.

The booze was flowing in this one, but it was a lot of fun to record.

For more great content check out www.drunkenpenwriting.com

#14: The Hemingway Effect: How To Create A Perfect Author Persona

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 12:03:56 -0400

In this episode, we discuss how to create an author persona that'll get people interested in you and your work. We also give examples of various famous writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Hunter S. Thompson, Kurt Vonnegut, and Stephen King who were as famous—if not more so—for their author personas as their work. And it wouldn't be a DPW episode if we didn't get into some strange topics and random rants.

For more great content, check out www.drunkenpenwriting.com

#13: Book Of The Month And Work Rants

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 12:08:07 -0400

In this eventful episode, we choose our first DPW book of the month. We pick between five awesome books submitted to us by our Twitter followers and decide which one we'll read and review as our first ever book of the month. After all that, we go into some personal business by ranting about the awful parts of our day jobs. That's right. We have crappy day jobs just like everyone else.

If you want to see what else we do be sure to check out www.drunkenpenwriting.com

DBS #4: Great Fictional Drunks And Awesome Irish Writers

Fri, 22 Mar 2019 12:30:00 -0400

In what is essentially part two of our drunken St. Paddy's day episode, we continue the drunken buffoonery as we discuss the greatest fictional drunks in literature. Then we try to straighten things out by going over some of the best Irish authors and the work you should read from them. Though, things go sideways quite a few times in this one.

If you want to check out our writing, you can visit www.drunkenpenwriting.com for all of your fiction needs.

#12: A Toast To The Drunkest Authors Of The 20th Century

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 12:06:47 -0400

We kick off St. Patrick's Day 2019 with a special episode. As we slowly grow more inebriated, we discuss the authors who have been labeled the greatest drunks in 20th-century literature. Of course, it wouldn't be a true DPW drunken episode without some impromptu mayhem. And as we near the end of the episode, we hold a hilarious reading of one of James Joyce's raunchiest love letters.

For more great content, head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com.

#11: Three Reasons Why Your Work Isn’t Getting Out Of The Slush Pile

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 12:06:38 -0400

We give you a break down of the quickest ways to get your work out of the slush pile and into print. Then things deteriorate as we get drunker and find ourselves sidetracked by acting out what Billy Bob Thorton from his role in Sling Blade would be like in a sex scene. Finally, we end things on a better note with some movie talk.

To read the article this episode is based on, check out https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2018/07/02/3-reasons-why-your-work-isnt-getting-out-of-the-slush-pile/

DBS #3: Making Fun Of Twilight And Other Drunken Shenanigans.

Fri, 08 Mar 2019 12:00:00 -0500

In this Drunken Bullshit episode, we read and make fun of 15 awful excerpts from the Twilight series. Which proved more difficult than we thought due to just how terrible they were. Then we go into a bunch of drunken nonsense including our opinions on the sequel to Space Jam starring LeBron James, the dog version of John Wick, and try to figure out why the dog keeps yelling at us.

If you want more crazy content, check out www.drunkenpenwriting.com

#10: Scenes In Fiction That Make Us Sick! Part One

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 12:00:00 -0500

In this week's episode we go over the scenes in popular fiction that make us sick. We also discuss why throwing in unnecessary scenes of sex, gore, or violence can ruin an otherwise good story. Since we can talk all day about gross scenes in books, TV, and movies, we decided this would be a part one of two.

To see what sick fiction we've been writing, check out www.drunkenpenwriting.com.

#9: Hookers, Stephen King, Nipples, And Comic Book Talk

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 12:00:00 -0500

This episode was originally recorded in early 2018. We kick things off by brainstorming some ideas for a story about a murderous, evil, ghost hooker! Then we get into some Stephen King talk, go into the double standards of male versus female nudity in the entertainment world, then end things by going over our current (at the time) reading lists.

If you enjoy the DPW Podcast, you should check out where we get most of our ideas from by hitting up www.drunkenpenwriting.com.

DBS #2: Transvestites, Booze, And Writing

Fri, 22 Feb 2019 12:00:00 -0500

In this Drunken Bullshit episode, we hit the bottle hard and get into some weird topics—starting with our reasons why the word transvesite sounds offensive. Then we manage to right the ship long enough to get some writing talk in before sinking straight back into a sea of depravity.

If you want to check out more of our work, hit us up on www.drunkenpenwriting.com, as well as @drunkpenwriting on Twitter.

#8: Write Like A Boss

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 12:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we drop some knowledge on the five ways to start your writing career like a professional and how to, essentially, write like a boss!

You can check out the article this piece is based on at https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2018/12/10/5-ways-to-start-your-writing-career-like-a-professional/

DBS #1: Bloopers, Fails, And Current Projects

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:38:26 -0500

In our first Drunken Bullshit episode, we deal with a series of introduction bloopers and fails before finally getting into some talk about our current writing projects.

To check out our writing, you can head on over to www.drunkenpenwriting.com to see what we're up to. If you have any podcast episode suggestions, you can message us on Twitter @drunkpenwriting or email us at drunkenpenwriting@gmail.com

#7: Going Gonzo With Hunter S. Thompson

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 12:00:00 -0500

Instead of going on a drug fueled bender, we decided to break down 42 interesting and strange facts about Hunter S. Thompson. We also go on a long tangent about how weird the Kardashian's butts are, then we get gay with Alex Jones' frogs.

Make sure to check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com for awesome articles, short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. If you have any questions or podcast episode suggestions, you can contact us via email at drunkenpenwriting@gmail.com or follow us on twitter @drunkpenwriting.

#6: Why Bill Maher Sucks

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 12:00:00 -0500

We cover Bill Maher's disrespectful comments last week about his disdain for the comic book industry, as well as his previous controversy when he insulted the legacy of Stan Lee right after Mr. Lee's passing. We also end the episode on a lighter note with some talk about upcoming movies and the Dragon Ball Super Broly movie we saw recently.

To see what else we are up to, you can check out our other work at www.drunkenpenwriting.com and @drunkpenwriting on Twitter.

#5: Gettin' Our Learn On With Tips From Neil Gaiman

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 12:00:00 -0500

In this first episode back from a long hiatus, we go over Neil Gaiman's top 12 tips for writers. There is a lot of writing talk, drinking, and helicopter battles going on. But it's all in good fun.

If you want to see what else we've been up to, check us out at www.drunkenpenwriting.com or @drunkpenwriting on Twitter.

#4: 50 Shades of Brown

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 17:40:08 -0500

WARNING: If you're sensitive to strong sexual themes and stronger language, this may not be the episode for you.

Recorded in early 2018, this hilarious and NSFW episode is very low brow. Spencer and Caleb read and critique the 50 worst excerpts from the first 50 Shades of Grey book, and also give writers helpful advice by using the excerpts as examples of what not to do in your work.

#3: Writing Processes

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 21:12:50 -0500

Recorded during December of 2017, this episode goes over our personal writing processes, ways to improve your writing routine, as well as the crazy daily routine of one Hunter S. Thompson.

For the inspiration of this episode, check out the article below:

https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2018/03/20/why-you-must-find-your-personal-writing-space/

#2: Wacky Flash Fiction Prompts

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 21:55:49 -0500

Originally recorded in late November of 2017, this episode is just Spencer and Caleb having fun with online flash fiction writing prompts, coming up with ridiculous plots and wild stories for the selected prompts.

If you're interested in reading great short stories, flash fiction pieces, poetry, reviews, articles about writing, and more, check out www.drunkenpenwriting.com.

#1: Why We Write

Tue, 08 Jan 2019 21:48:43 -0500

Originally recorded in November of 2017, this first episode of the DPW Podcast goes over who we are, why we write, and why we think you should write, too.

If you're interested in reading great short stories, flash fiction pieces, poetry, reviews, articles about writing, and more, check out www.drunkenpenwriting.com.

If you'd like to check out the piece read at the end of this episode, you can read it in its entirety here https://drunkenpenwriting.com/2016/10/06/why-we-write/