This week Ryan, Terry, and Justin discuss the four structures that dominate writing. Milieu, Idea, Character, and Events are all parts of a story, but sometimes one dominates over another. We also get to some voice mails. We hope you enjoy.

The inspiration for this episode

This week’s promo – Dead Mech by Jake Bible

This week Terry and Justin sit down with Scott Roche and Zach Ricks, two of the founders of Flying Island Press. They have big dreams over there, and to kick start their endeavor they started Flagship magazine. We hope you enjoy.

Compass – The Flying Island Blog

Additional Zach Links:
www.madpoetfiles.com
www.geeksurvivalguide.org

Additional Scott Links:
www.scottroche.com/thoughts
www.spiritualtramp.com/blog
www.archangelnovel.com/wp

This week’s promo – Seth Harwood’s YOUNG JUNIUS

This week Ryan, Justin, and Terry sit down to discuss the elements of a good plot. Terry took a writing workshop at this year’s Dragon*Con, and this week we all get to share some of the benefits. We hope you enjoy.

This week’s promo: Philippa Ballantine’s “Books of the Order”

Here it is folks, the final issue of Ray Gun Revival being published with Double-edged Publishing. It is the end of an era, as they say, but not the end of RGR. Here are the words of Johne Cook to better tell you what their next step will be…

So what is RGR going to do? We’ve gone back and forth. We were definitely going to go forward on our own, and then were definitely going to fold. I am happy to report that we have reconsidered that stance. It is simply too much fun being an Overlord. So here’s what we’re going to do. We have set up the normal social networking presences: we’re rgrzine on Twitter and Gmail, and we have an RGR group on Facebook. We’ll probably switch that over an RGR page. We’re going to be an HTML-based zine. We’re planning on going 4theluv at this point instead of looking for advertising or subscriptions for the simple reason that it’s easier that way. We don’t have to worry about collecting or paying money, and we don’t have to worry about reporting anything. We’ve run RGR pretty lean and mean so far, and we’re going to be even more stripped down after this.

And there you are. RGR is changing with the times, but they aren’t giving up, and I hope they see even more success in the months and years to come. Thank you, RGR editorial staff, for all you’ve done and all you will continue to do. God speed to you.

Hey, everyone, Justin here. Tonight I bring you three panels that I recorded at this year’s Dragon*Con. I hope you enjoy them, and that you get something from them.

Panel #1 – Turning Rejections Into Acceptances

Hosted by Lee Martindale, panel included Peter David, Anne Sowards (Penguin Editor), Lynn Abbey, Christopher Golden, and Jean Marie Ward.

Panel #2 – What Editors Want

Hosted by Bill Fawcett, panel included Stacy Hague-Hill (Tor), Claire Eddy (Tor), Betsy Mitchell (Del-Ray), Anne Sowards (Ace), Katja Jensen (Peachtree Publishers), Jim Minz (Baen), Kerrie Lynn Hughes, Unknown (Loose Id), Lou Anders (Pyr)

Panel #3 – Things I Wish A Pro Had Told Me When I Started Out

Hosted by Kevin J Anderson and Rebecca Moesta. This is based on their Superstars Writing Seminars.

This is a special episode coming at you live from Dragon*Con 2010. Justin and Terry were joined by former host PG Holyfield, James Durham, Gabrielle Harbowy, and Starla Huchton. Please enjoy!

We also hope you enjoy this photo from the recording. Justin is on the far right, and going to the left is Terry Mixon, James Durham, Starla Huchton, Gabrielle Harbowy, and PG Holyfield.

ANTHOLOGY ANNOUNCEMENT

The Dead Robots’ Society Podcast and MWS Media, LLC are proud to announce EXPLORERS: BEYOND THE HORIZON, a short story anthology to be published in 2011. The stories in EXPLORERS will feature characters forever changed by their discovery of lands and worlds beyond their own. Whether it’s by charting new stars, trekking across fantastical realms, sailing new oceans or traversing the wild and unknown spaces between dimensions, readers will find the unimaginable in the pages of EXPLORERS.

OPEN SUBMISSION CALL:

Submissions are now open for EXPLORERS: BEYOND THE HORIZON. All submissions must be primarily science fiction or fantasy. Horrific elements are acceptable so long as the emphasis is on science fiction or fantasy. The submission period will end at 11:59PM (CST) December 31st, 2010.

NO reprints. Unpublished manuscripts only. One manuscript per author. Do not exceed 5,000 words.

Please follow standard manuscript formatting.

Submissions must be sent as e-mail attachments in .rtf or .doc format to submissions@deadrobotssociety.com.

This is a paying market with royalty sharing. Space is limited, so good luck to everyone. Please see the FAQ below for answers to most of your submissions questions.

FAQ:

If I send in a story, will it automatically get in the anthology?

• Sadly, no. Space is limited, and that means some hard choices will have to be made by the editorial staff. Work from unpublished authors will be judged alongside those of professional writers, and the quality of work that makes it through to the end must be high.

Will I be paid for my submission?

• Yes, there will be an upfront payment, as well as a semi-annual royalty sharing payment, and all payments will be made via PayPal.

Will my submission be edited?

• Possibly, though that would be a process you and the editors go through together.

I have a romance story? Does that count?

• Only if the emphasis is on the fantasy or science fiction elements.

My story is just a few words over your limit of 5,000. That’s okay, right?

• No. 5,000 words is our limit. Anything over that will be immediately disqualified.

Is it okay if my story is ready on January 1st, 2011?

• Nope. 11:59PM (CST) on December 31st, 2010. Anything submitted after that will be deleted.

What’s the rule on sex & profanity? I know you’re not shooting for erotica, so I’m guessing there’s no graphic sex… but what about the level of violence, profanity and sexual situations? Are we talking PG, PG13, or R?

• We aren’t looking for erotica, nor are we shooting for copious gore and constant F-bombs, but we’re okay with some of those things. Anything between a PG and an R rating is fine. Use your best judgment, but understand that the editors will be the final judges.

What rights are you looking for in the stories you’ll be choosing?

• We will be purchasing “First Worldwide English Language Print and Electronic Serial Rights,”
  which basically means we have the right to be the first ones to publish the story in print and electronically everywhere in the world, and that the story hasn’t been published elsewhere in those forms.