S4E1 of the Hourlings Podcast Project (23 minutes) is now available on YouTube. We’re back after a lengthy hiatus to discuss how 2023 went for us all from a writing perspective. After giving all of our excuses for falling off our planned schedules for 2023, we’ll turn to the bright and shiny 2024 and prognosticate on our goals for the new year.
A few years ago, Martin Wilsey, S.C. Megale and I did a podcast episode entitled “Where Writers Write,” in which we showed the various places in which we typically accomplished our writing. For me, I tend to write in lots of different locations, as you’ll see if you watch that episode. However, for podcasting, all the magic happens in a single place. With my fellow participants, I’ve recorded 141 episodes of the “Hourlings Podcast Project” in my office.
Stories are about conflict. For that reason, guns often feature in our stories. Sadly, a lot of writers get the details wrong. Martin Wilsey, our resident gun expert, is here to give a basic primer on guns and how to use them effectively in fiction. Meanwhile, S.C. Megale and David Keener will be peppering him with the questions you didn’t know you needed to ask. Followed by a Pop Quiz!!!
Economics is one of the tools that SF writers can use to add plausibility to their settings. In this episode, our fearless team of prognosticators will tackle the economics of one of the most common SF settings…humanity’s expansion into a solar system spanning civilization (think of The Expanse). What goods will people need…or want? How does economics affect government? Will there be space tourism? What about the trope of the grizzled Belter prospecting for fame, glory, and money in the asteroid belt…is that ever going to happen? How do we incorporate economics into our stories?
What could be better than scheduling a Happy Hour (with adult beverages) to discuss the status of all your writing projects? Why, turning it into a drinking game, of course!
In this episode, our intrepid panelists are interviewing Gregory Peterson, who just published his first novel, “War Machines.” The book is a near-future SF action thriller about a disgraced Marine turned high-tech thief and the predicament he finds himself in when he’s forced to take on one last “too good to be true” mission for a dangerous mob boss.
This episode’s topic is “Time Travel in Fiction,” in which our pugnacious panelists discuss time travel stories, starting with the basics…What fascinates people about time travel? Why would anybody WANT to travel into the past? If you could travel in time, what kind of time machine would you want (ex. – TARDIS, Delorean, hot tub, or space-time donut)?
This episode’s topic is “Handy Websites,” in which our illustrious panel discusses their favorite writing-related websites and tools. Let’s face it…writing is hard. Any website or tool that can make your life easier is a big deal!
This episode’s topic is “Astronomy,” in which our illustrious writers discuss the top astronomy subjects that SF writers need to know about if they’re going to write fiction set in space.
This episode’s topic is “Medicine in Fiction,” in which our illustrious panel discusses how medicine is handled in stories. From the effects of vacuum and zero-G on astronauts to the dangers of new worlds, from man-made viruses to nano-threats, our authors will cover everything they can think of. They’ll also talk about their favorite examples of doctors in SF books.
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