Dead Languages

We went to the bowels of Reddit to find the deepest, darkest writing questions and decided to bring them into our deep, dark spooky co-ed cave to answer them in a, uh, deep, dark tone. Whatever. We're putting on our galoshes and wading through the filth that is r/writing.

Also, listener mail!

We sit down with Matt and Alex from Tenebrous Press to talk about their Best of New Weird anthology, Brave New Weird.

We discuss the place Best Of Anthos have in the horror community and ways we can make them better!

Find Brave New Weird Volume 2 here: https://store.tenebrouspress.com/products/copy-of-limited-to-50-copies-brave-new-weird-vol-two-hardcover-w-signed-bookplate-includes-ebook

What's that mangey dog in the shadows? Why is it pixelated? Why can't WE EVER GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF BIGFOOT???

This week we're talking about cryptids and how you can use them in your horror writing.

And don't forget spooky co-eds, PLM has a mothman story in CONFIRMED SIGHTINGS (https://www.saltheartpress.com/confirmed-sightings)—which makes her an expert on this whole thing.

This week, PLM and Carson discuss the finer points of dealing with the gross side of writing—competition with other writers.

Oh no, your tentacles are making me sooooo scared, Mr. Cthulhu! Pwease don't make me contempwate existence.

This week on the Dead Languages Podcast, PLM and Carson talk about cosmic horror, what it is, how we write it, and more!

This week on the Dead Languages Podcast: PLM and Carson traverse the frightening world of Shunn formatting!

PLM and Carson sit down to talk about writing for TTRPGs and other forms of interactive entertainment.

We got lazy and you got wild—so we're responding to listener mail and having a weird ol' time doing it!

Every author remembers their first live reading. But are they worth it? How do you convince the people watching you that you aren't a sad, anxious amateur?

This week we go into the ins and outs of author readings!

Do you ever have trouble getting started on a story?

Well, that sucks, loser. But don't worry, the Dead Languages Podcast is here to save you. We're talking about prompts today, so settle in, stare at a blank page, and see if you can squeeze some blood from a stone.

When PLM is away, Carson will play!

(And by play we mean bring in a guest host.)

This week, author and friend Erik McHatton pops in with dulcet tones to discuss his journey and the influences that helped shape him along the way.

Support the HOWLS FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRIME KICKSTARTER: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/howlsociety/howls-from-the-scene-of-the-crime-crime-horror-anthology

Check out Erik's work here at the link: https://linktr.ee/erikmchatton

We delve deep into the only kind of short horror fiction that people actually read—creepypasta!

Prepare to learn about markets, hallmarks, history, and listen in as the goblins perform some armchair analysis on a couple classics of the genre.

PLM and Carson talk about those pictures they put inside of books to make you go, "Woah, nice book, bro."

What makes me sound like me and you sound like you? In our fiftieth episode, PLM and Carson talk about authorial voice and the long, slow grind to develop it.

Christi Nogle joins us this week to talk about one of the oldest and most elastic tropes of the horror genre: the good old haunted house.

Need some more of Christi? Visit her website here: https://christinogle.com/

Writing communities are a great way for you to figure out how much you hate other writers. It's also a great way to progress your craft.

This week on the Dead Languages Podcast, PLM and Carson talk writing groups—how to find them and how to make them count!

Are you an author coming up against the monstrous death-god that is MARKETING?

Welcome to the 21st century—where merely having the power to CREATE is not enough. Join the goblins as we talk about how to get started with marketing.

(This is a big topic, so fully expect us to revisit this one in the future for a part II.)

Psychological thrillers are a horror-adjacent genre with a much larger audience base than horror. Are you interested in dipping your toes into the world of heightening tension, twisty turns, and titles with the word "girl" in them?

Look no further! Author of THE GIRLS IN THE CABIN and FEEDERS, Caleb Stephens, talks about his writing journey and how he got into the thriller game.

Find more about Caleb here: https://www.calebstephensauthor.com/

The goblins doubleteam Kai Delmas -- a drabble writing expert AND long-time listener -- to find out all about the writing form known as drabbles! Will Lil Boy Plem finally be satisfied?

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/darkness-rises-hope-remains-kai-delmas/1144560795;jsessionid=5B5CC9023B6C96D32FE47DCD171F2642.prodny_store01-atgap10?ean=9798224537617

Serial killers, vampires, evil creatures, zombies, bad dreams, and more...

Can a basic story idea really get stale? Join the goblins as they try and ponder it out!

http://strangehorizons.com/submit/fiction-submission-guidelines/horror-stories-weve-seen-too-often/

The goblins get down and dirty with Rae Knowles and Evelyn Freeling to talk about the new (and flourishing!) subgenre that is erotic horror!

https://www.amazon.com/Scissor-Sisters-Rae-Knowles-ebook/dp/B0CR6X35RY

The goblins are BACK! And we're ending the year with our favorite books from the second half of 2023 along with some of our writing resolutions for 2024!

The goblins are reunited once more! Today on the Dead Languages Podcast, they chat about their experience at Bizarrocon and answer listener questions!

PLM is set loose and she won't stop. Strap in and get your teen girl on. We're gonna cover sex tips, questions to the PLMitor, a personality quiz, and horoscopes!

Don't forget:

1. Posthaste Manor out now: https://tenebrous-press.square.site/product/posthaste-manor-a-novel-by-jolie-toomajan-carson-winter-softcover-includes-ebook-/92?cs=true&cst=custom

2. Sisters of the Crimson Vine out now: https://a.co/d/7XIiHht

3. eyeofmoth.exe available here: https://a.co/d/9vh7FYq

You can subscribe to the DLP Patreon here and get access to exclusive content!

https://patreon.com/DeadLanguagesPodcast

You're so vane, you probably think this publisher wants your book, dumbass.

The goblins are talking about vanity presses this week, which means you should probably buckle up for some hard truths, buckos!

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_press

https://writerbeware.blog/

https://blog.kotobee.com/vanity-publishers/

https://scribemedia.com/vanity-press/

https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/self-publishing-vs-vanity-publishing-confused

https://writerbeware.blog/2021/01/29/vanity-press-storm-warning-waldorf-publishing/

PLM and Carson unravel the darkest corners of their mind to talk about... dicks. I mean, okay, we talk about being scary too. But also dicks.

We have a special episode today for Halloween! In this episode, the goblins talk about their love of Halloween, how it inspires them, and read two special stories for you, spooky co-eds.

Patrick Barb's new short story collection PRE-APPROVED FOR HAUNTING is out soon from Turner/Keylight Books, so we picked his brain about all things short story collections!

How do you pitch them? How many stories did you choose though? How do you choose the order? How big is your dick????

All that and more from the Dead Languages Podcast.

The goblins cobble together a chill AF episode on titling. Do we care about titles? How many titles have we titled?

Listen in to find out!

You asked, we listened! On this episode of the Dead Languages Podcast, we talk about how get our ideas!

This week we're joined by James from the JustJames Horror Review podcast and we ask him all sorts of crazy questions about what indie horror is like from a reader's perspective, how he got into the podcasting game, and what's it being a reviewer!

Find the Just James Horror Review Podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Bd9x2R7x7Bhoo3pq1KB2w?si=9d0cc77b04b94207

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/just_james_horror_review/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Justjameshorror?t=q_Ok7wb9v5pRZByJiMXH4w&s=09

A little chill episode for our spooky co-eds as PLM and Carson compare their top five books of 2023 so far! Come chill with us and see how our lists compare!

Carson and PLM get down and dirty, chatting all thing editing and revision. From self-revision to professional feedback, from beta readers to editing as you go. The goblins cover it all.

Sources

https://youtu.be/WEFC5Oz_Dco

https://youtu.be/_190lk7nP0E

https://youtu.be/CP-G7SPXg6A

https://youtu.be/6xS8LykRUj0

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/les-petites-morts-live-reading-event-tickets-629580601527?aff=oddtdtcreator

PLM and Carson talk about one of their favorite horror archetypes: the vampire! Hear the gang explore the origins of vampire in myth and legend, as well as some of their favorite portrayals of vampires in fiction.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/vampire
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/01/12/books-first-vampire-in-literature
https://www.wired.com/2012/04/vampire-fiction-history/
https://talesofmytery.blogspot.com/2013/12/augustus-hare-vampire-of-croglin-grange.html
https://www.historicmysteries.com/croglin-grange-vampire/
https://theconversation.com/older-than-dracula-in-search-of-the-english-vampire-105238#:~:text=The%20vampire%20first%20made%20its,Lamb's%20novel%20Glenarvon%20(1816).
https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/vampire-history
https://study.com/learn/lesson/vampire-literature-genre-analysis.html#:~:text=Vampires%20may%20represent%20many%20different,being%20cast%20out%20from%20society.
https://www.shortform.com/blog/vampires-in-literature/
https://us.ukessays.com/essays/english-literature/the-changing-portrayal-of-vampires-in-literature-english-literature-essay.php