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The Dead Robots' Society

The Dead Robots' Society

Time To Let This Mother Rip?

Oct 10, 2026 · 1 hr 1 min · 12 segments

When do you start the action in your story? How much introduction do the world and characters need before things go off the rails? The DRS Crew Discusses DRS caffeinates with…

When do you start the action in your story? How much introduction do the world and characters need before things go off the rails? The DRS Crew Discusses DRS caffeinates with [Larry's Coffee](https://larryscoffee.com/drs "Buy from Larry's Coffee"). If you want to purchase fair-trade, organically grown beans that brew into smooth, balanced, never-bitter coffee, visit LarrysCoffee.com/drs, receive a free gift with your purchase, and help support The Dead Robots' Society. Our links: Paul's store: https://payhip.com/paulecooley Paul's site: https://shadowpublications.com Terry's site: https://www.terrymixon.com/ Veronica: http://www.voicesbyveronica.com/ DRS Discord: https://discord.gg/pgmQxaVbGP Enjoy the show? Consider becoming a Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee supporter and for as little as $1 a month, you can help keep the podcast free and receive exclusive content. More information at https://patreon.com/drspodcast and https://buymeacoffee.com/drspodcast. #writing #fiction #podcast #chat #live #novel #story #narrative #publishing #author #writer #discussion #podcast #talkshow

When do you start the action in your story? How much introduction do the world and characters need before things go off the rails? The DRS Crew Discusses DRS caffeinates with…

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈755 followers

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Speakers: Paul E. CooleyHostVeronica JaguarHostTerry MixonHost

Top entities: Terry Mixon×22 Patreon×5 The Witch×5 John Wick×9 Hunter Killer×6

How Soon Should the Action Start?15:02 – 19:46

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:02

Then it's Halloween's around the corner, so everybody's putting out their horror movie selection.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:06

So there's so much to watch.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:12

Like The Witch.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:13

If you've never seen A24's The Witch, you should really watch it.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:17

It takes place in the 1600s, 1700s, early America.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:20

It's really interesting.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:22

Slow burn, but man, is it good.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:24

Oh, it's so good.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:25

Anyway, that notwithstanding, it does bring up an

Terry MixonHost

15:29

interesting point,

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:29

though.

Terry MixonHost

15:31

And what point would

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:32

that be? The Witch is a slow burn.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:35

Perfect example.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:37

There's a lot of stuff that goes on that is...

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:45

Explaining who these people are.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:47

Seeing them in the wild doing their thing.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:50

Introducing them.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:50

And then we get to know them.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:51

And then one event happens.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:54

I guess about 20 minutes into the film.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:58

Maybe even 15.

Paul E. CooleyHost

16:00

But until you get to that point, we've had no action.

Paul E. CooleyHost

16:03

Everything has been dialogue or scenery.

Paul E. CooleyHost

16:08

And for a lot of people, that's too long for something not to happen.

Terry MixonPersonAuthor
99%22 mentions
PatreonCompanyCompany
97%5 mentions
The WitchMovie2015 film
95%5 mentions
John WickMovie SeriesFilm series
93%9 mentions
Hunter KillerMovie2018 film
91%6 mentions
Sega SaturnProduct ModelVideo game console
89%4 mentions
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87%5 mentions
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75%1 mention
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73%4 mentions
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71%5 mentions
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69%1 mention
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67%4 mentions
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65%1 mention
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63%2 mentions
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59%1 mention
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5%1 mention
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1%1 mention

Opening Chapters and Scene HooksWriting > Fiction Writing > Narrative Structure
Balancing Early Action with ExpositionWriting > Fiction Writing > Narrative Structure > Opening Chapters and Scene Hooks
Pacing and TensionWriting > Fiction Writing
Slow-Burn StorytellingWriting > Fiction Writing > Pacing and Tension
Building Pressure Toward a Climactic PayoffWriting > Fiction Writing > Pacing and Tension > Slow-Burn Storytelling
Characterization in Action-Driven StoriesWriting > Fiction Writing > Character Development
Action and Thriller FilmsFilm > Film Criticism > Genre Films
Series FictionLiterature > Genre Fiction
Continuity and Reader ExpectationsLiterature > Genre Fiction > Series Fiction
Changing Opening Patterns Across a Book SeriesLiterature > Genre Fiction > Series Fiction > Continuity and Reader Expectations
Narrative StructureWriting > Fiction Writing
Fiction WritingWriting
Film CriticismFilm
Genre FictionLiterature
Character DevelopmentWriting > Fiction Writing
Genre FilmsFilm > Film Criticism
Literature
Writing
Film

How Soon Should the Action Start?15:02 – 19:46

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:02

Then it's Halloween's around the corner, so everybody's putting out their horror movie selection.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:06

So there's so much to watch.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:12

Like The Witch.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:13

If you've never seen A24's The Witch, you should really watch it.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:17

It takes place in the 1600s, 1700s, early America.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:20

It's really interesting.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:22

Slow burn, but man, is it good.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:24

Oh, it's so good.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:25

Anyway, that notwithstanding, it does bring up an

Terry MixonHost

15:29

interesting point,

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:29

though.

Terry MixonHost

15:31

And what point would

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:32

that be? The Witch is a slow burn.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:35

Perfect example.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:37

There's a lot of stuff that goes on that is...

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:45

Explaining who these people are.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:47

Seeing them in the wild doing their thing.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:50

Introducing them.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:50

And then we get to know them.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:51

And then one event happens.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:54

I guess about 20 minutes into the film.

Paul E. CooleyHost

15:58

Maybe even 15.

Paul E. CooleyHost

16:00

But until you get to that point, we've had no action.

Paul E. CooleyHost

16:03

Everything has been dialogue or scenery.

Paul E. CooleyHost

16:08

And for a lot of people, that's too long for something not to happen.

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