

Writing About Dragons and Shit
Writing About Dragons and Shit
This is the official podcast feed for Writing About Dragons and Shit - a podcast about writing with a focus on fantasy and sci-fi. Each week B Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Idle Champions Presents), Erin M. Evans (Brimstone Angels, Dungeon Scrawlers), and Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Psychology). New Episodes go live every Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 8, 2025 • 1h 6min
Ep. 166: Are My Heroes Villains?
This week Erin M. Evans, B. Dave Walters, and Treavor Bettis answer questions about Heroes Being Villains, POV Mechanics, MORE Burnout, and Querying.Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring:Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels)https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society)https://bsky.app/profile/bdavewalters.bsky.social Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Lore)https://bsky.app/profile/thetreavor.bsky.social Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu Buy Relics of Ruin!Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Relics-Ruin-Books-Usurper-2/dp/031644104X Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relics-of-ruin-erin-m-evans/1143299833?ean=9780316441049 Check out B. Dave’s Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/bdavewalters Enroll in B. Dave’s 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-page

Aug 1, 2025 • 59min
Ep. 165: Writing Failure
This week Erin M. Evans, B. Dave Walters, and Treavor Bettis talk about Writing Failure, Writing Bios, Freewriting, and Who Gets POV Chapters.Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring:Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels)https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society)https://bsky.app/profile/bdavewalters.bsky.social Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Lore)https://bsky.app/profile/thetreavor.bsky.social Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu Buy Relics of Ruin!Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Relics-Ruin-Books-Usurper-2/dp/031644104X Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relics-of-ruin-erin-m-evans/1143299833?ean=9780316441049 Check out B. Dave’s Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/bdavewalters Enroll in B. Dave’s 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-page

Jul 25, 2025 • 1h 6min
Ep. 164: An Amish Paradise
This week Erin M. Evans, B. Dave Walters, and Treavor Bettis talk about Amish Romance for a surprising amount of time and then answer questions about Getting Characters to Kiss and Tension in Genres.Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring:Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels)https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society)https://bsky.app/profile/bdavewalters.bsky.social Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Lore)https://bsky.app/profile/thetreavor.bsky.social Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu Buy Relics of Ruin!Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Relics-Ruin-Books-Usurper-2/dp/031644104X Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relics-of-ruin-erin-m-evans/1143299833?ean=9780316441049 Check out B. Dave’s Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/bdavewalters Enroll in B. Dave’s 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-page

Jul 18, 2025 • 1h 3min
Ep. 163: Does an MFA Help?
This week Erin M. Evans, B. Dave Walters, and Treavor Bettis answer questions about MFAs, Difference Between Drafts, and Genre Conventions. Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring:Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels)https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society)https://bsky.app/profile/bdavewalters.bsky.social Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Lore)https://bsky.app/profile/thetreavor.bsky.social Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu Buy Relics of Ruin!Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Relics-Ruin-Books-Usurper-2/dp/031644104X Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relics-of-ruin-erin-m-evans/1143299833?ean=9780316441049 Check out B. Dave’s Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/bdavewalters Enroll in B. Dave’s 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-page

Jul 11, 2025 • 1h 1min
Ep. 162: What We Love About Writing
This week Erin M. Evans and Treavor Bettis answer questions about What We Love About Writing, Reader Expectations, and Bettering Prose!Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring:Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels)https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society)https://bsky.app/profile/bdavewalters.bsky.social Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Lore)https://bsky.app/profile/thetreavor.bsky.social Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu Buy Relics of Ruin!Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Relics-Ruin-Books-Usurper-2/dp/031644104X Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relics-of-ruin-erin-m-evans/1143299833?ean=9780316441049 Check out B. Dave’s Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/bdavewalters Enroll in B. Dave’s 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-page

Jul 4, 2025 • 1h 3min
Ep. 161: Sometimes It’s Just Spartacus
This week Erin M. Evans and Treavor Bettis answer questions about Querying, Pet Companions, and Chapter Titles.Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring:Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels)https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society)https://bsky.app/profile/bdavewalters.bsky.social Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Lore)https://bsky.app/profile/thetreavor.bsky.social Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu Buy Relics of Ruin!Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Relics-Ruin-Books-Usurper-2/dp/031644104X Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relics-of-ruin-erin-m-evans/1143299833?ean=9780316441049 Check out B. Dave’s Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/bdavewalters Enroll in B. Dave’s 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-page

Jun 27, 2025 • 39min
What’s Up With Your Output?
This week a different sort of episode. During the last Tangents episode B. Dave wanted to check-in with Treavor about his writing and we wanted you to hear it.

Jun 20, 2025 • 1h 12min
Ep. 160: Burnout with Dr. Ben J. Searle
This week Erin M. Evans B. Dave Walters and Treavor Bettis are joined by Dr. Ben J. Searle! Together they talk about Burnout - what it is and what it does to us - as well as Dr. Searle’s book about the subject!Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Special Guest:Dr. Ben J. Searle (https://mindonthejob.com/)Experiences of Burnout Survey:https://mquni.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e3z9srtBlI0nHSe Starring:Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels)https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society)https://bsky.app/profile/bdavewalters.bsky.social Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Lore)https://bsky.app/profile/thetreavor.bsky.social Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu Buy Relics of Ruin!Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Relics-Ruin-Books-Usurper-2/dp/031644104X Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relics-of-ruin-erin-m-evans/1143299833?ean=9780316441049 Check out B. Dave’s Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/bdavewalters Enroll in B. Dave’s 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-page

Jun 7, 2025 • 1h 7min
Ep. 159: Unlikable Characters & Foreshadowing Timing
This week Erin M. Evans B. Dave Walters and Treavor Bettis talk about Unlikable Characters and Foreshadowing Timing!Join our Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/writingaboutdragons Starring:Erin M Evans (Empire of Exiles, Brimstone Angels)https://bsky.app/profile/erinmevans.bsky.social B. Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Black Dice Society)https://bsky.app/profile/bdavewalters.bsky.social Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Lore)https://bsky.app/profile/thetreavor.bsky.social Join the Discord!https://discord.gg/MdSVsfpTzu Buy Relics of Ruin!Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Relics-Ruin-Books-Usurper-2/dp/031644104X Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/relics-of-ruin-erin-m-evans/1143299833?ean=9780316441049 Check out B. Dave’s Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/bdavewalters Enroll in B. Dave’s 14 Day Writer:https://www.theundisputedacademy.com/14-day-writer-home-page

May 30, 2025 • 1h 3min
Ep. 158: Spilling the Tea with Ben Riggs
Ben Riggs, author of 'Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons', dives into the tumultuous history of D&D, including its narrow escape from obsolescence in 1997. He shares insights into the legacy of co-creator Gary Gygax and stresses the importance of diverse voices in gaming narratives. The conversation also covers the challenges of researching D&D history and navigating cultural biases, along with funny anecdotes from conventions and podcast evolution, highlighting the ongoing fight for inclusion in the gaming world.