Derailed Trains of Thought

Writing is revision and a movie is discovered in the editing room. Or so "they" tell us. Isn't vision enough? If not, how do we go about casting our re-vision anyway? Tim and Nick take up the topic with their usual flair in Episode 49 of Derailed Trains of Thought. Then, just because, they try their hand at revising popular movies and books--because, that's what people do now, you know? Listen in! Enjoy! Take notes! And remember, next up is our 50th podcast extravaganza! Show Notes

Writing is revision and a movie is discovered in the editing room. Or so "they" tell us. Isn't vision enough? If not, how do we go about casting our re-vision anyway? Tim and Nick take up the topic with their usual flair in Episode 49 of Derailed Trains of Thought. Then, just because, they try their hand at revising popular movies and books--because, that's what people do now, you know? Listen in! Enjoy! Take notes! And remember, next up is our 50th podcast extravaganza! Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace49').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_049_Write_It_Again_Sam.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

"Balder the Beautiful / Is dead, is dead!" These words once caused a young C. S. Lewis to glimpse a scene of beauty and joy. We all have our own memories of a moment in some story that resonated deeply with us with its beauty. What makes such a moment? What is beauty, anyway, and can we capture it? Tim and Nick are on the case, examining the role of beauty in art. In the second half, join us for A Bit of Story, recalling the longings of youthful springs, and some exciting project updates. The leaves are turning, and a lovely chill is on the wind. Settle in and listen to the 48th episode of everyone's favorite storytelling podcast, Derailed Trains of Thought! Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace48').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_048_Glimpses_of_Light.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

"Balder the Beautiful / Is dead, is dead!" These words once caused a young C. S. Lewis to glimpse a scene of beauty and joy. We all have our own memories of a moment in some story that resonated deeply with us with its beauty. What makes such a moment? What is beauty, anyway, and can we capture it? Tim and Nick are on the case, examining the role of beauty in art. In the second half, join us for A Bit of Story, recalling the longings of youthful springs, and some exciting project updates. The leaves are turning, and a lovely chill is on the wind. Settle in and listen to the 48th episode of everyone's favorite storytelling podcast, Derailed Trains of Thought! Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace48').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_048_Glimpses_of_Light.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

"Balder the Beautiful / Is dead, is dead!" These words once caused a young C. S. Lewis to glimpse a scene of beauty and joy. We all have our own memories of a moment in some story that resonated deeply with us with its beauty. What makes such a moment? What is beauty, anyway, and can we capture it? Tim and Nick are on the case, examining the role of beauty in art. In the second half, join us for A Bit of Story, recalling the longings of youthful springs, and some exciting project updates. The leaves are turning, and a lovely chill is on the wind. Settle in and listen to the 48th episode of everyone's favorite storytelling podcast, Derailed Trains of Thought! Show Notes

You know what makes a story real? What makes it intelligent and high-minded? Sex. Also, unflinching violence. Then probably more sex. Or at least another pint of blood. But is this true? At what point do these things become gratuitous? Or are they always unnecessary? When does showing depravity go too far? Where should we draw the line? Where!? WON'T ANYONE TELL US? Fear not! Tim and Nick are here to tackle these questions with all the grit and stoic fortitude they can manage. Then for a change of pace, they take a look back at summer movies, as well as at a few summer reads. It may not have enough science teachers turned drug lords for your liking, but come in anyway and listen to the 47th episode of everyone's favorite storytelling podcast--Derailed Trains of Thought! Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace47').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_047_The_SFW_NSFW_Episode.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

You know what makes a story real? What makes it intelligent and high-minded? Sex. Also, unflinching violence. Then probably more sex. Or at least another pint of blood. But is this true? At what point do these things become gratuitous? Or are they always unnecessary? When does showing depravity go too far? Where should we draw the line? Where!? WON'T ANYONE TELL US? Fear not! Tim and Nick are here to tackle these questions with all the grit and stoic fortitude they can manage. Then for a change of pace, they take a look back at summer movies, as well as at a few summer reads. It may not have enough science teachers turned drug lords for your liking, but come in anyway and listen to the 47th episode of everyone's favorite storytelling podcast--Derailed Trains of Thought! Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace47').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_047_The_SFW_NSFW_Episode.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

You know what makes a story real? What makes it intelligent and high-minded? Sex. Also, unflinching violence. Then probably more sex. Or at least another pint of blood. But is this true? At what point do these things become gratuitous? Or are they always unnecessary? When does showing depravity go too far? Where should we draw the line? Where!? WON'T ANYONE TELL US? Fear not! Tim and Nick are here to tackle these questions with all the grit and stoic fortitude they can manage. Then for a change of pace, they take a look back at summer movies, as well as at a few summer reads. It may not have enough science teachers turned drug lords for your liking, but come in anyway and listen to the 47th episode of everyone's favorite storytelling podcast--Derailed Trains of Thought! Show Notes

Dear listeners: You may have heard the hosts of this podcast refer to such works as Star Wars, Babylon 5, The Muppets, LOST, The Wheel of Time, and other such well-known works once or twice (or 1753 times) in previous podcasts. We would like to inform you that all such references have been blacklisted. Timothy and Nick must attempt a podcast referring only to lesser-known works. This experiment is being conducted with full cooperation of the hosts and will be temporary in nature. We are also subjecting Timothy and Nick to Jim Carrey's website. While more hazardous, we have good reason to suspect the hosts will come out (largely) unscathed. The 46th episode of Derailed Trains of Thought is sponsored by the Organization to Downplay Dostoyevsky, Balrogs, Aslan, Locke, Lupin, and Such (ODDBALLS). Enjoy. Sincerely, The Auditors Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace46').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_046_The_Expurgated_Version.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

Dear listeners: You may have heard the hosts of this podcast refer to such works as Star Wars, Babylon 5, The Muppets, LOST, The Wheel of Time, and other such well-known works once or twice (or 1753 times) in previous podcasts. We would like to inform you that all such references have been blacklisted. Timothy and Nick must attempt a podcast referring only to lesser-known works. This experiment is being conducted with full cooperation of the hosts and will be temporary in nature. We are also subjecting Timothy and Nick to Jim Carrey's website. While more hazardous, we have good reason to suspect the hosts will come out (largely) unscathed. The 46th episode of Derailed Trains of Thought is sponsored by the Organization to Downplay Dostoyevsky, Balrogs, Aslan, Locke, Lupin, and Such (ODDBALLS). Enjoy. Sincerely, The Auditors Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace46').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_046_The_Expurgated_Version.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

Dear listeners: You may have heard the hosts of this podcast refer to such works as Star Wars, Babylon 5, The Muppets, LOST, The Wheel of Time, and other such well-known works once or twice (or 1753 times) in previous podcasts. We would like to inform you that all such references have been blacklisted. Timothy and Nick must attempt a podcast referring only to lesser-known works. This experiment is being conducted with full cooperation of the hosts and will be temporary in nature. We are also subjecting Timothy and Nick to Jim Carrey's website. While more hazardous, we have good reason to suspect the hosts will come out (largely) unscathed. The 46th episode of Derailed Trains of Thought is sponsored by the Organization to Downplay Dostoyevsky, Balrogs, Aslan, Locke, Lupin, and Such (ODDBALLS). Enjoy. Sincerely, The Auditors Show Notes

It's been awhile since our last Side Track (like 2011!), so when the Children of the Wells gang got together recently, we thought we'd have a round table discussion of what makes us tick as creators. You know Tim and Nick, of course, but here's also Greg Meyer, Laura Fischer, Nathan Marchand, and Aaron Brosman, to share their thoughts on what makes a good story, as well as ponder other, less serious, questions. Our next regular podcast should be out early August, since Nick is MIA for the rest of July. (Sorry!) Download Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace46').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Side_Tracks_006_CotW_Round_Table.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

It's been awhile since our last Side Track (like 2011!), so when the Children of the Wells gang got together recently, we thought we'd have a round table discussion of what makes us tick as creators. You know Tim and Nick, of course, but here's also Greg Meyer, Laura Fischer, Nathan Marchand, and Aaron Brosman, to share their thoughts on what makes a good story, as well as ponder other, less serious, questions. Our next regular podcast should be out early August, since Nick is MIA for the rest of July. (Sorry!) Download Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace46').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Side_Tracks_006_CotW_Round_Table.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

It's been awhile since our last Side Track (like 2011!), so when the Children of the Wells gang got together recently, we thought we'd have a round table discussion of what makes us tick as creators. You know Tim and Nick, of course, but here's also Greg Meyer, Laura Fischer, Nathan Marchand, and Aaron Brosman, to share their thoughts on what makes a good story, as well as ponder other, less serious, questions. Our next regular podcast should be out early August, since Nick is MIA for the rest of July. (Sorry!)

Everyone knows if you're wearing a red shirt, you're going to die. And if you run out of flashbacks, you're going to die. And if you're someone's mentor, you're going to die. And if you're in a Shakespearean tragedy, you and everyone dear to you is going to die. And if you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die. But why? What's the dramatic purpose in a character's death? In this episode of Derailed Trains of Thought, Nick and Timothy defy the Grim Reaper and scratch the surface of the ways and reasons fictional characters encounter death. Then, for fun, we host an impromptu bracketed death match competition among a widely random selection of heroes and villains. I mean, Zantana vs. Yoshi--you've always wanted to know, right? Someone famous once said: "Give me Derailed Trains of Thought or give me Death!" To that we say, "Listen in, and you can have both!" Enjoy! Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace45').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_045_The_One_Certain_Thing_Not_Taxes.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });