Derailed Trains of Thought

Admit it. Sometimes when you're reading a book, you wish you could jump in and spend some time in that world. This episode, Tim and Nick discuss formats in which you ARE the main character of a story—Choose Your Own Adventures, video games, and other forms of interactive fiction! Also this episode, a very special Cinema Selections. Let's just say this: '80s fantasy meets German expressionism in a film Tim has been long overdue in experiencing. Was it worth the wait? Find out in this extra-long, wide-ranging episode of Derailed Trains of Thought! Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace16').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_016_Come_Play_A_Story.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

Admit it. Sometimes when you're reading a book, you wish you could jump in and spend some time in that world. This episode, Tim and Nick discuss formats in which you ARE the main character of a story—Choose Your Own Adventures, video games, and other forms of interactive fiction! Also this episode, a very special Cinema Selections. Let's just say this: '80s fantasy meets German expressionism in a film Tim has been long overdue in experiencing. Was it worth the wait? Find out in this extra-long, wide-ranging episode of Derailed Trains of Thought! Show Notes

Have we got an original for you! What do you get when you mix 20+ minutes of philosophical merry-go-round on the need for creativity; some regular dashes of Star Wars and Jim Henson; a healthy dose of dead French author, serial killer-obsessed writer, and caped crusader; a teaspoon of environmentally conscious alien; a drop of Heineken for flavor; and some guy named Gorō? The perfect cure to your sterotypical, connect-the-dots podcast! Or, at least, the 15th episode of Derailed Trains of Thought, your favorite podcast about storytelling. Have a listen! Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace15').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_015_Nothing_New_Beneath_The_Sun.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

Have we got an original for you! What do you get when you mix 20+ minutes of philosophical merry-go-round on the need for creativity; some regular dashes of Star Wars and Jim Henson; a healthy dose of dead French author, serial killer-obsessed writer, and caped crusader; a teaspoon of environmentally conscious alien; a drop of Heineken for flavor; and some guy named Gorō? The perfect cure to your sterotypical, connect-the-dots podcast! Or, at least, the 15th episode of Derailed Trains of Thought, your favorite podcast about storytelling. Have a listen! Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace15').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_015_Nothing_New_Beneath_The_Sun.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

Have we got an original for you! What do you get when you mix 20+ minutes of philosophical merry-go-round on the need for creativity; some regular dashes of Star Wars and Jim Henson; a healthy dose of dead French author, serial killer-obsessed writer, and caped crusader; a teaspoon of environmentally conscious alien; a drop of Heineken for flavor; and some guy named Gorō? The perfect cure to your sterotypical, connect-the-dots podcast! Or, at least, the 15th episode of Derailed Trains of Thought, your favorite podcast about storytelling. Have a listen! Show Notes

What do Reese's Pieces, talking animals, and believing in yourself have in common? They mean you've sold your artistic vision to the corporate man. Or do they? We explore Commercial vs. Artistic Vision, plus much more in the second episode of Derailed Trains of Thought. We're now on iTunes! Subscribe to us! Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace2').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_002_The_Pen_and_the_Pocketbook.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

What do Reese's Pieces, talking animals, and believing in yourself have in common? They mean you've sold your artistic vision to the corporate man. Or do they? We explore Commercial vs. Artistic Vision, plus much more in the second episode of Derailed Trains of Thought. We're now on iTunes! Subscribe to us! Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace2').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_002_The_Pen_and_the_Pocketbook.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

Here's a little surprise for our faithful listeners! In editing our last episode, we had to cut out a couple of sections of discussion for time restraints. But they're interesting enough that we thought we'd share them with you in our week-between-episodes. So sit back and enjoy these lost snippets of discussion about The Event, movie dialogue, and more, presented primarily in their original, unedited format. Download Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspaceST1').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Side_Tracks_001_The_Minicast_Event.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

Here's a little surprise for our faithful listeners! In editing our last episode, we had to cut out a couple of sections of discussion for time restraints. But they're interesting enough that we thought we'd share them with you in our week-between-episodes. So sit back and enjoy these lost snippets of discussion about The Event, movie dialogue, and more, presented primarily in their original, unedited format. Download Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspaceST1').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Side_Tracks_001_The_Minicast_Event.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

Two days late and a little long, but we finally have Episode 3 up and running! It's a packed episode, too. We start with a discussion of time management (see how that worked out with our late podcast), and end up somewhere in Jim Henson and Pixar territory. We also bemoan the lost art of boredom, reminisce about numerous projects, and reference "On Fairie-Stories." In the second half we interview Nathan Marchand, author of the newly published "Pandora's Box" and good friend, about the writing process. It's like a DVD featurette for the book. So come on, settle into a comfy chair, and join us for the newest installment of Derailed Trains of Thought. Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace3').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_003_From_Boredom_to_Book.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

Two days late and a little long, but we finally have Episode 3 up and running! It's a packed episode, too. We start with a discussion of time management (see how that worked out with our late podcast), and end up somewhere in Jim Henson and Pixar territory. We also bemoan the lost art of boredom, reminisce about numerous projects, and reference "On Fairie-Stories." In the second half we interview Nathan Marchand, author of the newly published "Pandora's Box" and good friend, about the writing process. It's like a DVD featurette for the book. So come on, settle into a comfy chair, and join us for the newest installment of Derailed Trains of Thought. Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace3').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_003_From_Boredom_to_Book.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

For this week's Side Track, we follow up on our interview with Nathan Marchand, author of the newly released Pandora's Box by presenting an audio version of the book's prologue. Thanks to Natasha, my wife, for performing the narration. Enjoy! Download Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspaceST2').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Side_Tracks_002_Peeking_in_the_Box.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

For this week's Side Track, we follow up on our interview with Nathan Marchand, author of the newly released Pandora's Box by presenting an audio version of the book's prologue. Thanks to Natasha, my wife, for performing the narration. Enjoy! Download Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspaceST2').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Side_Tracks_002_Peeking_in_the_Box.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

Shakespeare! Harry Belafonte! Nazis! Anne with an E! Muy Tai! Outtakes! What connects these things? Are you willing to find out? And you ready to accept the consequences? Find all this out and more in our fourth podcast as we delve into the Moral Universe: what it is, what it means, why it matters, and all that brouhaha. Then stick around for discussion of ABC's No Ordinary Family, a Hitchcock-inspired episode of The X-Files, and CYOA cinema. It's all here, and much, much more, at Derailed Trains of Thought. Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace4').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_004_Whether_Tis_Nobler.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });

Shakespeare! Harry Belafonte! Nazis! Anne with an E! Muy Tai! Outtakes! What connects these things? Are you willing to find out? And you ready to accept the consequences? Find all this out and more in our fourth podcast as we delve into the Moral Universe: what it is, what it means, why it matters, and all that brouhaha. Then stick around for discussion of ABC's No Ordinary Family, a Hitchcock-inspired episode of The X-Files, and CYOA cinema. It's all here, and much, much more, at Derailed Trains of Thought. Download Show Notes Loading the player ... jwplayer('mediaspace4').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/player.swf', 'file': 'http://www.worksofnick.com/wp-content/uploads/podcasts/Derailed_Trains_004_Whether_Tis_Nobler.m4a', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '470', 'height': '24' });