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 Tra
Read MoreA new year brings new beginnings…like a new podcast about beginnings! That’s right, after starting with endings way back in Episode 1, Nick and Tim come full circle to the beginning of things. Whether it’s how best to start a story or why audiences like
Read MoreWe all love our ah-ha! moments. We like plot twists and seeing set-ups pay off. That medallion of his dead wife he wears under his shirt? Yep, blocks a bullet in the final battle. But when do these drama conventions become too convenient? And how to avoid
Read MoreEveryone 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
Read MoreWorldview. It’s one of those terms thrown around by people who like to talk about big ideas. So, of course, Tim and Nick have decided to talk about it. Every story presents a way of looking at the world. How can a reader/viewer navigate these different po
Read More“You probably thought you saw something up in the sky other than Venus, but I assure you, it was Venus.” -“Jose Chung’s From Outer Space,” The X-Files Perhaps you aren’t a true believer like Mulder, but even you must admit that aliens of all shapes and si
Read MoreYou may have noticed that political discussions are a thing on the Internet. This is not one of those. However, politics show up in stories as well. Why? Do we really want to spend an hour watching people debate each other? Is this another tale of trade r
Read MoreIt’s 2018, and we’re back with Episode 84 of Derailed Trains of Thought, your premiere podcast on storytelling! The facts: Story School, simple vs. complex plots; Our Take on Tales, our 2017 reads In other words: Your hosts, Timothy Deal and Nicholas Hayd
Read MoreIt might be a rant, a heartfelt reminiscence, a personal reflection, an exposition dump, or a rousing speech, but whatever it is, there’s something special about one character taking a minute (or ten) to share what’s on his mind. This episode, Nick and Ti
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