Tag: Writing

DNA Podcast 041 – Remakes, Sequels and Reboots. Oh My!

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 041 - Remakes, Sequels and Reboots. Oh My!
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In this episode, Don and Rob sit down to discuss the issues involved with remakes, prequels, sequels and reboots, and why at best they’re a tough act to pull off well, and at worst they’re totally awful. Along the way, they delve into the nature of story itself and how stories reflect the writers and society. All that, and why the Ice Cream Man was an important figure in Star Wars lore (at least according to Don), is waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

    Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:

Romance Novel Formula
The Anatomy of Story
Humans are wired to learn through story.
Friday the 13th
SCREAM
Why The Force Awakens Bombed in China
Murder Mystery Formula
Audiences Like Films Better when they know what happens
The Green Hornet: movie and character
The Phantom Edit
Star Wars Ice Cream Man (Willrow Hood)

DNA Podcast 035 – The Hero’s Journey Strikes Back!

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 035 - The Hero's Journey Strikes Back!
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In this episode, Rob and Don are joined by Jack Ward for a spirited debate about Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey. Does Campbell’s opus really hold the key to writing satisfying stories? Jack thinks so, but Rob and Don aren’t so sure, and this leads to a long discussion involving comparative mythology, newspaper comic strips, 1970’s vampire hunting reporters, and more sitcom references than an 80’s flashback! All this, and Don’s unhealthy fixation with the obscure scifi comedy Quark are waiting for you in this, the 35th episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.

    Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed

The Hero with a Thousand Faces (book)
Glove and Boots Heros Journey (in 5 minutes, with puppets)
The Power of Myth Bill Moyers/Joseph Campbell
Christopher Vogler Hero’s Journey Memo
Kishotenketsu For Beginners (Alternate Japanese Story Structure)
Buck Rogers
Mary Worth
Snuffie Smith
Blondie
Cousin Oliver/Brady Bunch
The Story Toolkit Podcast
Eating Raoul (trailer)
Captain Blood (Errol Flynn, trailer)
Quark (first episode)
Law and Order
Kolchak the Night Stalker
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
Who’s the Boss?

DNA Podcast 033 – Writing Formulas

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 033 - Writing Formulas
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Lester Dent

In this episode, Rob and Don sit down to discuss story structure. They explore the origins of the 3-act structure, discuss Chris Fox’s Write to Market strategy, and break down the Lester Dent Master Pulp Writing Formula and Michael Moorcock’s How to Write a Book in Three Days method. All this, and why Buffy the Vampire Slayer is really a ninja, are waiting for you in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs!

    Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:

3 Act Structure Made Easy (video)
Aristotle’s Poetics
Save the Cat!
Story/Plotting Formulas
Chris Fox’s Write to Market
Anne Rice
Buffy Vampire Slayer
Vampire the Masquerade
Urban Fantasy
The Hero’s Journey
The Procedural
Writing Creative Procedural Fiction
Rob’s Thoughts on Different Story Structures (blog post)
Bakuman Manga
Dan Harmon’s Story Wheel
Dick Tracy
Predator Rocky Sequel?
Lester Dent Master Pulp Writing Formula
Michael Moorcock’s How to Write a Book in 3 Days Method

 

DNA Podcast 24 – Science Fiction Author Gary Gibson

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 24 - Science Fiction Author Gary Gibson
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    In this episode, Rob and Don interview Scottish science fiction writer Gary Gibson about his career, writing Space Opera, and why Science Fiction has become boring. All this, and why Zardoz is a classic film, in this episode of the Department of Nerdly Affairs.
    Closing Music:

Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed:

Gary Gibson’s Homepage
Gary’s Amazon Author Page
Robert Heinlein
Marvel UK
Stealing Light
Starship Troopers
New Wave Science Fiction
Angel Stations
Scrivener
Neal Stephenson
Corey Doctorow
Nick Mamatas
Chuck Tingle
Ed Wood’s Orgy of the Dead
Zardoz
Andromeda

DNA Podcast 023 – Why You Shouldn’t Be a Writer

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast 023 - Why You Shouldn't Be a Writer
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In this episode, Rob and Don discuss the cons of becoming a professional writer (or artist). While the internet is filled with people telling you that you’re one Kindle book away from quitting your day job (mostly by people selling writing how-to advice and services) Rob and Don look at some of the cold, hard costs and challenges that come with trying to write for a living. Along the way, they discuss ways to overcome those challenges and make yourself a better writer if you’re determined to follow the hard road. All this, and a heaping helping of Dinosaur Porn are waiting for you in the 23rd episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs!

Closing Music: Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

 

DNA Podcast Episode 002- Audience Expectations

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast Episode 002- Audience Expectations
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THAT cover.

THAT cover.

Welcome Operatives to the Department of Nerdly Affairs, tonight your hosts Rob Paterson and Don Chisholm discuss how audience expectations shape how people create media and react to it. In addition, we discuss Jack Campbell’s The Lost Fleet series, what really makes a story “Adult”, why Hollywood can’t get Wonder Woman right, and International Comics culture. All that, plus the Combat Sign Wave and Phantom Lady’s incredible cleavage are waiting for you in this week’s episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music: Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

 

Things Discussed:

The Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell

Show Don’t Tell

Phantom Lady

Charlton Comics

Marvels

Damage Control

New Adult Fiction

The Magicians by Lev Grosman

The Magicians TV Series (video)

Masamune Shirow

Combat/Exposition Sine Wave

Dragonball

Bleach

Naruto/Bleach/One Piece Background Comparison

One Piece

Sailor Moon Crystal Sucks

Cyborg 009 vs. Devilman Movie (video)

Justice League vs. The Avengers

Wonder Woman TV (2011) (video)

International Iron Man (Okay, so it was 25 countries.)

Supaida Man

The Incredible Hulk Manga

Super Sentai

Go Ranger

Battle Fever J

Super Robot Red Baron (video)

Inspector Bicycle (video)

 

DNA Podcast Episode 001- Writing Scifi and Horror

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The Department of Nerdly Affairs
The Department of Nerdly Affairs
DNA Podcast Episode 001- Writing Scifi and Horror
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Rob Paterson and Don Chisholm discuss the books Ready Player One and H. Beam Piper’s Space Viking. We’re also going to discuss the idea behind the common writing advice “Write what you know”, the techniques of Stephen King, and why writers have a lot to learn from HP Lovecraft and the Scottish pirate metal band Alestorm. All this, and a heaping helping of magic white guys are ahead for you in this episode of The Department of Nerdly Affairs.

Closing Music: Ode to Joy performed by Oliver Eckelt 

Things Discussed in This Episode:

The Fly (1958) Ending

Poltergeist Clown Scene

Salem’s Lot (1979) Window Scene

On Writing by Stephen King

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Alestorm (Pirate Metal Band)

Late Bloomer (HP Lovecraft Sex Ed Class)

The Cosmic Computer

Space Viking

Fuzzy Sapiens

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Starship Troopers

Heavy Metal L-Gaim

Mobile Suit Gundam

James Clavell’s Shogun

The Black Panther (Marvel Comic)

Amazon Sues Fake Reviewers