Comments on: Writing Excuses Season 3 Episode 8: What Star Trek Did Right

By: Martin in Boise

Martin in Boise — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:05:13 +0000

Dan’s response to Ray raises an interesting point. If Star Trek and Twilight were successful despite not being “empirically good” does it mean as writers we should compromise and write what’s popular even if we can’t stand it personally?

But I do agree with Ray on Star Trek, since I also seem to be in the 1% that didn’t like the film. I’d be interested in seeing an episode called “What Star Trek Did Wrong.” The film had a contrived plot, a weak villain and supporting characters who were caricatures. As writers how can we avoid these things?

By: Faith Cross

Faith Cross — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:59:03 +0000

I haven’t watched the movie, wasn’t very interested in watching it, but I figure I got some good ideas from what they said and described. Now, I’d like to see them tell us what Tropic Thunder did right for comedy, and how to apply in it written format.

By: WEKM

WEKM — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:46:41 +0000

Let us not forget, the holy three are all writers, and have repeatedly talk about the voices in their heads, hence my labeling them as schizophrenics.

I have voices in MY head, so I label myself a writer. It keeps the men in the white coats, with the huggy jacket for me to wear, away. ;>

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:58:47 +0000

Got it that time! Thanks, Mike.

By: Mike Barker

Mike Barker — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:06:09 +0000

Sam? The link works for me. It’s at …

http://www.writingexcuses.com/podpress_trac/web/102/0/Writing_Excuses_Episode3-8-Star-Trek.mp3

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:27:19 +0000

Hello! Trying to download the file and there doesn’t seem to be anything there todownload. Is there a problem, or is it me?

By: Mike Barker

Mike Barker — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:03:38 +0000

Here’s the suvudu library

http://www.suvudu.com/freelibrary/

By: Mike Barker

Mike Barker — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:27:13 +0000

Just my opinion, but I found it odd to see the concern about these. I have not seen or read any of the “What X did right” movies/books, and due to my location here in Japan, probably won’t. Still, I found quite a bit of useful advice and commentary.

As a possible alternative, perhaps the boys would consider roasti…er, commenting on their own work? What “I Yam Not A Cereal Killer” did right? That could be amusing, especially if you ask the author to hold off on commenting until after the other two have had their chance.

Or perhaps pick something from Gutenberg, The Baen Free Library, or McMillan’s collection of free ebooks over on Suvudu? Easy access for everyone. And I bet if you take apart something like “The Mountains of Mourning” we might pick up a few listeners from the Bujold fan clubs…

Just some thoughts.

By: Ray

Ray — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:24:19 +0000

@ Dan Wells:.

I seem to be in the 1% of the population that simply hated this movie and it drives me crazy that either I can’t see what was so great about it or everyone else can’t seem to see why it was so bad. I have always been a hard science fiction fan and the idea that scfi doesn’t have to make sense really bothers me. Still I can accept bad science much easier then I can accept bad justification for the character’s actions.

What bothered me the most was the idea that it was a good example of a character driven story line. It seemed to me that the writers simply decided they wanted A B & C to happen so they threw the flimsiest of reasons out there and bet the audience wouldn’t care if those reasons actually made any sense as long as story kept moving and the jokes kept coming.

I think the biggest lesson to be learned from this movie and its undeniable success is that if you are writing pop scfi as long as the audience is happy about what is happening to the characters and wants it to happen then you don’t have to worry too much when it comes to character motivation and the logic behind what is happening. Maybe one of the reasons I disliked the movie so much is that I wasn’t onboard with the direction and I didn’t like their version of Kirk. Or maybe I am simply more out of touch with what makes a good story then I thought.

I do want to apologize for my first post on this site being negative. I love what you are guys are doing here and I think it was of the best podcast out there.

By: Writing Excuses

Writing Excuses — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:32:36 +0000

If you think we’re schizophrenic now, wait ’til you hear the dialect episode.