tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post7304585745597128435..comments2024-03-10T05:06:25.309-04:00Comments on Livia Blackburne: Writing Lessons from Gossip GirlLivia Blackburnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15805379309049803903noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-59467015102066081292010-01-02T05:20:39.335-05:002010-01-02T05:20:39.335-05:00Came to this post a bit late, but I am a huge Goss...Came to this post a bit late, but I am a huge Gossip Girl fan. And as a writer, I am constantly analyzing it after the fact. So many times, the writers of that show have had me close to turning off the TV thinking, "Oh no! They ruined it this time!" Then they turn around and pull it all back together even better.SabrinaDarbyhttp://www.sabrinadarby.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-15985824857220353952009-11-12T12:46:33.876-05:002009-11-12T12:46:33.876-05:00Oh yes. I am very envious of Dan's writing suc...Oh yes. I am very envious of Dan's writing success. He's a freshman in college and has already been published by the New Yorker (granted in a high school writers section). I also wonder: do some writers really have assistants? (He was an assistant to a "famous author" in a previous season). If so I think I might need one :)<br /><br />I kind of like Dan better in the Gossip Girl books because he is more obviously an eye-rollingly snobby wannabe poet.Amitha Jagannath Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17405379017465940050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-18458347837100602562009-11-11T18:30:55.123-05:002009-11-11T18:30:55.123-05:00Great post, Amitha! Pretty timely with the Parents...Great post, Amitha! Pretty timely with the Parents' Council thing, too!<br /><br />I think you could make #5 (clothing) into a writing tip by thinking about consistency. The show used to have Jenny "afford" clothes by making them, or through theft. If the show had established this sort of idea for all the "poor" characters, we'd have something to grab on to in terms of consistency. As is, with everyone wearing posh designer clothing, the show makes it harder to suspend disbelief--viewers break out of the show setting to say "as if" etc.<br /><br />One point you didn't bring up - how annoying Dan's "I'm such a great writer everyone loves my work and I write a complete story per day" shtick is!Peta Jinnath Andersenhttp://www.insertliteraryblognamehere.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-7870737176889269612009-11-06T22:29:47.720-05:002009-11-06T22:29:47.720-05:00I actually tried to stop watching Gossip Girl last...I actually tried to stop watching Gossip Girl last year because I had too many TV shows backing up on my DVR to-watch list. Funny thing was... I couldn't stop watching it. It repulsed me at times, yet I always come back for more. I don't actually like any of the characters or relate to any of them, but I like watching about them. Weird. My favorite couple has become Blaire and Chuck, making me realize that the "villain" can still be lovable. I agree with you about the imperfections--it has taught me that real people with real flaws and messy problems are much more interesting than those without.<br /><br />Oh, and I think the build-up for next weeks "OM3" episode is one of those suspenseful things that will turn out lame. Anyone else think so?Jessie Samshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11756322311215232859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8503889855562099029.post-38579324071752280272009-11-06T12:54:24.429-05:002009-11-06T12:54:24.429-05:00Nice post! I watch gossip girl - love the clothes!...Nice post! I watch gossip girl - love the clothes! Agree with most of your points, but usually, there are many things that irk me about the show. Something must be working, as I keep watching..:-) I think Nate has developed as a character quite a bit from the first season. And I love Chuck (though he has been a bit too good ever since Bart died)<br /><br />There are times when their dialog just grates on my nerves. Like when Rufus goes to the train station to meet Lily after they find out they have a son, and then they end the episode with this over-dramatic, "Just tell me one thing, is it a boy or a girl?" Really? That is is the only thing he wants to know? That is the first thing he wants to know?<br /><br />I also feel they start up this over-dramatic plot lines and resolve it way too quickly. Think you have already covered it actually - Build up this major drama and then, as we expect something big to happen, it just turns out to be oh-so-lame. <br /><br />For a long time, I kept wondering why there was no talk at all about Serena's father. And then they suddenly bring it up with the Carter episode. Some foreshadowing would have been nice.<br /><br />I better stop, I could go on forever. But don't get me wrong, I love the show - I watch it when I want to be mindlessly dumb, and just enjoy pretty clothes and watch rich kids' problems. But I honestly think, I learn more about what NOT to do than what to do in terms of the writing/plot etc.Suryahttp://silenteloquence.suryaonline.orgnoreply@blogger.com