WINSTON (cont.):  “. . . who are still calling us Trekkies —’ (Thumbs his nose and wiggles his fingers) (Laughter) and walk off with my award.”

PAT:  “But TREK has won Hugos — for Best Television Presentation.”

WINSTON:  “But television they still consider to be an ‘unwanted child.’  I’m talking about victories in literature. (to audience) So it’s question of how ‘pro’ we’re really going to get.  Some of us have already become dedicated.  For myself, I’ve had a few problems in the past couple of years, so I’ve had a little trouble getting off the mark.  I haven’t made my second sale, when I think I could have quite easily.”

JEAN:  “Oh, you’ll make it.”

WINSTON:  “I know I will eventually, but I should have a long time ago. (to audience) I think our universes are really proving grounds for insight.  They allow us to make a character or a group of characters or a situation or a political viewpoint or something grow.  It’s not just enough to write a series of stories, but you’ve got to be saying something.  I think it’s why Harlan Ellison used to love Tolkien and now hates Tolkien, when you get into Tolkien and the greatest thing he seems to say is ‘Good must triumph over Evil because it’s nicer,’ which is something Al Capp said in ‘Li’l Abner’ once every four weeks.  Big Deal . . . even though ‘Lord of the Rings’ is a marvelous universe of creation, with all its interweaving of everything to make an exciting story, the greatest controversies fans have over it is in nitpicking little things, rather than Tolkien having something big to say.  For myself, I have big things to say and controversial things to say . . .”

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  “Where do you draw the line between writing an enjoyable story — a story that people enjoy, with nice characters . . . and action, if that’s what they’re into — and being preachy to get your point across?  I’ve had a terrible time drawing that line.  I’ve had stories that I just call ‘My Preachy Story’ . . .”

JEAN:  “That comes with maturity.  You simply learn how to show instead of tell.  Instead of having a character say it or you as author-omniscient say it — ”

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  “I know you’re supposed to leave it to the situation, but how do you sum it up to say, ‘Here’s the moral, folks!’?”

WINSTON:  “It is better to create controversy and be subtle about it.”