A Writers Life

By Dan Black

A weekly podcast music, books and any thing else that takes my fancy. If you are looking for writing tips and NPR whisper-voices, this isn't the podcast for you.

If, however, you'd like to join in on... more

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FAQs about A Writers Life:

How many episodes does A Writers Life have?

The podcast currently has 52 episodes available.

A Writers Life episodes:

August 19, 2019 #45 - Who's the Boss, Short Stories, the C-Word, and Victor Hugo
Books I mention:

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Prayers to Broken Stones by Dan Simmons

Skeleton Crew by Stephen King (I mention the short story "Uncle Otto's Truck", but I call it "The Red Truck" or something idiotic.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Contact:

[email protected]

www.goodreads.com

www.twitter.com/awriterslifepod

Support:

If you would like to advertise on the show you can contact us at palefirecreative [at] gmail [dot] com

www.palefirecreative.com

www.goodreads.com/danblack

...more
1h 4min
August 11, 2019 #44 - A Proper Introduction of Your Humble Host
Today I give a proper introduction literally from birth. There's also some stuff about short stories and religion.

Books I Mention:

Lost Horizon by James Hilton

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

The Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis

Some of the STAR WARS books I've read:

Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn

Truce at Bakura by Kathy Tyres

The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton

Jedi Search by Kevin J. Anderson

...more
1h 10min
August 08, 2019 #43 - The Bourne Identity and the Chronicles in Amber
Today I babble about getting the most out of your narrative voice. I also talk about Writer's Digest creative suggestions(link to the article)

The Bourne Identity (movie)

Books Mentioned:

The Chronicles in Amber by Roger Zelazny

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

A Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The Handsomest Drowned Man In The World by Gabriel García Márquez - FREE READ

Support:

If you would like to advertise on the show you can contact us at palefirecreative [at] gmail [dot] com

www.palefirecreative.com

www.goodreads.com/danblack

Today I babble about getting the most out of your narrative voice. I also talk about Writer's Digest creative suggestions(link to the article)

The Bourne Identity (movie)

Books Mentioned:

The Chronicles in Amber by Roger Zelazny

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

A Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The Handsomest Drowned Man In The World by Gabriel García Márquez - FREE READ

Support:

If you would like to advertise on the show you can contact us at palefirecreative [at] gmail [dot] com

www.palefirecreative.com

www.goodreads.com/danblack

...more
41min
August 05, 2019 #42 - Music and Writing
Today I wonder if it's possible to write words that rile passions as well as music does.

Mentioned on the Podcast:

www.duotrope.com (a must-use tool if you're a short story writer.

www.querytracker.net

Performed by the great Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra:

Antonin Dvorák: Symphony No. 8 Antonin Dvorák: 9Symphony No.9 Antonin Dvorák: Symphony No. 7

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 "Choral" Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 1-3 Mozart: Requiem in D Minor, K. 626 Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring - The Nightingale Bach: Preludes, Fughettas & Fugues - Gould Remastered

Books:

The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway: The Finca Vigia Edition (Absolutely essential if you're a short story writer. Actually, every writer needs a copy of this, whether you like Hemingway or not. He is one of civilization's best writers. Love him or hate him, he was incredible.)

The Sound And The Fury by William Faulkner

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

And here's something by Brad Thor if you really want...

Support:

If you would like to become a sponsor of the show, contact us at [email protected]

www.palefirecreative.com

Click through our AMAZON link here and drop a little coin in the bucket of the ol' DB

...more
1h 10min
July 29, 2019 #41- Working Out, Non-Fiction Reviews & Big Egos
Today was a real ranger, pals. I talk about exercising, writing narratives that lead nowhere, there's also a little love showed to non-fiction, which I'm reading a lot of these days. I also discuss how my interest in physics is rudimentary at best. Pretty lame for how many science books I've read.

Also, I go through the New York Times Best Seller List and see what's happening there.

Click on the links below to support the show. Thanks!

Books Mentioned:

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

Road to Reality by Roger Penrose

The New Girl by Daniel Silva

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Educated By Tara Westover

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Roger Penrose Video #1

Roger Penrose Video #2

Roger Penrose on The Joe Rogan Experience

Music:

Pink Lemonade by Closure in Moscow
...more
1h 9min
July 25, 2019 #40 - Branching Out & How to Save the Publishing Industry
Today I discuss how every moment should be savored for later use. I also talk about the dire situation the industry is in and how to save the whole thing. You're welcome, Humanity.

BOOKS:

OLIVER TWIST by Charles Dickens

MOBY DICK by Herman Melville

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens

UNDER CURRENTS by Nora Roberts

CITY OF GIRLS By Elizabeth Gilbert

BACKLASH by Brad Thor

MUSIC:

CURRENTS by Tame Impala

THE BROTHEL Susanne Sundfor

Movies:

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2

VENOM

-----------------------------------------

www.palefirecreative.com

www.palefiredesign.com

www.awriterslifepodcast.com

...more
37min
July 22, 2019 #39 - Fafhrd, BookRiot.com, Kazuo Ishiguro, and my Inner A-hole
On today's podcast I fail again to explain what I mean by "treading water" when writing. I'll do it next time, folks. I also make the mistake of making fun of someone's work and look like a jerk doing it.

Please leave a review for us! It really helps...

Books I mention:

Gentlemen of the Road - Buy on Amazon

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Salem's Lot on Amazon

The Stand by Stephen King

Other Mentions:

https://bookriot.com/2019/07/19/bill-gates-book-recommendations/

https://bookriot.com/2019/07/20/the-perfect-fragrances-for-harry-potter-characters-2/

https://bookriot.com/2019/07/19/falling-in-and-out-of-love-with-harry-potter/

The Adventures of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser Volume Two: Swords Against Wizardry, The Swords of Lankhmar, and Swords and Ice Magic

The Buried Giant

www.palefirecreative.com

www.palefiredesign.com

awlpodcast.com

...more
1h 8min
July 14, 2019 #38 - Writing Patterns / Dystopian Lament
Today I talk about writing patterns, Dan Brown's work as well as Garcia Marquez.

Buy the Cursive record here:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/vitriola/1423375538?mt=1&app=music&at=11lSgf

Gabriel Garcia Marquez Autobiography:

https://amzn.to/2lkbmmT

James Joyce's lame crypto novel

https://amzn.to/2llFfmQ

...more
59min
July 06, 2019 #37 - AWL is Back with Its Junk Out
Well, that's it!

I'm doing the podcast again.

If you like the idea please subscribe and leave areview on itunes!
...more
39min
June 28, 2019 #35 - The Beatles, Disneyland, Logos, and the Gays
Man, some rambly stuff in this one, folks. I'm talking about books and gays and Disneyland. Who knows what-all. And also getting cannabis shipped from Cali.

...more
1h 13min

FAQs about A Writers Life:

How many episodes does A Writers Life have?

The podcast currently has 52 episodes available.