Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!

By Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due | RealmArts

Lifewriting: Write for Your Life! episodes

July 25, 2024 It's Kamala Harris for President! The Power of Twists in Storytelling
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about the surprise rise of Vice President Kamala Harris as the presumptive Democratic nominee for president as a "plot twist" -- and how plot twists in narratives can create excitement both in real life and in storytelling. Tananarive also talks about how she came up with her biggest plot twist in her novel THE REFORMATORY (spoiler free) and how you can too!
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57 min
July 12, 2024 Best of Lifewriting: Guest Maureen Ryan (Burn It Down!) - Horrors in Hollywood
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive welcome Vanity Fair contributing editor Maureen Ryan, author of the book everyone in Hollywood is reading -- BURN IT DOWN: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood. They talk about why she wrote her book exposing Hollywood's ugly underbelly, the WGA strike, the sad demise of "Sleepy Hollow" and the racial overtones that helped doom the first horror series with a Black woman co-lead, and what can be done to create a better future. She also talks about how she stays centered in the storm her book is creating.
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1 hr 26 min
July 03, 2024 Craft Lessons from A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE (Spoiler free)
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive unpack the new film starring Lupita Nyong'o, A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE. It's breaking box office records for the Quiet Place franchise, and for good reason. With shades of 28 DAYS LATER, CHILDREN OF MEN and THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS, this new horror film is both an action-packed story of a horror apocalypse and an intimate portrait of human mortality.

Whether or not you've seen the film, don't miss this episode pointing out the craft lessons that make this an instant horror classic.

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1 hr
June 26, 2024 Best of Lifewriting: Paul Tremblay! (Horror Movie, Cabin at the End of the World)
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to horror writer Paul G. Tremblay about what it's like to have your novel (The Cabin at the End of the World) adapted into a major film by a major director, M. Night Shyamalan (Knock at the Cabin). Tremblay talks about why he loves horror, his choice to make his protagonists a queer married couple and their adopted Asian daughter, and what happens when Stephen King tweets about your book.

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56 min
June 18, 2024 On Thriving with New Opportunities and Challenges
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about the joys and challenges of stretching our self image as creators: Steve has a job opportunity in a new field, and they're both working toward co-directing their first short films! How even good news can be stressful, and how to maintain the tools to thrive no matter what we're facing.

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41 min
June 10, 2024 Best of Lifewriting: On Keeping It Short! (The Joy and Power of Short Stories and Short Scripts)
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive break down why writers of all levels should embrace short stories and short scripts, whether it's to learn craft faster or to get published or produced sooner. They also discuss their first collaboration, a short story named "Danger Word" that also became their first short film: www.dangerwordfilm.com.
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57 min
June 05, 2024 Tananarive Won a Stoker Award for The Reformatory! (When History is the Monster)
In this episode, Tananarive opens up about why it was so difficult for her to write her novel, THE REFORMATORY, and why it was such a thrill to win Best Novel at The Bram Stoker Awards -- the first Black author to win Best Novel!
How she motivated herself to write a difficult novel based on her family history while juggling parenthood and screenplay assignments. And how the Lifewriting principles helped her keep going even when she wanted to give up.
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1 hr 12 min
May 26, 2024 On the Writer's Juggling Act - Working on Multiple Projects!
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about the necessity of working on multiple creative projects and share their tips on how they juggle writing scripts and books.
Join Tananarive's list at tananarivelist.com - or Steve's list at stevenbarneslist.com
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54 min
May 19, 2024 Best of Lifewriting - Nisi Shawl! (Kinning, Everfair) On Friendship with Octavia E. Butler
In this episode from March of 2023, Steve and Tananarive talk to award-winning author Nisi Shawl (KINNING, EVERFAIR) about the anthology they published, NEW SUNS 2, featuring speculative fiction from marginalized writers - including a story, "Supptertime," from Tananarive! Nisi also talks about the journey from a fangirl to friend of the late Octavia E. Butler. Plus, that time Nisi rejected one of Tananarive's short stories.
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53 min
May 12, 2024 "So Be It! See To It!" Success Hacks for Writers
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about the practices that have helped them succeed as writers. They discusses Steve's late friend Octavia E. Butler's use of Napoleon Hill's THINK AND GROW RICH and the practices and affirmations that helped her become such an influential author despite the odds. And how you can use the same hacks to find success. Watch the YouTube condensation of the book's principles: https://youtu.be/n3g2DlmZsLg?si=mtVWACsq6Pvku0qz
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57 min

About Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!

From the publisher's feed

Authors and screenwriters Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due (and guests!) on writing, the writer's life, Hollywood, the work/family balance and relationships - the tools writers need to make themselves…