Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!
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 the heroes/heroines of their own story. - LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL at https://www.speakpipe.com/LifewritingPodcast (We might play your message!)
Episodes
30 episodes
Guest: Reginald Hudlin! (Boomerang, DC's Milestones in History comic)
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to award-winning director Reginald Hudlin (Boomerang, House Party, Marshall) about how he has kept his optimism in Hollywood, his love for comics and Black History, Milestone Media, and the 30th annive...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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59:31
On NOPE (no spoilers) - and our 2018 Jordan Peele interview!
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about Jordan Peele's new horror thriller NOPE - and play excerpts from their interview with him in 2018 for their online Black Horror class: a portrait of the artist as a young(er) man - when he was fi...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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49:48
On Why Writers Should Study Acting (and Improv!) - with Colette Freedman
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to author/screenwriter/playwright/actress Colette Freedman about how acting and improv lessons can help writers learn to better inhabit their characters. (And with a sample exercise!) Life...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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55:05
On Surviving Disappointment and Rejection
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive recall some of their most painful rejections in Hollywood and give tips on how to maintain joy and creativity in the face of setbacks.
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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47:03
Guest: Daniel José Older! (Star Wars: The High Republic, Shadowshaper)
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to New York Times bestselling author Daniel José Older about his Star Wars projects, the impact he tries to have with his books, navigating family and writing life, building community, how writing is a...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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56:01
On The Soulmate Process!
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive discuss the joys of being soulmates - both as writing collaborators and as husband and wife. They explain that they believe everyone has more than one potential soulmate, and being soulmates is a process, n...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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47:27
David Gerrold! (Star Trek's "The Trouble with Tribbles," Hugo winner)
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to Steve's longtime friend David Gerrold -- who wrote the classic 1960s Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles." The award-winning writer talks about his career as an author, how he balances his ...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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1:04:08
Tananarive Had COVID! On Writing When You Don't Feel Your Best
In this episode, Tananarive and Steve talk about her recent bout with COVID, how she got it, her symptoms, and strategies on how to keep a creative spark alive even when you're not feeling your best.
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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43:50
Best of Lifewriting: N.K. Jemisin!
ENCORE EPISODE from February 5, 2022. In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to MacArthur Genius Fellow and multiple Hugo Award-winner N.K. Jemisin (THE CITY WE BECAME, THE BROKEN EARTH trilogy) about creating art during a pandemic, the imp...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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58:11
On Fighting Stress
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive reflect on deadly current events and how they can have an impact on a writer's life. They share the ways they have used their art to get through stressful times and share strategies on how to keep a creativ...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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49:27
Akela Cooper! (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Malignant)
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to screenwriter/producer Akela Cooper about her process, why she loves horror and science fiction, and writing for the new Paramount Plus series "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds." She also talks about wr...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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56:11
Story is Story! On Creative Flexibility
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about the benefits of learning creative flexibility to write in many forms and genres: adapting a short story from a novel, or writing a graphic novel, screenplay or scripted podcast in addition to&nbs...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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49:19
Sheree Renée Thomas! (Janelle Monáe's The Memory Librarian)
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to author and editor Sheree Renée Thomas about her journey with Afrofuturism -- from editing the groundbreaking DARK MATTER in 2000 to writing a short story in Janelle Monáe's MEMORY LIBRARIAN and Thom...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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58:02
How to Murder Writer's Block in its Sleep
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about the dreaded Writer's Block: what they think it really is, when they have experienced it, and strategies for murdering it in its sleep so you can flow with joy no matter how high the stakes. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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1:04:57
Nalo Hopkinson! (The Sandman Universe and Skin Folk)
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to their friend Nalo Hopkinson, the award-winning Afrofuturist author of novels like SKIN FOLK, MIDNIGHT ROBBER and BROWN GIRL IN THE RING, named a Damon Knight Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:00:04
Octavia E. Butler on Writing (From our 2000 recorded interview!)
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive play excerpts from an interview they conducted at the home of the the late Octavia E. Butler in 2000. Butler was a longtime friend of Steve's, and the interview excerpts showcase the wisdom of the MacArthur...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:04:34
Rachel True! (The Craft & True Heart Intuitive Tarot)
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to actress and author Rachel True (The Craft) about her book True Heart Intuitive Tarot: Guide and Deck - as well as her history in Hollywood, her recent role in "Fugue State" in Shudder's
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:09:00
Hollywood Horror Stories!
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about their history in Hollywood and moments when everything went wrong. Plus, tips for coping with stress as artists trying to navigate new, difficult territory - including visualization exercises.&nb...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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57:24
Rodney Barnes! ("Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty")
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to writer Rodney Barnes (Executive Producer of "Winning Time: Rise of the Lakers Dynasty") about how Hollywood almost killed him and the steps he took to reclaim his joy and find his greatest voice as ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:02:14
The Battle Over Outlines: Buzzkill or Game Changer?
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive take on The Great Debate around outlining. Do you outline before you write? Or are you a "pantser," someone who flies by the seat of their pants and makes it up as you go? They have tried both - an...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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50:28
Special Guest: Bryan Fuller! ("Hannibal")
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to groundbreaking writer/showrunner Bryan Fuller about Christine, Star Trek and Hannibal (and how they bonded over virtual mini golf during the early pandemic). Plus, they talk about allyship - and Bry...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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57:14
What's Up, Pitches? Talking Your Way Into Hollywood
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about one of the avenues for breaking into Hollywood: pitching your story ideas. From "The Twilight Zone" to film and television series pitches, they share their advice on everything from content to pr...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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56:50
How Comics Can Change the World - Guests Charles Johnson, John Jennings & Bryan Moss
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to National Book Award winner Dr. Charles Johnson, award-winning artist John Jennings and artist Bryan Moss about THE EIGHTFOLD PATH (Megascope/Abrams ComicArts, March 2022), Steve's first graphic nove...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:02:07
How to Collaborate Without Killing Each Other
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about how they first realized they could collaborate, how it led to their first fight as a couple, and how they have triumphed to collaborate on short stories, novels and screenplays. They also share a...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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52:32
On Horror Noire - Special Guests: Victor LaValle & Stephanie Malia Morris!
In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to award-winning author Victor LaValle and burgeoning writer Stephanie Malia Morris about their experiences with Shudder/AMC 's Black Horror anthology film, Horror Noire. Steve, Tananarive ("The Lake" ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:02:19