Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!

In this episode, Tananarive catches up with her college classmate from Northwestern University, award-winning and bestselling author Dan Chaon. They talk about his most recent novel, ONE OF US, research for wriring, the writing life, and how creating art can create hope during challenging times.  Tananarive also talks a bit about her upcoming novel, MAZYWOOD (Sept. 22).  Never miss a live episode!...

Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due share updates and Lifewriting tools for staying centered while creating under stress. Due announces a People Magazine cover reveal for her upcoming horror novel, Mazywood (out September 22), describes its contemporary survival-horror plot and old-Hollywood historical origins, and discusses anxiety about reader reactions.  Barnes reports improved health and emphasiz...

In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about how they have pushed through with their writing projects after Steve's health setback in late 2025 (all better now!) and their goals for 2026 -- including a feature version of their short film, THE KEEPER!  Plus, advice to a screenwriter from the live audience.  Never miss a live episode! For the link, join one of our mailing lists: Tananarive's mai...

In this episode, Tananarive talks to debut author and former "Doogie Howser, M.D." actor Markus Redmond about his vampire novel BLOOD SLAVES, set during the Antebellum slavery era.  On how the murder of George Floyd helped inspire his novel, transitioning from acting to writing, on his experiences writing screenplays, and how slavery is the true horror in BLOOD SLAVES. (And it's a series!)  Never...

In this episode, Steve and Tananarive reveal what they learned during Steve's recent health scare -- and how his creative work helped inspire his recovery. Tananarive shares her coping mechanisms that helped her stay centered during a time of true-life horror. Plus, Steve and Tananarive answer questions on writing and creative living from the studio of LIFEWRITING LIVE!  Never miss a live episode!...

In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about the power and popularity of horror in literature and cinema -- and secrets to writing powerful horror! Tananarive also talks about how horror is healing during times of crisis. Steve also talks about his recovery from hip replacement surgery. And listeners ask questions about collaborating, deadline and writing motivation!  Don't miss their upcoming...

In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about their short story in the New York Times bestselling anthology THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT ("The Boat Man"), based in the world of Stephen King's THE STAND. Tananarive tells the story of how she played keyboard in a band with Stephen King, the Rock Bottom Remainders. (And Tananarive reads an excerpt from "The Boat Man"!)  Also: audience member...

In this Lifewriting episode with a live audience, Steve and Tananarive talk about their upcoming cast and crew screening for their short film, THE KEEPER, and Tananarive reveals a "necessary evil" she avoided while she was working on her next novel! Plus, they talk to audience members about their writing struggles and  how to embrace "necessary evils" to reach their dreams.   Join us on Lifewritin...

In this first "Lifewriting Live!" with a live audience, Steve and Tananarive talk about overcoming fears and past failures with goals and actions to make the Universe say "Oh, sh*t! She's serious!"  Tananarive also talks about what she learned about outlining versus "pantsing" from George R.R. Martin while she was teaching at the George R.R. Martin Intensive Writing Workshop at Northwestern Univer...

Steve and Tananarive are BACK after disappearing into directing their first film! THE KEEPER wrapped last week, and they share their experiences as novelists turned screenwriters turned directors, stories from the set, and how YOU can direct your own film with only an iPhone and a skeleton crew.  LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL at https://www.speakpipe.com/LifewritingPodcast (We might play your message!) Joi...

In this episode (which originally aired in June of 2024), 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 assign...

In this spoiler-crammed episode, Steve and Tananarive lead a community celebration of SINNERS and break down both the film and Ryan Coogler's Hollywood journey to shaking up Hollywood.  This is the FULL replay of the community Zoom: https://youtu.be/bGFavqpA4Rc And don't delay signing up for our hybrid Screenwriting webinar 5/17. Take the first steps to get your seat at the table - or build your o...

In this episode, Steve and Tananarive premiere their "vintage" radio play, THE WALKER, a narrative audio story modeled after classic radio of the 1930s and 1940s - but diverse!  But first, they talk to co-producer J. Michael Hayes (an author, filmmaker and Lifewriting Premium alum) about how they brought the story to life on audio - and how you can bring your own writing to life too!  Steve and Ta...

In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about adapting their horror graphic novel, THE KEEPER (illustrated by Marco Finnegan), as a short film for a major production company.  On how they made the journey from prose writers to screenwriters to having an opportunity to direct a short film with an eye toward directing their first feature. Also on the writing lessons from directing - and an invita...

In this episode, Tananarive talks to visionary thinker, organizer and artist adrienne maree brown (author of EMERGENT STRATEGY, GRIEVERS and LOVING CORRECTIONS) about the role of the artist during times of chaos -- creating beauty from pain and uncertainty, the obligation of artists to express joy, and how art can be a bridge to better times.  LEAVE US A VOICEMAIL at https://www.speakpipe.com/Life...

The WGA writers' strike is over, but A.I. is still a big conversation among writers. From the WGA strike and screenwriters' concerns about A.I. infiltrating writers' rooms to the recent class action lawsuit including former podcast guest Paul Tremblay against OpenAI and ChatGPT, A.I. and writers are on a collision course.  Steve and Tananarive talk about the good and bad uses of A.I. for writers a...

In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to director Josh Ruben about his new horror comedy (romance) Heart Eyes, which is destined to be a cult Valentine's Day horror hit! They talk about directing, how to make a horror romance, and why Ruben cast Black leads in Heart Eyes (Mason Gooding, opposite Olivia Holt) and Werewolves Within (Sam Richardson, opposite Milana Vayntrub).  Also: how he coped...

In this new episode, Steve and Tananarive talk about the need for feedback to grow as writers and how difficult it is to determine which feedback is useful and which feedback isn't useful - and the tools it takes to tell the difference!  They also talk about their new video on why writing Science Fiction / Afrofuturism can be empowering in 2025 - check it out at https://www.steven-barnes.com/live-...

In this episode - their first one recorded in 2025! - Steve and Tananarive talk about how Octavia E. Butler and Ray Bradbury confronted their times with art to help inspire themselves and others. (Includes a clip from a 2000 interview with Octavia Butler).  They also talk about their upcoming hybrid class on Writing Science Fiction/Afrofuturism (1/25) and how artists can turn fear into power throu...

Tananarive spent more than seven years working on her new novel, THE REFORMATORY, which was inspired by true-life family history about her great-uncle Robert Stephens and the Dozer School for Boys in Marianna, FL. In this podcast, she and Steve talk about why it took so long to write, the Lifewriting tools she used to complete it, and how she's fighting to stay centered in the whirlwind of her boo...

In this episode, Tananarive interviews horror author/screenwriter Clay McLeod Chapman about his upcoming novel, WAKE UP AND OPEN YOUR EYES -- which was blurbed by Jordan Peele and is about a deadly political spell cast over the nation. (Sounds familiar!) He and Tananarive also talk about his start as an author, how he first met Jordan Peele, and the search for hope in writing and reading horror. ...

Tananarive and Steve were devastated by the death of Candyman star Tony Todd in November of 2024. (He also co-starred in their "Fugue State" story in the Shudder/AMC+ anthology film Horror Noire.) His death inspired them to unearth an interview they did with Todd as a part of their online digital download course The Sunken Place, a history of Black Horror. In this rare interview, Todd talks about...

In this episode, Tananarive and Steve talk to New York Times horror columnist and author Gabino Iglesias! In 2023, Iglesias, who is Puerto Rican, became the first Latino writer to win a Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel for THE DEVIL TAKES YOU HOME. (His more recent book, HOUSE OF BONE AND RAIN, is also great!)  Steve and Tananarive talk to Gabino about how his struggles with unemployment and losin...

In this episode, Tananarive talks to author, poet and scholar Nadine Pinede about her difficult journey bringing her debut novel to life, WHEN THE MAPOU SINGS - a novel about a young girl's experiences in historical Haiti, including encounters with Zora Neale Hurston. And the novel is entirely in verse!  National Book Award winner Edwidge Danticat calls the book "a stunning revelation." They talk...

In this episode, Steve and Tananarive talk to Bram Stoker Award winner Stephen Graham Jones. He shares his writing process, his love for slashers, his exploration of father-son relationships in his stories, and how his own personal promise to an elk he hunted gave birth to his bestselling novel The Only Good Indians. (Latest novels: My Heart is a Chainsaw and I Was a Teenage Slasher.) LEAVE US A V...