The Creative Writing Life
Paul Zeidman
From screenplays to TV, novels to video games, everybody has their own path to establishing a creative writing life. Join host Paul Zeidman as he interviews writers from all mediums and genres to find out about them, their work, and what advice and guidance they have for ambitious and aspiring writers.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 11, 2026 • 51min
Tom Schoch
Comedy writer Tom Schoch talks why it’s good to mix it up, the value of empathy, finding comedy by immersing yourself in a situation, and the importance of simply making something.https://www.youtube.com/@newstoriesforradio
Nov 4, 2026 • 43min
Joshua Corey
Author Joshua Corey (THE LAST WORDS OF JACK RUBY) talks how you can’t research forever, figuring out structure, listening to characters’ voices, and investigating how people turn into mythshttp://joshua-corey.com
Oct 28, 2026 • 44min
Sarah Schwartz
Poet Sarah Schwartz (THE CALLING) talks about the individual relationship with poetry, how form reflects impulses, the benefit of a good restraint, and why you should write without a filter
Oct 21, 2026 • 46min
Patrick Hueller
Author Patrick Hueller (FALLING, IN LOVE WITH TEACHING) talks how reading can be a physical experience, the harsh reality of being a teacher, and the importance of why you should write however it comes out
Oct 7, 2026 • 42min
J.A. Merkel
Author J.A. Merkel (THE FALL GAUNTLET) talks using short stories to hone your writing skills, finding the right balance between sci-fi and fantasy, doing what works for you, and how it all started with the movie CLUEhttp://jamerkel.com
Sep 30, 2026 • 51min
Bryan Gruley
Author Bryan Gruley (RIVER DEEP) talks the basics of crime fiction, getting out after painting yourself into a corner, knowing your hook in the first two sentences, multiple POV storytelling, and…flying werewolves?http://bryangruley.com
Sep 23, 2026 • 43min
Theresa Halvorsen
Author/instructor Theresa Halvorsen talks about being a “recovering pantser”, knowing your characters beyond their backstory, disagreeing (sort of) with Stephen King, and the multiple versions of a writer’s self-carehttp://theresahalverson.com
Aug 19, 2026 • 39min
Nina Chayka
Author Nina Chayka (SEAGULLS) talks creating and inter-connecting an ensemble of characters, developing a non-linear story, the language of events, and non-traditional approaches to resolutionhttp://ninachayka.com
Aug 12, 2026 • 47min
Neal Lipschutz
Author Neal Lipschutz (LONG ARM OF THE PAST) talks grounding your story with plausibility, creating fallible characters, balancing the unexpected and the cohesive, and fine-tuning the story to play fair with the readerhttp://neallipschutz.com
Aug 5, 2026 • 46min
Erin Baldwin
Author Erin Baldwin (GOOD LUCK, BABE!) talks how first-person POV is more “voicey”, representing for queer stories, the challenge of not giving readers the ending they want, and the concept of kayfabe within reality TVhttp://erinbwrites.com
