Books & Writers: Novelists, Screenwriters, Poets, Journalists, Playwrights, Non-fiction Writers & Showrunners Talk Writing, Creativity & The Creative Process

Doug Woodham, former Christie's president and Basquiat biographer, analyzes the economic, psychological, and cultural forces that transformed Jean-Michel Basquiat from an undervalued artist into a global icon.

Jay Parini traces Borges and Me to his 1970 draft status, Billy’s death in Vietnam, and a recovery trip through Scotland with Jorge Luis Borges.

Viet Thanh Nguyen discusses his writing as a form of resistance against colonialism, war, and authoritarianism, exploring themes from his novels and memoir.

This episode of The Creative Process Podcast explores how artists, writers, and actors use their crafts to cultivate empathy and expand human experience.

This episode of The Creative Process Podcast features multiple voices exploring the intersections of personal relationships, political activism, and systemic change.

Megan Abbott connects El Dorado Drive to sisters, a high school graduation party, and a “women's entrepreneur circle or club” built like a pyramid scheme.

Eiren Caffall discusses All the Water in the World, her novel about Amen, a museum settlement in New York, while reading from the opening chapter “What We Save.” She connects the book to her memoir The Mourner’s Bestiary, her short film Becoming Ocean with Scott Foley, and writing published in Orion, Guernica, the LA Review of Books, and Al Jazeera.

Etgar Keret says he writes stories to imagine “a way out,” and ties that impulse to his parents’ survivor-era advice that people should be judged by whether they can see and listen to you.

Veteran showrunner Howard Gordon and writer Daniel Pearle discuss their Netflix series The Beast in Me, exploring themes of obsession, denial, and atmospheric storytelling.

Sharon Lawrence describes acting as "transforming," then connects that idea to Larry Moss, Intent to Live, and the classical teachers Uta Hagen, Stella Adler, Bobby Lewis, and Stanislavski.

Emmy-winning actress Katie McClain discusses her journey from child actor to soap opera star, sharing how she balanced family responsibilities with her career.

Multiple writers and poets discuss the origins of creativity, the power of poetry, and the challenge of capturing authentic voice—particularly Black vernacular rhythm—in writing.

Doug Woodham traces Jean-Michel Basquiat's brilliance back to his Brooklyn childhood.

Siri Hustvedt talks about Ghost Stories, a memoir shaped by 43 years with Paul Auster and by his death.

Howard Gordon and Daniel Pearl discuss their new Netflix thriller 'The Beast in Me,' exploring themes of obsession, grief, and moral ambiguity through the lens of a grieving mother and her suspicious neighbor.

Irvin Weathersby Jr.

Israeli author Etgar Keret discusses how storytelling functions as psychological survival in times of political crisis, exploring his personal experience of being blacklisted in Israel while facing international cancellations.

Laila Lalami ties The Dream Hotel to a 2014 Google alert that revealed how deeply data companies tracked her movements, including her Tuesday-and-Thursday yoga routine.

This episode explores how memory, language, and the unconscious mind shape the creative writing process through interviews with multiple writers.

Writer and musician Erin Caffell discusses her novel 'All the Water in the World', exploring themes of cultural memory, ecological interdependence, and storytelling as a form of activism in the face of climate crisis and personal diagnosis.

Hala Alyan discusses her memoir 'I'll Tell You When I'm Home', exploring themes of motherhood, infertility, and the intergenerational trauma of Palestinian exile.

A.L.

Writers explore how nature, place, and environment shape identity, creativity, and our relationship to the world.

A.L.

Biologist David George Haskell discusses the interconnectedness of life, from flowers to ecosystems, challenging the traditional view of individuality.

Biologist David George Haskell discusses the interconnectedness of life, challenging the notion of individuality in nature.

Award-winning author Hala Alyan discusses her memoir, exploring themes of trauma, exile, and reclaiming the body.

Writer Liz Moore discusses her novel Long Bright River, inspired by her experiences in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood and her work with people struggling with addiction.

Author Liz Moore discusses her novel Long Bright River, inspired by her time in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood, and her writing process.

An interview with author Sylvia Kostowska discussing her book 'Utopia in the Age of Survival' and the relevance of surrealism today.

Interview with author Chris Carlson about his new dystopian novel and his non-fiction work on redefining work.

Lee McIntyre discusses disinformation, truth, and protecting democracy in a post-truth world.

An interview with novelist Intan Paramedita about her book The Wandering, writing, and expanding the literary canon.

Don McKellar discusses adapting Viet Thanh Nguyen's novel 'The Sympathizer' for television, focusing on the challenges of voice and tonal shifts.