International bestselling author and critically acclaimed screenwriter of Room — Emma Donoghue — talked with me about her writing process and adapting her best known work into an award-winning movie.
In addition to writing for the screen, stage, and radio over her prolific career, the multi-genre author has had her popular fiction translated into over 40 languages. Her 2010 novel Room was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and won a New York Times Book of the Year award, among others.
The film adaptation of the book has been nominated for four Oscars — including Best Adapted Screenplay — for Ms. Donoghue’s stunning first full-length script.
Room (2015) boasts 54 international award wins and 102 nominations (as of this writing), including nods from The Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, AFI Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and the Toronto International Film Festival.
Join us for this two-part interview.
In Part One of the file Emma Donoghue and I discuss:
- How Getting Fired Can Boost Your Writing Career
- Why You Don’t Need a Magic Pen to Get It Done
- How Writing Is Like Sex
- Why Research and Preparation Informs Great Writing
Listen to The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience below ...

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I never got fired, but my last ‘job’ was working with a ignorant sociopath gave me loads of inspiration for finally making the leap into self employment. And I’m glad I did!