The Written World

of 
Daren J. Fleming 

The Written World
 

Non-Fiction & Published Works

 

"The Night Diana Died"

 

  • Featured in: For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Still Not Enough.
  • Awards: Winner of the ALA Stonewall Book Award; Nominee for the Lambda Literary Award.
  • The Hook: A 100% autobiographical account of survival set in 1990s central Illinois. While the world mourned a princess, Fleming and his friends navigated a landscape of hate crimes, searching for the clarity that would eventually lead him to New York.

 

The Prodigy Archive

"I Don't Wanna Be Here"

 

  • Honors: The Ananda Award for Prose (Honorable Mention) – University of Indianapolis, 1996.
  • The Hook:A sophisticated literary feat written by Fleming at just 17 years old. Told through the distorted, frantic lens of a six-year-old unreliable narrator, the story captures the raw "scrolling marquee of insecurity" and the desperate urge to escape the confines of a Midwest childhood.

  • The Legacy: This early recognition served as the "Big Bang" for Fleming’s career, establishing the sharp, observational voice that would eventually lead to the Stonewall Book Award and a lifetime of high-concept storytelling.

 

Dramatic Works (For Stage & Screen)

Songs in the Key of Grenadine!

 

  • The Performance Manifesto: Deconstructing a life lived at the intersection of grit and glamour.

  • Status: Premiering January 2026 at The District Theatre, Indianapolis.

 

A Nickel's Worth of Justice

 

  • The Origin: Based on the original manuscript by the author’s late cousin, Bobby Slaughter.
  • The Hook: In 1963 Indianapolis, 13-year-old Bobby Slaughter is forced to find his voice as a writer and activist after witnessing the murder of his twin brother, Philip. As the city attempts to erase the tragedy, Bobby’s family fights for a justice that the world refuses to provide. It is an intimate, devastating examination of gun violence, structural inequity, and the restorative power of legacy.
  • Status: Completed Script / Available for Production.

 

40 Acres & Bottomless Mimosas

 

  • The Hook: A satirical nightmare in one act. Set in an Indianapolis of potholes and PrEP deserts, two friends attend a "bottomless" brunch hosted by a menacing drag queen, only to find themselves trapped in a predatory algorithm designed to commodify Black queer pain. It is a "funeral for stolen joy" and a biting critique of the non-profit industrial complex.
  • Staus: Completed / Available for Production 

 

Manuscripts in Development

Confessions of a Nightlife Diva

 

  • A Memoir: A cultural history of the New York performance scene, exploring the artistry of identity and the archiving of the self.

 

Encore, Encore

 

  • A Novel: A literary reimagining of the mid-century social novel, utilizing cross-cultural tropes to explore the human capital of fame.

 

Professional Background 

 

Daren J. Fleming holds an M.S. in Publishing from Pace University and a B.S. in Creative Writing from The New School. His work focuses on preserving marginalized histories and advancing the American theatrical canon through legacy-based narratives.

 

For production inquiries, grant partnership proposals, or script requests darenjfleming@gmail.com