Before book sales and PR buzz, your favorite writers began with two things: the blank page and an idea.
Each week on How I Write, we go behind-the-scenes with today’s top writers to uncover the meta-mechanics of writing and the lifestyle behind it. You’ll be the first to hear writers deconstruct their creative process: from banging their head on the keyboard to marking the last period of their final draft. Victory.
Come discover how great writing is made. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be next.
New episodes of the How I Write show go live every week on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.com/DavidPerellChannel.
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Noah Hawley has written books, movies, and TV shows like Alien Earth and Fargo. He's been successful not just because he's a talented writer, but also because he's a consummate professional. He's fluent not just in the world of stories and characters, but he also knows how to work inside the industry and how to get things done. If you want to make it as a writer, whether on the page or the big screen, this interview is a roadmap for doing that. About the host Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writ...
Suleika Jaouad says: "If you want to write a good book, write what you don't want others to know about you. But if you want to write a great book, write what you don't want to know about yourself." She's had a lifelong love for words, ever since she was a little kid. She began writing for public consumption in her twenties, after being diagnosed with serious cancer. From her hospital bed, she started writing for The New York Times, which led to her memoir, " Between Two Kingdoms ", and her book ...
Tom Segura, a comedian known for specials like "Completely Normal" and "Sledgehammer", is also the creator of the TV show "Bad Thoughts". He's appeared on "Conan" and "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert". Today, he's here to teach us how to write comedy. What makes Tom's humor so distinct is its observational and story-based nature. He can look at something you've seen a thousand times and point out a hilarious detail, making you realize, "Yes, that's absolutely true!" That's why I asked him to ...
Maria Popova writes one of the internet's best personal blogs. Originally called "Brain Pickings", it is now known as "The Marginalian". She has published more than 6 million pages of writing there, and it has become such a treasure that the Library of Congress recognized its value and made it part of their permanent archive. This conversation, however, explores much more. It delves into how to live and how to see, and how to turn to books for wisdom when confused and comfort when suffering. How...
Yann Martel, the acclaimed author of "Life of Pi," shares his distinctive writing methodology, which involves extensive analog research, physically cutting and organizing notes into chapter-specific envelopes, and conceiving the story's ending from its inception. He delves into the power of books as "co-creations" with the reader, contrasting them with the more passive experience of cinema, and discusses the allegorical use of animals to explore profound human themes like the Holocaust with necessary distance and lightness. Martel also offers insights on literary craft, from punctuation to character development, and critically reflects on the role of AI in creative endeavors.
In this episode, acclaimed author Anne Lamott delves into her writing philosophy, drawing from her famous book "Bird by Bird." She redefines writer's block as creative emptiness, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to the world and cultivating an "inner ragbag" of observations. Lamott also explores practical advice on overcoming inner critics, crafting authentic dialogue, and structuring narratives, all while advocating for a compassionate yet disciplined approach to the writing life.
This episode is presented by Mercury, the banking platform that makes this show possible. I can’t imagine trying to run my business without them. Learn more at https://mercury.com Tish Rabe has written more than 200 children's books. She's written for Disney and Sesame Street, and also after Dr. Seuss died in the early 90s, she started writing Dr. Seuss books. When she did, she really leaned into his distinct style. So I said, "You've been doing this for 40 years now. Can you teach me what you k...
This episode is presented by Mercury, the banking platform that makes this show possible. I can’t imagine trying to run my business without them. Learn more at https://mercury.com David Gelb directed 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' and 'Chef's Table', which is what this conversation is all about: the art of making documentaries, telling stories, and bringing people to life. He says that whenever you're writing a scene, a character should come into it wanting one thing and leave with something else. David...
Renowned New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe discusses his unique approach to narrative nonfiction, 'write-around reporting,' which focuses on telling stories of powerful figures who refuse to cooperate by gathering information from those around them. He delves into techniques for creating multifaceted truths, the significance of place, and managing fear in investigative journalism. Keefe also explains how to craft compelling introductions, engage jaded readers with literary storytelling, and structure both his writing process and daily life, offering invaluable lessons for aspiring writers.
Master storyteller Wright Thompson delves into his writing process, discussing the challenges and joys of capturing human experience. He stresses that writing is less about words and more about architectural structure and relentless reporting, often leading to profound insights into identity and place. Thompson advocates for elliptical endings that pose questions rather than provide definitive answers, and he highlights how stories can foster empathy by revealing the subterranean lives of their subjects.
Ocean Vuong, poet and NYU professor, discusses the art of writing with David Perell, emphasizing the importance of observation, novelty, and challenging conventional forms. He critiques the homogenization of language driven by commercial interests and calls for writers to embrace daring, disobedience, and estrangement to create truly unique and memorable work. The conversation delves into the historical evolution of literary styles, the pitfalls of the publishing industry, and the dual nature of language as both a powerful tool and a source of limitation.
This episode is presented by Mercury, the banking platform that makes this show possible. I can’t imagine trying to run my business without them. Learn more at https://mercury.com Do you ever wonder how the book publishing industry works? How does the CEO of a top-five publishing house even think? That's what this episode is all about. My guest is John Yaged. He runs Macmillan, which is one of the top five publishing houses. I asked him to talk to me like I'm a young writer who has never publish...
In this episode, crime novelist Michael Connelly shares his philosophy on crafting vivid characters and compelling stories. He emphasizes the importance of subtle, telling details to immerse readers and maintain narrative momentum. Connelly also delves into his unique writing process, including daily rewrites and how Los Angeles itself acts as a dynamic character in his works, informed by his past as a crime journalist. The discussion explores the nuances of dialogue, conflict, and the ethical dilemmas faced by his heroes when confronting darkness.
Steven Pressfield delves into the fundamental principles of crafting great stories, from the classic three-act structure and the significance of inciting incidents to the roles of heroes, villains, and archetypal figures. He explores concepts like the "all is lost" moment, the power of curses and redemption, and the transformative journey of characters, emphasizing how timeless conventions can be spun anew to create deeply resonant narratives. The conversation also touches on the profound impact of "making it beautiful," even in the face of horror, as a core aim of effective writing.
This episode is presented by Mercury, the banking platform that makes this show possible. I can’t imagine trying to run my business without them. Learn more at https://mercury.com Robert Mac is on the show today to teach us what he's learned from great comics like Jerry Seinfeld and Mitch Hedberg. Robert has been doing stand up for more than a decade, and I wanted to know what he's learned about how to be funny, how to tell a good story. About the host Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, tea...
Bill Browder, author of "Red Notice" and "Freezing Order," shares his methods for writing captivating, unputdownable books, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, reader engagement on every page, and creating relatable characters and places. He reveals his structured mini-book approach, the emotional toll of writing about intense real-life events, and how his books serve his larger mission of international justice for human rights violators, proving more impactful than even a Hollywood movie.
Oxford Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch discusses the vital role of a historian in society as a guardian of sanity and truth, advocating for skepticism, sympathy, and honesty about one's biases. He delves into his research methods, the craft of beautiful and engaging writing, and the indispensable value of experiencing historical places firsthand. MacCulloch also explores the dynamic relationship between history and fiction, and the importance of teaching critical historical thinking through engaging methods like his "Carrot Game."
Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher series, shares insights into his commercial yet improvisational approach to writing. He discusses creating vivid settings and characters, the importance of narrative propulsion for diverse readers, and how his personal philosophy and extensive reading shape his storytelling. Child also delves into the psychology behind reader engagement, including the appeal of fictional violence and the perceived naturalness of dialogue.
This episode is brought to you by Basecamp , the world’s simplest, most effective project management platform. Check them out at https://basecamp.com and tell them David Perell sent you. Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar are the two brilliant minds behind Train Dreams, the Oscar-nominated adaptation of Denis Johnson’s novella. Their film is emotionally devastating in ways that stay with you long after the credits roll. In this interview, I wanted to understand how that kind of film actually gets mad...
Journalist Fareed Zakaria details his writing process, from the long-term commitment of books fueled by guilt and learning, to the fast-paced demands of columns driven by deadlines. He discusses the nuanced role of AI in research, emphasizing the irreplaceable human elements of judgment and original thought. Zakaria also explores the unique power of television to foster emotional connection and authenticity, and the importance of on-the-ground reporting and continuous self-improvement in crafting impactful narratives.
Best-selling author Daniel Pink discusses his consistent writing process, from rigid daily routines to the engineering of book structures. He highlights the importance of socializing ideas, rigorous interdisciplinary research, and drawing insights from audience feedback, even in comedy writing. Pink also delves into his journey to becoming a writer and his new challenge in playwriting, ultimately focusing on delivering usefulness and value to his readers.
Journalist Tom Junod delves into his distinctive approach to writing, from crafting "sentences that make the hair stand up" to tackling taboo subjects with profound observation and compassion. He reveals how personal experiences, including family secrets and his encounter with Fred Rogers, shaped his pursuit of truth and his exploration of human contradictions. Junod shares practical techniques for overcoming creative blocks and reflects on writing as humanity's essential act of bearing witness to its own complex history, contrasting this inherent human quality with artificial intelligence.
Adrian Tchaikovsky came on the show to talk about how he writes fantasy and science fiction. He won the Arthur C. Clarke Award for his book, Children of Time , and has written more than 60 books and novellas. He spends his life thinking about how to make believable worlds and how to build characters that have weight to them. My favorite thing is how he writes a fight scene, how he thinks through the pacing and all the action. If you want to write imaginative stories filled with wonder and fantas...
Check out Sublime at https://sublime.app/?ref=perell Elif Shafak has a way of writing that's lush and enchanted. She writes about real things in the world: water, houseboats, ordinary things that we stopped seeing. And she infuses them with life and wonder so that we can see the world fresh again. Elif has written more than 21 books, and she's the president of the Royal Society of Literature, which has had fellows like J. R. R. Tolkien, Rudyard Kipling, W.B. Yeats, and Margaret Atwood. You'll no...
Henry Shukman is a poet, author, mindfulness teacher and Zen master. He has studied meditation for 35 years, principally in the Sanbo Zen lineage. His most recent books are Original Love (HarperOne) and the Zen memoir, One Blade of Grass. He is also the co-founder of the acclaimed single-path meditation app, The Way. He has taught at Google, the New York Times, Harvard Business School, and the Institute of American Indian Arts. He has written several award-winning books of poetry and fiction, an...
This episode explores the art of memorable writing through three powerful rhetorical devices with Ward Farnsworth. Listeners learn about the impact of choosing simple Saxon words over fancier Latinate ones, the compelling nature of repetition through anaphora and epistrophe, and the striking effect of chiastic reversals. Illustrated with classic examples from the King James Bible, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, and Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., the discussion reveals how these techniques, when used judiciously, elevate prose to resonate deeply and endure over time. The episode also offers practical advice on integrating these methods and fostering an authentic writing voice.
Check out Sublime at https://sublime.app/?ref=perell This episode brings together the moments from How I Write in 2025 that have stayed with me the longest. These are the clips I revisit when I need to be reminded why writing matters. Robert Macfarlane talks about wonder as something you have to actively protect. Jayne Anne Phillips explains why the memories we keep from childhood reveal who we are. Paul Harding makes the case for aiming higher than feels comfortable and learning from the writer...
Check out Sublime at https://sublime.app/?ref=perell Jonathan Franzen is one of the most influential novelists alive today. He sees fiction as the most fundamental human art, and in this conversation he explains how he actually makes it: the discipline, the daily grind, and the psychological spelunking required to write characters who feel startlingly alive. Franzen has always had an outsider’s eye. He questioned the hype of the Internet long before it was fashionable, and he’s been ruthless in ...
Surgeon and renowned writer Atul Gawande reveals his unique strategies for sustained writing, including a "say yes before 40" career philosophy and a disciplined 30-hour monthly writing goal. He discusses the evolution of his craft, from grueling New Yorker revisions to using writing as a tool to tackle complex medical dilemmas, such as those explored in "Being Mortal." Gawande also touches upon the art of crafting compelling narratives, the importance of peer feedback, and his perspective on integrating AI into the writing process.
Check out Sublime at https://sublime.app/?ref=perell Brandon Stanton, the creator of Humans of New York, came on the show to talk about how he wrote his way to five published books and 13 million Instagram followers. Along the way, the man basically invented his own genre of biography. There are short stories, there are long stories. What he would do every single day is he'd walk out onto the streets of New York, photograph people, and interview them. He would say, "How do I tell this person's s...
