In this interview, Alain de Botton discusses his writing process, emphasizing the importance of capturing emotions and sensations in words to gain clarity and control. He shares his journey from writing as a teenager to master emotions, to his current focus on processing pain and pleasure through writing. De Botton highlights the significance of fragments and personal experiences as starting points for writing, drawing inspiration from various art forms and philosophers. He also touches on the paradoxical nature of a writer's life, the role of suffering in creativity, and the need for honesty and authenticity in writing, while also exploring the impact of news, politics, and AI on creative thinking, and advocates for a more mythic and enchanted perspective.
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