Brandon Stanton: How to Write Powerful
Stories | How I Write

David Perell interviews Brandon Stanton, the creator of Humans of New York, focusing on Stanton's writing and interviewing process. Stanton shares his journey from photography to incorporating deep storytelling, emphasizing the importance of removing himself from the narrative to better capture the human condition. They discuss Stanton's unique interview style, which involves building trust to uncover authentic stories, and his editorial approach to crafting narratives within social media's constraints. The conversation explores the role of truth, singularity, and empathy in storytelling, as well as the discipline and persistence required to create meaningful art. Stanton also touches on his approach to writing, emphasizing the oral tradition and the importance of understanding a character's desires to create compelling narratives.