Jonathan Franzen: How to Write Truly Great Characters | How I Write

This podcast features an interview with a novelist who discusses their approach to writing, particularly focusing on character development, the importance of humor, and maintaining distance from characters to avoid victimhood narratives. The novelist emphasizes the value of self-examination in creating authentic characters and the role of pleasure and fun in writing. They also touch on the impact of technology on modern life and the importance of honesty in art, as well as their writing process, including the significance of tone and the balance between planning and organic unfolding of the story. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the beauty found in the mundane aspects of nature, using birds as an example.