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.
Daniel Pink, a successful nonfiction writer, discusses his writing process, emphasizing the importance of routine, structure, and socializing ideas. He describes his daily writing ritual, which involves a rigid schedule, a set word count, and a distraction-free environment. Pink also highlights the value of talking thr...
Tom Junod, known for his essays on figures like Fred Rogers and his 9/11 piece "The Falling Man," explores the nuances of his writing process. Junod emphasizes the importance of identifying and articulating unsayable truths, often born from contradictions or tensions within a story. He recounts the controversy surround...
David Perell interviews Adrian Tchaikovsky, an award-winning and prolific writer of fantasy and science fiction, about his writing process. Tchaikovsky discusses his advanced planning, which stems from his background in role-playing games, and how he builds immersive worlds by starting with a "what-if" scenario and log...
David Perell interviews author Elif Shafak, exploring her unique perspective on writing, the role of intuition versus planning, and the importance of engaging with emotions like sadness. Shafak discusses her writing process, which involves deep immersion in the story and characters, and emphasizes the need for freedom ...
David Perell interviews Henry Shukman, a poet, novelist, essayist, and long-time meditator, about his journey into writing and meditation. Shukman shares how an encounter with a tramp led him to writing, describing it as a way of experiencing the world more deeply. They discuss the importance of conveying emotional and...
In this interview, Ward Farnsworth and David Perell discuss the art of writing and rhetoric, focusing on techniques to make prose more memorable and impactful. They explore the use of Saxon versus Latinate words, the power of anaphora and epistrophe (repetition at the beginning and end of sentences), and the strategic ...
David Perell reflects on key insights from recent "How I Write" episodes, featuring clips and lessons from interviews with various writers. He highlights Robert Macfarlane's impressionistic writing and sense of wonder, Jayne Anne Phillips's focus on being "inside the material" and the mystery of writing, and Paul Hardi...
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 charac...
David Perell interviews Atul Gawande, exploring Gawande's multifaceted career as a surgeon and acclaimed writer. The discussion covers Gawande's approach to balancing his demanding medical career with his writing, his creative process, and the evolution of his storytelling style, particularly his work with The New York...
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. The...
David Perell interviews David Grann, the author of "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "The Wager," about his storytelling process. Grann discusses his extensive research methods, including sifting through archives and visiting locations to gain a deeper understanding of the people and settings he writes about. He emphasi...
David Perell interviews Susan Orlean, a nonfiction writer, about her writing process. Orlean describes her intentional approach to research, writing, and editing, including using index cards to structure her stories and organize information thematically. She emphasizes the importance of a compelling lead to hook reader...
This podcast features an interview with Stefan Sagmeister, a renowned designer and author, who discusses his creative process, the importance of beauty in design, and strategies for generating innovative ideas. Sagmeister shares insights into his Edward de Bono method for unconventional problem-solving, the influence o...
In this interview, David Perell interviews Morgan Housel, author of "The Psychology of Money," about the art of storytelling in writing. Housel emphasizes the importance of getting straight to the point and using stories to engage readers and make complex topics more relatable. They discuss how stories help readers emp...
This podcast features an interview with Mitch Albom, a famous author, who discusses his writing process, including the importance of serving the story's main idea, developing characters, and hooking readers. Albom shares personal anecdotes about learning storytelling from his family, his early career in journalism, and...
In this interview, the host explores the unique writing style and analytical approach of Dan Wang, particularly focusing on his annual letters and his book "Breakneck." The conversation delves into Wang's influences, including French novels and Italian comic opera, and how these inform his writing's texture and grace. ...
In this episode of "How I Write," the host interviews two guests, Ada Limón and Joy Harjo, both former Poet Laureates of the United States. The conversation explores the role of listening in the creative process, emphasizing the importance of attuning oneself to the rhythms of nature and the world. They discuss how con...
This podcast episode features an interview with Jack and Ryan from the band AJR, who discuss their journey in the music industry, their creative process, and how they think about marketing and distribution in the age of the internet and AI. They emphasize the importance of truth and authenticity in their music, often d...
This podcast episode features an interview with Steven Pressfield, author of "The War of Art," where he discusses his writing process, discipline, and the mental challenges of being a writer. Pressfield shares insights on overcoming resistance, the importance of self-doubt, and the need for a "professional mind." He al...
Jimmy Soni, author of "The Founders," discusses his writing process, his upcoming book "The Tao of Kobe," and Kobe Bryant's passion for storytelling. Soni shares insights into Bryant's dedication to writing, his study of storytelling techniques, and his ambition to become a media mogul. The conversation explores Soni's...
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