David Perell · Education

David Perell

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 heads 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 YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Episodes

This episode features an interview with Atul Gawande, a surgeon and accomplished writer, exploring his writing process, discipline, and how he integrates it with his demanding medical career. Gawande shares insights into his early writing experiences, the importance of rewriting, and how he balances his work in surgery...

How to Write Powerful Stories — Brandon Stanton

12 Nov 2025

1h 8m

How to Write Something Truly Memorable — David Grann

05 Nov 2025

1h 24m

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David Perell interviews David Grann, exploring Grann's storytelling approach, research methods, and writing process. Grann emphasizes the importance of extensive research, patience, and uncovering deeper themes within a story. He describes his process of finding stories, building detailed outlines, and using vivid lang...

Award-Winning Writer Explains Her Entire Process — Susan Orlean

29 Oct 2025AI processed

In this interview, Susan Orlean discusses her writing process, emphasizing the importance of structure, research, and editing. She details her unique method of using index cards to organize information and identify themes within her stories. Orlean highlights the significance of crafting compelling leads to capture the...

How To Stay Original As An Artist — Stefan Sagmeister

22 Oct 2025

1h 8m

Why You Don't Need Original Ideas — Morgan Housel

15 Oct 2025

1h 8m

Master Writer Teaches Storytelling — Mitch Albom

08 Oct 2025

1h 37m

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In this interview, Mitch Albom discusses his writing process, emphasizing the importance of serving the story's core theme and understanding the ending before beginning. He shares how his early experiences in journalism and family storytelling shaped his style, which focuses on brevity and emotional impact. Albom expla...