How to Be a Successful Writer

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"I don't think my stories are that original. I've accidentally come up with my own way of telling well-trodden ground stories," he says. "If you just write down the basic plot outline of my stories without any editorializing or any opinion, they're very well-Trodden ground." He's a hard sci-fi author who likes to stick to real science as much as possible.

Andy Weir is the bestselling author of The Martian and Project Hail Mary. He’s known for weaving deep, carefully researched science into his novels, building intricate sci-fi worlds that have captivated millions of readers. But here’s a plot twist: Andy doesn’t actually love the act of writing itself – so how does he motivate himself to do it anyway? Adam talks with Andy about the creative process, the skills involved in discarding bad ideas, finding joy in worldbuilding and research, and why you should never be writing with a sequel in mind. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts