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David Grann: How to Write Non-Fiction That Reads Like Fiction | How I Write

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Nov 5, 2025

Guest

David Grann

David Grann, an award-winning narrative nonfiction writer known for works like "Killers of the Flower Moon," shares his secrets to crafting compelling stories. He discusses how deep archival research led him to uncover hidden murders and serendipitous discoveries. Grann emphasizes the importance of rigorous research for creating vivid scenes and connecting themes with contemporary relevance. He also reflects on the emotional journey of reporting, choosing striking details, and the art of creating suspense through chronological storytelling.

01:24:11

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Episode notes

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ADVICE

Research Is The Foundation Of Narrative Nonfiction

Do exhaustive archival research before writing narrative non-fiction because the book depends on foundational documents.
Build massive outlines from records to reconstruct scenes and character details accurately.

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ADVICE

Render Characters With Scraps Of Detail

Seek every small biographical detail to render characters three-dimensionally.
Use physical traits, diction, quotes, and environment to let readers inhabit a person's life.

insights

INSIGHT

Three Tests That Make A Story Worth Telling

A story needs three confirmations: curiosity, research, and a contemporary through-line.
Themes (why we care today) let historical tales resonate in the present.

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Unearthing Unsolved Murders Through Archival Research

01:51 • 2min

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The Tedium and Serendipity of Deep Research

03:41 • 2min

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Research as Foundation for Narrative Scenes

05:40 • 3min

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How I Find Book Ideas and Test Them

08:29 • 4min

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Why Deeper Themes Matter for Timeless Stories

12:36 • 3min

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Embracing Mystery During Reporting Journeys

15:50 • 1min

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Going to Wager Island to Understand Place

17:12 • 12min

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Bringing Characters to Life from Records

28:45 • 2min

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Selecting the Most Revealing Details for Character

31:11 • 3min

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The Power of a Striking Phrase to Spark Stories

33:52 • 2min

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Opening with Cultural Imagery to Set Tone

35:51 • 6min

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How I Create Suspense by Writing Chronologically

42:07 • 3min

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Crafting and Revising First and Last Lines

45:00 • 2min

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Using Prologues to Hook Readers and Frame Stakes

46:30 • 3min

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Authorial Presence: When to Insert Yourself

49:10 • 3min

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Choosing the Right First Sentence for The Wager

52:24 • 2min

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Economy of Language: Cutting Research into Essentials

54:47 • 6min

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Joy of Discovery vs. Terror of Writing

01:00:37 • 1min

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Working with Filmmakers and Preserving Factuality

01:02:01 • 5min

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Nonfiction Constraints Versus Film Possibilities

01:07:08 • 3min

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Learning to Tell Stories from Oral Tradition

01:09:45 • 3min

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Small Human Details Reveal Big Historical Truths

01:12:50 • 7min

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Writing to Make Sense of a Chaotic World

Up in the Old Hotel is a celebrated collection of Joseph Mitchell's journalism written between 1943 and 1965 for The New Yorker. The book features richly detailed portraits of New York City's diverse inhabitants, including saloon-keepers, street preachers, gypsies, and old-timers, blending historical, fictionalized, and journalistic storytelling. Notable stories include the title essay about a seafood restaurant owner reluctant to explore the boarded-up upper floors of his building, and evocative accounts of the city's waterfront, its rats, and its fading traditions. Mitchell's writing is praised for its vivid, novelistic prose and deep empathy for his subjects, many of whom represent disappearing ways of life in a constantly changing city.

#853

• Mentioned in 32 episodes

Killers of the Flower Moon

Eric Roth

A non-fiction book by David Grann, adapted into a film.

#2241

• Mentioned in 15 episodes

The Wager

David Grann

The Wager by David Grann tells the gripping story of the HMS Wager, a British warship that met its tragic end during the War of Jenkins' Ear. The book delves into the harrowing experiences of the survivors who endured months of isolation on a desolate island, facing hunger, illness, and interactions with indigenous inhabitants. After constructing a makeshift vessel, the survivors embarked on a perilous journey to Brazil and Chile, only to return to England with conflicting stories of mutiny, treachery, and murder. Grann's narrative explores the nature of truth and the power of stories, using firsthand accounts to recreate the events and their historical significance. The book also examines the broader context of British imperialism and the moral compromises made by the crew and the empire.

• Mentioned in 9 episodes

The Lost City of Z

a tale of deadly obsession in the Amazon

David Grann

James Gray

The book recounts the story of Percy Fawcett, a British explorer who vanished in the Amazon jungle in 1925 while searching for a fabled city he called 'Z'. David Grann delves into Fawcett's expeditions, using previously unseen diaries and correspondence to reconstruct the events leading up to Fawcett's disappearance. The narrative is a mix of biography, detective story, and adventure tale, highlighting the dangers and mysteries of the Amazon jungle and the obsessive nature of Fawcett's quest. Grann's own journey into the jungle to uncover the truth adds an additional layer of suspense and personal risk to the story.

#2241

• Mentioned in 15 episodes

The Wager

David Grann

#853

• Mentioned in 32 episodes

Killers of the Flower Moon

Eric Roth

A non-fiction book by David Grann, adapted into a film.

Check out Sublime at https://sublime.app/?ref=perell

David Grann: one of the best storytellers alive today and an absolute master at narrative nonfiction. You might know him from "Killers of the Flower Moon", which Martin Scorsese turned into a film. And then there's "The Wager"; I can't think of a single book that more people I know have said that they just read the entire thing, from start to finish, in one sitting.

So what is it that he does to find stories, to research them, to turn them into writing that just makes people flip from page to page? Lush, vivid prose, great descriptions. How does he do it?

That's what this conversation's all about. About the host

Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible.

Follow me Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel X: https://x.com/david_perell

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