10 Lessons from the Best Writer in Tech | Paul Graham | How I Write Podcast
Mar 29, 2024
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Renowned writer and entrepreneur Paul Graham shares 11 key lessons on writing, emphasizing simplicity, editing rigor, and embracing the creative process. He discusses the importance of identifying valuable problems, enhancing writing through observation and imagination, and developing a personal writing style.
Effective writing requires simplicity and clarity to engage audiences.
Meticulous editing is vital for enhancing clarity and quality in writing.
Writing can spark new ideas and insights through the creative process.
Observing details in painting can enhance visualizing and depth in writing.
Engaging in challenging tasks contributes to personal growth and writing success.
Developing a discerning eye for quality writing shapes individual style and voice.
Deep dives
Write Simply
Paul Graham emphasizes the importance of writing simply, steering away from needless complexity in language. By utilizing plain and straightforward language, Graham showcases the power of clarity and directness in communication, a strategy that has contributed to his success in both writing and business.
Great Writing Comes from Great Editing
Graham highlights the significant role of editing in crafting exceptional written work. He stresses that refining and deleting unnecessary elements from a piece lead to better clarity and quality. His emphasis on meticulous editing mirrors the precision and attention to detail required in painting, where each brushstroke must be purposeful.
Writing Generates Ideas
Graham underlines how writing serves as a tool for idea generation. Through the act of writing, one can discover new thoughts and insights that may have been previously unexplored. He advocates for embracing the process of writing to uncover unique and comprehensive ideas that can elevate one's work.
Try Painting
Drawing inspiration from his experience in art school, Graham correlates the act of painting to enhancing one's ability to see and visualize in writing. By closely observing subjects in painting, artists can discover intricate details that are often unseen at first glance. This meticulous observation in painting can transfer over to writing, enabling writers to capture depth and nuance.
Do Hard Things
Graham's journey in tackling challenging tasks, such as building startups and creating Y Combinator, underscores the value of engaging in difficult endeavors. By embracing challenging projects, individuals like Graham gain valuable experience and insights that shape their writing and overall success in various ventures.
Cultivate Your Taste for Great Writing
Encouraging writers to refine their discernment, Graham advises individuals to develop a keen appreciation for well-crafted writing. By immersing oneself in literature that resonates personally, aspiring writers can cultivate their unique style through genuine admiration and enjoyment of impactful writing.
Don't Try to Develop a Personal Style
Graham discourages the forced cultivation of a personal writing style, advocating instead for focusing on producing excellent work authentically. He believes that striving for quality naturally results in a distinct style that emerges organically over time. By concentrating on writing well rather than pursuing a specific style, writers can allow their unique voices to evolve naturally.
Copy What You Like
Highlighting the importance of drawing inspiration from one's interests and pleasures, Graham suggests that aspiring writers should emulate writing styles that genuinely captivate them. By focusing on imitating works that resonate personally rather than aiming for perceived high-status styles, writers can develop their craft authentically and meaningfully.
Write Briefly
Graham advocates for succinct and clear writing, emphasizing the significance of concise expression to convey ideas effectively. By prioritizing brevity and eliminating unnecessary details, writers can enhance the impact of their messages and streamline their communication for greater comprehension.
Grab the Ending When It Appears
Encouraging writers to recognize and seize opportunities for conclusion, Graham advises individuals to identify and capitalize on natural endings in their writing. By embracing the resolution when it presents itself, writers can effectively conclude their pieces and leave a lasting impact on their audience.
Recognize Quality
By immersing oneself in well-written material and developing a discerning eye for exceptional writing, Graham suggests that individuals can refine their judgment of good quality. Through practice, exposure, and a critical assessment of writing styles, aspiring writers can differentiate between impressive content and superficial complexity.
Develop Unavoidable Personal Style
While discouraging deliberate efforts to shape a personal writing style, Graham emphasizes the inevitability of one's unique voice emerging organically through dedicated practice and engagement with diverse writing forms. By focusing on producing high-quality work and honing one's skills, writers inherently develop a distinct and authentic style that reflects their individual perspective and experiences.
Embrace Challenging Endeavors
Graham's emphasis on tackling difficult tasks and venturing into unfamiliar territories underscores the value of engaging with challenges to foster personal growth and expand creative horizons. By confronting demanding projects and pushing beyond comfort zones, individuals can nurture resilience, creativity, and an innovative approach to writing and other endeavors.
Refine Your Writing Taste
Encouraging writers to refine their literary tastes by exposing themselves to diverse genres and styles, Graham advises individuals to cultivate a discerning eye for quality writing. By immersing in well-crafted literature that resonates with personal preferences, aspiring writers can enhance their appreciation for impactful writing and develop their unique voice.
Avoid Forced Style Development
Graham discourages the intentional cultivation of a contrived writing style, suggesting that writers should focus on producing excellent content rather than striving for a predefined stylistic approach. By dedicating time and effort to creating meaningful and well-crafted work, individuals can naturally develop a distinctive voice that authentically reflects their personality and experiences.
Imitate What Resonates
Encouraging writers to draw inspiration from works that personally resonate with them, Graham advises individuals to emulate writing styles that genuinely capture their interest and admiration. By focusing on imitating content that deeply appeals to them rather than conforming to external expectations, writers can cultivate a genuine and compelling writing approach.
Prioritize Conciseness
Graham stresses the importance of concise and clear communication in writing, advocating for brevity to enhance the effectiveness of conveying ideas. By prioritizing succinctness and eliminating superfluous details, writers can streamline their messages and make their writing more impactful and easily digestible.
Seize Opportune Endings
Encouraging writers to be attentive to natural conclusions in their writing, Graham advises individuals to recognize and capitalize on suitable endings as they arise. By embracing appropriate resolutions, writers can effectively conclude their pieces and leave a lasting impression on their readers, enhancing the overall impact of their work.
Paul Graham is one of the most successful writers and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley.
Sure, he sold a company to Yahoo and co-founded Y Combinator, which has created hundreds of billions of dollars in value. But more than that, Paul is a renowned essayist and his thoughts on what makes good writing are worth paying attention to.
So, how has writing led to Paul Graham's success? I've deconstructed 11 of his best lessons and we're going to go through them one by one. Ultimately, you’ll learn the writing secrets behind this mega-successful investor, how he engages and delights his audience, and how you can, too.
Also, if you listen until the end, I have an unreleased goodie in here about what Sam Altman learned from Paul Graham. And I'm not going to share that anywhere else.
