How I Write

How to Write a Book Like Ryan Holiday

Jun 26, 2024

Ryan Holiday, a prolific author with sixteen books and a massive online following, shares insights into the discipline of writing. He emphasizes overcoming fears and maintaining momentum by diving straight into work. Holiday discusses the significance of powerful introductions and how music influences the writing process. He also reflects on the relationship between extensive reading and effective leadership, urging writers to embrace their creative journeys while balancing life. His no-nonsense approach motivates listeners to push through challenges and hone their storytelling skills.

01:14:46

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Episode guests

Ryan Holiday

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Highlights

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Active engagement with writing helps maintain momentum and creativity, preventing delays in projects.

Striving for a balance between external success and internal creative integrity is crucial in creative endeavors.

Thorough research and exploration of multiple perspectives enhance the depth and significance of storytelling.

Deep dives

The Power of Writing to Think

Writing serves as a tool to clarify and develop ideas, as seen in the episode's discussion around Ryan Holiday's writing process. Writing enables one to uncover and refine thoughts during the process. This active engagement with writing helps maintain momentum and creativity, preventing delays in projects. By continuously working on the next project, writers can remain productive and focused, shielding themselves from distractions and fluctuations in external feedback.

Consistency Leads to Longevity

01:25

Read to Lead

03:48

Get started. Fools are always in the state of getting ready.

02:20

The Perfect Intersection of Author and Story

01:26

Intro

2min

Navigating the Writing Journey

24min

The Power of Introduction in Writing

12min

The Impact of Music on the Writing Process

2min

Reading and Leadership: The Knowledge Connection

7min

Navigating Writing and Life

19min

The Art of Storytelling: Crafting Compelling Narratives

2min

Mastering Pacing and Storytelling

7min

https://www.writingexamples.com

Ryan Holiday is one of the world’s most prolific writers. He’s published sixteen books, written a daily email newsletter every day for the past eight years, has 1.7 million YouTube subscribers, and runs his own creative agency. (Reciting that list is difficult enough to remember, let alone accomplishing all of those things).

This conversation will get you off your butt as a writer. It’s 78-minutes of learning how to generate creative inertia for yourself — because that’s where Ryan thrives. He’s a no-BS writer. And by “no BS,” I mean: no coddling or making excuses for himself. He just does the work.

Generating that kind of momentum is exactly what fires me up, and exactly what I teach at Write of Passage. If you’re feeling called to write, you should join one of our programs. I’m telling you: Write of Passage will light a fire inside of you.

I recently heard a story about Ryan that sums him up in a nutshell. His editor called to congratulate him on hitting the #3 spot on the New York Times Bestseller list. His book had only been out for a week. I don’t know about you, but I would be camped out by the phone, biting my nails while I waited for that call.

But Ryan? Ryan was heads-down writing, halfway done with his next book. And today, you’ll learn exactly how he generates that level of momentum.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Website: https://ryanholiday.net/

Twitter: https://x.com/RyanHoliday

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanholiday

Newsletter: https://ryanholiday.net/reading-list/

Books: https://ryanholiday.net/books-courses/

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Want to learn more about the next class at Write of Passage?

https://writeofpassage.com/weekly

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write