Storytelling Secrets from Michael Lewis (The Big Short, Moneyball, The Blind Side)
Jun 11, 2024
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Michael Lewis, famous for 'The Big Short' and 'Moneyball', shares storytelling secrets. He discusses ideas gathering, narrative structure, and overcoming distractions. Learn from his MasterClass on storytelling for a deeper dive into his techniques.
Michael Lewis emphasizes the importance of curiosity and open-mindedness in generating ideas and narratives.
Choosing genuine and evolving characters is crucial for crafting rich and authentic narratives.
Maintaining curiosity and objectivity while writing requires deep immersion and critical distance for insightful storytelling.
Deep dives
Michael Lewis' Creativity and Writing Process
Michael Lewis, a celebrated author, shares insights into his creative process and writing techniques. Lewis emphasizes the importance of curiosity and open-mindedness in generating ideas and narratives. He describes his method of extensive observation and note-taking, mentioning that his initial document can reach 200,000 words before structuring the story. By withholding judgment early on, Lewis focuses on capturing the essence of the characters and events he encounters, allowing the story's natural shape to emerge.
Selecting and Developing Characters for Writing
Michael Lewis delves into the process of selecting characters for his narratives. He explains that he often comes across numerous potential subjects but chooses to follow those who maintain his interest over time. Lewis emphasizes the importance of characters who are genuine and unaware of their unique qualities, as opposed to those who fabricate personas. The author seeks characters whose stories naturally evolve and engage readers, allowing for a rich and authentic narrative.
Balancing Curiosity and Distancing in Writing
Michael Lewis discusses the delicate balance between maintaining curiosity and objectivity when writing. He recounts how his extensive exploration of subjects and events involves deep immersion in the story, while also requiring a critical distance to avoid bias. Lewis highlights the necessity of memorizing details and quotes, enabling him to recall key elements accurately during the writing process. By remaining open-minded yet discerning, Lewis crafts narratives that are both insightful and engaging for his readers.
Crafting a Story: Selective Editing and Storytelling
Michael Lewis discusses the importance of selectively editing content to enhance storytelling. By removing even compelling material that does not serve the overall narrative, the story becomes more refined and focused. This process is likened to a form of judgment beneficial in ensuring a captivating and coherent storyline.
Navigating Writer's Block and Project Deadlines
Michael Lewis shares his approach to overcoming writer's block by setting deadlines and committing to the writing process. He emphasizes the significance of focusing on a single project at a time with dedicated attention to achieve optimal results. By balancing structured timelines and creative freedom, Lewis navigates challenges in writing, ensuring productivity and avoiding procrastination.
Michael Lewis is one of the most successful authors in recent memory. And in this episode, he dives deep into exactly how he tells unforgettable stories… from “Moneyball”, “The Big Short”, and “The Blind Side” – all adopted into feature films – to his newest bestseller, “Going Infinite” (about Sam Bankman-Fried).
You’ll learn how to “surf the world” for ideas like Michael; how to bring stories to life; how Michael structures narratives using a notecard system; and how he blocks out distractions and conquers procrastination. Whether your goal is to become a better writer or a more persuasive communicator in general, this is an opportunity to learn from a master.
Want to go deeper? Michael has a new MasterClass on how to tell a great story. You can find it here: https://www.masterclass.com/series/tell-a-great-story