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The Tim Ferriss Show

#366: Neil Gaiman — The Interview I've Waited 20 Years To Do

Mar 28, 2019
Neil Gaiman, the bestselling author known for works like Coraline and American Gods, shares fascinating insights into his creative process. He discusses the relationship between location and productivity, emphasizing the need for a distraction-free space. Gaiman reflects on the inspirations behind his novel The Graveyard Book, revealing personal anecdotes from his experiences in a graveyard. The conversation also touches on navigating creative pressure and the balance between structured and organic writing, all while embracing the uncertainty inherent in artistic endeavors.
01:53:41

Episode guests

Neil Gaiman

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The Graveyard Book was initially a challenging project for Neil Gaiman, but starting in the middle of the story helped him complete it and create an iconic opening line.
  • Neil Gaiman reflects on Terry Pratchett's friendship and their collaboration on Good Omens, highlighting Pratchett's approach to facing his own mortality and advocating for important issues through his work.

Deep dives

The Genesis of the Graveyard Book

The idea for The Graveyard Book came to Neil Gaiman when he was living in a tall, thin house near a country graveyard. He would take his son, Mike, and his tricycle to the graveyard every day, and the image of a child riding in a graveyard stuck with him. He initially attempted to write the book in his mid-twenties but felt it wasn't good enough. He revisited the idea a decade later, but still didn't feel it was right. Finally, after finishing another project, Gaiman decided to start in the middle of the story instead of the beginning. When his daughter Maddie asked him to read what he had written, he kept going and eventually completed the story. The iconic opening line, 'There was a hand in the darkness and it held a knife,' was already written in his notebook, waiting for the right time to be used. The Graveyard Book is a tale that combines tenderness, growth, and love.

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