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#726: Hugh Howey, Author of Silo and Wool — A Masterclass on Writing, Unorthodox Self-Publishing, and Living in The AI Age

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Mar 13, 2024

Guest

Hugh Howey

Hugh Howey, a New York Times bestselling author known for his Silo trilogy and Wool, dives into the intricacies of self-publishing and navigating the traditional publishing world. He emphasizes the importance of a reader-first mindset and the power of maintaining creative control. Howey shares insights on the discipline required for daily writing and discusses the impact of AI on the publishing landscape. He reflects on the balance between optimism and existential threats in today's society, providing a thought-provoking perspective on the future of storytelling.

01:40:06

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Transcript

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Episode notes

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ANECDOTE

Wool's Success

Hugh Howey's novel Wool was the most reviewed item on Amazon.
This was unintentional but resulted from a Q&A he included at the end, prompting readers to write reviews.

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ADVICE

Write Consistently

Commit to writing consistently for an extended period, like two books a year for 10 years.
This allows you to focus on improving your craft without the pressure of immediate success.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Buying Back Rights

Howey bought back the rights to his first book, despite it doing well, to self-publish the sequel.
He felt sick giving away his IP, even for a seemingly good deal, as he was already working on sequels.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Navigating the Publishing Landscape

04:55 • 6min

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Journey of a Self-Published Author

10:54 • 17min

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Navigating Self-Publishing Success

27:45 • 8min

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The Power of Writing Discipline and Daily Habits

35:51 • 4min

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The Reading-Writing Nexus

39:50 • 13min

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Collaborative Creativity in the Digital Age

53:03 • 17min

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Navigating Optimism Amidst Existential Threats

01:10:11 • 20min

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Personal Reflections and Future Conversations

01:30:32 • 2min

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Reflections on Growth and the Importance of Support

01:32:36 • 6min

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Discovering Your Perfect Mattress with Helix

Machine Learning Q&AI

Sebastian Raschka

Wool

Hugh Howey

In 'Wool', the first book of the Silo series, Hugh Howey depicts a dystopian future where humanity lives in a self-sustaining underground silo. The story follows Sheriff Holston and later Juliette, a mechanic turned sheriff, as they uncover the sinister truths and conspiracies within the silo. The novel delves into the lives of the silo's residents, who are kept in the dark about the true state of the outside world, and the harsh punishments for those who express a desire to leave. The book is known for its suspenseful and engaging narrative, exploring themes of survival, hope, and the quest for truth in a confined and controlled environment.

Circe

Madeline Miller

In this novel, Madeline Miller reimagines the life of Circe, the daughter of the Titan sun god Helios and the nymph Perse. Circe, who is neither as powerful as her father nor as alluring as her mother, finds her own path through the discovery of witchcraft. After being banished to the island of Aiaia by Zeus, Circe hones her magical abilities and encounters various figures from Greek mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus, Icarus, Medea, and Odysseus. The story explores themes of identity, love, loss, and female strength in a patriarchal world. Circe's journey is marked by her transformation from an outcast to a powerful goddess who must choose between her divine heritage and her love for mortals.

Ender's Game

None

Orson Scott Card

Set in a future where humanity is threatened by the Formics, an insect-like alien species, the novel follows Ender Wiggin, a child prodigy who is drafted into Battle School at the age of six. Ender undergoes intense military training, including zero-gravity battles and psychological manipulation, to prepare him to lead the human fleet against the Formics. The book explores themes of war, leadership, and the moral complexities of using children as soldiers. It is known for its deep and complex sensibilities, and its ability to pose profound questions about the nature of war and humanity.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Gabrielle Zevin

Spanning thirty years, 'Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow' by Gabrielle Zevin is a sweeping narrative that explores the lives of Sam and Sadie, two friends united by their love of video games. From their childhood encounters to their adulthood as successful game developers, the book delves into themes of identity, creativity, disability, and the redemptive possibilities in play. It is a coming-of-age story that examines the multifaceted nature of human relationships and the need to connect, love, and be loved. The novel is praised for its mature and nuanced portrayal of characters and its ability to engage readers even without prior knowledge of the video game industry.

This is How You Lose the Time War

Amal El-Mohtar

Max Gladstone

This Is How You Lose the Time War is an epistolary novel that follows agents Red and Blue as they travel through time, altering history on behalf of their warring empires. Despite their initial adversarial relationship, they develop a romantic connection through secret messages. The story explores themes of conflict, love, and resistance, with a poetic and sharp prose style. The book has won several awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and British Science Fiction and Fantasy awards.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy

Douglas Adams

The book follows Arthur Dent, an ordinary Englishman, whose house and planet are about to be demolished. He is rescued by his friend Ford Prefect, an alien researcher for the 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'. Together, they embark on a journey through space, encountering various characters such as Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed president of the galaxy, Trillian, a human woman, and Marvin, a paranoid android. The story involves their adventures on the spaceship Heart of Gold, which has an Infinite Improbability Drive, and their quest to understand the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, which is revealed to be '42'. The novel is known for its humor, satire, and imaginative storytelling.

Half Way Home

Hugh Howey

In 'Half Way Home', Hugh Howey crafts a gripping tale of survival and social commentary. The story follows a group of teenagers who awaken on a distant planet after their colony ship's AI aborts the colonization process. With incomplete training and limited resources, they must navigate the harsh environment and their own conflicts to survive. The novel explores themes of trust, leadership, and the reliance on artificial intelligence in a desperate bid for survival.

Sand

Hugh Howey

Sand by Hugh Howey is a gritty dystopian novel set in a future where the world is buried under sand. The story follows a fractured family of sand divers in a harsh environment, exploring themes of survival, family dynamics, and societal oppression. The novel is known for its vivid imagery and intense plot twists.

Hugh Howey is the New York Times bestselling author of Wool, Beacon 23, Sand, Machine Learning, Half Way Home, and more than a dozen other novels. His Silo trilogy was recently adapted by Apple TV, becoming their #1 drama of all time. Please enjoy!

Timestamps for this episode are available below. Resources from this episode: https://tim.blog/2024/03/13/hugh-howey/

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Timestamps:

[00:00] Start

[06:48] Breaking the formula with a literary sleight of hand.

[11:00] A commitment to 10 years of obscurity.

[15:02] Buying back rights and self-publishing.

[22:04] Why authors should strive for a reader-first vs. publisher-first mindset.

[24:22] Hitting the NYT Best Sellers List with a self-pub book.

[27:44] Pricing logic.

[31:00] The undersold value of worldwide rights.

[33:57] How authors can find deal leverage early on.

[37:07] Establishing a daily writing habit.

[41:34] Fiction that inspires better writing.