How I Write
David Perell
Before book sales and PR buzz, your favorite writers began with two things: the blank page and an idea.Each week on How I Write, we go behind-the-scenes with today’s top writers to uncover the meta-mechanics of writing and the lifestyle behind it. You’ll be the first to hear writers deconstruct their creative process: from banging their head on the keyboard to marking the last period of their final draft. Victory.Come discover how great writing is made. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be next.New episodes of the How I Write show go live every week on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.com/DavidPerellChannel.
Episodes
Mentioned books
12 snips
Jan 7, 2026 • 1h 9min
Tom Junod: How to Write Unapologetically Well | How I Write
Tom Junod, an acclaimed magazine writer known for his powerful essays, discusses his unique approach to storytelling. He delves into his evocative piece 'The Falling Man,' explaining how its contradictions sparked his interest. Junod emphasizes writing with emotional honesty and explores the fine line between objectivity and metaphor. He shares insights about familial influences on his voice, long-form writing's appeal, and the mysteries of goodness versus evil. The conversation culminates in his thoughts on writing as a soulful act that defies AI's potential dominance.
101 snips
Dec 31, 2025 • 1h 5min
Adrian Tchaikovsky: How to Write Great Science Fiction | How I Write
Adrian Tchaikovsky, the celebrated author behind over 60 science fiction and fantasy works, shares insights into his imaginative writing process. He explains his method of meticulous worldbuilding and the importance of compelling characters. Tchaikovsky discusses the art of crafting fight scenes, emphasizing emotional truth and narrative significance. He also explores the balance between originality and research, suggesting that magic should come with a cost. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the significance of immersive settings and the surprising depth characters can reveal.
158 snips
Dec 26, 2025 • 1h 21min
Elif Shafak: How to Write a Novel | How I Write
Elif Shafak, a celebrated novelist and president of the Royal Society of Literature, shares her enchanting approach to writing. She discusses the magic in ordinary objects and how to write with soul while avoiding 'fake wonder.' Elif reveals her nocturnal writing routine, complete with heavy metal for focus. She emphasizes playful storytelling, character complexity, and the sensory details that bring scenes to life. Additionally, she reflects on the importance of freedom in creativity and the unique expressions found in different languages.
82 snips
Dec 17, 2025 • 1h 22min
Henry Shukman: How to Tell Stories Through Poetry | How I Write
In this engaging talk, Henry Shukman, a poet and Zen teacher, shares his journey of discovering poetry through a chance encounter with a wanderer in his teens. He discusses the inspiration behind his writing, likening it to impressionism and the importance of capturing emotional truth. Shukman explores how meditation enhances creativity, helping to break down fear and foster deeper flow in his work. He reads moving pieces like 'Frozen Lake,' illustrating how grief can transform into poetry, and highlights the empathetic power of literature to comfort and connect.
170 snips
Dec 10, 2025 • 1h 2min
Ward Farnsworth: 14 Ways To Make Your Writing Memorable | How I Write Classic Episode
Ward Farnsworth, a law professor and author, shares insights on making writing memorable with techniques drawn from classic literature and speeches. He highlights the power of simple Saxon words, exemplified by the King James Bible's profound phrases. Farnsworth delves into rhetorical styles like anaphora and epistrophe, showcasing Churchill and Lincoln as masters of these techniques. He discusses the impact of chiasmus and offers practical advice for effective writing, emphasizing clarity and immersion in exemplary texts.
309 snips
Dec 3, 2025 • 52min
My Top 10 Writing Lessons from 2025
Dana Gioia, a celebrated poet and critic, passionately discusses poetry as an active experience. He emphasizes the importance of performance, memorization, and the personal engagement with poems, rather than just analytical study. Gioia and David Whyte explore how memorizing poems serves as emotional support in challenging times. Their conversation highlights writing as more than mere words—it's a practice of attention and authenticity that enriches our understanding of life.
178 snips
Nov 26, 2025 • 1h 4min
Jonathan Franzen: How to Write Truly Great Characters | How I Write
Jonathan Franzen, an award-winning novelist celebrated for his psychologically rich works like The Corrections and Freedom, shares his insights on character creation. He discusses the importance of comic distance to avoid victimhood, while emphasizing self-examination to develop authentic voices. Franzen contrasts trauma dumping with crafting relatable characters, and stresses the significance of precise details over clichés. He also explores how observing everyday life fuels character depth, alongside his disciplined writing routine and the search for the perfect tone.
373 snips
Nov 19, 2025 • 1h 4min
Atul Gawande: How to Use Writing to Improve Your Thinking | How I Write
Atul Gawande, a renowned surgeon and bestselling author known for works like *Being Mortal*, shares insights on the writing process. He discusses how writing energizes him rather than drains him and reveals his disciplined approach of aiming for 30 hours a month. Gawande highlights the importance of storytelling in conveying complex medical truths and emphasizes the value of revision, even counting up to 22 drafts for his New Yorker pieces. He also explores how being active in medicine enriches his writing and keeps his ideas fresh.
292 snips
Nov 12, 2025 • 1h 9min
Brandon Stanton: Meet The Creator of “Humans of New York” | How I Write
Brandon Stanton, the creator of Humans of New York, shares insights from his journey as a bestselling author and street photographer. He dives into how he crafts powerful personal narratives by capturing the essence of people's stories through concise interviews. Discover his unique approach to storytelling, including the importance of empathy and the impact of editing in real time. Stanton emphasizes persistence in creative endeavors and how curiosity drives compelling narratives. A riveting conversation for any aspiring writer!
205 snips
Nov 5, 2025 • 1h 24min
David Grann: How to Write Non-Fiction That Reads Like Fiction | How I Write
David Grann, an award-winning narrative nonfiction writer known for works like "Killers of the Flower Moon," shares his secrets to crafting compelling stories. He discusses how deep archival research led him to uncover hidden murders and serendipitous discoveries. Grann emphasizes the importance of rigorous research for creating vivid scenes and connecting themes with contemporary relevance. He also reflects on the emotional journey of reporting, choosing striking details, and the art of creating suspense through chronological storytelling.
