Writer's Routine

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James Wallman, author of 'Time and How to Spend It - Journalist talks making non-fiction read like the classics, the experience economy, and why you need to get outside and be offline.

Nov 1, 2019

Guest

James Wallman

James Wallman, best-selling author and cultural commentator who wrote Stuffocation and Time and How to Spend It, talks craft and life. He explains borrowing fiction techniques to make non-fiction gripping. He describes his tactile writing setup, his scribble-to-edit process, and the daily rhythm that keeps him productive. He also outlines how he researched what truly makes experiences matter.

46:15

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ADVICE

Start Drafts With Pencil And Big Paper

Write first with pencil and big paper to throw up ideas and see connections visually.
James Wallman sketches flows on A3/A2 paper, talks ideas through with his wife, then types and reshapes what he sketched.

insights

INSIGHT

Use A Door Closed Then Door Open Writing Mindset

Use the 'door closed' phase to write for yourself and let the story come without worrying about critics.
Open the door later to edit for publication when you're ready to show the world.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

RSA Question About Hippos Sparked The Book

Audience questions from Stuffocation events sparked the new book: people asked what kinds of experiences to choose.
At the RSA a man asked how to persuade his Xbox-loving son to join an Okavango Delta trip, prompting James to research answers.

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

Why James wrote Time and How to Spend It

01:06 • 5min

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James's physical writing setup and tools

06:07 • 2min

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From messy notes to typed draft

08:35 • 4min

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Door open versus door closed writing

12:51 • 2min

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Finding the book's central question

15:18 • 2min

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Research method and scholarly digging

17:20 • 4min

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Making nonfiction readable and simple

20:51 • 7min

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Read-aloud editing and voice choices

28:11 • 2min

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Using fiction tricks in nonfiction

30:10 • 7min

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The STORIES checklist explained

37:20 • 3min

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Daily routine: early mornings and focused windows

40:04 • 3min

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Lessons learned from writing twice

• Mentioned in 43 episodes

Bleak House

Charles Dickens

Bleak House, published in 1852-1853, is a novel by Charles Dickens that revolves around the Jarndyce family and their entanglement in the interminable lawsuit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce. The story highlights the inefficiencies and injustices of the English Court of Chancery, as well as themes of family secrets, blackmail, murder, and social critique. The novel follows Esther Summerson, who becomes the guardian of two other wards, Richard Carstone and Ada Clare, and their lives as they navigate the complexities of the lawsuit and personal secrets, particularly those surrounding Lady Dedlock and her past. The novel is known for its vivid portrayal of Victorian England and its critique of various social and legal institutions of the time.

#102733

Frank Sinatra has a cold

• Mentioned in 32 episodes

The Blind Side

Evolution of a Game

Michael Lewis

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game is a dual narrative that examines the evolution of offensive football strategy, particularly the rise of the left tackle position, and the personal story of Michael Oher. The book delves into how the introduction of players like Lawrence Taylor changed the game, emphasizing the importance of the left tackle in protecting the quarterback's 'blind side. ' It also follows Michael Oher's journey from his impoverished upbringing to his adoption by the Tuohy family and his eventual success as a college and professional football player. The book touches on themes of sport, culture, family, and the complexities of racial and socioeconomic dynamics in American football.

#276

• Mentioned in 92 episodes

The Checklist Manifesto

How To Get Things Right

Atul Gawande

In 'The Checklist Manifesto', Atul Gawande explores the power of checklists in overcoming the complexities of modern professional work. He argues that despite advanced training and technology, professionals often fail due to the sheer volume and complexity of knowledge. Gawande illustrates how checklists, first introduced by the U.S. Air Force, have been successfully adopted in various fields, including medicine, to reduce errors and improve outcomes. He provides compelling examples, such as the reduction of fatalities in surgical procedures and the elimination of hospital infections, to demonstrate the effectiveness of checklists. The book emphasizes the importance of balancing autonomy and control, empowering frontline workers, and continuously improving checklists based on feedback and experience.

#6870

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

What The Dog Saw

And Other Adventures

Malcolm Gladwell

This book is a compilation of Malcolm Gladwell's articles from The New Yorker, categorized into three parts. The first part, 'Obsessives, Pioneers, and other varieties of Minor Genius', focuses on individuals who excel in their fields but are not widely known. The second part, 'Theories, Predictions, and Diagnoses', delves into issues of prediction, including intelligence failures and the Enron scandal. The third part, 'Personality, Character, and Intelligence', discusses psychological and sociological topics such as criminal profiling, homelessness, and the differences between panicking and choking under pressure. Gladwell's essays offer insightful analyses and unique perspectives on a wide range of subjects.

#174

• Mentioned in 126 episodes

On Writing

A Memoir of the Craft

Stephen King

This book is both a memoir and a writing guide. It details Stephen King's life, from his childhood and early writing endeavors to his struggles with addiction and his near-fatal accident in 1999. The book is divided into sections that cover King's life ('C. V. '), the nature of writing ('What Writing Is'), writing mechanics ('Toolbox'), his advice on the craft ('On Writing'), and his recovery from the accident ('On Living: A Postscript'). King offers practical tips on writing, including the importance of vocabulary, grammar, and style, as well as the need for consistent writing routines and ruthless editing. He emphasizes that good writing comes from within, driven by curiosity, wonder, and emotional honesty rather than commercial motives.

In his phenomenally successful debut, 'Stuffocation', James Wallman told everyone to stop valuing things, and instead value experiences and the time we have on this planet. He's back to tell everyone how to spend that time, how to make sure we're getting the most out of our experiences, and how to make sure we're picking them wisely.

We talk about making non-fiction read like fiction, and how James thoroughly analysed the best journalists, and stole their tricks, to make sure readers kept wanting more. We talk about the cycle of James' day, why he starts work in the morning and how he pushes through the mid-afternoon energy slump.

James talks about a lot of things in the pod, here are some links to a few of the best recommendations he gives -

Frank Sinatra has a Cold - https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a638/frank-sinatra-has-a-cold-gay-talese/

Michael Lewis, author of 'The Blind Side' - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blind-Side-Evolution-Game/dp/0393330478

Charles Dickens, the fog from 'Bleak House' - http://www.online-literature.com/dickens/bleakhouse/2/

Also, IF YOU ARE IN THE UNITED STATES, you can get a 3-month audiobook membership for the price of one month. Go to Libro.fm ( L - I - B - R - O - DOT - F - M ) and enter ROUTINE. With each listen, take pride in knowing that you’re supporting local bookstores.

If you want to buy the book, please do it through here - https://amzn.to/36epReS - and we get a little kickback.

AND FINALLY, please do support the show at patreon.com/writersroutine

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