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
329 snips
Mar 4, 2026 • 1h 11min
Steven Pressfield: 21 Proven Methods for Writing Great Stories | How I Write
Steven Pressfield, novelist and storyteller famed for lessons on character and mythic themes, dives into core storytelling mechanics. He breaks down three-act rhythm, inciting incidents, mysteries that sustain plots, hero versus villain dynamics, and how small stakes can feel huge. Short, vivid scenes and private epiphanies get special attention.
243 snips
Feb 26, 2026 • 1h 2min
Robert Mac: Master Comedian Breaks Down 13 Jokes | How I Write
Robert Mac, stand-up comedian and comedy teacher with 10+ years onstage, shares comic craft. He explores surprise, misdirection, absurdism, timing, and the power of persona. Short lessons cover bait-and-switch wording, visual setups, the rule of three, story jokes, bombing, and daily practice for turning observations into laughs.
208 snips
Feb 18, 2026 • 48min
Bill Browder: How to Write a Book People Can’t Put Down | How I Write
Bill Browder, investor-turned-justice campaigner and author of Red Notice and Freezing Order, discusses making every page a page-turner. He explains prioritizing story over style, structuring chapters to sustain tension, and using mini books as outlines. He also covers building empathy for characters, reconstructing scenes from research and transcripts, and turning books into tools for advocacy.
217 snips
Feb 12, 2026 • 46min
Diarmaid MacCulloch: Oxford Professor Breaks Down His Writing Process | How I Write
Diarmaid MacCulloch, Oxford professor and historian of Christianity and the Tudors, explains how historians balance skepticism with sympathy. He discusses writing vivid, clear history, the value of travel and sensory detail, the risks of beautiful but misleading narratives, and why historians should declare their biases. Short, lively reflections on craft, routine, and the moral role of history.
328 snips
Feb 4, 2026 • 1h 3min
Lee Child: How to Write Strikingly Well | How I Write
Lee Child, bestselling novelist and creator of Jack Reacher, shares his craft in short, sharp stories. He discusses setting by mood, improvising plots instead of outlining, and crafting propulsive sentence rhythm. He explains why recurring heroes work, how TV techniques shape cliffhangers, and the yearly writing routine that keeps him productive.
92 snips
Jan 28, 2026 • 1h 16min
Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar: How Train Dreams Became a Film | How I Write
Greg Kwedar, filmmaker who builds immersive, human-centered films, and Clint Bentley, visual storyteller focused on place and craft, discuss learning filmmaking through film study and shared taste. They talk about playful experimentation, one-frame solutions that unlock scenes, honoring a book's spirit in adaptation, immersive on-location research, and balancing impulse with patient revision.
466 snips
Jan 21, 2026 • 1h 10min
Fareed Zakaria: How to Write Consistently Well | How I Write
Fareed Zakaria, a prominent journalist and author, shares invaluable insights into the craft of non-fiction writing. He discusses how journalism's deadlines have shaped his writing discipline over 25 years. Zakaria emphasizes the importance of human judgment in an AI-driven world and reflects on the lasting impact of literature like The Great Gatsby on his understanding of America. He also reveals techniques for efficient reading and the balance of anecdotes with data, highlighting how personal experiences enhance understanding and engagement.
929 snips
Jan 14, 2026 • 52min
Daniel Pink: How to Write Something Truly Useful | How I Write
In this engaging conversation, best-selling author Daniel Pink shares insights from his extensive writing journey, including a disciplined daily routine and the importance of strict word counts. He emphasizes the value of discussing ideas with others to refine them and reveals his method for structuring books using visual tools like whiteboards. Pink also explains how to craft compelling book proposals and discusses his groundbreaking work on regret. Finally, he reveals the pivotal question every writer should ask before embarking on a new project.
209 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.
353 snips
Dec 31, 2025 • 1h 5min
Adrian Tchaikovsky: How to Write Absurdly Well | 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.
