David Sedaris: Bestselling Author Gives His Best Writing Advice | How I Write

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1. 

   29 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 9 min

   Jack Carr: Bestselling Author Shares His Entire Writing Process | How I Write

   Learn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite Jack Carr is a master at writing thrillers. He's a former Navy SEAL turned author who loves books and storytelling. When he walked in, I told him, "I want you to teach me how you write so visually. You're so good at visually taking the minutiae of combat and violence, writing about weapons in a way that comes to life on the page. How do you actually do that?" And this is a guy whose method clearly works. He publishes a new novel every year, has built a successful writing business, and Amazon Prime adapted his book, The…

2. 

   22 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 5 min

   Scott Dikkers: 11 Ways to Make Your Writing More Funny | How I Write

   Learn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite Scott Dikkers is the former editor-in-chief of The Onion, the site that brought news satire to the internet. Before the episode, I went up to Scott and said, “I have one goal for this: I want to start writing funny. You know how to do it. Can you teach me everything you've learned?" He’s been doing this for decades, so he was able to take me by the hand and show me what he learned, very concretely. You're obviously not going to framework your way to becoming the next George Carlin, but there are universal principles of…

3. 

   20 Jul 2026 · 55 min

   What the Experts Really Think About AI | How I Write Compilation

   Learn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite AI and creativity. I've asked dozens of writers for their take; some think it's a godsend, while others believe it's the literal scum of the earth. Here are 12 of the best responses from literary award winners like Robert Macfarlane, builders like Sam Altman, and journalists like Ezra Klein. This is what people at the cutting edge are saying about how AI will impact writing, creativity, and culture. 00:00 Introduction 00:29 Ezra Klein 08:02 Maria Popova 09:55 Tyler Cowen 17:39 Tom Junod 22:30 Sam Altman 26:32 Steven Pinker…

4. 

   15 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 33 min

   David Baldacci: How to Write Books That Actually Sell | How I Write

   Learn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite David Baldacci, one of the most prolific writers in the world, joins us on the show today. He has written 53 novels and seven children’s books, publishes two novels every year, and has sold more than 200 million copies worldwide. How does he craft great stories, develop compelling characters, and build tension? How does he approach the business of publishing? Drawing from his background as a lawyer and his time in boardrooms worldwide, what strategies does he employ to ensure his books sell and are read? This conversation…

5. 

   8 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 25 min

   David Shelley: How to Get Your Book Published | How I Write

   This episode is presented by Wispr Flow, a tool that turns voice notes into clear writing. I use it every day and recommend it to every writer I know. Try it for free at ref.wisprflow.ai/howiwrite Learn more about Alpha School at go.alpha.school/howiwrite David Shelley is on the show today and he’s the CEO of Hachette, one of the Big Five publishers. In this conversation, I focused on two things. First, how should writers navigate the publishing industry? Second, how does the publishing industry actually work? Who better to learn from than someone at the top of the field? David has spent…

6. 

   24 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 1 min

   Andrew Stanton: Meet The Writer Behind Toy Story 5 | How I Write

   This episode is presented by Wispr Flow, a tool that turns voice notes into clear writing. I use it every day and recommend it to every writer I know. Try it for free at ref.wisprflow.ai/howiwrite Andrew Stanton was the second animator at Pixar, and he has been working there for 30 years. If you want to know how Pixar runs, this is your guy. He has directed movies like Finding Nemo and WALL-E, and he's the director of Toy Story 5. I had to ask him, "What have you done at Pixar to keep that quality bar so high? It's hit after hit, appealing to both kids and adults. How do you achieve this…

7. 

   17 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 14 min

   Michael Pollan's Best Writing Advice | How I Write

   This episode is presented by Wispr Flow, a tool that turns voice notes into clear writing. I use it every day and recommend it to every writer I know. Try it for free at ref.wisprflow.ai/howiwrite Michael Pollan is one of my all-time favorite nonfiction writers. He has been writing about food, nature, and consciousness for decades. For him, the writing process begins with a question. He finds something he's interested in and embarks on an adventure. He experiences things, talks to people, learns, and then compiles it all into a book. His writing style feels as if he's putting an arm around…

8. 

   10 Jun 2026 · 1 hr

   Andrew Hunter Murray: How to Write Fiction Incredibly Well | How I Write

   This episode is presented by Wispr Flow, a tool that turns voice notes into clear writing. I use it every day and recommend it to every writer I know. Try it for free at ref.wisprflow.ai/howiwrite Andrew Hunter Murray is a writer, a journalist, and a comedian. What stood out from this conversation is his love for literature, which shows up both in his three novels and in how he's studied people like Edith Wharton and Jane Austen. We talked about what makes a good premise and how to make a character feel alive. This conversation was a lot of fun. About the host Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a…

9. 

   3 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 27 min

   Noah Hawley: How He Wrote Fargo | How I Write

   Noah Hawley has written books, movies, and TV shows like Alien Earth and Fargo. He's been successful not just because he's a talented writer, but also because he's a consummate professional. He's fluent not just in the world of stories and characters, but he also knows how to work inside the industry and how to get things done. If you want to make it as a writer, whether on the page or the big screen, this interview is a roadmap for doing that. About the host Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the…

10. 

    27 May 2026 · 58 min

    Suleika Jaouad: NYT Bestselling Author Teaches Writing | How I Write

    Suleika Jaouad says: "If you want to write a good book, write what you don't want others to know about you. But if you want to write a great book, write what you don't want to know about yourself." She's had a lifelong love for words, ever since she was a little kid. She began writing for public consumption in her twenties, after being diagnosed with serious cancer. From her hospital bed, she started writing for The New York Times, which led to her memoir, "Between Two Kingdoms", and her book on creativity, "The Book of Alchemy". What are the driving themes of our conversation? How do you…