Wright Thompson: Learn Storytelling in 63 Minutes | How I Write

More from How I Write

1. 

   22 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 28 min

   Tish Rabe: How to Write Children’s Books | How I Write

   This episode is presented by Mercury, the banking platform that makes this show possible. I can’t imagine trying to run my business without them. Learn more at https://mercury.com Tish Rabe has written more than 200 children's books. She's written for Disney and Sesame Street, and also after Dr. Seuss died in the early 90s, she started writing Dr. Seuss books. When she did, she really leaned into his distinct style. So I said, "You've been doing this for 40 years now. Can you teach me what you know about writing stories, bringing characters to life, rhythm and rhyme, and that unique flow…

2. 

   15 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 9 min

   David Gelb: How to Write Cinematically | How I Write

   This episode is presented by Mercury, the banking platform that makes this show possible. I can’t imagine trying to run my business without them. Learn more at https://mercury.com David Gelb directed 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' and 'Chef's Table', which is what this conversation is all about: the art of making documentaries, telling stories, and bringing people to life. He says that whenever you're writing a scene, a character should come into it wanting one thing and leave with something else. David spent a lot of time with the world's top chefs, so I had to ask what lessons he learned from them…

3. 

   8 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 7 min

   Patrick Radden Keefe: How to Write Captivating Stories | How I Write

   This episode is presented by Mercury, the banking platform that makes this show possible. I can’t imagine trying to run my business without them. Learn more at https://mercury.com Patrick Radden Keefe is going to teach us how to write narrative nonfiction. It's something he's been doing for 20 years as a staff writer at the New Yorker. He's also written six full-length nonfiction books. Patrick is known for this style called Write Around Reporting. So you want to focus on somebody who's wealthy or powerful, and they're just like, "No, I'm not going to talk to you. I flat out refuse." How do…

4. 

   7 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 39 minNew

   Robert Greene: The Unwritten Laws of Great Writing | How I Write

   Pre-order Robert Greene's latest book here: https://sites.prh.com/lawofthesublime Learn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite Robert Greene is on the show today, who's famous for books like The 50th Law and The 48 Laws of Power. How does he write books that so many people want to read? How has he written books so compelling that people literally want to steal them? That’s what we discuss in this conversation. What I admire so much about Robert, and the reason I love spending time with him, is that he has devoted decades to the craft of writing. You can feel it in his…

5. 

   30 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 11 min

   Andy Weir: Project Hail Mary Author Teaches Writing | How I Write

   Learn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite Andy Weir is on the show today, and he's famous for books like Project Hail Mary and The Martian, both of which turned into movies. In this conversation, we discuss science fiction as much as writing. How does he come up with new ideas? What makes for a good plot? How does he think through the science itself, bending reality in fun and playful ways? This interview does have some spoilers! So, if you haven't read the books, you might want to do that before you listen. However, if you love writing and don't care about…

6. 

   28 Sep 2026 · 48 min

   Mark Normand: How to Make Your Writing More Funny | How I Write

   Learn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite Mark Normand is on the show today to teach us how to write good comedy. He moved to New York in 2006 when he was a nobody, barely knew how to tell jokes. This interview tells the story of how he worked his way up from admiring Seinfeld from afar to actually opening for him on tour in various cities. 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 world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their…

7. 

   23 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 18 min

   Michael Arndt: Oscar-Winning Writer Teaches Storytelling | How I Write

   Learn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite Michael Arndt, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter, is on the show today to teach us how to write great stories. We started the conversation by discussing his time at Pixar. I asked Michael, "You worked on movies like Toy Story 3. What is it about Pixar's DNA that has made them so successful for so long?" We also discussed Little Miss Sunshine, the movie that won him an Oscar in 2007. He has read thousands of screenplays, so he understands what distinguishes a bad screenplay from a good one. As a script doctor and…

8. 

   16 Sep 2026 · 59 min

   Francine Prose: This Is What a Harvard Writing Masterclass Feels Like | How I Write

   Learn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite Francine Prose has written more than 30 books and taught at both Harvard and Bard College. If you ask her how to become a better writer, she'll tell you to start by reading like a writer. Look at words and sentences, characters and details. Study them, dissect them. Then find books that you love, ones that have stood the test of time, and ask yourself: Why has this book endured? Why has it stayed popular for so long? But how do you actually do that? This interview provides an answer. About the host Hey! I’m David Perell and…

9. 

   9 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 15 min

   Harlan Coben: Tough Love Advice for Every Writer | How I Write

   Learn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite Harlan Coben has written 38 books. If you want to write thrilling and suspenseful stories, he's the guy to learn from. His vibe is like a tough-love basketball coach who tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. And while it might feel a little challenging at times, I promise you'll leave this conversation motivated to write, to get back to working on whatever project you're pursuing. About the host Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the…

10. 

    2 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 8 min

    R.F. Kuang: Meet The Writer Who Sold Millions of Books Before 30 | How I Write

    Learn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite R. F. Kuang came on the show to talk about her love for language and what it means to live like a writer. She has written seven books, won the Nebula Award for Best Novel, and trained at some of the world's top universities: Cambridge, Oxford, and Yale. What stands out is her ability to write in so many different voices: the economical, the poetic, the minimalist, the maximalist. How do you cultivate that dexterity as a writer? It is rare to meet someone who writes so well and can also explain their process with such joy and…

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