How I Write

Latest Episodes:

Sam Altman: OpenAI Founder Reveals His Writing System | How I Write Sep 25, 2024

Show notes

You know him as the CEO of OpenAI — but did you know that Sam Altman is an avid writer?

As one of today’s most successful entrepreneurs, Sam champions the tremendous value of writing: how it clarifies your thinking, expands your ideas, and levels-up your life in every sense, both personally and professionally. Plus, he has a love for the creative. (Have you ever met someone who can recite Percy Bysshe Shelley poems from memory? Well, Sam can.)

In this episode, we discuss how Sam uses ChatGPT in his daily life; how LLMs are changing the future of writing; what it means to be a novelist in the age of technology; and Sam’s best-learned writing lessons from Paul Graham. If you want to learn how the king of ChatGPT writes, this episode is for you.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Website: https://openai.com/

Blog: https://blog.samaltman.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sama

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Want to learn more about the final class for Write of Passage?

Click here: https://writeofpassage.com/

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.school/how-i-write/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv

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Robert Greene: The Blueprint for a Killer Story | How I Write Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

Robert went from being “a drunk, failed screenwriter” to writing seven bestsellers with millions of copies sold. Entrepreneurs, politicians, and hip-hop artists like 50 Cent all love his work. His secret ingredient? Storytelling.

In Robert’s eyes, story is a form of seduction. So, welcome to 76-minutes of seductive storytelling advice. You’ll learn how to write stories that have timeless resonance, swapping cute and clever for crisp and clear. You’ll dive deep into style, themes, research, and revision. And you’ll hear all the nitty-gritty details that make a story sell.

And his books have flown off the shelves. 48 Laws of Power has sold millions of copies, and is as popular today as it was when it came out 25 years ago.

If you want behind-the-scenes storytelling advice from a seasoned bestselling author, this episode is for you.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Website: https://powerseductionandwar.com/

Twitter: https://x.com/RobertGreene

Book: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Robert-Greene/author/B001IGV3IS

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/RobertGreeneOfficial

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Want to learn more about the next class for Write of Passage?

Click here: https://writeofpassage.com/

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick Bilton: The Art of Storytelling in Films, Journalism, and Murder Mysteries | How I Write Sep 11, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to 74-minutes of storytelling strategy that’s better than all of your English classes combined. Nick is a journalist who has written for The New York Times and Vanity Fair. He’s a screenwriter, an author, a murder mystery enthusiast.In other words, he knows how to push a story through a brick wall. And he’s going to show you how you can, too.

This episode is the ultimate storytelling toolkit. Cliffhangers. Tension. Dialogue. Character. Motifs. You’ll learn it all.

And here’s the thing: if you can tell great stories, then you will succeed in life. Stories make up our entire world — from a politician’s speech to the back of a cereal box to a dinner party with friends. Good storytellers always have the upper hand. So, if you want to tell fast-paced and dizzying stories, this episode is for you.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Website: https://www.nickbilton.com/

Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nick-Bilton/author/B003UP0RIM

Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com/contributor/nick-bilton

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickbilton

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickbilton

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Want to learn more about the next class for Write of Passage?

Click here: https://writeofpassage.com/

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Peter Attia Wrote His First Book Aug 28, 2024

Show notes

“I’ll never forget the first patient whom I ever saw die.”

Sheesh, what an opening line, right? Peter has an outstanding resume: he’s a medical surgeon, a Stanford grad, and a longevity expert with 25+ years of industry experience — not to mention, a published author who has sold over two million copies of his book, Outlive.

In a nutshell, Peter is a prime example of what can happen when you share your expertise through writing. And he’s going to help you get started.

In this episode, you’ll learn how Peter wrote his first book — frameworks, strategies, how he packages industry expertise in a way that’s digestible for the masses — and how you can, too. If you’ve been burning to turn your expertise into a bestseller, this episode is for you.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Website: https://peterattiamd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PeterAttiaMD

Twitter: https://x.com/PeterAttiaMD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterattiamd

Newsletter: https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter

Book: https://a.co/d/57euBtR

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Want to learn more about the next class for Write of Passage?

Become a better writer in just five weeks.

Click here: https://writeofpassage.com/

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Ben Thompson Built a Writing Empire Aug 21, 2024

Show notes

What if writing a newsletter could pay your rent? Well, it can. And today, you’re going to learn how.

Ben Thompson makes millions of dollars a year with his writing. He’s the OG of subscription-based newsletter writers. Maybe that’s your dream, too, but you’re plagued by questions like: “What should I write about?” “What’s my business model?” “How do I make my first dollar online?” We’re so glad you asked; because Ben has the answers. In this episode, you’ll learn his exact playbook for how to monetize your writing — not just for right now, but also for the future.

Ben’s blog, Stratechery, is the OG of subscription-based newsletters and actually inspired the creation of Substack. If you’ve ever wondered what a day-in-the-life of someone who makes millions of dollars writing looks like, now’s your chance.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Website & Newsletter: https://stratechery.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/benthompson

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Want to learn more about the next class for Write of Passage?

Click here: https://writeofpassage.com/

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob Henderson: How To Write A Memoir Aug 14, 2024

Show notes

Ever thought to yourself, “I would love to write a memoir someday”?

Then you’re in the right place. Rob has an exceptional story — from foster care to Yale, from a troubled childhood to a best-selling memoir called Troubled — and in this episode, he demystifies the memoir-writing process just for you.

We cover questions like: Which stories are worthy of sharing? How do you pace the narrative? How do you excavate difficult memories? How do you balance the emotional highs with the lows? Buckle up, and get ready to learn how to write a gripping memoir.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Newsletter: https://www.robkhenderson.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/robkhenderson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robkhenderson/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Troubled-Memoir-Foster-Family-Social/dp/1982168536

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Want to learn more about the next class for Write of Passage?

Click here: https://writeofpassage.com/

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cultural Tutor: Two Kinds of Writing (Which One Are You?) Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

Your success as a writer boils down to your style. And today, you’re going to learn how to master the two different types of style — minimalism vs. maximalism — from the style-king himself: The Cultural Tutor.

Minimalism is clear, concise, and direct. It distills an idea. Maximalism captures the texture, the nuance, the beauty of life. It creates an environment for your reader to inhabit. Style is a spectrum. And the sweet spot of memorable writing comes from the tension of competing forces — concision and beauty; Simplicity and texture; minimalism and maximalism.

If you want to develop a distinct and unforgettable style, then this episode is for you.

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Website: https://culturaltutor.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/culturaltutor

WRITING EXAMPLES:

https://www.writingexamples.com

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Want to learn more about the next class for Write of Passage?

Click here: https://writeofpassage.com/

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Forsyth: How to Make Your Writing Memorable | How I Write Podcast Jul 24, 2024

Show notes

What do Katy Perry, Charles Dickens, and the Bible all have in common? They’re responsible for some of the most famous lines in history. And in this episode, you’ll find out why.

Mark, an author and mad scientist of language, reveals the secret sauce to memorable writing: rhetorical devices. Chiasmus. Anaphora. Antithesis. Synecdoche.

Writing today (i.e. texting and Tweeting) is concise and hyper-minimal — which is fine, if you’re writing the instruction manual for a new dishwasher. But the most memorable works of writing lean into the beauty of words. It’s not about using overly purple prose. It’s about using rhetorical formulas to create unforgettable lines, to shape ideas that stick in your reader’s brain.

If you want to write something that sticks in your reader’s brain — a book, a poem, a speech — then this episode is for you.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Twitter: https://x.com/inkyfool

Blog: https://blog.inkyfool.com/

Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B005Z05REO

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage?

Click here: https://writeofpassage.com/

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn Great Copywriting in 76 Minutes | Harry Dry Jul 17, 2024

Show notes

Harry is a master copywriter — and that’s not hyperbole. With Marketing Examples, he’s taught over 100,000 people how to write copy that rips. And guess what? You’re next.

Copywriting is the wrapper of success for every company. It’s the difference between Snickers, the bestselling chocolate bar in the world (“You’re not you when you’re hungry”) and a chocolate bar that looked and tasted just like Snickers, but went out of business in 2006. (Ever had a Fuse bar? Yeah, neither have we.)

Good copywriting burns into your brain, seeps into your guts. And in this episode, you’re going to learn how to write it.

Harry and David get down-and-dirty with the most important principles of copywriting. You’ll learn “The Three Rules” of good copy. You’ll compare ads that worked with ads that didn’t. You’ll get an inside look into how Harry writes his copy, down to his favorite software and tea of choice.

If you want to grow your marketing skills, this is your Harry-sent solution. Come learn the art of masterful copywriting.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Website: https://marketingexamples.com/

Newsletter: https://marketingexamples.com/newsletter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/harrydry

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketing_examples/

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/harrydry

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Want to learn more about the next class for Write of Passage?

Click here: https://writeofpassage.com/

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Write Fearlessly (like Scott Galloway) Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

Scott is a cocktail of crass humor, brutal honesty, and millionaire advice. He spent ten years wanting to write a book, and when he finally did, everything he learned could be summed up into two words: Be fearless.

So buckle up — because today, you’re going to learn how to write fearlessly.

In this episode, we break down the nitty-gritty mechanics of fearless writing: how to create intimacy with your reader, how to craft a narrative, how to share bold opinions, how to use humor as a weapon, and most importantly, how to write from conversation. (This is one of our favorite concepts we teach in Write of Passage. Your best ideas don’t come from typing; they come from talking.)

Put simply, Scott is the king of strong opinions, loosely held. And that’s why his writing resonates. If you want to be bold and fearless in your writing, then this episode is for you.

SPEAKER LINKS:

Newsletter: https://www.profgalloway.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/profgalloway

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/profgalloway

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/profgalloway

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheProfGShow-ScottGalloway

Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001KCK57K

WRITE OF PASSAGE:

Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage?

Click here: https://writeofpassage.com/

PODCAST LINKS:

Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write