Richard Powers won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. He's one of the best novelists alive today. This interview is a detailed look at his writing process, inspired by the class he used to teach at Stanford - and he's never done an interview quite like this. Here are 17 lessons: 1. When you're sure what you're looking at, look harder. 2. There are ultimately only three kinds of novels: (1) Person vs. person, (2) person vs. society, and (3) person vs. environment. 3. Person vs. Person: This is the psychological novel. 4. Person vs. Society: This is the sociological novel. 5. Person vs. Environment: This type of novel has gone out of style, and Richard is bringing it back. 6. Clear out the clutter in your life so you can focus on your writing. The fewer complications you have, the more rich and textured your creative process can become. 7. The best writing advice he's ever received? “Keep your petri dishes open.” Don't tie down your plans or outlines too tightly. 8. There are two kinds of writers: Top-Down and Bottom Up. 9. Top-Down writers: Start with the theme and the formal shape that'll drive the story. 10. Bottom-Up writers: Start with people, faces, voices, and local events… then gravitate toward the design of the book. 11. How do you create compelling characters? Push them to the wall. Make them choose between their top two core values. 12. English speakers are innately bilingual because they can use Latin-inspired words and Anglo-Saxon ones. 13. Editing is the art of excavating what your subconscious mind already knows. 14. When writing dialogue, read it out loud to yourself. That's how readers will read it, too. They'll subvocalize. 15. For years, Richard wrote and wrote and wouldn't leave the computer until he had 1,000 words on the page. 16. “If you would learn the secrets of nature, you must practice more humanity.” 17. “The best arguments in the world won’t change a single person’s mind. The only thing that can do that is a good story.” And finally, what's his goal as a writer? Here it is: “We have this sense that structure is inimical to emotion or that systems are inimical to individuals, that a book can either be a heart book or a head book. And my desire is to write something that's like us, namely an all-in-one.”
One of the best literary podcasts I’ve seen in awhile. Thank you for such a great discussion. I’ve had his book “Overstory” sitting on the desk ready to begin…
The Overstory really impacted me - I didn’t really notice it happening while reading it, but by the time I finished, and and now a few years later, I just have a deeper connection and love for trees and nature. Great book.
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Richard Powers won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
He's one of the best novelists alive today. This interview is a detailed look at his writing process, inspired by the class he used to teach at Stanford - and he's never done an interview quite like this.
Here are 17 lessons:
1. When you're sure what you're looking at, look harder.
2. There are ultimately only three kinds of novels: (1) Person vs. person, (2) person vs. society, and (3) person vs. environment.
3. Person vs. Person: This is the psychological novel.
4. Person vs. Society: This is the sociological novel.
5. Person vs. Environment: This type of novel has gone out of style, and Richard is bringing it back.
6. Clear out the clutter in your life so you can focus on your writing. The fewer complications you have, the more rich and textured your creative process can become.
7. The best writing advice he's ever received? “Keep your petri dishes open.” Don't tie down your plans or outlines too tightly.
8. There are two kinds of writers: Top-Down and Bottom Up.
9. Top-Down writers: Start with the theme and the formal shape that'll drive the story.
10. Bottom-Up writers: Start with people, faces, voices, and local events… then gravitate toward the design of the book.
11. How do you create compelling characters? Push them to the wall. Make them choose between their top two core values.
12. English speakers are innately bilingual because they can use Latin-inspired words and Anglo-Saxon ones.
13. Editing is the art of excavating what your subconscious mind already knows.
14. When writing dialogue, read it out loud to yourself. That's how readers will read it, too. They'll subvocalize.
15. For years, Richard wrote and wrote and wouldn't leave the computer until he had 1,000 words on the page.
16. “If you would learn the secrets of nature, you must practice more humanity.”
17. “The best arguments in the world won’t change a single person’s mind. The only thing that can do that is a good story.”
And finally, what's his goal as a writer? Here it is: “We have this sense that structure is inimical to emotion or that systems are inimical to individuals, that a book can either be a heart book or a head book. And my desire is to write something that's like us, namely an all-in-one.”
One of the best literary podcasts I’ve seen in awhile. Thank you for such a great discussion. I’ve had his book “Overstory” sitting on the desk ready to begin…
He's really, really articulate
exceptional interview! Thank you!
Niiiiiiice, stoked to listen to this one. Overstory forever changed the way I look at trees...
The Overstory really impacted me - I didn’t really notice it happening while reading it, but by the time I finished, and and now a few years later, I just have a deeper connection and love for trees and nature. Great book.
this episode is a treasure. Thank you!
This podcast was great! Love the storytelling frameworks and he’s really great speaker.
This was such a great episode. And i heard it on audio first 👌🏼
Thank you!
my favorite part of this podcast is David's thoughtful questions which are a result of his active listening of the guest
Thanks! Appreciate that
Just when I thought I was out, David pulls me back in
Hahahahaha... that's my job
Super awesome.
ty!
Awesome 👍
Thanks for watching
👀👀👀
Enjoy!