10 Lessons from the Best Writer in Tech | Paul Graham | How I Write Podcast

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

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

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 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

Two words: Storytelling. Masterclass.  Yeah, yeah, we know — “become a better storyteller” is probably the most basic writing advice out there. But this episode is far from basic. It’s all about the storytelling advice you actually need that you didn’t get in school. Once upon a time, Nat wrote online SEO blogs: simple, generic, and kind of boring. What he really wanted was to write a memoir: something narrative, beautiful, and exciting. But his storytelling skills didn’t match his vision. So, for two years, Nat disappeared into a cave to master the art of storytelling. He emerged with Crypto Confidential, a captivating memoir that Grammarly hates and readers love. And in this episode, he reveals the not-so-basic tactics he learned as a self-made storyteller.  Want to write stories that people actually read? This episode is for you. SPEAKER LINKS:  Website: https://www.nateliason.com/ Twitter: https://x.com/nateliason Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nat_eliason TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nateliason Newsletter: https://substack.com/@nateliason Book: https://a.co/d/7axrA8F 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

Sign Up for "Writing Examples" and Learn From The Best Writing of All Time: https://www.writingexamples.com Ryan Holiday is one of the world’s most prolific writers. He’s published sixteen books, written a daily email newsletter every day for the past eight years, has 1.7 million YouTube subscribers, and runs his own creative agency. (Reciting that list is difficult enough to remember, let alone accomplishing all of those things). This conversation will get you off your butt as a writer. It’s 78-minutes of learning how to generate creative inertia for yourself — because that’s where Ryan thrives. He’s a no-BS writer.  And by “no BS,” I mean: no coddling or making excuses for himself. He just does the work.  Generating that kind of momentum is exactly what fires me up, and exactly what I teach at Write of Passage. If you’re feeling called to write, you should join one of our programs. I’m telling you: Write of Passage will light a fire inside of you. I recently heard a story about Ryan that sums him up in a nutshell. His editor called to congratulate him on hitting the #3 spot on the New York Times Bestseller list. His book had only been out for a week. I don’t know about you, but I would be camped out by the phone, biting my nails while I waited for that call.  But Ryan? Ryan was heads-down writing, halfway done with his next book. And today, you’ll learn exactly how he generates that level of momentum. SPEAKER LINKS:  Website: https://ryanholiday.net/ Twitter: https://x.com/RyanHoliday Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanholiday Newsletter: https://ryanholiday.net/reading-list/ Books: https://ryanholiday.net/books-courses/ WRITE OF PASSAGE:  Want to learn more about the next class at Write of Passage? https://writeofpassage.com/weekly 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

Jerry Seinfeld taught me more about writing than all my English teachers combined. People forget that comedians aren’t just jokesters — they’re writers. And with 10 Emmy Awards, 3 Golden Globes, and a TV show that’s generated over three billion in revenue, it’s safe to say that Jerry Seinfeld is a dang good one.  In this episode, I share the top ten writing lessons I’ve learned from Jerry Seinfeld over the years. You’ll learn five lessons on getting your work done, and five lessons on making your work great. And buckle up. After 50 years of refining his jokes on stage, Jerry deals out spiky writing advice like cards in a casino. If you’re ready to become a writer who stands out from the masses, then you’re in the right place. Happy listening. WRITING EXAMPLES:  Sign Up for "Writing Examples" and Learn From The Best Writing of All Time: https://www.writingexamples.com/ JERRY SEINFELD LINKS:  Website: https://jerryseinfeld.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jerryseinfeld Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerryseinfeld Article: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/the-scholar-of-comedy 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

You may know Ted as a music historian, and the go-to expert on jazz. Or, you may know him as The Honest Broker on Substack. Either way, he’s the most erudite guest this show has ever seen. Ted gives a masterclass on the state of our culture at large. What’s up with our obsession with minimalism? Why do we value speed over beauty? Do we even realize that we’re distracting ourselves into oblivion? And, of course, what does this mean for us as writers? This episode zooms out to look at where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going. It’s an upheaval of mediocrity, a call-to-arms for the pursuit of excellence. If you’ve been wanting to reclaim the magic, the beauty, and the awe-struck wonder of the written word, this episode is for you. WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage? https://writeofpassage.com/ SPEAKER LINKS: Website: https://www.tedgioia.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tedgioia Newsletter: https://www.honest-broker.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTuRY58GauTM6wHA3_PPWRw Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ted-Gioia/author/B001ITVXZS 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

Get ready to swap everything you know about business-writing for an unconventional approach that actually works.  Basecamp CEO Jason Fried is one of the world’s most successful software entrepreneurs. And he’s unique for the way he challenges the tenets of Silicon Valley startups.  He’s bold like Bezos, but relaxed like Buffett. He cares less about “rising-and-grinding” and more about an honest 40-hour work week. He never white-knuckles his ideas, but shares them freely with the world. As a result, he’s transformed how Internet businesses are being built.  And it all starts with — you guessed it — getting his best ideas on the page.  His founder letters stand out (and they’re his favorite thing to write). Whenever he announces a new product, he releases a letter that does three things: builds a devoted fanbase, ramps up excitement, and sheds light on the purpose behind his products. And in this episode, you’ll learn exactly how he does it.  You’ll learn specific business-writing techniques: from storytelling to structure to word choice. You’ll learn how to find your flow, make writing easier, and use writing to start doing things in the world.  SPEAKER LINKS:  Website: https://world.hey.com/jason Twitter: https://x.com/jasonfried Medium: https://medium.com/@jasonfried Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B002MQ13PQ 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

From frustrated middle school teacher to Chief Evangelist at Synthesis School. From 46 email subscribers to 165,000. From hating writing to publishing her first book with a major publishing house: The Learning Game.  What made all of this possible for Ana Fabrega?  She unlearned how to write.  In this episode, Ana shares the seven writing principles you should unlearn if you want to fall in love with writing again and reach people with your ideas. Like Ana, your best ideas could have the power to impact hundreds, if not thousands, of people. You just need to share them in a way that resonates.  If you’re ready to start making an impact with your ideas, then come learn writing for the modern age.  SPEAKER LINKS:  Website: https://afabrega.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/anafabrega11 Book: https://a.co/d/afR9lkc Newsletter: https://afabrega.com/newsletter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msfab_learninglab/ 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

This is business writing like you’ve never seen it before.  Sam Corcos is the founder of a $300 million company called Levels. He’s built a culture of intellectual rigor by hiring excellent writers and giving them time to think on paper. But don’t get it twisted — a successful “writing-first work culture” is far more than grammatically correct Slack messages and the occasional memo.  “95% of people would not be happy working in the culture that we’ve built. And the 5% who would be have been looking for this their entire lives.” – Sam In this episode, we go deep (and I mean, deep) into what makes business writing work. Sam reveals how to use writing to: Create strategic memos Solve specific problems Make better decisions And work twice as fast.  If you’re interested in learning how to use writing to scale businesses, this one’s for you.  SPEAKER LINKS:  Website: http://corcos.io/ Company: https://www.levelshealth.com/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/samcorcos Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samcorcos 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