The Cultural Tutor: Two Kinds of Writing (Which One Are You?)

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

“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

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

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

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: Sign up and learn from the best writing of all time: 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

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