Writing Advice You Should Avoid | Nat Eliason
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- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
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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.
WRITE OF PASSAGE:
Want to learn more about the next class for Write of Passage?
writeofpassage.com/
SPEAKER LINKS:
Website: www.nateliason.com/
Twitter: x.com/nateliason
Instagram: / nat_eliason
TikTok: / nateliason
Newsletter: substack.com/@nateliason
Book: a.co/d/7axrA8F
PODCAST LINKS:
Website: writeofpassage.com/how-i-write
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSbo...
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:12 Ways to get better at writing
00:12:15 Working with publishers
00:16:40 "The Grammarly Problem"
00:21:50 Writing commercially viable books
00:26:30 How to write for different audiences
00:30:05 How writers are not perfect
00:32:45 Promise, Progress, Payoff
00:36:05 Conflict and suspense
00:38:25 Losing $100 million
00:40:20 How to tell great stories
00:45:15 Writing good dialogue
00:49:00 Intention and obstacle
00:52:28 Writing Examples: John Steinbeck
00:56:30 What is good vs not good writing
01:04:30 Learning from big problems
01:09:55 TikTok for book marketing
01:16:00 Insecurity
01:22:20 Fire round!
01:22:30 Using all 5 senses
01:23:50 Keep the inner enemy in mind
01:24:55 How are you changing
01:25:55 Stimulus, Internalization, Response
01:28:55 Antagonists opposition clear
01:32:10 Four components of a story
01:34:15 Writing with AI
ABOUT THE HOST:
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 ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible.
Nat Eliason was a frustrated writer who published “How-To” articles but dreamed of someday writing a book.
So, he disappeared into a cave for two years to teach himself storytelling, and emerged with a gripping memoir.
Here's what his odyssey taught him about writing:
1. Start with a bang. Nat’s memoir opens with his crying baby, his pissed-off wife, and the fact that he’s about to lose $100,000,000.
2. Beware of the “Grammarly Problem.” Some of the best writing in the world wouldn’t make it through Grammarly... and that’s why it’s top-tier.
3. Get clear on who you’re writing for. Books can easily fall into the Film Festival Trap: “movies for people who make movies.” Are you writing to impress other writers, or actually engage readers?
4. Emotional writing is powerful writing. If you find yourself sobbing in a coffee shop as you write, then chances are you’re on the right track.
5. Writers these days get too much editing help, which reduces the distinctiveness of whatever's being written.
6. If you want to write a book, write a f***ing book. Don't half-ass it. Either you're all-in or all-out.
7. Most good writing doesn’t reach the masses because it’s too dense and opaque. The challenge is to write something as readable as James Patterson with the depth of David Foster Wallace.
8. Every good story follows a similar formula: Promise, Progress, and Payoff. You can get away with an okay Resolution (Payoff) and a mediocre Middle (Progress), but you absolutely cannot have a dull Hook (Promise).
9. Create conflict and suspense in your stories by teasing the risk of death. But not necessarily a physical death - it can be emotional, spiritual, or relational.
10. Dialogue exists to push the story forward. So, it needs to relate to the obstacle at hand. Good dialogue orbits around tension.
11. Pretty much every scene in a book or movie ends with a “Yes, but…” or a “No, and….” This is how you raise the stakes and keep the pages turning.
Thanks for having me on David!
Such a fun conversation, we covered an incredible amount of ground here. Really appreciate you having me on David!
This is the best podcast on RUclips.
I highly recommend inviting Lawrence Yeo as your next guest. His blog, More To That, is like Wait But Why but better. He is a storytelling genius, and I’m sure it would be an amazing conversation.
David, as a young online writer, I really appreciate the effort you put into this podcast. Thank you!
Lawrence would be a wonderful guest. +1!
Absolutely. He is a genius. I have started writing long illustrated essays since meeting him.
Lawrence has been such an important influence that I quote him in appreciation at the end of every essay I publish on Medium.
By the way, Nat, I am currently building my blog using your article, "How to Start a Blog That Changes Your Life."
It has been a beacon in the fog. You're always a precious resource-thank you!
Wow. This was an amazing listen. Bookmarked to watch again. I can't believe how much amazing info you both provided. I feel lucky to have stumbled onto this!
This and the Ryan Holiday are the two best writing pods I’ve ever listened to. Thank you so much for bringing so much wisdom and actionable advice out of these guests 🙏🏼 very excited to read Nat’s book. Just ordered it after listening to the pod
Thanks Ryan!
Amazing line! "I was about to lose $100M..."
Thank you!
I hope you realize that 'winning' in crypto (not bitcoin) is at the expense of others' lack of financial literacy.
"Sam Altman" episode waiting room
Been waiting for weeks in line to watch the sama episode, on the curb, in the rain and sun, eating crushed peanuts, under my lonely umbrella. Reminds me of the lines we used to make for the latest Potter launch.