How I Write
David PerellBefore book sales and PR buzz, your favorite writers began with two things: the blank page and an idea. Each week on How I Write, we go behind-the-scenes with today’s top writers to uncover the meta-mechanics of writing and the lifestyle behind it. You’ll be the first to hear writers deconstruct their creative process: from banging their head on the keyboard to marking the last period of their fin... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 136 | Founded | 3 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | EducationArtsBooks | |||
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Learn more about Alpha School at https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite
Matt Haig sold more than 10 million copies of his book, The Midnight Library. I just checked on Amazon, and it has over 288,000 reviews. This book was a total hit, a smashing succes... more
Learn more about Alpha School at https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite
Elif Shafak and Robert Macfarlane are two of the most dreamy and articulate writers I know.
Elif has written 21 books, 13 of which are novels, and she’s the president of the Royal ... more
Learn more about Alpha School at https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite
Andrew Sean Greer won the Pulitzer Prize for his 2018 novel "Less". I had to ask him what it's like to win a Pulitzer Prize. His story about that is my favorite part of the intervie... more
Learn more about Alpha School at https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite
Mark Forsyth has spent years studying how great writers piece words together. People like Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde, but also musicians like the Beatles and Taylor Swift. For him,... more
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Reviews
- Great show, great advice
Hi David, just one thing: there's a clicking noise throughout the episodes. Sometimes it'll be every few seconds, and sometimes every few minutes. I hear it every episode. I don't hear it on other podcasts, so I assume it's an audio-engineering problem for How I Write. It sounds somewhat like a clicker used to train dogs, but add to it the winding of a wind-up doll.
Apple Podcasts5Dajie93
United States2 months ago - Keep the female writers coming
Great insightful
conversations about the world of writing. David is a great interviewer. Appears he has also listened to reviews and is smartly interviewing more female writers. Keep the
female writers coming!
Apple Podcasts4bookjacketsandjeansUnited States3 months ago - Thank you
I stumbled upon this podcast by accident and it has since become my main source for writing inspiration✨ Thank you David for your deeply thought provoking interviews with world class writers I love each and every episode!
Apple Podcasts5Tehla Jane✨
Australia3 months ago - How men write
2026 to date:
15 men, 0 women
2025:
37 men, 7 women.
Tells me all I need to know.
Apple Podcasts1B Ryan O'MearaUnited States4 months ago - Where are the women writers?
Some good content, but the host’s seemingly total disinterest in featuring the perspectives of women make this an unfollow for me.
Apple Podcasts1wolex17894United States5 months ago
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #129 | United States/Education |
Apple Podcasts | #55 |  United Kingdom/Education |
Apple Podcasts | #157 |  Canada/Education |
Apple Podcasts | #57 | Australia/Education |
Apple Podcasts | #163 |  Italy/Education |
Apple Podcasts | #215 |  Germany/Education |
Talking Points
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Frequently Asked Questions About How I Write
What is How I Write about and what kind of topics does it cover?
The show features long-form conversations with leading writers and creators about the craft of writing, storytelling, and the realities of producing work across media. Guests range from novelists and journalists to filmmakers and comedians, who dissect processes like outlining, drafting, scene construction, character development, and editing. Across episodes, practical techniques, workflow philosophies, and the tension between artistic vision and commercial demands are explored, often with tips relevant to aspiring writers, editors, and content creators. A notable edge is the breadth of guests—from screenwriters to memoirists and documentary filmmakers—paired with a clear emphasis on actionable craft and daily writing practice, making it a ... more
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How many listeners does How I Write get?
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What are the audience demographics for How I Write?
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How many subscribers and views does How I Write have?
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Which podcasts are similar to How I Write?
These podcasts share a similar audience with How I Write:
1. Writers on Writing
2. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
3. Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin
4. Helping Writers Become Authors
5. Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry
How many episodes of How I Write are there?
How I Write launched 3 years ago and published 136 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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What guests have appeared on How I Write?
Recent guests on How I Write include:
1. Andrew Sean Greer
2. Jack Carr
3. Scott Dikkers
4. David Baldacci
5. David Shelley
6. David Sedaris
7. Andrew Stanton
8. Andrew Hunter Murray
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.