David Mitchell Discusses Writing Process | Author of Cloud Atlas, Utopia Avenue, The Reason I Jump

[@joshiahayash]

All I can say is he is the best living writer I've read. 2020

[@Spellbinder888]

I'm always wary to see interviews of writers I admire because they often disappoint (cultivated "posing" and arrogance, mostly) but David seems humble and so interesting. Glad I watched.

[@thatstidy]

I've just read Black Swan Green and I have never enjoyed a book so much. He was able to illuminate the dark places I had in my imagination that I had as a boy in the early 80's that were once incandescent.

[@please42]

David Mitchell is a great writer and also a thoroughly sweet guy!

[@spd13062]

Fantastic writer. I often find myself stopping and re-reading a sentence of his, because he throws in these little moments of pure beauty that I don't want to miss because I'm tired or otherwise not paying enough attention. Loved Black Swan Green, Ghostwritten, and Number 9 Dream. Happy there's comments on this page, gives me hope!

[@stevenlanasky1656]

Just beginning my "Mitchell journey" and I'm astounded with the pure beauty of his form. It often just takes me an hour to cover even 10 pages.

[@annamariaamik3741]

I wholeheartedly agree. There is so much beauty in his writing, in the images he creates. There's an expression he uses in The Thousand Autumns (describing a house full of books), and that always comes to my mind when I relish his books: "a printed garden".

[@Muwt]

Best stuff I've read for ages. He's fighting Hangman in every sentence here. And winning. *Go on*, son!

[@coreyscott9590]

What a lyrical writer. Notice his accidental rhyme at 1:05? "You begin to get little glimmerings of the idea that you are a writer. And they become stronger and brighter." :).

[@IEatCereal4Dinner]

Best writer alive!

[@allanrvj]

I love you, David. Thank you for writing Cloud Atlas. You inspire me. x

[@YesForNo]

I don't know I'm just inlove with this man

[@lavinablossom1485]

Cloud Atlas was fascinating with a rich diversity of characters in different time periods. There were loose connections between the sections, but it was the virtuosity of the writing that pulled me forward, hoping that the stories would mesh or link well enough that I was satisfied by the ending. And I was, although certainly the threads of connection do not weave together into a neat smooth fabric (thankfully). I found the novel hugely rewarding and marvel at this writer's range.

[@SevenLara]

This was exactly what I needed to hear right now: so close to finishing the first, the second one calling to me all the time. I will resist its siren song for now and FINISH what I started. Thank you for saying what is true for you.

[@TickleScratchProd]

We're curious what happened after all these years! Hopefully you completed what you set out to do. :)

[@chance76b]

I love his books!!!! THANK YOU DAVID!!!!

[@boi1da420]

Read every book from Ghostwritten to the Bone Clocks. Number 9 Dream was my favorite.

[@Macque77]

Stunningly real. I have published, yet I'm not a writer. My family, friends, people in the bus stop say I am. I am not. I no longer need to explain that. Thank you David.

[@kevinkohn7743]

I wonder if those next two book ideas turned out to be Bone Clocks and Slade House.

[@toddlingon]

I just started reading Cloud Atlas, have just finished the first chapter, and am amazed at how similar his (Mitchell's) writing style is to Neil Stephenson, especially the Daniel Waterhouse character in Quicksilver. My guess is that if you enjoy Cloud Atlas, you'd also enjoy the trilogy of trilogies (three books, each comprised of three books) called The Baroque Cycle, that begins with Quicksilver.

[@PoisonYouth]

"600 page sentence where the subject is mentioned only in the beginning is beyond the anthropological limits." David, you should check out The Melancholy of Resistance by Laszlo K.

[@SeizureToday]

I'd actually recommend starting with Ghostwritten then moving on to Number9Dream (though it's his weakest novel). There's an internal chronology to his works that's not necessary, but because characters pop up in and out of them, make them more rewarding.

[@trevgreg2]

Start with Number9Dream, then maybe Ghostwritten. I'm trying to get to Cloud Atlas and his latest one myself, but those two are the place to start!

[@ItsameAlex]

you were looking for the peep show one, right ;-) Doubt it, since when you search on youtube most of the vids are of the peepshow one, so you must have done this on purpose.

[@turbakon8]

I've heard about him, what books should I read?

[@suttbutt574]

The bone clocks is one of my favourites:)

[@TickleScratchProd]

Great suggestion! Agreed.

[@ahealthyhorse]

If you are a writer, or ever aspire to become one, then STAY AWAY from Mitchell's work. It will leave you discouraged, and with a distinct sense of the chasm that lies between the two of you.

[@suttbutt574]

That seems a little dramatic.

[@Coinwalker1]

silly.

[@thomasofearth3183]

😂🤣😂🤣 💯 but onwards we go…

[@leedarkin-miller7685]

Neil Gaiman, banging on the top-right window @ 2:06..

[@VKingMD]

Wrong David Mitchell :(

[@TickleScratchProd]

Next Episode: David Mitchell meets David Mitchell