Has He Cracked The Bestseller Formula? | Neil Strauss | How I Write Podcast

Neil writes about all the icky, taboo things you’re not supposed to say out loud. As the author of ten New York Times Bestselling books, he’s built his career on getting celebrities like Rick Rubin, Kevin Hart, and Jenna Jameson to open up in a way that most writers are too afraid to do.
But don’t get it twisted - “being vulnerable” doesn’t mean “word-vomit your deepest, darkest secrets to the world.” It means sharing who you truly are in a way that’s interesting to other people.
In this episode, Neil reveals how to be vulnerable in your work, the right way. He breaks down story structures that hook your reader. He reveals how to cultivate your life to support your writing. And he shows you how to say things in public that most people would be too scared to share with their closest friends.
If you’re scared of sharing your work in public, this episode is for you. Come learn how to synthesize your vulnerability in a way that resonates with other people.
WRITE OF PASSAGE:
Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage?
writeofpassage.com/enroll
SPEAKER LINKS:
Website: www.neilstrauss.com/
Twitter: / neilstrauss
Instagram: / neil_strauss
Books: www.amazon.com/Neil-Strauss/e...
Blog: www.neilstrauss.com/blog/
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
00:01:35 "You can't say that"
00:03:30 Sharing secrets
00:06:00 The public eye
00:07:50 Vulnerable
00:10:25 Critics and haters
00:11:15 Kevin Hart
00:11:55 Vomit drafts
00:17:10 First books
00:17:30 Epiphanies and Eurekas
00:18:40 "To Die For" podcast trailer
00:35:10 Writing worth reading
00:43:00 Trying too hard
00:49:30 Interestingness
00:51:30 Howard Stern
00:56:20 Writing profiles
00:58:50 Observe and notice
01:08:45 Rick Rubin
01:09:30 Editing
01:19:30 Writer's block
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.

[@DavidPerellChannel]

David popping in here! Curious... what's the #1 thing you learned from the interview?

[@anshumanpanda1227]

People who try too hard to write well are generally poor at writing. It should be about how well you can express yourself.

[@DavidPerellChannel]

Well, that was fun! Here are the 15 things Neil taught me about writing: 1. A desire for universal praise kills your voice. Great writers always work keeping very specific role models in mind. They want to live unto - write up to - their heroes. 2. In your first draft, be vulnerable. Then edit so that your vulnerability is interesting to other people. 3. Notice, process, share: Writing starts with the eye (where you notice), moves to the mind (where you process), and ends with the fingertips (where you share). 4. Write with uncommon honesty. Edit with uncommon brutality. 5. None of Neil Strauss’ books would exist without him brain dumping interesting experiences into a doc in the first 24 hours. How many ideas have you lost because you didn't write them down? 6. The first paragraph, the first page, and the first chapter are crucial because they establish the vibe and tempo you have to adhere to…till the last word. 7. Don’t rush your main idea. It probably came to you in bits and pieces over time, so don’t hit the reader in the face with it. Take them to the main idea via stories. You don't need to say everything at the beginning. 8. Your writing develops a vital zing when you realize no one cares. Your job is to make them care. Start with this attitude and your brain will subconsciously erase unnecessary set ups and cut to the chase. 9. Create systems to protect you from your lower self. For example, a part of your animal brain wants to scroll Twitter for 10 hours and bathe in the glow of the timeline. But great writers side with their higher self over the lower. Neil uses an app called Freedom to keep distractions at bay. 10. There's a point where you stop telling the book or the essay what you want it to be, and it starts telling you what it wants to be. Don’t ignore this message. 11. The first draft is for you. Be uninhibited and let your ideas flow like lava. 12. The second draft is for the reader. Make what matters to you matter to the reader. Ask questions like: "Where are they bored? Where are they confused?" 13. The third draft is for the haters. Clean up your prose. Get the facts straight. Take the bullets out of the gun. Then... ship. 14. When we begin a book-or any artwork or creative endeavor-the goal is not to execute a plan. It’s to surrender to the art itself. To let the art create itself, with you as a conduit. 15. Writers need a sacred space. A place or a time of the day that’s sealed off from the outside world, with no distractions…where you can enter undisturbed flow states.

[@TonyGizer]

Thank you for not putting giant microphones over everyone's faces.

[@derrickduplessy215]

The clear and concise thinking Neil displayed was marvelous to behold. No wasted words.

[@DavidPerellChannel]

Truly

[@leadgenjay]

Neil's approach to vulnerability in writing is spot on; it's all about balance and relatability.

[@DavidPerellChannel]

Dude's got a lot of experience and it shows in the way he talks about the craft

[@davdfranzen]

Neil is the master storyteller

[@iAmWriting247]

Excited for this - watching now!

[@dawnfmEnthusiast]

looking forward to this; what a great intro!

[@zakgoldwasser7224]

Underrated pod keep it up David 🔥

[@DavidPerellChannel]

Thanks!

[@riccardocecco]

Woahhh that's gonna be a huge one. Thanks David! 🤠

[@DavidPerellChannel]

T'was a fun one... let me know how you liked it

[@riccardocecco]

​@@DavidPerellChannel Brother, as always, it's been fantastic. Your exceptional ability to listen and ask insightful questions, are simply priceless. And this, I don't need to say it myself, just seeing the quality of your network is enough. You can't have a network like that if you're not capable of bringing value to others. I really appreciate your work, and I can't thank you enough for it. Keep it up, my friend. The rewards will undoubtedly follow.

[@pavilova29]

Need Time stamps!!

[@SeeYouOutsideShow]

😊

[@tobitotheworld4805]

that side walk part caught my attention at 1:00:07 (kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4PVap2dmcigsJosi=iSViRfX6R9j9rvjN&t=3609). Now, i gotta step out and go make a connection