DeepSummary
In this podcast episode, acclaimed novelist Amor Towles discusses his writing process and approach to crafting exceptional stories. He emphasizes making the reader feel present in the experience, achieved through careful description that brings scenes vividly to life without bogging down in excessive detail. Towles outlines his meticulous process of outlining and visualizing every aspect of the story before beginning to write, allowing him to free his poetic side during the drafting process.
Towles delves into his fascination with different vocabularies and how he weaves them into his writing to evoke specific contexts and sensibilities. He also touches on the importance of finding the right pacing and creating a sense of urgency to compel the reader forward. The discussion explores the iterative nature of writing, with Towles constantly revising and refining his work to sharpen the language and stay true to the broader truths he aims to convey.
Throughout the conversation, Towles emphasizes his commitment to fulfilling a covenant with his readers, ensuring that his writing rewards their investment of time and money. He shares insights on how he consumes and learns from other writers, the role of manifestos in shaping language, and his love for the unique melting pot of passions that characterizes New York City, a frequent setting in his works.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Towles emphasizes the importance of vivid description that brings scenes to life without excessive detail, allowing readers to feel present in the story.
- His meticulous outlining and visualization process allows him to separate the analytical and creative aspects of writing, freeing his poetic side during drafting.
- Towles weaves diverse vocabularies into his writing to evoke specific contexts and sensibilities, enriching the reading experience.
- He views writing as an iterative process of constant revision and refinement to sharpen language and convey deeper truths.
- Towles aims to fulfill a covenant with readers by rewarding their investment with a rich, immersive experience that brings the story to life.
- He draws inspiration from various sources, including manifestos, to shape his use of language and create a sense of urgency and energy.
- Towles celebrates the melting pot of passions and dreams that characterize New York City, often featuring it as a vibrant setting in his works.
- He encourages writers to approach their craft with discipline, dedication, and a commitment to constantly learning and improving.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “One of the most important things is make the reader feel like they're living the experience in the book.“ by Amor Towles
- “This iterative process beginning to build in the layers of the language to suggest a bigger truth.“ by Amor Towles
- “The reason that I do that, though, is in order to free up the right side of my brain when I'm in the writing process.“ by Amor Towles
Entities
Person
Book
Episode Information
How I Write
David Perell
2/14/24
Amor Towles is our modern day F. Scott Fitzgerald. Sure, he’s a critically acclaimed, award-winning novelist (ever heard of “A Gentleman in Moscow”?) but not because he’s cracked the publishing algorithm. Rather than scheming how many books he can sell or how many critics he can impress, his #1 goal is to fulfill his covenant with his reader.
“They’ve invested in my art, and I owe it to them.”
Towles' work oozes sensory detail and psychological richness. While most writers would describe writing as “creative” or “free-spirited,” he describes it as “accurate” and “careful.” Every sentence he writes serves a larger truth. In this episode, Towles gives one of the most detailed breakdowns of his writing process that we’ve had so far on How I Write.
You’ll learn the step-by-step process for how Towles drafts each novel; specifically, how outlining your work can free up your creative, poetic side. You’ll learn how to write descriptively — without bogging down your reader in indulgent details. You’ll learn how to master craft through repetition; how to approach your first draft versus your second; how to influence your writing with reading; and how to create art that serves a broader purpose.
Ultimately, you’ll learn how to tell exceptional stories from one of today's most exceptional storytellers.
SPEAKER LINKS:
Website: https://www.amortowles.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amortowles
Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amor-Towles/author/B004MW8MG6
WRITE OF PASSAGE:
Want to learn more about the next class Write of Passage?
Click here: https://take.writeofpassage.school/writing-sprints
PODCAST LINKS:
Website: https://writeofpassage.school/how-i-write/
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos
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.
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