All Segments
79 Mins of Storytelling Strategy Better Than Your English Classes – Nick Bilton
20 segments available
Welcome to 79-minutes of storytelling strategy that’s better than all of your English classes combined. Nick is a journalist who has written for The New York Times and Vanity Fair. He’s a screenwriter, an author, a murder mystery enthusiast. In other words, he knows how to push a story through a brick wall. And he’s going to show you how you can, too. This episode is the ultimate storytelling toolkit. Cliffhangers. Tension. Dialogue. Character. Motifs. You’ll learn it all. And here’s the thing: if you can tell great stories, then you will succeed in life. Stories make up our entire world — from a politician’s speech to the back of a cereal box to a dinner party with friends. Good storytellers always have the upper hand. So, if you want to tell fast-paced and dizzying stories, this episode is for you. SPEAKER LINKS: Website: https://www.nickbilton.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickbilton Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nick-Bilton/author/B003UP0RIM Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com/contributor/nick-bilton Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickbilton WRITE OF PASSAGE: Want to learn more about the next class for Write of Passage? https://writeofpassage.com/ PODCAST LINKS: Website: https://writeofpassage.com/how-i-write Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:40 Intro to Narrative Nonfiction 00:01:55 Crafting Compelling Characters 00:02:38 The Art of Storytelling Across Mediums 00:04:04 Building Themes and Tension 00:04:50 Lessons from Screenwriting and Murder Mysteries 00:07:33 The Importance of Pacing in Writing 00:11:14 Editing Techniques for Screenplays and Books 00:14:53 Creating Realistic and Memorable Characters 00:27:46 The Role of Themes in Storytelling 00:43:56 Navigating Truth in Narrative Nonfiction 00:45:40 The Art of Writing Dialogue 00:47:20 Character Traits and Humanizing Subjects 00:49:14 Building Tension in Storytelling 00:53:36 The Evolution of Magazine Features 00:55:36 Elon Musk's Most Challenging Mission 00:58:31 The Importance of a Strong Conclusion 01:02:34 Lessons from Writing and Reporting 01:08:40 Challenges of Writing a Successful Book 01:10:22 Finding the Next Great Narrative Nonfiction 01:15:14 Writing Example (Rocketmen) 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.
Segments Timeline
Creating Tension from the Start
Nick Bilton emphasizes the necessity of drama and tension in storytelling. He discusses how compelling narratives must engage readers from the very first page, drawing them into the story. By learning from screenwriting and murder mysteries, he illustrates how to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, ensuring that every element of the story propels the reader forward.
"you have to create drama and tension everything has to be tension from the beginning otherwise why am I reading how do you think about doing that it's got to have something that's leading you to the t..."
The Essence of Narrative Nonfiction
In this segment, Bilton introduces the concept of narrative nonfiction, explaining how it differs from traditional storytelling. He highlights the importance of emotion, intention, and character development in crafting engaging stories. Bilton shares insights on how to effectively convey themes and maintain clarity throughout the narrative.
"is a story everything literally there is nothing we do in life that is not a story you go to the supermarket it's a story that's being pitched to you to buy this cereal or that thing you sit around wi..."
Building Themes and Tension
Bilton discusses the critical role of themes in storytelling, particularly in his work 'American Kingpin.' He explains how to establish clear themes early in a narrative and how these themes can be woven throughout the story. This segment emphasizes the importance of clarity and intentionality in storytelling to keep readers engaged.
"the last three paragraphs and with fiction you flip it upside down so you you you start with this like really beautiful scene and this moment and at the very end you explain it all and I and it's just..."
Lessons from Screenwriting and Mysteries
Drawing from his experiences in screenwriting and writing murder mysteries, Bilton shares valuable lessons on character development. He explains how to create relatable characters, even those with morally ambiguous traits, by showcasing their humanity and motivations. This segment provides practical tips for writers looking to deepen their character portrayals.
"weren't trying to hide the themes you're like here are the themes I'm going to be very clear about him and you're going to see those beats show up over and over I probably learned how to tell narrativ..."
The Importance of Pacing in Writing
In this segment, Bilton highlights the significance of pacing in storytelling. He contrasts the pacing of screenplays with that of books, explaining how each medium requires different approaches to maintain reader engagement. Bilton shares insights on how to effectively manage pacing to enhance the overall reading experience.
"Letters I hate them all all for the Twitter found yeah he was like I hate the all the characters I don't want I'm not rooting for anyone and I was like oh Jesus like you can't hate the characters you ..."
Editing Techniques for Screenplays and Books
Bilton delves into the editing process for screenplays versus books. He discusses the meticulous nature of screenplay editing, where every word counts, and contrasts it with the more flexible approach in book writing. This segment offers valuable insights into the editing techniques that can elevate a writer's work across different formats.
"couple of pages like you can be like you know Ross oook got really into um reading this this and this book about this this and this economics and let me explain what that means to you and so on and yo..."
Creating Memorable Characters
In this segment, Bilton explores the art of crafting realistic and memorable characters. He emphasizes the need for characters to resonate with readers, sharing techniques to humanize even the most flawed individuals. Bilton's insights provide a roadmap for writers aiming to create compelling character arcs.
"write the word orange but my brain doesn't actually write the word orange so for me everything it's everything's a movie in my head and I'm describing what the movie looks like well that's how America..."
The Role of Themes in Storytelling
Bilton discusses the integral role of themes in storytelling, particularly in narrative nonfiction. He explains how to effectively weave themes throughout a story, ensuring they resonate with the audience. This segment provides practical advice for writers looking to enhance the thematic depth of their narratives.
"understanding what the reader knows and doesn't know and knowing when to tell them what they need to know so there's in all of my books and all of my magazine features and all of the screenplays I I h..."
Navigating Truth in Narrative Nonfiction
In this segment, Bilton addresses the challenges of maintaining truth in narrative nonfiction. He discusses the balance between factual accuracy and storytelling, emphasizing the importance of integrity in writing. Bilton's insights are crucial for writers who wish to navigate the complexities of truth in their narratives.
"did on him a cover story on uh on him for the Vanity Fair um it was the theme was he needs a a problem to solve and if there's not one there he'll create one uh which is so evident in who he is and so..."
The Art of Writing Dialogue
Bilton shares his approach to writing dialogue, emphasizing its importance in character development and storytelling. He provides practical tips for crafting authentic conversations that enhance the narrative. This segment is essential for writers looking to improve their dialogue writing skills.
"um and and then the other thing is I think with when it comes to actually good dialogue is it's so important to be uh to not be expositional what does that mean me telling you what happened rather tha..."
Humanizing Characters Through Traits
In this segment, Bilton discusses how to humanize characters by giving them relatable traits. He explains the significance of showing characters' vulnerabilities and everyday struggles, making them more relatable to readers. This insight is valuable for writers aiming to create depth in their character portrayals.
"following question then he asked me like would you rather [ __ ] your mom or remember and I was like I'm not answering this and he was like not answering any questions right so like but I think that y..."
Building Tension in Storytelling
Bilton explores techniques for building tension in storytelling. He discusses the importance of pacing and suspense in keeping readers engaged. This segment provides practical strategies for writers to create gripping narratives that hold the audience's attention.
"the other thing is like you know I think it's just studying like I think it's funny because I think most movies today suck they like they're just terrible they're like mainstream and populist and bad ..."
The Evolution of Magazine Features
In this segment, Bilton reflects on the evolution of magazine features and how storytelling techniques have changed over time. He discusses the impact of digital media on narrative styles and the importance of adapting to new formats. This insight is crucial for writers navigating the modern media landscape.
"your reporting are you done with your research are you are you ready to put pen to paper and um I don't know how people can write without knowing what the story is tell me about the David car line kee..."
Elon Musk's Most Challenging Mission
Bilton shares insights from his experiences writing about Elon Musk and the challenges he faced in capturing Musk's complex character. He discusses the importance of understanding the subject's motivations and the nuances of their personality. This segment offers valuable lessons for writers tackling complex figures.
"greatly overstated and then we get two two two to dig tunnels underground to eleviate the fatuous cycle of traffic jams to save journalism to mitigate the effects of climate change two two two and the..."
The Importance of a Strong Conclusion
In this segment, Bilton emphasizes the significance of a strong conclusion in storytelling. He discusses how a well-crafted ending can leave a lasting impact on readers and tie together the narrative's themes. This insight is essential for writers looking to enhance the effectiveness of their conclusions.
"those others who I'd love um um they were much more about like coming straight in on the character and um hooking you into who that character is then bringing you into the world and and you following ..."
Lessons from Writing and Reporting
Bilton shares valuable lessons learned from his experiences in writing and reporting. He discusses the importance of research and how it informs storytelling. This segment provides practical advice for writers looking to improve their research skills and enhance their narratives.
"Anna cren a Leo Leo toll story and he says all happy families are alike every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way so that's the beginning and that's sort of like the kicker that you were talking ..."
Challenges of Writing a Successful Book
In this segment, Bilton discusses the challenges he faced while writing successful books. He shares insights on overcoming obstacles and maintaining creativity throughout the writing process. This segment is invaluable for aspiring authors navigating the complexities of book writing.
"like take on the bad people per se and I remember there was a point in time I've been doing it for a long time and uh Gawker decided they were going to start writing about me oh man like a weekly thin..."
Finding the Next Great Narrative Nonfiction
Bilton explores the process of discovering compelling narrative nonfiction stories. He discusses the qualities that make a story great and how to identify potential subjects. This segment offers practical tips for writers seeking to uncover captivating narratives.
"collect exotic cats and really it's about the American dream and business and it's either a big story about something small or a small story about something big there is no story in the middle there i..."
Writing Example: Rocketmen
In this final segment, Bilton provides a writing example from his work 'Rocketmen.' He illustrates how to apply the storytelling techniques discussed throughout the episode. This practical demonstration serves as a culmination of the insights shared, offering writers a concrete example of effective narrative nonfiction.
"container shipping it can be on the ship on the train on the truck yeah same thing yeah massive efficiency Gates totally but it has to be about something bigger you know the Silk Road is about this mo..."
Bringing Numbers to Life
Bilton concludes by discussing how to effectively bring numbers to life in writing. He encourages writers to use analogies that make abstract figures relatable and concrete, emphasizing that storytelling should always aim to connect with the reader's imagination and understanding.
"piece tomorrow well you did always love love books and I think that comes from your mom and I really like this I guess in a copy of Warren pieace that she gave you every year she'd give you a gift and..."