Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Pre-order R. F. Kuang's latest book here: bookshop.org/a/127603/9780063473744
Learn more about Alpha School at https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite
R.F. Kuang came on the show to talk about her love for language and what it means to live like a writer. She has written seven books, won the Nebula Award for Best Novel, and trained at some of the world's top universities: Cambridge, Oxford, and Yale.
What stands out is her ability to write in so many different voices: the economical, the poetic, the minimalist, the maximalist. How do you cultivate that dexterity as a writer? It is rare to meet someone who writes so well and can also explain their process with such joy and precision.
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:29 How emotions can help you write
00:06:44 Writing from different povs
00:09:15 Sneak peek into an unreleased novel
00:15:20 Why easy writing fails
00:18:46 How to unlock your writing
00:23:09 Building unique voices for each book
00:30:47 What Kuang learned from debates
00:32:52 Why primary sources matter
00:35:33 What AI can never do
00:40:54 First steps of a book
00:45:16 Trust your subconscious
00:50:25 Copy the writers you love
00:52:57 Be goofy on purpose
00:57:34 The driving questions of her books
01:01:36 What her students must understand
01:04:38 Book and movie recommendations
*About the host*
Hey! 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.
*Follow me*
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470
YouTube: youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv
X: https://x.com/david_perell
Pre-order R. F. Kuang's latest book here: bookshop.org/a/127603/9780063473744
Learn more about Alpha School at https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite
R.F. Kuang came on the show to talk about her love for language and what it means to live like a writer. She has written seven books, won the Nebula Award for Best Novel, and trained at some of the world's top universities: Cambridge, Oxford, and Yale.
What stands out is her ability to write in so many different voices: the economical, the poetic, the minimalist, the maximalist. How do you cultivate that dexterity as a writer? It is rare to meet someone who writes so well and can also explain their process with such joy and precision.
00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:29 How emotions can help you write
00:06:44 Writing from different povs
00:09:15 Sneak peek into an unreleased novel
00:15:20 Why easy writing fails
00:18:46 How to unlock your writing
00:23:09 Building unique voices for each book
00:30:47 What Kuang learned from debates
00:32:52 Why primary sources matter
00:35:33 What AI can never do
00:40:54 First steps of a book
00:45:16 Trust your subconscious
00:50:25 Copy the writers you love
00:52:57 Be goofy on purpose
00:57:34 The driving questions of her books
01:01:36 What her students must understand
01:04:38 Book and movie recommendations
*About the host*
Hey! 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.
*Follow me*
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470
YouTube: youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv
X: https://x.com/david_perell
