How to Become a Writer Gay Talese | Big Think

TL;DR

A reflection on childhood experiences shaping a non-fiction writer's curiosity and storytelling.

Transcript

I wasn't given any advice uh I wasn't even aware of writers during most of my life until I came to New York at the age of 21 um after college what made me a writer is what made me curious and what made me curious was being a an American that wasn't sure how American I was I think this is true of a lot of foreign people who have foreign parents and ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👪 Childhood experiences in a family store during WWII influenced the speaker's curiosity and storytelling.
• 🫡 Curiosity, patience, and respect are essential qualities for effective storytelling.
• ✍️ The speaker prioritizes depicting the lives of ordinary people realistically in his non-fiction writing.
• 🫱 Overheard conversations in the family store about personal stories and war rationing ignited the speaker's curiosity.
• 💍 Good manners, respect, and the ability to engage with diverse age groups are key attributes for a writer.
• ✍️ Real names and authenticity differentiate the speaker's non-fiction writing from journalism and fiction.
• ✍️ The speaker's ambition is to introduce readers to lesser-known individuals through descriptive writing.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the experiences in the family store during WWII influence the speaker's writing?

The speaker's childhood exposure to customer conversations about war, rationing, and personal stories sparked his curiosity and shaped his storytelling perspective.

Q: What qualities does the speaker emphasize as essential for a writer?

The speaker highlights curiosity, patience, good manners, and the ability to engage with diverse age groups as crucial qualities for a writer.

Q: How does the speaker differentiate his non-fiction writing approach from journalism and fiction?

The speaker distinguishes his non-fiction writing by emphasizing the use of real names, spending extensive time with subjects, and portraying the lives of ordinary people realistically.

Q: What motivates the speaker to write about lesser-known individuals?

The speaker's ambition is to showcase the lives of ordinary, private individuals through descriptive writing, aiming to connect readers with the characters he has come to know deeply.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Recounts upbringing in a family store during WWII.

• Describes curiosity sparked by overheard conversations.

• Emphasizes the importance of curiosity, patience, and respect in storytelling.