Tim Urban wasn't a natural-born author. Today, he writes Elon Musk’s favorite blog and is one of the funniest and most beloved writers in the world. Here are 15 things he taught me in this episode: 1. Write for the silly reader, not the snooty critic. 2. Reading is like fertilizer for your mind. 3. Instead of pursuing airtight academic perfection, aim to entertain curious people. Take them on a playful intellectual journey. 4. Good design is as much about being distinctive as it is about being pretty. Tim isn't conventionally talented at drawing, but his sketches stand out for being so unique. 5. If you get feedback as you grow as a writer, be careful who it’s coming from. The person giving feedback should A) believe in you, B) be rooting for you, and C) be completely aware that what they’re reading isn’t your max potential but you trying to figure out your voice. 6. Find an emotion that adults "aren't allowed" to write with, and double down on it. For Tim, that's being silly. 7. Your emotional reaction while writing is a proxy for the readers’. If you’re bored, so are they. Skip, cut, or rewrite the parts where your attention drifts. 8. In your research, notice which ideas, facts, and stories are giving you jolts of intellectual excitement. Collect and condense all these “dopamine hits” in your writing. 9. Everybody who writes in public has to get good as distinguishing thoughtful criticism from somebody who wants to help you from angry criticism from somebody who doesn't care about you. 10. Five places where creative ideas always spring out: in stimulating conversations, alone in nature, in the shower, while actually writing (not outlining), and while consuming great content. 11. If you get stuck while writing and have to choose between two options, follow the one that's more fun. 12. The ideas behind the writing are more important than the quality of the writing itself. You’d rather have great ideas and pretty good writing than the other way around. 13. If your voice is distinctive enough, you can basically get away with writing about anything. So if you don't want to commit to a niche, cultivate a unique style. 14. The goal for new writers should be to play and find their unique style. 15. It can take years to find your voice. Tim Urban wrote 300 blog posts before starting Wait But Why, and didn't embrace his famous stick figure drawings until he was a few years in. There’s no substitute for volume when looking for your unique writing style.
Hey David, just wanted to give you a shout-out for putting your money and brainpower into making content that the world really needs but nobody else is making. Thanks, man!
This channel is gonna blow, cos it seems to me you’re carving out your own specific niche bro. Having writing as the core and foundation, and then whatever else is connected to writing. Like an ecosystem.
Here are 15 things he taught in this new How I Write episode: 1. Write for the silly reader, not the snooty critic. 2. Reading is like fertilizer for your mind. 3. Instead of pursuing airtight academic perfection, aim to entertain curious people. Take them on a playful intellectual journey. 4. Good design is as much about being distinctive as it is about being pretty. Tim isn't conventionally talented at drawing, but his sketches stand out for being so unique. 5. If you get feedback as you grow as a writer, be careful who it’s coming from. The person giving feedback should A) believe in you, B) be rooting for you, and C) be completely aware that what they’re reading isn’t your max potential but you trying to figure out your voice. 6. Find an emotion that adults "aren't allowed" to write with, and double down on it. For Tim, that's being silly. 7. Your emotional reaction while writing is a proxy for the readers’. If you’re bored, so are they. Skip, cut, or rewrite the parts where your attention drifts. 8. In your research, notice which ideas, facts, and stories are giving you jolts of intellectual excitement. Collect and condense all these “dopamine hits” in your writing. 9. Everybody who writes in public has to get good as distinguishing thoughtful criticism from somebody who wants to help you from angry criticism from somebody who doesn't care about you. 10. Five places where creative ideas always spring out: in stimulating conversations, alone in nature, in the shower, while actually writing (not outlining), and while consuming great content. 11. If you get stuck while writing and have to choose between two options, follow the one that's more fun. 12. The ideas behind the writing are more important than the quality of the writing itself. You’d rather have great ideas and pretty good writing than the other way around. 13. If your voice is distinctive enough, you can basically get away with writing about anything. So if you don't want to commit to a niche, cultivate a unique style. 14. The goal for new writers should be to play and find their unique style. 15. It can take years to find your voice. Tim Urban wrote 300 blog posts before starting Wait But Why, and didn't embrace his famous stick figure drawings until he was a few years in. There’s no substitute for volume when looking for your unique writing style.
That’s great bro you should do this for every video and you should also contact him and make him an offer like writing written summaries for the podcast to maybe post on different platforms goodluck
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 *📝 Writing is most enjoyable and effective when it feels like chasing curiosity and having fun.* 00:53 *🖌️ Tim Urban's distinctive style, including stick figure drawings, emerged after writing 300 blog posts.* 01:46 *📚 Urban's prolific writing initially stemmed from procrastination and the lack of pressure to be a professional writer.* 02:42 *📝 Exploring different formats, like list articles, can lead to fresh and enjoyable content.* 03:38 *🎨 Experimenting with cartoons and drawings added a new dimension to Urban's writing, discovered through playful exploration.* 06:45 *🤔 Writers can choose the degree to which they insert themselves into their writing, ranging from academic to deeply personal.* 08:08 *🧠 Urban aims to distill his research into emotionally resonant writing, creating "dopamine hit density" for readers.* 09:26 *📝 Writing involves filtering and distilling the best insights to provide readers with a dense, enjoyable experience.* 10:44 *📝 Writers, like comedians, craft their work by distilling the best insights and moments for their audience.* 14:16 *📝 Urban's writing voice developed naturally through years of experimentation and fun, rather than conscious cultivation.* 15:56 *📝 Writing should prioritize connection with the intended audience over concerns about critics or external validation.* 17:39 *📚 Tim Urban discusses the evolution of his book, "What's Our Problem?", diving into real-world examples and the challenges of condensing extensive material into manageable chapters.* 20:28 *💡 Urban emphasizes the importance of considering substantive criticism, even if it's uncomfortable, to improve one's work, comparing it to refining a machine before release.* 22:40 *🤔 Urban describes the feeling of being stuck in writing, attributing it to various factors like lack of confidence, uncertainty about structure, or feeling bored with the writing.* 24:01 *🎭 Urban highlights the necessity of enjoying the writing process, comparing it to preparing for a TED Talk, where enjoyable sections contribute to a better overall experience for the audience.* 27:33 *📝 Urban reflects on the relationship between ideas and writing, noting the importance of both, but highlighting the challenge of conveying great ideas through bad writing.* 33:50 *🗨️ Tim Urban explains his process of capturing spoken language to enhance his writing, emphasizing the importance of authenticity.* 34:16 *🎤 Tim Urban discusses the unique challenges and stress of delivering a TED Talk, highlighting the pressure of perfection with only one take.* 36:38 *🐒 Tim Urban shares personal anecdotes, like his Google Earth procrastination, demonstrating authenticity in his writing and speaking engagements.* 37:54 *🤔 Tim Urban explores the dynamics of confidence in writing, acknowledging the ups and downs that influence the creative process.* 40:15 *🎶 Drawing parallels between composing music and writing, Tim Urban emphasizes the importance of originality and avoiding derivative content.* 41:58 *💡 Tim Urban shares insights on infusing personal style and confidence into writing, highlighting the importance of mood and authenticity.* 45:10 *🖊️ Tim Urban explains his preference for using simple, no-frills writing tools like TextEdit, prioritizing functionality and efficiency.* 46:57 *💻 Tim Urban discusses the challenges of losing unsaved work in writing software and emphasizes the importance of simplicity and reliability in tools.* 49:39 *📚 Tim Urban reflects on the captivating nature of history and the importance of storytelling, drawing parallels between historical narratives and soap operas.* 51:01 *📜 Tim Urban discusses historical figures and their context, emphasizing the importance of details in understanding the past.* 52:22 *🎨 Balancing big-picture concepts with detailed storytelling adds depth and credibility to writing, enhancing reader engagement.* 54:58 *💡 Selecting which details to include in writing relies on personal taste, favoring facts that spark curiosity and contribute to the narrative.* 56:44 *🕵️♂️ Effective history writing involves presenting interconnected threads of information, creating a cohesive narrative that resonates with readers.* 58:35 *🤔 Researching with curiosity guides the selection of meaningful details, enhancing the storytelling process and reader engagement.* 01:04:09 *📝 Tim Urban suggests a playful approach to teaching writing, encouraging students to explore topics they find fun and engaging.* 01:06:06 *🖋️ Academic writing often prioritizes efficiency over enjoyment, leading to a perception of writing as a serious and challenging medium.* 01:07:26 *📝 Academic writing emphasizes efficiency and structure, often lacking the fun and accessibility of more casual writing styles.* 01:08:20 *📚 Fun and engaging books like "Captain Underpants" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" can spark interest in reading, laying the foundation for exploring more serious literature later on.* 01:09:12 *🏫 Balancing fun and educational activities in school can cultivate natural curiosity and prevent the perception that learning is dull or unpleasant.* 01:10:10 *📝🔍 Approaching final edits involves envisioning the reader's experience and ensuring the content is enjoyable and engaging, ultimately aiming for a piece that the writer would personally enjoy reading.* Made with HARPA AI
When I homeschooled my son, I had him read “The Cartoon History of the Universe” series by Larry Gonick. He read all of his stuff after that. It was presented in a fun way and got his attention.
What's our problem is a FANTASTIC book, that + "The Status game" should be required reading. PS Tim Urban was already WAAAAAAY too polite and 'even keeled' in his assessment of the book.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Tim Urban wasn't a natural-born author.
Today, he writes Elon Musk’s favorite blog and is one of the funniest and most beloved writers in the world.
Here are 15 things he taught me in this episode:
1. Write for the silly reader, not the snooty critic.
2. Reading is like fertilizer for your mind.
3. Instead of pursuing airtight academic perfection, aim to entertain curious people. Take them on a playful intellectual journey.
4. Good design is as much about being distinctive as it is about being pretty. Tim isn't conventionally talented at drawing, but his sketches stand out for being so unique.
5. If you get feedback as you grow as a writer, be careful who it’s coming from. The person giving feedback should A) believe in you, B) be rooting for you, and C) be completely aware that what they’re reading isn’t your max potential but you trying to figure out your voice.
6. Find an emotion that adults "aren't allowed" to write with, and double down on it. For Tim, that's being silly.
7. Your emotional reaction while writing is a proxy for the readers’. If you’re bored, so are they. Skip, cut, or rewrite the parts where your attention drifts.
8. In your research, notice which ideas, facts, and stories are giving you jolts of intellectual excitement. Collect and condense all these “dopamine hits” in your writing.
9. Everybody who writes in public has to get good as distinguishing thoughtful criticism from somebody who wants to help you from angry criticism from somebody who doesn't care about you.
10. Five places where creative ideas always spring out: in stimulating conversations, alone in nature, in the shower, while actually writing (not outlining), and while consuming great content.
11. If you get stuck while writing and have to choose between two options, follow the one that's more fun.
12. The ideas behind the writing are more important than the quality of the writing itself. You’d rather have great ideas and pretty good writing than the other way around.
13. If your voice is distinctive enough, you can basically get away with writing about anything. So if you don't want to commit to a niche, cultivate a unique style.
14. The goal for new writers should be to play and find their unique style.
15. It can take years to find your voice. Tim Urban wrote 300 blog posts before starting Wait But Why, and didn't embrace his famous stick figure drawings until he was a few years in. There’s no substitute for volume when looking for your unique writing style.
Hey David, just wanted to give you a shout-out for putting your money and brainpower into making content that the world really needs but nobody else is making. Thanks, man!
AMEN!
Your channel is a gold for "want to be writers" like me
This channel is gonna blow, cos it seems to me you’re carving out your own specific niche bro.
Having writing as the core and foundation, and then whatever else is connected to writing.
Like an ecosystem.
Here are 15 things he taught in this new How I Write episode:
1. Write for the silly reader, not the snooty critic.
2. Reading is like fertilizer for your mind.
3. Instead of pursuing airtight academic perfection, aim to entertain curious people. Take them on a playful intellectual journey.
4. Good design is as much about being distinctive as it is about being pretty. Tim isn't conventionally talented at drawing, but his sketches stand out for being so unique.
5. If you get feedback as you grow as a writer, be careful who it’s coming from. The person giving feedback should A) believe in you, B) be rooting for you, and C) be completely aware that what they’re reading isn’t your max potential but you trying to figure out your voice.
6. Find an emotion that adults "aren't allowed" to write with, and double down on it. For Tim, that's being silly.
7. Your emotional reaction while writing is a proxy for the readers’. If you’re bored, so are they. Skip, cut, or rewrite the parts where your attention drifts.
8. In your research, notice which ideas, facts, and stories are giving you jolts of intellectual excitement. Collect and condense all these “dopamine hits” in your writing.
9. Everybody who writes in public has to get good as distinguishing thoughtful criticism from somebody who wants to help you from angry criticism from somebody who doesn't care about you.
10. Five places where creative ideas always spring out: in stimulating conversations, alone in nature, in the shower, while actually writing (not outlining), and while consuming great content.
11. If you get stuck while writing and have to choose between two options, follow the one that's more fun.
12. The ideas behind the writing are more important than the quality of the writing itself. You’d rather have great ideas and pretty good writing than the other way around.
13. If your voice is distinctive enough, you can basically get away with writing about anything. So if you don't want to commit to a niche, cultivate a unique style.
14. The goal for new writers should be to play and find their unique style.
15. It can take years to find your voice. Tim Urban wrote 300 blog posts before starting Wait But Why, and didn't embrace his famous stick figure drawings until he was a few years in. There’s no substitute for volume when looking for your unique writing style.
That’s great bro you should do this for every video and you should also contact him and make him an offer like writing written summaries for the podcast to maybe post on different platforms goodluck
what an episode.. a treasure trove this is. thanks for having tim on the show david!
I was waiting for Tim Urban to come to this platform.
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:00 *📝 Writing is most enjoyable and effective when it feels like chasing curiosity and having fun.*
00:53 *🖌️ Tim Urban's distinctive style, including stick figure drawings, emerged after writing 300 blog posts.*
01:46 *📚 Urban's prolific writing initially stemmed from procrastination and the lack of pressure to be a professional writer.*
02:42 *📝 Exploring different formats, like list articles, can lead to fresh and enjoyable content.*
03:38 *🎨 Experimenting with cartoons and drawings added a new dimension to Urban's writing, discovered through playful exploration.*
06:45 *🤔 Writers can choose the degree to which they insert themselves into their writing, ranging from academic to deeply personal.*
08:08 *🧠 Urban aims to distill his research into emotionally resonant writing, creating "dopamine hit density" for readers.*
09:26 *📝 Writing involves filtering and distilling the best insights to provide readers with a dense, enjoyable experience.*
10:44 *📝 Writers, like comedians, craft their work by distilling the best insights and moments for their audience.*
14:16 *📝 Urban's writing voice developed naturally through years of experimentation and fun, rather than conscious cultivation.*
15:56 *📝 Writing should prioritize connection with the intended audience over concerns about critics or external validation.*
17:39 *📚 Tim Urban discusses the evolution of his book, "What's Our Problem?", diving into real-world examples and the challenges of condensing extensive material into manageable chapters.*
20:28 *💡 Urban emphasizes the importance of considering substantive criticism, even if it's uncomfortable, to improve one's work, comparing it to refining a machine before release.*
22:40 *🤔 Urban describes the feeling of being stuck in writing, attributing it to various factors like lack of confidence, uncertainty about structure, or feeling bored with the writing.*
24:01 *🎭 Urban highlights the necessity of enjoying the writing process, comparing it to preparing for a TED Talk, where enjoyable sections contribute to a better overall experience for the audience.*
27:33 *📝 Urban reflects on the relationship between ideas and writing, noting the importance of both, but highlighting the challenge of conveying great ideas through bad writing.*
33:50 *🗨️ Tim Urban explains his process of capturing spoken language to enhance his writing, emphasizing the importance of authenticity.*
34:16 *🎤 Tim Urban discusses the unique challenges and stress of delivering a TED Talk, highlighting the pressure of perfection with only one take.*
36:38 *🐒 Tim Urban shares personal anecdotes, like his Google Earth procrastination, demonstrating authenticity in his writing and speaking engagements.*
37:54 *🤔 Tim Urban explores the dynamics of confidence in writing, acknowledging the ups and downs that influence the creative process.*
40:15 *🎶 Drawing parallels between composing music and writing, Tim Urban emphasizes the importance of originality and avoiding derivative content.*
41:58 *💡 Tim Urban shares insights on infusing personal style and confidence into writing, highlighting the importance of mood and authenticity.*
45:10 *🖊️ Tim Urban explains his preference for using simple, no-frills writing tools like TextEdit, prioritizing functionality and efficiency.*
46:57 *💻 Tim Urban discusses the challenges of losing unsaved work in writing software and emphasizes the importance of simplicity and reliability in tools.*
49:39 *📚 Tim Urban reflects on the captivating nature of history and the importance of storytelling, drawing parallels between historical narratives and soap operas.*
51:01 *📜 Tim Urban discusses historical figures and their context, emphasizing the importance of details in understanding the past.*
52:22 *🎨 Balancing big-picture concepts with detailed storytelling adds depth and credibility to writing, enhancing reader engagement.*
54:58 *💡 Selecting which details to include in writing relies on personal taste, favoring facts that spark curiosity and contribute to the narrative.*
56:44 *🕵️♂️ Effective history writing involves presenting interconnected threads of information, creating a cohesive narrative that resonates with readers.*
58:35 *🤔 Researching with curiosity guides the selection of meaningful details, enhancing the storytelling process and reader engagement.*
01:04:09 *📝 Tim Urban suggests a playful approach to teaching writing, encouraging students to explore topics they find fun and engaging.*
01:06:06 *🖋️ Academic writing often prioritizes efficiency over enjoyment, leading to a perception of writing as a serious and challenging medium.*
01:07:26 *📝 Academic writing emphasizes efficiency and structure, often lacking the fun and accessibility of more casual writing styles.*
01:08:20 *📚 Fun and engaging books like "Captain Underpants" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" can spark interest in reading, laying the foundation for exploring more serious literature later on.*
01:09:12 *🏫 Balancing fun and educational activities in school can cultivate natural curiosity and prevent the perception that learning is dull or unpleasant.*
01:10:10 *📝🔍 Approaching final edits involves envisioning the reader's experience and ensuring the content is enjoyable and engaging, ultimately aiming for a piece that the writer would personally enjoy reading.*
Made with HARPA AI
Tim Urban is all time fav... wish their will be a part 2
Thank you for bringing him!! ❤
Ohh man. All of these interviews and contents are true gem. Thank you so much for all of these.
Thoroughly enjoyed this conversation.
Excited for this - listening now!
Using 'Notion' for wtiting could be a gamechanger ;)
Nice one! Maybe Bill Bryson could be fun to have on the show? 😊
When I homeschooled my son, I had him read “The Cartoon History of the Universe” series by Larry Gonick. He read all of his stuff after that. It was presented in a fun way and got his attention.
He also watched Tim’s ted talk at about 10 years old and it is something he still talks about.(19 now)
Let's go!!
What's our problem is a FANTASTIC book, that + "The Status game" should be required reading. PS Tim Urban was already WAAAAAAY too polite and 'even keeled' in his assessment of the book.
Beautiful
Waiting for you to invite Elizabeth Gilbert. She will be a marvelous addition to your programme
love it!
Crazy Microsoft Word makes me crazy!
Do another WBW meetup. It Is Time
❤