Advice for Aspiring Writers

Robert Greene is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, The 50th Law, Mastery, The Laws of Human Nature, and most recently, The Daily Laws.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction
0:55 - What makes for a good idea?
3:30 - Why do most books suck today?
5:30 - System for organizing ideas

[livingstonesweetword]

Because of you, I realized how great I am.

[rossedwards]

I love your honesty regarding the difficulty and tedium of projects like writing a book, learning a language, or reaching mastery in career. Really cuts through all the lies that flood social media and youtube nowadays.

[realtigermario]

I was literally looking for tutorials on how to write because I had the 33 strategies of war in mind and I wanted to write something about strategy myself and an hour later you upload this.. It's crazy something how things just connect like that.

[mikesmith]

You are my favorite author, Robert! ❤

[MadAnarchist]

Thank you Robert. Take care of yourself, you are a gift to mankind.

[lizziebkennedy]

Writing the book I want to read, has been the best, most powerfully galvanising advice ever. Be very very careful with worrying about what others think or want. Your take, your sense of it, is the core contribution you make. Trust that it will resonate. That’s your voice!

[kris]

I loved hearing about your experience with writing. I don’t find writing boring. I love writing. It’s a long process, but time goes by fast when you’re having fun. I read a lot of books and I agree. A lot of them suck now. I finally finished my first book and I’m excited to share it with the world💚

[kenugwu]

Each time, Bobby ignites the fire in my soul. Greatness! ❤

[realMartinHamilton]

It's refreshing to hear a real author, a very successful author, tell the truth of what writing really is. Thanks Mr. Greene! I've read 3 of your books and have always been in awe of the massive content in each volume.

[martthesling]

Thank you, My book is almost done. You gave me that last push.

[Full-Wisdom]

Writing really is a rollercoaster of emotions, isn't it? The ups and downs, the moments of pure joy mixed with the absolute grind. It's comforting and inspiring to know that even the greats face the same struggles. Let's keep pushing through the tedium and loneliness because those moments of joy are truly worth it. Another great video.

[tonylarsson]

I've written books myself, and I can tell you that as long as what you're writing is important to you, it's NOT torture, or tedious, or boring. But the editing however can be.

[GungaLaGunga]

Thanks Robert. Your story and writing has helped me endure things I never thought I could survive. Thank you.

[NQKingg]

You helped me realize that the girl I was with is a narcissist. Your book 48 laws of power calls everything out. While I was reading it I didn’t have it in mind that she could be one… I was just depressed and feeling powerless so I read that hoping for some kind of help getting my power back. And well it did; it called out everything they were doing and I was able to over come it. You’re an amazing author.

[Ari_diwan]

Robert is so right about writing being boring, I have worked full time as a medical writer, spending entire days just trying to write something good enough for my boss to say ok, but I couldn't have asked for a better job, I'd spent the entire day reading, writing, and editing alone in my room - I can see myself doing it till I die

[znraborn]

I'm 21 years old, in the Army, with no further education aside from my High School Deploma. I don't know a lot, but I know that I'm a talented writer with an idea that's been resonating with me for years now. It's a crappy feeling to have an idea resonate with yourself and be too stubborn and too nervous to put it on paper to see how it looks. Especially if you don't know how to organize it like this gentleman is suggesting.

[pharaohcaesar]

I started writing my memoirs some time back. And of course there are different sections of my life. So I started writing about my childhood which I found interesting and the words just flowed out of me because that time of my life was very hopeful. But then I went into a more tragic part of my life and I couldn't continue. I hadn't realized how much emotion I still carried about that part of my life. I don't like to dwell on negatives in life because I find it counterproductive to success. So when I even thought about writing that section I stopped. I thought about skipping to the more hopeful sections of my life but the tragic parts are relevant to the hopeful parts and so on and I just stopped because I realized I was caring around a lot of emotions that I had not dealt with and I knew writing those things wasn't going to be pretty and that I would need to be alone when doing that. Being a Dad of young daughters doesn't allow for alone time so I realized it was impossible to continue. So I totally agree that you have to have a great deal of alone time to be able to write properly.

I have some fiction stories I want to write. I like to write them in my head first. What helps me is knowing the start and the end of the story and than filling in the middle. I noticed that I'm not good at trying to come up with an ending. I've stopped writing stories that started off very interesting but just stopped because I didn't know the end.

I agree with you about the quality of books these days. It's a wonder to me how such low quality stories are even published. But I think reading is a great way to think about writing. If you want to be a good writer you need to be a good reader. And read things thinking about how the stories are written and in what style and how you would write those books if you wrote them. In any case, I've decided to self publish.

I've also decided not to try and become famous by writing books as many successful writers do. Instead I've decided the easiest way to sell books is to first become famous and than write the books.

When I was a kid I decided I wanted to be a writer and I thought about the business of writing books. I'm also a painter so I thought about how to sell art. And it just seems to me that in both cases becoming famous is the easiest way to sell things you make. So you turn yourself into a product. So that's what I've been doing. I've been seeking fame or rather working on becoming famous. I'm also doing my best to live an interesting life. I live as if I'm writing my memoirs with my life. To me, the mark of a successful life is to be remembered so I've made choices in life that led me down pathways that I thought would be the most memorable and interesting for my memoirs. I've also picked up book and movie ideas along the way that I've put on the shelf for the appropriate time.

I guess what I'm saying is that writing for me is a way of life. It's not just about writing books or making up stories. It's about living an interesting life. My goal is to sell more books than anyone in history second only to the Bible. I know that's a big goal but that's what I'm striving for. You know, shoot for the stars and maybe you'll hit the moon sort of thing.

Anyway, I really like the way you write and I've used some of your ideas in my own life to try and live a more interesting life and they worked out. Your advice in this video is very good and I agree. Thanks!😀

[pcbroo]

Because of you, I discovered the joy of books and the idea about writing a book by myself grows bigger and bigger

[williammurtha]

As writer on No4 book, wow, you are the master at this Robert Greene. So many blinding insights. Any would be aspiring writers, watch this over many times. Embed it. Its gold.

[Salvadorrius]

Dear Mr Greene, I don't know if you will read this message, however, I want you to know how much your wisdom has changed the way I see the world.
Thank you so much for explaining complex concepts in a very understandable manner. Our experience on earth is mysterious and complicated, but you make it easier.