In an interview with David Perell, Harvard Professor Steven Pinker discusses the art and science of effective non-fiction writing, especially in the age of large language models (LLMs). Pinker argues that much bad writing stems from the "curse of knowledge," where writers assume their audience shares their specialized understanding, leading to excessive jargon and abstraction. He advocates for writing that helps readers form mental images, emphasizing concrete language and visual metaphors over abstract terms. Pinker also highlights the importance of brevity and conciseness, noting that trimming needless words often enhances clarity and aesthetic appeal. Ultimately, he suggests that good writing involves cultivating empathy for the reader, seeking external feedback, and appreciating the sensory and rhythmic aspects of language, much like the direct and vivid communication often found in children's explanations or historical texts before widespread academic abstraction.

This transcript asserts that writing and magic are intrinsically linked, stemming from ancient shamanistic practices, and argues that books hold a transformative power to alter human consciousness and reality itself. Becoming a successful writer requires not only technical skill but also developing one's personal self as the primary tool, gaining a moral and political understanding of the world through compassion and empathy, and cultivating a unique aesthetic perspective. Drawing parallels to the four suits of the Tarot, the text highlights the importance of mastering the material world (Discs), developing a discriminatory intellect (Swords), fostering human emotion and compassion (Cups), and most importantly, cultivating willpower (Wands) to focus imagination and complete creative works. Ultimately, the message emphasizes that writing is accessible to everyone and capable of having a profound impact on human history and the future.

Key Topics

• 00:00 📝 Writing advice for game masters

  • Writing for yourself can enhance the enjoyment of your game.
  • Actively create conflicts and surprises to keep the pace engaging.
  • Start small and build your campaign world gradually.

• 01:23 🎭 Adding dynamism to your game

  • Don't hesitate to shake up the world with dramatic events.
  • Surprise your players with unexpected twists and turns.
  • Embrace changes in your game world to keep it dynamic and believable.

• 02:19 🗺️ Campaign design and world-building tips

  • Build your campaign world one step at a time.
  • Start with local details and expand gradually.
  • Leave room for flexibility and improvisation in your world-building process.

• 03:41 🎨Developing your own GM style

  • Learn from masters but develop your unique style.
  • Focus on what works for you and your players rather than imitation.
  • Your style's effectiveness is measured by the enjoyment of your players.

• 04:22 ⚔️ Adapting writing advice to GMing

  • Be willing to discard or modify elements that don't serve your game.
  • Flexibility is key when adapting prepared material to player actions.
  • Embrace the chaos of GMing and be prepared to adjust on the fly.

• 05:34 📚 Balancing research and storytelling

  • Keep research in the background to support the story.
  • Don't let lore overshadow gameplay; prioritize storytelling.
  • Be prepared to repurpose or recycle unused material for future sessions.

• 06:42 🎓 Learning through experience

  • Gain experience by both running and playing games.
  • Actively participate in different gaming environments and systems.
  • Hands-on experience is more valuable than passive observation.

After creating scenes and organizing them, connectors between scenes should not be:

And this happens

Instead, the connection between scenes should be:

And therefore...

or

But...

• 00:00 📚 Great stories like "Lord of the Rings," "1984," and "Pride and Prejudice" endure because they convey a deep, underlying message that the author cares about.
• 01:56 📝 Authors often write with a sense of partisanship and a desire to expose truths or injustices, driving them to create meaningful stories.
• 03:21 🌍 Great authors embed important messages in their works that reflect their worldview, values, and a desire for readers to change or see the world differently.
• 06:15 💡 The "non negotiable" is the transformative message an author wants readers to internalize by the end of their book, making them see the world and themselves in a new light.
• 07:14 ❓ To discover your non negotiable, consider what causes the most pain in the world, what you wish everyone understood, what you would die for, and the one change you want to make in the reader.

It is actually really good advice: For your first draft, just put something down! Don't worry what it is or how bad. The fun comes in revision. Right now just put something down, even the very general. You'll flesh it out later.