How to Write a Novel (For Beginners) — Harlan Coben Interview

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Harlan Coben has written 38 books. If you want to write thrilling and suspenseful stories, he's the guy to learn from. His vibe is like a tough-love basketball coach who tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. And while it might feel a little challenging at times, I promise you'll leave this conversation motivated to write, to get back to working on whatever project you're pursuing.

00:00:00 Introduction
00:00:34 How to find your next idea
00:04:02 Know your ending first
00:10:21 Why talent isn't enough
00:13:45 Only bad writers think they're good
00:18:30 What keeps Harlan going
00:23:47 Books vs TV adaptations
00:28:48 The mistake most writers make
00:35:06 What makes for good dialogue
00:43:08 Your themes find you
00:47:39 What he learned from Hitchcock
00:57:01 Make boring parts interesting
00:59:58 How Harlan writes chapters
01:02:23 Main vs secondary characters
01:04:37 Don't talk about your book
01:06:46 Why routines stop working
01:10:12 Stop giving excuses
01:12:30 Genre vs form

*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: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel
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