“On Writing #3” by Zvi

Periodically I like to gather various observations about writing, and share my perspective. Last time was in honor of my trip to Inkhaven. This time will be in honor of the announcement of Inkhaven #3, which I encourage everyone to apply to. I doubt I will be able to usefully be an advisor, but you never know.

This is not the ‘here is my core process’ post, although there are hints throughout as there always are. I’ll do that at some point.

Previously in series: On Writing #1, On Writing #2.

Table of Contents

1. You Still Got It.
2. How Scott Sumner Writes.

3. How Scott Alexander Writes.

4. How Jasmine Sun Writes.
5. How Various Famous Writers Write.
6. How Nabeel Qureshi Defines Great Writing.
7. Quickly, There's No Time.
8. If At First.
9. Writers Have A Harder Time Influencing, But It Can Still Be Done.
10. It's Not (Only) The Incentives, It's (Also) You.
11. Beware The Fetish of the Desk.
12. How Orson Scott Card Writes.
13. Doing The Math Is Fun And Supererogatory.
14. Brevity is the Soul of Wit.

You Still Got It

I [...]

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Outline:

(00:44) You Still Got It

(04:04) How Scott Sumner Writes

(06:52) How Scott Alexander Writes

(10:52) How Jasmine Sun Writes

(13:16) How Various Famous Writers Write

(14:24) How Nabeel Qureshi Defines Great Writing

(15:08) Quickly, There's No Time

(15:49) If At First

(19:14) Writers Have A Harder Time Influencing, But It Can Still Be Done

(20:47) It's Not (Only) The Incentives, It's (Also) You

(24:00) Beware The Fetish of the Desk

(25:13) How Orson Scott Card Writes

(26:46) Doing The Math Is Fun And Supererogatory

(27:44) Brevity is the Soul of Wit

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First published:
August 25th, 2026

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/rA6pqn6kz8NvHyznT/on-writing-3

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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