Podcast
How I Write
Hosted by David Perell · EN
Before book sales and PR buzz, your favorite writers began with two things: the blank page and an idea.
Each week on How I Write, we go behind-the-scenes with today’s top writers to uncover the meta-mechanics of writing and the lifestyle behind it. You’ll be the first to hear writers deconstruct their creative process: from banging their head on the keyboard to marking the last period of their final draft. Victory.
Come discover how great writing is made. And who knows? Maybe you’ll be next.
New episodes of the How I Write show go live every week on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.com/DavidPerellChannel.
62episodes
Episodes
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Lulu Cheng Meservey: Meet Silicon Valley’s Top PR Master | How I Write
Apr 2, 2025Summary readyThe old communications playbook is dead: Political and company narratives used to be controlled by publicists and journalists. But now, founders can Go Direct. The question is… how? How do you spread a message in this new world? Lulu Cheng Meservey has worked with companies like Substack, Anduril, and Activision Blizzard, and this is her tell-all about how to build your own platform, build your own audience, and shape your own narrative.00:00:00 Intro00:00:32 Go direct00:05:01 Beware of "perfect" writing00:10:06 Ship-to-Yap ratio00:15:20 Shaping a comms strategy 00:17:51 How to craft your message00:22:57 Should you write with AI? 00:27:01 You don't need new ideas 00:32:13 Say what no one else will 00:35:20 The writing AI can't do 00:41:23 The power of the right messenger 00:47:31 Borrowing tactics from elections 00:55:12 Apple vs. crypto cults 01:02:38 How to launch your product01:07:06 Stop making narcissistic announcements 01:09:55 What slogans work?01:14:29 How to write an apologyHey! 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/id1700171470YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannelX: https://x.com/david_perell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryLulu Cheng Meservey: The PR Class You Didn’t Know You Needed
Sep 6, 2023Tap to summarizeLulu Cheng Meservey gives a masterclass on non-boring corporate communications, Korean pop culture, and religious fanaticism. Lulu shares what she’s learned running comms for startups, decoding cultural erogenous zones, and crafting impactful messages in 280 characters or less. Whether you're a writer, a communications professional, or simply curious about the intersection of K-POP and Internet whackos, this podcast is a window into modern communication. Lulu is currently the Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Chief Communications Officer at Activision Blizzard, and was formerly head of comms at Substack. Her newsletter “Flack” is a new playbook for communications, written to help you win over people who matter, without wasting time or being cringe.Twitter: https://twitter.com/lulumeserveyNewsletter: https://www.getflack.com/Want to learn more about the next cohort with Write of Passage?Click here: https://writeofpassage.school/hiwWant to learn more about How I Write?Website: https://writeofpassage.school/how-i-write/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videosApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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