Jodi Picoult's Writing Advice Will Keep You Up at Night

There's something about listening to esteemed authors giving no bullshit advice to people. There's a genuine demystification of the process that lowers the barrier of entry to people, and for that, I think them. This week, I want to cover a video from Jodi Picoult, who is one of the fiercest and most unique voices working in storytelling right now. Over her prolific career, Picoult has published over 28 novels, a bunch of short stories, and even written for DC Comics' Wonder Woman series. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have sold approximately 40 million copies worldwide. And yes, several of her novels have also been adapted into film and TV.Her main advice for writers? Let's find out!Jodi Picoult's Writing Advice I feel like this video starts out with the best advice I have ever heard on what it takes to be commercial: write what keeps you up at night, and hopefully it's something commercial that also keeps everyone else up at night. This alone would be great advice for anyone looking to break into any kind of commercial writing, because it speaks to having your finger on the pulse and understanding your audience. If you can tap into what scares them you can pretty much talk to them about anything else, as well. Picoult is renowned for her willingness to dive into timely and often contentious topics that she personally finds concerning. But what I think makes her a worthwhile study is not just that fearless writing style, but she has a strong dedication to presenting multiple perspectives on an issue, even when her own convictions are strong. This commitment to balanced exploration allows readers to engage with difficult subjects from various angles.It also leads to interesting characters that most people would ignore. I like this empathetic approach to challenging themes because it offers depth and continues to resonate with readers worldwide. It can also spark important conversations and offer a mirror to the complexities of the human experience.Summing It All Up The act of writing can be terrifying, especially if you're dealing with imposter syndrome, but if you tackle your fears on the page, you can see who identifies with them and build your audience. Heed Picoult's advice here and examine your problems from all angles, and find empathy even in the dissent of your point of view. This can help you build a world and find real inspiration behind what keeps you up at night. Let me know what you think in the comments.

May 10, 2025 - 00:25

Jodi Picoult's Writing Advice Will Keep You Up at Night

There's something about listening to esteemed authors giving no bullshit advice to people. There's a genuine demystification of the process that lowers the barrier of entry to people, and for that, I think them.

This week, I want to cover a video from Jodi Picoult, who is one of the fiercest and most unique voices working in storytelling right now.

Over her prolific career, Picoult has published over 28 novels, a bunch of short stories, and even written for DC Comics' Wonder Woman series. Her books have been translated into numerous languages and have sold approximately 40 million copies worldwide. And yes, several of her novels have also been adapted into film and TV.

Her main advice for writers? Let's find out!

Jodi Picoult's Writing Advice

I feel like this video starts out with the best advice I have ever heard on what it takes to be commercial: write what keeps you up at night, and hopefully it's something commercial that also keeps everyone else up at night.

This alone would be great advice for anyone looking to break into any kind of commercial writing, because it speaks to having your finger on the pulse and understanding your audience.

If you can tap into what scares them you can pretty much talk to them about anything else, as well.

Picoult is renowned for her willingness to dive into timely and often contentious topics that she personally finds concerning.

But what I think makes her a worthwhile study is not just that fearless writing style, but she has a strong dedication to presenting multiple perspectives on an issue, even when her own convictions are strong. This commitment to balanced exploration allows readers to engage with difficult subjects from various angles.

It also leads to interesting characters that most people would ignore.

I like this empathetic approach to challenging themes because it offers depth and continues to resonate with readers worldwide. It can also spark important conversations and offer a mirror to the complexities of the human experience.

Summing It All Up

The act of writing can be terrifying, especially if you're dealing with imposter syndrome, but if you tackle your fears on the page, you can see who identifies with them and build your audience.

Heed Picoult's advice here and examine your problems from all angles, and find empathy even in the dissent of your point of view. This can help you build a world and find real inspiration behind what keeps you up at night.

Let me know what you think in the comments.