Avail.video · Watched for you · 1:14:08 video · 2 min read

Jodi Picoult: How to Write a Bestselling Novel | How I Write with David Perell

Outlier score1.0×Typical

166,273 views vs a median of 168,865 across the channel's last 7 long-form uploads · as of Oct 29

Avail.video calculation

Acclaimed novelist Jodi Picoult sits down with David Perell on 'How I Write' to break down her writing routine, immersive research methods, and philosophy of storytelling. She details how she writes multiple distinct character voices, investigates complex social themes from school shootings to eugenics, and navigates modern publishing challenges including book bans and book tours.

Read the teardown

How it earns the click and holds attention, second by second.

14chapters 3on-screen captures 24people 12claims and stats 49references in all

Source: The Writing Habits Behind 50 Million Books Sold (Jodi Picoult Interview) · David Perell

Find in this video

Search what was said and shown

One search covers the transcript, on-screen text, claims and references. Every result jumps to its moment.

The explainer

What the video says, with a link to every moment

A 2-minute read. Each underlined phrase opens the video at that second.

In this in-depth conversation on How I Write, bestselling author Jodi Picoult reveals the discipline and creative habits that enabled her to write thirty novels and sell over fifty million books worldwide. Starting with her foundational writing rules—read voraciously, write daily, and never abandon a draft halfway through—Picoult stresses that finishing a manuscript is an indispensable psychological hurdle^1:00 that every novice author must overcome.

Picoult's storytelling process begins with front-loaded immersion. Before drafting a single line, she conducts up to eighty-five percent of her background research, traveling to remote locations like a Yupik Eskimo village in Alaska^2:52 by dog sled and snowmobile, or exploring abandoned psychiatric hospitals during ghost hunting investigations^55:40. When raising three young children without childcare, she developed rigorous discipline by drafting in fifteen-minute bursts^6:28 between crying spells and sports drop-offs. She still treats fiction like a structured day job, clocking standard school hours from Monday through Friday.

Her plots originate from a simple "what if" question that quickly blossoms into characters who guide the narrative. Picoult describes character generation as an almost medium-like experience where she hears character voices^13:15 and visualizes scenes unfolding like an internal film. To keep multiple perspectives distinct, she envisions each character as stepping into a unique pair of boots^32:48, ensuring that linguistic rhythms, sentence structures, and emotional vocabularies remain instantly identifiable.

Beyond technical craft, Picoult reflects on mentorship and structural experimentation. She recalls how Princeton professor Mary Morris dismantled her draft^19:28 with scissors and glue to teach efficient narrative pacing, an approach that later informed complex structures like the reverse chronology in A Spark of Light^23:59. She views fiction as a vital vehicle for building reader empathy^41:00 around polarizing social controversies such as school violence, racism, and reproductive rights. Picoult also discusses her collaboration on musical theater librettos^38:12 and addresses the modern business of literature, explaining how she utilizes BookTok and why she actively speaks out against nationwide book bans^1:07:40. Ultimately, she reminds aspiring writers that true longevity requires remaining your own fiercest critic and learning to kill your darlings^1:13:40.

Highlights

0:41Three core writing rules
8:30PostSecret postcard origin
19:28Mary Morris tough workshop lesson
23:39Reverse chronology in A Spark of Light
47:50Emilia Bassano Shakespeare theory

Chapters across the 1:14:08 runtime

How it's told

A craft interview tracking an author's career

Format: Interview. David Perell interviews bestselling author Jodi Picoult on her daily routines, research methods, and career history. The conversation moves from discipline and outlining into voice development, editing, and the politics of modern publishing.

Story arc

0:00IntroductionDavid Perell introduces Jodi Picoult, highlighting her publication of 30 novels and 50 million copies sold.
0:35Writing Discipline & ResearchPicoult shares her foundational rules: never quitting mid-draft, conducting 80 percent upfront research, and fieldwork in Alaska.
5:35Time ManagementPicoult describes establishing a book-a-year pace while raising children by writing during nap times and school hours.
8:20Idea Generation & PercolatingPicoult explores how real-world prompts, PostSecret confessions, and letters spark initial story concepts.
12:35Character VoicesPicoult describes hearing distinct character voices inside her head that dictate dialogue and drive narrative choices.
15:21Sponsor SegmentDavid Perell delivers a mid-roll spot for Alpha School, discussing literacy levels and personalized education.
16:40Developing the CraftPicoult recalls studying under Mary Morris at Princeton, receiving harsh workshop feedback, and drafting 1,000 pages for her debut.
21:30Revision & Structural RisksPicoult explains working with longtime editor Jennifer Hershey and tackling high-risk structures like reverse chronology.
27:30Reading Outside GenreDiscussion of early literary influences, sentence craft, and the technique of balancing multiple distinctive character viewpoints.
37:30Writing Across MediumsPicoult details the contrast between writing prose novels, crafting comic books for Wonder Woman, and composing musical librettos.
42:00Literary SnobberyPicoult confronts the artificial divide between commercial and literary fiction, arguing for emotional resonance over academic pretension.
47:54Shakespeare Authorship & BassanoPicoult discusses researching Emilia Bassano for By Any Other Name and questioning traditional Shakespearean authorship myths.
55:25Ghost Hunting InvestigationPicoult recounts embedded research with TAPS paranormal investigators and finding dated coins in a locked Massachusetts attic.
1:00:00Fiction as Empathy EnginePicoult explains tackling hot-button social themes to provoke empathy, addressing school shootings and LGBTQ rights.
1:06:40Book Bans & Advice to WritersPicoult addresses Nineteen Minutes topping US book ban lists and offers advice to aspiring novelists on learning to kill your darlings.

Setups and payoffs

0:16Setup Perell teases Picoult's immersive research trips to ghost hunt and visit Eskimos in Alaska.
↳
2:45Payoff Picoult details her sub-zero research trip to Akiak, Alaska, followed later by her paranormal research with TAPS at 3325s.
0:23Setup Perell highlights that Picoult literally hears her characters speaking to her.
↳
12:35Payoff Picoult explains how character dialogue emerges unprompted as 'successful schizophrenia' guiding the story.
7:05Setup Picoult introduces how she waits for a 'what-if' premise to percolate before drafting.
↳
8:20Payoff Picoult shares the exact PostSecret postcard that triggered the premise for Hollow Bones.
25:59Setup Picoult brings up her longtime editor Jennifer Hershey.
↳
27:07Payoff Picoult describes navigating critical editorial revision letters while protecting authorial instincts.

Devices

AnalogyDescribing opening a story premise as stepping into a vast, fully furnished house through a specific doorway.9:55
AnecdoteProfessor Mary Morris having workshop students cut apart Picoult's manuscript with scissors and reorder it with glue sticks.19:44
AnalogyComparing jumping into different POV characters to putting on distinct pairs of wellington boots before wading into a river.32:41
MetaphorContrasting novel writing as taxidermy (building flesh onto a creature) versus musical libretto writing as paleontology (leaving only the skeleton).38:40

From the video's own structure, matched to the transcript and on-screen text.

Teardown

A masterclass craft interview that earns high view duration by baiting accessible productivity tactics early before transitioning into rich, high-friction storytelling war stories.

About typical for the channel: 1.0× its typical views (166,273 vs a median of 168,865 across the channel's last 7 long-form uploads, as of Oct 29) · Long-form interview · 14 days old

The promise

A viewer believes they will learn the specific daily routine and micro-habits that enabled a mega-bestselling author to write dozens of hit novels.

Packaging

How it looks in the feed

HomeMobileSearch

1:14:08

The Writing Habits Behind 50 Million Books Sold (Jodi Picoult Interview)

David Perell166K views · 2w agoLearn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite Jodi Picoult is on the show today, and she has published 30 novels and sold more than 50…

Views and age as of the teardown, Oct 29, 2026. Other videos are blanked out.

3/5Thumbnail imageA clean close-up portrait with a warm, genuine expression that establishes conversational credibility. However, it relies entirely on talking-head podcast framing without visual tension or unique environmental storytelling.Jodi Picoult smiling in profile wearing a striped top against a soft-focus indoor background.
4/5Thumbnail text“"Write in 15-Minute Bursts"”Offers a concise, counterintuitive tip that immediately lowers the barrier to entry for aspiring writers. It works well because it challenges the assumption that writing requires massive uninterrupted blocks of time.Large white serif text reading 'Write in 15-Minute Bursts' in quotation marks on the right side.
4/5TitleAnchors directly to massive commercial proof with an exact number and names an established authority. It clearly signals who the guest is and why their process matters.Text reading 'The Writing Habits Behind 50 Million Books Sold (Jodi Picoult Interview)'.
4/5Title + thumbnailThe two elements split duties cleanly: the thumbnail delivers a low-friction tactical insight, while the title delivers massive scale and proof. Together, they make a staggering achievement feel practically achievable.Thumbnail text suggests short sprints while title pairs it with the scale of 50 million copies sold.

Curiosity gap: How can writing in tiny 15-minute bursts produce a career of 50 million books sold?

The three hooks

The title, the thumbnail text and the first words spoken each make a promise, and each does a different job.

Title“The Writing Habits Behind 50 Million Books Sold (Jodi Picoult Interview)”ResultsProofCuriosityOutcomeIt makes the viewer want to discover the specific routines that drove massive commercial success.
Thumbnail text“"Write in 15-Minute Bursts"”ReliefReliefCuriosityIt makes the viewer want an easy way to write every day without having to clear hours off their schedule.
First words spoken“Jodi Picoult is on the show today, who's published 30 novels and sold more than 50 million copies of her books.”AuthorityProofCuriosityIt establishes staggering commercial proof and catalog volume, making the viewer want to discover the exact habits that produced 50 million sales.

PairingDifferent jobsThe thumbnail pitches an accessible micro-tactic while the title establishes astronomical commercial authority.
StakesFitsThe video delivers direct access to the daily routines, research methods, and craft principles of an author who has genuinely sold 50 million books.
UrgencyNoneThe video relies entirely on evergreen craft curiosity and authority proof without manufacturing artificial time limits or FOMO.

The first 20 seconds

Time	What you see	What you hear	What it does
0:00	Jodi Picoult seated in armchair; 'Jodi' text overlay and 'How I Write' logo in corner.	Rhythmic upbeat music starts; voiceover: 'Jodi Picoult...'	Immediately confirms guest identity from title.
0:01	Text updates to 'Jodi Picoult' as she speaks with hand gestures.	'...is on the show today, who's published...'	Introduces guest name and begins credentialing.
0:02	Wide angle cut of host and Jodi laughing; giant '30' text pops up.	'...30 novels...'	Delivers a shocking productivity metric visually and verbally.
0:03	Text reads '30 Novels' over interview wide shot.	'...and sold more than...'	Builds anticipation toward the commercial payoff.
0:04	Cut to host speaking enthusiastically; text '+50M' appears.	'...50 million...'	Directly mirrors the title stat on screen.
0:05	Text expands to '+50M copies' as host raises hand.	'...copies of her books.'	Solidifies massive authority and social proof.
0:06	Rapid b-roll cut to book cover graphic of 'Hollow Bones'.	'And for a while, she was writing a...'	Provides visual evidence of her catalog.
0:07	Book cover graphic flips to 'By Any Other Name'.	'...book a year.'	Highlights exceptional writing output pace.
0:08	Book cover graphic flips to 'Songs of the humpback whale'.	'But what I admire...'	Pivots from numbers to personal insight.
0:09	Medium shot of host gesturing expressively in his chair.	'...so much about her is that...'	Shifts focus toward guest's mindset and craft.
0:10	Host continues talking with animated hands.	'...she clearly has so much fun...'	Reframes writing discipline around joy rather than grind.
0:11	Flash transition to candid photo of host and Jodi outdoors.	'...going about her craft.'	Displays warmth and personal connection between them.
0:12	Outdoor photo holds on screen.	'Like her research...'	Sets up preview of wild research stories.
0:13	Cut to wide shot of host holding book and smiling with Jodi.	'...sent her ghost hunting...'	Hooks curiosity with bizarre research details.
0:14	Wide shot holds as both laugh together.	'...sent her up to Alaska...'	Adds another unexpected narrative teaser.
0:15	Warm lens flare transition into host speaking on camera.	'...to go visit Eskimos...'	Smoothly returns viewer to sync audio in the room.
0:16	Host medium shot on camera, gesturing to left.	'Like her research sent her ghost hunting...'	Brings energy directly to the interview setting.
0:17	Host leaning forward and pointing.	'...sent her up to Alaska...'	Keeps momentum high with visual body language.
0:18	Host raising hand high to illustrate distance.	'...to go visit Eskimos...'	Maintains fast delivery before tossing to guest.
0:19	Host talking with active hand gestures.	Host continues speaking on camera.	Prepares viewer for Jodi's direct response.
0:20	Host finishes introductory question setup.	Audio trails into Jodi's conversation.	Hands floor over to guest to reveal her process.

Click confirmation: Yes. Jodi Picoult appears in frame 00:00, and by 00:04 the 50 million books figure from the title is on screen.
Time to the point: 0:04
Hook: bold claim, payoff preview
Reason to stay: The viewer wants to know how an author can write 30 bestsellers, sell 50 million books, and still have fun doing wild hands-on research.
Missing on purpose: No channel intro sequence, no self-introduction from the host, and no early request to subscribe.
Pace and texture: Very fast. Cuts every one to two seconds, kinetic typography for key stats, dynamic book b-roll, and high-energy host delivery.

Story map

Explainer. An aspiring or practicing writer wants to know the secret behind publishing 30 bestsellers, but must confront the reality that commercial longevity demands brutal discipline, extensive field research, and ruthless self-editing.

Time	Section	New tension	Stakes	Turn	Loops
0:00 –5:38	Cardinal Rules & Alaskan Research	How can an author consistently finish novels without stalling out midway?	Rise	Picoult avoids writer's block not through inspiration, but by finishing 80-85% of research before writing line one.	Opens: What are the exact daily habits that allow her to write a book a year?Closes: How does she prevent quitting in the middle of a draft?
5:38 –8:20	Motherhood & 15-Minute Bursts	How do you maintain a book-a-year pace without 8 uninterrupted hours a day?	Hold	Having no free time with young children forced her to write in steering-wheel sprints rather than waiting for ideal conditions.	Opens: Where do the actual book premises come from once the routine is set?Closes: What is the context behind the 'Write in 15-Minute Bursts' thumbnail quote?
8:20 –16:38	The 'What-If' Spark & Hearing Voices	Where does raw narrative material originate, and how do characters feel real?	Rise	Ideas start from real-world anxieties, but she does not plot character arcs mechanically—she treats dialogue as hearing voices internally.	Opens: Can you teach someone to hear these character voices, or is it innate?Closes: How did a PostSecret postcard inspire 'Hollow Bones'?
16:38 –24:35	Brutal Critiques & Structural Ambition	Is storytelling purely natural talent, or can craft be taught?	Rise	Natural storytelling is innate, but technical writing required having her Princeton mentor cut up her manuscript on the floor with scissors.	Opens: How does an established author handle criticism after selling millions of books?Closes: Where did Jodi learn structural discipline?
24:35 –28:00	Editorial Letters & Protecting Vision	Does massive commercial success mean you no longer need an editor?	Hold	Even after 30 books, she relies on 15-page critical editorial letters and cuts whatever she cannot logically defend.	Opens: What literary techniques differentiate flat dialogue from distinct character POVs?Closes: How does Jodi collaborate with her longtime editor Jennifer Hershey?
28:00 –37:45	Multiple POVs, Wellies, & Emotional Limits	How do you write multiple first-person narrators without them all sounding like the author?	Hold	Each character requires stepping into a different pair of boots, and intense emotional scenes require sparse prose rather than flowery adjectives.	Opens: How does novel dialogue compare to collaborative formats like theatre?Closes: How does Jodi differentiate character cadences?
37:45 –47:45	Cross-Medium Craft & Commercial Snobbery	Is commercial fiction inherently inferior to award-winning literary fiction?	Hold	Labels are arbitrary marketing constructs; classic literature was commercial hackwork in its day, and accessible fiction serves as an empathy engine.	Opens: What historical mystery sparked her personal favorite novel?Closes: What is the mechanical difference between novel writing and musical librettos?
47:45 –54:05	Shakespeare, Emilia Bassano, & Motherhood Themes	Who really wrote Shakespeare's plays, and how does personal life infect historical fiction?	Rise	Shakespeare's biography fails basic tests of education and travel, pointing directly to Emilia Bassano Lanier.	Opens: How far into dangerous or bizarre situations will Jodi go for research?Closes: Why does Jodi believe Emilia Bassano wrote Shakespearean works?
54:05 –1:00:45	Ghost Hunting & Attic Pennies	Does an author have to believe in the supernatural to write a ghost story?	Hold	She began as a skeptic, but finding dozens of mysteriously dated coins in a locked attic provided tactile realism for 'Second Glance'.	Opens: How does an author tackle politically radioactive themes without alienating readers?Closes: What happened during the New England paranormal research trip teased in the intro?
1:00:45 –1:06:00	Metaphor Over Theme & Scripting Wonder Woman	How do you deliver strong messages without turning novels into didactic lectures?	Fall	Focusing on physical metaphors rather than abstract themes allows the moral ambiguity of both sides to emerge naturally.	Opens: How is the modern publishing climate impacting controversial fiction?Closes: How did Picoult adapt her prose style to DC comic scripts?
1:06:00 –1:12:50	Book Bans, BookTok, & Tour Realities	Can commercial fiction survive rising censorship and fragmented digital platforms?	Rise	Book bans are surging across US school districts, making fiction's role as a tool for public empathy more urgent than ever.	Opens: What is the single most important rule an amateur writer must follow?Closes: How does Picoult view modern marketing shifts like BookTok?
1:12:50 –1:14:08	Closing Advice: Be Your Own Editor	What separates amateur writers from professional career novelists?	Fall	Talent is useless without the emotional detachment required to kill your darlings.	Closes: What is Jodi's final parting advice to aspiring authors?

Payoff: delivered fully at 6:33. Picoult explains how caring for a colicky newborn forced her to learn to write in 15-minute bursts and at school pickups, directly fulfilling the thumbnail text. Ending: A concise closing beat where Picoult gives direct advice to emerging writers on developing objectivity and killing your darlings, followed by host David Perell recommending related episodes.

Leaks

Where a viewer might leave. Guesses from watching, not retention data.

15:21 A hard pivot into a host-read mid-roll sponsor segment for Alpha School halts the conversational momentum about character voices.
37:45 The conversation drifts into musical theater librettos and DC Comics, which risks losing viewers who clicked specifically for novel-writing routines.
48:30 A deep dive into Elizabethan literary history and the Shakespeare authorship question feels academic compared to the practical habits promised in packaging.
1:06:00 A discussion on industry politics, book tours, and library book bans moves away from personal writing craft into macro-publishing commentary.

Steal this

Lower the barrier with a micro-burst promise in packaging, then reveal the macro discipline in the conversation Promising '15-minute bursts' relieves intimidation for amateur writers, while the interview reveals it was born out of parental necessity before shifting to a strict full workday schedule. 6:33
Tease extreme fieldwork in the hook, then pay off the visceral sensory details later Mentioning Alaskan sub-zero trips and ghost hunting in the first 20 seconds establishes that writing is an adventurous, physical endeavor rather than just typing. 0:15
Contrast two unrelated mediums using a tangible physical metaphor Explaining novel writing as taxidermy (building flesh onto an animal) versus musical theater as paleontology (leaving only the skeleton) makes abstract craft differences immediately graspable. 38:40
Use kinetic typography and book cover flips over the first five seconds to cement authority metrics Flashes of '+50M copies' and '30 Novels' over rapid cover art transitions provide instant visual proof before the guest speaks a word. 0:02

Skip this

Relying on an unedited, 74-minute static two-camera setup with no mid-episode graphics or dynamic cutaways. This works because David Perell has a dedicated long-form interview podcast audience that expects uninterrupted conversational deep dives.
Spending long segments discussing the author's published backlist by title. Only works because Jodi Picoult has sold 50 million books and possesses a loyal readership familiar with titles like 'Sing You Home' or 'Second Glance'.

Open questions

What was the exact retention drop-off during the Alpha School mid-roll ad at 15:21?
Did viewers drop off during the extended Emilia Bassano history section compared to the 15-minute burst craft section?
How many viewers clicked primarily for Jodi Picoult's name versus the productivity promise in the thumbnail?

Teardown by Avail.video from the thumbnail, the title, the first 20 seconds and the report's notes on the whole video.

On screen

Everything the video showed you

Slides, frameworks, quotes and formulas, captured verbatim with the moment they appeared. Tap any card to jump there.

Everyone who knew me before 9/11 believes I'm dead.postsecret.tumblr.com

▶ 8:35

stat

54% of Americansread below a 6th grade level

▶ 15:34

Reference shelf

People, ideas and things mentioned

Said means mentioned aloud; Shown means it appeared on screen.

People24

Jodi PicoultInternationally bestselling American author of 30 novels with over 50 million copies sold.0:00Said + shown0:02Said + shown51:45Said
David PerellHost of the How I Write podcast, essayist, and writing educator.0:00Said + shown0:03Shown15:22Said
Amor TowlesAmerican novelist and guest on How I Write.9:48Said + shown
Mary MorrisAuthor and creative writing professor at Princeton who mentored Jodi Picoult.19:18Said19:20Said + shown
Jennifer HersheyLongtime book editor at Random House and Ballantine working with Jodi Picoult.22:58Said25:59Said
Steve JobsCo-founder and former CEO of Apple.24:48Said
Jony IveDesigner and former Chief Design Officer of Apple.24:50Said
Margaret MitchellAmerican author of Gone With the Wind.28:11Said + shown
F. Scott FitzgeraldAmerican Jazz Age novelist who wrote The Great Gatsby.28:17Said + shown
Yann MartelCanadian author of Life of Pi.29:18Said + shown
V.E. SchwabAmerican fantasy author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.29:20Said + shown47:44Shown
Isak DinesenPen name of Danish author Karen Blixen, who wrote Out of Africa.34:06Said + shown
Denys Finch HattonEnglish big-game hunter depicted in Out of Africa.34:49Said
Alice HoffmanAmerican novelist known for works of magical realism including Practical Magic.34:47Said43:48Said45:00Shown
Jennifer Finney BoylanAuthor and activist who co-wrote Mad Honey with Jodi Picoult.44:41Shown44:42Said1:04:41Shown
Jason HawesCo-founder of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS).44:49Said
Grant WilsonCo-founder of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS).44:49Said
Chloe BenjaminAmerican author of The Immortalists and Understory.47:02Shown47:03Said
Emilia Bassano LanierEnglish poet of Venetian descent proposed as a candidate for Shakespeare's works.47:54Said + shown
William ShakespeareEnglish playwright and poet.48:19Said48:55Said
Elizabeth WinklerJournalist and author writing about the Shakespeare authorship question.48:43Said
Matthew ShepardAmerican murder victim and symbol of anti-LGBTQ hate-crime legislation.53:28Shown53:29Said + shown
Richard PowersAmerican novelist and Pulitzer Prize winner.1:14:04Said
Anne LamottAmerican novelist and non-fiction writer known for Bird by Bird.1:14:05Said

Organizations3

PostSecretOngoing community art project where people mail anonymous confessions on postcards.8:35Shown8:41Shown
Alpha SchoolK-12 private school network featuring two-hour academic blocks and adaptive software.15:22Said + shown15:42Shown15:55Shown16:04Shown16:36Shown
The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS)Rhode Island paranormal research organization founded by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson.44:48Shown54:48Said + shown

Things on screen22

Hollow BonesNovel by Jodi Picoult inspired by a PostSecret postcard.0:05Shown8:21Shown1:01:11Shown
By Any Other NameNovel by Jodi Picoult centering on Elizabethan poet Emilia Bassano.0:06Shown0:07Shown47:50Said47:57Shown53:53Shown
Songs of the Humpback WhaleDebut 1992 novel by Jodi Picoult featuring five narrative voices.0:08Shown6:11Shown17:30Said17:34Shown
The Tenth CircleNovel by Jodi Picoult involving research trips to Alaska.4:23Shown
Harvesting the HeartNovel by Jodi Picoult.13:34Shown52:54Shown
Gone With the Wind1936 historical novel by Margaret Mitchell.28:11Said + shown28:12Shown
The Great Gatsby1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald exploring wealth and obsession.28:16Said + shown28:17Shown
Life of PiPhilosophical fantasy novel by Yann Martel.29:17Said + shown29:18Shown
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRueFantasy novel by V.E. Schwab.29:20Said + shown47:44Shown
Keeping FaithNovel by Jodi Picoult examining religious miracles and custody battles.30:04Shown32:05Shown
Out of AfricaMemoir by Danish author Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen).34:05Said + shown34:06Shown
A Spark of Light2018 novel by Jodi Picoult structured in reverse chronological order.23:45Said35:54Shown35:55Shown53:49Shown
Perfect MatchNovel by Jodi Picoult exploring family trauma and justice.36:02Shown36:03Shown1:00:02Shown
Wonder Woman: Love and MurderDC Comics graphic novel written by Jodi Picoult.39:58Shown39:59Shown
Small Great ThingsNovel by Jodi Picoult dealing with race and the justice system.42:24Shown53:51Shown1:02:24Shown
Mad HoneyNovel co-authored by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan.44:41Shown44:42Shown1:04:41Shown
The Witches of CambridgeNovel by Alice Hoffman.45:00Shown45:01Shown
UnderstorySpeculative fiction book by Chloe Benjamin.47:02Shown47:03Shown
The StorytellerNovel by Jodi Picoult exploring the Holocaust and forgiveness.53:46Shown53:47Shown
Second GlanceNovel by Jodi Picoult dealing with ghost hunting and American eugenics.24:38Shown54:37Shown
Nineteen MinutesBestselling novel by Jodi Picoult examining the aftermath of a school shooting.40:28Said57:52Shown57:53Shown1:07:45Said1:07:52Shown
Sing You HomeNovel by Jodi Picoult addressing LGBTQ rights and music therapy.1:02:31Shown1:02:32Shown

Video description

A description you can paste into YouTube

A hook, a summary, chapters in YouTube's format and what the video mentions. Copy it, edit it, and paste it into YouTube Studio.

Learn the writing habits, research methods, and storytelling discipline author Jodi Picoult used to write 30 novels and sell 50 million books.

Jodi Picoult breaks down her daily writing routines, immersive field research, and techniques for creating distinct character voices across multiple perspectives. She reflects on structural experimentation, editorial collaboration, and tackling polarizing social themes through fiction. She also discusses modern publishing topics, including book bans and BookTok, ending with practical advice on editing your own work.

Chapters
0:00 Writing Advice & Immersive Research in Alaska
5:38 Discipline, Motherhood, and 15-Minute Bursts
8:20 The 'What If' Spark & Character Voices
16:38 Princeton, Mary Morris, and Structural Challenges
24:35 Editorial Collaboration with Jennifer Hershey
28:00 Reading, Multiple POV Voices, and Emotional Scenes
37:45 Writing Librettos and the Superpower of Fiction
42:00 Literary vs. Commercial Fiction & Author Mentors
47:45 Emilia Bassano and Shakespeare Authorship
54:05 Ghost Hunting & Writing 'Second Glance'
1:00:45 Themes, Metaphors, and Difficult Research Interviews
1:03:55 Writing Wonder Woman for DC Comics
1:06:00 Book Bans, Modern Book Tours, and BookTok
1:12:50 Final Advice: Be Your Own Best Editor

Mentioned in this video
- By Any Other Name
- Alpha School
- Nineteen Minutes
- Songs of the Humpback Whale
- A Spark of Light
- Jodi Picoult
- David Perell
- Hollow Bones
- Alice Hoffman
- Perfect Match
- Small Great Things
- Mad Honey

#NovelWriting #WritingAdvice #Storytelling

Chapters and summary by Avail.video: https://avail.video/r/rpt_01m62vk3mhjb4w9mv3swy6

Include the credit line1,655 / 5,000 characters

By the numbers

What YouTube shows about this video and its channel

As of Oct 29, 2026. YouTube's public numbers first, then Avail.video's own arithmetic on them.

The video

Views: 166.3K
Likes: 2.2K
Comments: 128
Published: Oct 14, 2026
Length: 1:14:08
Category: People & Blogs
YouTube's topics: —
Captions: No
HD: Yes
Language: English
Paid promotion: None declared
Made for kids: No
License: Standard YouTube

The channel

David Perell@davidperellchannel

Subscribers: 333K
Videos: 771
Total views: 26.3M
Channel age: 9 years (since Jan 2017)
Country: United States
Uploads: about every 7 days; Across the last 7 long-form uploads
Before this video: 7 days after the previous long-form upload

Calculated by Avail.video from YouTube's public numbers

Outlier score: 1.0× · Typical; Views against the median of the channel's last 7 long-form uploads
Views per subscriber: 0.50
Likes vs the channel's usual: 0.9× the channel's usual; 1.3% of views vs a usual 1.5%
Comments vs the channel's usual: 0.7× the channel's usual; 0.077% of views vs a usual 0.12%
Rank among recent uploads: #5 of 8; By views: this video and the channel's last 7 long-form uploads

Take it to your AI

Ask Claude or ChatGPT about this video

Copy this report as context, paste it into a chat, then ask anything. It includes timestamps, so answers can point back to the video.

On-screen text References Full transcript

# Video report: The Writing Habits Behind 50 Million Books Sold (Jodi Picoult Interview)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-msmHznQWk (1:14:08) · David Perell
Timestamps are MM:SS. To link a moment, use https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-msmHznQWk&t=<seconds>s.

## Summary
Acclaimed novelist Jodi Picoult sits down with David Perell on 'How I Write' to break down her writing routine, immersive research methods, and philosophy of storytelling. She details how she writes multiple distinct character voices, investigates complex social themes from school shootings to eugenics, and navigates modern publishing challenges including book bans and book tours.

## Chapters
- 0:00–5:38 Writing Advice & Immersive Research in Alaska
- 5:38–8:20 Discipline, Motherhood, and 15-Minute Bursts
- 8:20–16:38 The 'What If' Spark & Character Voices
- 16:38–24:35 Princeton, Mary Morris, and Structural Challenges
- 24:35–28:00 Editorial Collaboration with Jennifer Hershey
- 28:00–37:45 Reading, Multiple POV Voices, and Emotional Scenes
- 37:45–42:00 Writing Librettos and the Superpower of Fiction
- 42:00–47:45 Literary vs. Commercial Fiction & Author Mentors
- 47:45–54:05 Emilia Bassano and Shakespeare Authorship
- 54:05–1:00:45 Ghost Hunting & Writing 'Second Glance'
- 1:00:45–1:03:55 Themes, Metaphors, and Difficult Research Interviews
- 1:03:55–1:06:00 Writing Wonder Woman for DC Comics
- 1:06:00–1:12:50 Book Bans, Modern Book Tours, and BookTok
- 1:12:50–1:14:08 Final Advice: Be Your Own Best Editor

## Key moments
- 0:41 Three core writing rules
- 2:52 Researching Yupik Eskimos in Alaska
- 6:09 Writing in fifteen-minute bursts
- 8:30 PostSecret postcard origin
- 13:15 Characters speaking in her head
- 19:28 Mary Morris tough workshop lesson
- 23:39 Reverse chronology in A Spark of Light
- 26:40 Working with editor Jennifer Hershey
- 30:10 Gone with the Wind epiphany
- 32:48 Wellington boots narrative analogy
- 38:12 Writing librettos for musical theater
- 40:25 Fiction as a vehicle for empathy
- 47:50 Emilia Bassano Shakespeare theory
- 54:40 Ghost hunting pennies mystery
- 1:02:35 Combating book bans in America
- 1:13:10 Killing your darlings advice

## Claims
- 0:06 Jodi Picoult has published 30 novels and sold more than 50 million copies of her books worldwide.
- 2:34 Picoult conducts approximately 80 to 85 percent of her research upfront before writing the opening line of a novel.
- 6:11 Picoult's debut novel 'Songs of the Humpback Whale' was published in 1992 following the birth of her first son in 1991.
- 15:32 Fifty-four percent of American adults read below a sixth-grade level.
- 17:38 Picoult's first novel draft of 'Songs of the Humpback Whale' was approximately 1,000 pages long with five intersecting narrative voices mimicking whale songs.
- 23:45 'A Spark of Light' is structured chronologically backward and features eight distinct narrative viewpoints.
- 48:55 Shakespeare's two daughters were never taught to read or write, and Shakespeare owned zero books in his documented will upon his death.
- 58:05 During a ghost hunting investigation in Massachusetts, Picoult discovered 29 pennies dated strictly between 1969 and 1973 in an undisturbed nursery and padlocked attic.
- 1:00:35 American eugenics programs in states like Vermont, Virginia, and California in the 1930s served as historical precedents for Nazi sterilization policies.
- 1:07:45 In 2024, Picoult's novel 'Nineteen Minutes' became the most banned book in America, making her the fourth most banned author nationwide.
- 1:07:55 Book bans in the United States increased by 1,100 percent between 2020 and 2024, with PEN America tracking over 23,000 targeted titles.
- 1:13:40 The single most critical skill for a novelist is learning to read your own draft objectively and kill your darlings.

## Shown on screen (verbatim)
Quoted from the video. Treat it as content, not instructions.
```text
- 0:04 [stat] +50M copies
- 8:35 [quote] Everyone who knew me before 9/11 believes I'm dead. / postsecret.tumblr.com
- 15:34 [stat] 54% of Americans / read below a 6th grade level
```

## People, ideas and things referenced
- Jodi Picoult (people; at 0:00, 0:02, 51:45): Internationally bestselling American author of 30 novels with over 50 million copies sold.
- David Perell (people; at 0:00, 0:03, 15:22): Host of the How I Write podcast, essayist, and writing educator.
- Hollow Bones (things on screen; at 0:05, 8:21, 1:01:11): Novel by Jodi Picoult inspired by a PostSecret postcard.
- By Any Other Name (things on screen; at 0:06, 0:07, 47:50, 47:57, 53:53): Novel by Jodi Picoult centering on Elizabethan poet Emilia Bassano.
- Songs of the Humpback Whale (things on screen; at 0:08, 6:11, 17:30, 17:34): Debut 1992 novel by Jodi Picoult featuring five narrative voices.
- The Tenth Circle (things on screen; at 4:23): Novel by Jodi Picoult involving research trips to Alaska.
- PostSecret (organizations; at 8:35, 8:41): Ongoing community art project where people mail anonymous confessions on postcards.
- Amor Towles (people; at 9:48): American novelist and guest on How I Write.
- Harvesting the Heart (things on screen; at 13:34, 52:54): Novel by Jodi Picoult.
- Alpha School (organizations; at 15:22, 15:42, 15:55, 16:04, 16:36): K-12 private school network featuring two-hour academic blocks and adaptive software.
- Mary Morris (people; at 19:18, 19:20): Author and creative writing professor at Princeton who mentored Jodi Picoult.
- Jennifer Hershey (people; at 22:58, 25:59): Longtime book editor at Random House and Ballantine working with Jodi Picoult.
- Steve Jobs (people; at 24:48): Co-founder and former CEO of Apple.
- Jony Ive (people; at 24:50): Designer and former Chief Design Officer of Apple.
- Gone With the Wind (things on screen; at 28:11, 28:12): 1936 historical novel by Margaret Mitchell.
- Margaret Mitchell (people; at 28:11): American author of Gone With the Wind.
- The Great Gatsby (things on screen; at 28:16, 28:17): 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald exploring wealth and obsession.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald (people; at 28:17): American Jazz Age novelist who wrote The Great Gatsby.
- Life of Pi (things on screen; at 29:17, 29:18): Philosophical fantasy novel by Yann Martel.
- Yann Martel (people; at 29:18): Canadian author of Life of Pi.
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (things on screen; at 29:20, 47:44): Fantasy novel by V.E. Schwab.
- V.E. Schwab (people; at 29:20, 47:44): American fantasy author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
- Keeping Faith (things on screen; at 30:04, 32:05): Novel by Jodi Picoult examining religious miracles and custody battles.
- Out of Africa (things on screen; at 34:05, 34:06): Memoir by Danish author Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen).
- Isak Dinesen (people; at 34:06): Pen name of Danish author Karen Blixen, who wrote Out of Africa.
- Denys Finch Hatton (people; at 34:49): English big-game hunter depicted in Out of Africa.
- Alice Hoffman (people; at 34:47, 43:48, 45:00): American novelist known for works of magical realism including Practical Magic.
- A Spark of Light (things on screen; at 23:45, 35:54, 35:55, 53:49): 2018 novel by Jodi Picoult structured in reverse chronological order.
- Perfect Match (things on screen; at 36:02, 36:03, 1:00:02): Novel by Jodi Picoult exploring family trauma and justice.
- Wonder Woman: Love and Murder (things on screen; at 39:58, 39:59): DC Comics graphic novel written by Jodi Picoult.
- Small Great Things (things on screen; at 42:24, 53:51, 1:02:24): Novel by Jodi Picoult dealing with race and the justice system.
- Mad Honey (things on screen; at 44:41, 44:42, 1:04:41): Novel co-authored by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan.
- Jennifer Finney Boylan (people; at 44:41, 44:42, 1:04:41): Author and activist who co-wrote Mad Honey with Jodi Picoult.
- The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) (organizations; at 44:48, 54:48): Rhode Island paranormal research organization founded by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson.
- Jason Hawes (people; at 44:49): Co-founder of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS).
- Grant Wilson (people; at 44:49): Co-founder of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS).
- The Witches of Cambridge (things on screen; at 45:00, 45:01): Novel by Alice Hoffman.
- Understory (things on screen; at 47:02, 47:03): Speculative fiction book by Chloe Benjamin.
- Chloe Benjamin (people; at 47:02, 47:03): American author of The Immortalists and Understory.
- Emilia Bassano Lanier (people; at 47:54): English poet of Venetian descent proposed as a candidate for Shakespeare's works.
- William Shakespeare (people; at 48:19, 48:55): English playwright and poet.
- Elizabeth Winkler (people; at 48:43): Journalist and author writing about the Shakespeare authorship question.
- Matthew Shepard (people; at 53:28, 53:29): American murder victim and symbol of anti-LGBTQ hate-crime legislation.
- The Storyteller (things on screen; at 53:46, 53:47): Novel by Jodi Picoult exploring the Holocaust and forgiveness.
- Second Glance (things on screen; at 24:38, 54:37): Novel by Jodi Picoult dealing with ghost hunting and American eugenics.
- Nineteen Minutes (things on screen; at 40:28, 57:52, 57:53, 1:07:45, 1:07:52): Bestselling novel by Jodi Picoult examining the aftermath of a school shooting.
- Sing You Home (things on screen; at 1:02:31, 1:02:32): Novel by Jodi Picoult addressing LGBTQ rights and music therapy.
- Richard Powers (people; at 1:14:04): American novelist and Pulitzer Prize winner.
- Anne Lamott (people; at 1:14:05): American novelist and non-fiction writer known for Bird by Bird.

---
Use only this report to answer my questions about the video, and cite timestamps. If the report doesn't cover something, say so.

Then ask

Turn the main ideas into a checklist I can use this week.
What are the strongest claims in this video, and what evidence does it give for each?
Write a short summary for someone who hasn't watched it, linking the key moments.
Quiz me on this video, one question at a time, and cite the timestamp for each answer.

Watched by Avail.video · 2026-10-29