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Neil Gaiman — The Interview I've Waited 20 Years To Do | The Tim Ferriss Show

Tim Ferriss・68 minutes read

Neil Gaiman discusses his writing process, tools, and routines, emphasizing the importance of focus and purpose. His collaboration with Terry Pratchett on "Good Omens" showcases dedication to honoring their shared vision and legacy.

Insights

Neil Gaiman's writing process involves using specific tools like fountain pens to feel liberated and focused, emphasizing the act of writing over performance pressure.
Gaiman's commitment to preserving Terry Pratchett's vision in "Good Omens" showcases his unwavering dedication to their collaborative work, leading to creative conflicts with producers to maintain the original story's integrity.
Gaiman's transition from late-night to afternoon writing, adapting his routine to personal changes, underscores the importance of evolving writing habits to enhance productivity and creativity.

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Recent questions

How does Neil Gaiman approach writing?
With a focus on purpose and meaning, valuing each word.

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Summary

00:00

Neil Gaiman's Writing Process and Tips

Neil Gaiman recalls his early days of wanting to meet writers and artists, leading him to start a magazine called Metro at the age of 15.
The magazine, Metro, became a reality and Neil interviewed authors like Michael Moorcock and Roger Dean, an artist known for Yes album covers.
Neil's interview with Roger Dean failed due to a tape malfunction, teaching him the importance of being prepared with spare batteries and tapes.
Neil discusses his preference for working outside his home, inspired by Maya Angelou renting hotel rooms for writing, and Ian Fleming's method of writing James Bond books in hotel rooms.
Neil shares his rule of only allowing himself to write or do nothing while in his writing space, emphasizing the importance of focus.
Neil mentions John McPhee's similar rule of dedicating hours solely to writing, with no distractions allowed.
Neil reveals his practice of writing first drafts with a fountain pen, using different colored inks to track progress and emphasizing the draft as a personal storytelling process.
Neil's editing process involves typing his first draft into a computer for the second draft, where he aims to make it appear polished and intentional.
Neil reflects on the impact of technology on editing, noting that writing on a computer can lead to unnecessary expansion, while editing by hand allows for more concise revisions.
Neil highlights the satisfaction of deleting unnecessary content when typing up handwritten drafts, saving time and effort in the editing process.

19:29

Neil Gaiman's Writing Tools and Process

Neil Gaiman emphasizes the importance of writing with purpose and meaning, treating each word as valuable.
Gaiman discusses his preference for notebooks, starting with large drawing ones for "Stardust" and "American Gods," then transitioning to Moleskines and leather-bound books from a stationery shop in Venice.
He plans to write a novel in a 19th-century accounts book with faint account lines, engineered to lie flat, using an old Victorian flex nib pen for a Dickensian feel.
Gaiman shares his experience with fountain pens, recommending Lummi la my for starters and mentioning his favorite pens like Pilot 823 and Visconti, with a preference for bottles of colored ink.
He recounts signing contracts with a Pilot 823 pen, signing approximately 1.5 million signatures with it, until his son hid it behind a cast iron fireplace, leading to its loss.
Gaiman's choice of tools aims to make writing enjoyable and less intimidating, allowing him to focus on the act of writing rather than its importance.
He recalls his writing process, starting with a manual typewriter, then transitioning to an electric typewriter after selling his first book, "Ghastly Beyond Belief."
Gaiman found liberation in using a computer for writing, then switched to fountain pens for "Stardust" to emulate 17th-century writing styles with long sentences and paragraphs.
The act of trivializing his writing process by using specific tools like fountain pens helps Gaiman feel liberated and focused on the act of writing rather than the pressure of performance.
Gaiman's approach to writing involves removing psychological weight by focusing on projects that excite him, even if they may not be financially sensible, to alleviate performance anxiety and stress.

39:17

Persistence and Routine: Crafting "Coraline" Success

The author initially wrote a novel for adults that won awards, but then decided to work on a book for kids called "Coraline."
"Coraline" was deemed unpublishable by an English editor, but the author persisted and eventually sent it to a friend, Jane Yolen, who wanted to buy it.
The publishing house initially rejected "Coraline," but the author later revisited the book due to the birth of his second daughter, Maddie.
The author sent "Coraline" to a new editor, Jennifer Hershey, who liked it and asked what happens next, prompting the author to finish the book.
To meet the delivery date for "Coraline," the author wrote a little bit each night before bed, gradually completing the book.
The author worked on "Coraline" during a cruise and finished it after feeling despair about completing another project, "American Gods."
The author used to work on multiple projects simultaneously but found it less effective as he got older, now focusing on one project at a time.
The author discovered that writing a novel works best when following a consistent daily routine, akin to the movie "Groundhog Day."
The author used to be a late-night writer but transitioned to writing between 1 and 6 p.m., finding it more productive.
The author emphasized the importance of being aware of personal changes and adapting writing routines accordingly, possibly transitioning to a morning writing schedule in the future.

58:50

Neil Gaiman's Journey with "Good Omens"

Neil Gaiman recalls the idea of a child raised by dead people in a graveyard, inspired by Kipling's "The Jungle Book."
Initially, Gaiman wrote a full first chapter but found it lacking, with a character resembling his son, Mike.
Despite initial failures, Gaiman revisited the idea a decade later, starting in the middle with the Witch's Headstone chapter.
Gaiman's daughter, Maddie, encouraged him to continue writing the story, leading to the development of a successful narrative.
Gaiman's friendship with Terry Pratchett influenced his writing journey, with Pratchett's involvement in their collaborative work on "Good Omens."
Gaiman and Pratchett's collaborative process was intense, with Gaiman juggling multiple writing projects simultaneously.
The success of "Good Omens" led to Hollywood interest, various adaptation attempts, and eventually a TV series.
Pratchett's passing prompted Gaiman to honor their agreement to only work on "Good Omens" together, leading to Gaiman's role as showrunner for the TV series.
Gaiman's dedication to preserving Pratchett's vision in the adaptation led to creative conflicts with producers, ensuring the series stayed true to the original story.
Gaiman's commitment to upholding Pratchett's legacy and vision in "Good Omens" showcases his unwavering dedication to their collaborative work.

01:18:39

Good Omens: Book, Show, and Legacy

Good Omens was created using ideas from the book and discussions that would have been in the next book if there was one.
The first time Good Omens was shown was at South by Southwest, where audiences reacted positively.
The casting of Michael Sheen and David Tennant was praised for being perfect for their roles.
The possibility of a stage play version of Good Omens with the actors alternating roles was discussed.
To learn more about Good Omens, reading the book by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman is recommended.
Terry Pratchett's approach to facing mortality, including his documentaries on Alzheimer's and assisted suicide, was discussed.
Terry Pratchett's attitude towards the right to die and his personal experience with Alzheimer's were highlighted.
The emotional impact of Terry Pratchett's documentaries and his openness about his own mortality were noted.
The bittersweet feeling of completing Good Omens without Terry Pratchett's presence was shared, along with the realization that the project might not have happened if he were alive.

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