Hugh Howey | The Knowledge Project #63

Idea Development

Hugh Howey's writing process is deeply rooted in daydreaming and planning before he even touches the keyboard. He describes how his time working in a bookstore and as a yacht captain allowed him to mentally build worlds and stories, often juggling multiple ideas until one captivates him enough to pursue 1. This pre-writing phase is crucial for Howey, as it allows him to make significant narrative decisions ahead of time, reducing the risk of abandoning projects due to indecision 2.

Most of my writing takes place away from the keyboard, so it helped working in a bookstore for years while I was writing because I was having to walk around and dust shelves and reshelve books and do very quiet rote tasks.

--- Hugh Howey

This method enables him to visualize his stories as movies that he then translates into vivid, detailed narratives.

   

Overcoming Challenges

Overcoming writer's block and self-doubt has been a significant part of Howey's journey. He shares that the key to breaking through his 20-year struggle was simply to "stop talking about writing" and start writing, a piece of advice he received at a conference that changed his approach 3. Howey emphasizes the importance of not comparing one's rough drafts to polished works, as this can hinder progress and lead to unnecessary self-criticism 4.

You stop dreaming of writing. You stop telling people you're going to write, and you sit down and you write.

--- Hugh Howey

By focusing on daily writing habits and embracing the imperfections of initial drafts, he was able to complete his first novel and eventually write 15 more over a few years.

   

Editing & Feedback

Feedback and revisions are integral to Howey's writing process, with his mother being his first and most critical reader. She provides detailed feedback, often marking up his drafts with a red pen, which Howey then uses to refine his work 5. He values diverse input from beta readers, each offering unique insights, whether it's spotting plot holes or highlighting areas of confusion 6.

My mom is really good at highlighting passages that she thinks I need to make clearer.

--- Hugh Howey

This collaborative approach, learned from writing groups, helps him enhance his stories before they reach a wider audience.