
Derek Sivers: No Wasted Words
09/20/23 • 71 min
1 Listener
It’s hard to capture in words the love and creativity that Derek Sivers brings to his work. He describes himself as a “monomaniac, introvert, and slow thinker.” But those words just reveal his humility.
Derek’s work has charmed millions — from his early days as a professional musician and circus performer, to founding CD Baby, writing fan favorites like Anything You Want and taking the stage at TED.
In this conversation, Derek shares how he finds his best ideas, why he plans to publish a “posthumous autobiography,” and why life is not a problem to be solved but a paradox to be experienced.
Website: sive.rs
Twitter: @sivers
Books:
How to Live: 27 Conflicting Answers and One Weird Conclusion
Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur
Hell Yeah or No: What’s Worth Doing
Want to learn more about the next cohort with Write of Passage?
Click here: https://writeofpassage.school/hiw
Want to learn more about How I Write?
Website: https://writeofpassage.school/how-i-write/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It’s hard to capture in words the love and creativity that Derek Sivers brings to his work. He describes himself as a “monomaniac, introvert, and slow thinker.” But those words just reveal his humility.
Derek’s work has charmed millions — from his early days as a professional musician and circus performer, to founding CD Baby, writing fan favorites like Anything You Want and taking the stage at TED.
In this conversation, Derek shares how he finds his best ideas, why he plans to publish a “posthumous autobiography,” and why life is not a problem to be solved but a paradox to be experienced.
Website: sive.rs
Twitter: @sivers
Books:
How to Live: 27 Conflicting Answers and One Weird Conclusion
Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur
Hell Yeah or No: What’s Worth Doing
Want to learn more about the next cohort with Write of Passage?
Click here: https://writeofpassage.school/hiw
Want to learn more about How I Write?
Website: https://writeofpassage.school/how-i-write/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Previous Episode

Kevin Kelly: On Fame, Structuring Ideas, Writing Books, and Founding Wired Magazine
Kevin Kelly is one of the most important tech writers of the last half century.
Kevin started as the publisher and editor of the Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of Steve Jobs’ favorite publications. After being mentored by Stewart Brand, he started writing books and magazine pieces before cofounding Wired Magazine. He has since become a prolific author - writing one feature article for Wired Magazine every year, and writing numerous bestselling books.
The man is full of mysteries. Kevin writes abundantly but types very slowly. He writes often but calls himself a reluctant writer. He constantly explores new ideas but actually likes editing more than writing.
Rare is the opportunity to sit down with the master who has decades of experience as a writer. This episode is a peek behind the curtain.
SPEAKER LINKS:
Website: https://kk.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevin2kelly
Latest Book: "Excellent Advice for Living": https://a.co/d/3nYau0X
Want to learn more about the next cohort with Write of Passage?
Click here: https://writeofpassage.school/hiw
Want to learn more about How I Write?
Website: https://writeofpassage.school/how-i-write/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Next Episode

Ava: The Emotions of Writing
How do you create intimacy and connection with readers?
While some writers have a way of letting you inside their mind, Ava (@noampomsky) has a way of letting you inside her heart. There's an intimacy about her writing - an honesty, a tenderness, a contemplative-ness, a sense of connection that shows up in her work and it's what makes her unique.
Ava sees writing as a distinct form of consciousness. This process of continually excavating your mind to find out what you think and then eventually you realize that you have so much more to say on this topic than you ever originally realized.
Ava Huang's story is a treasure trove of insights, of moments that make you pause and think, "Wow, writing is so much more than just words on a page." It's about the heart, the soul, and the contemplative journey that we all take.
Substack: Bookbear Express
Twitter: twitter.com/noampomsky (@noampomsky)
Want to learn more about the next cohort with Write of Passage?
Click here: https://writeofpassage.school/hiw
Want to learn more about How I Write?
Website: https://writeofpassage.school/how-i-write/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel/videos
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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