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Mark Forsyth: 13 Techniques to Improve Your Writing | How I Write

August 5, 2026 · 1 h 15 min

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Learn more about Alpha School at ⁠https://go.alpha.school/howiwrite Mark Forsyth has spent years studying how great writers piece words together. People like Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde, but also musicians like the Beatles and Taylor Swift. For him, it all comes down to figures of rhetoric: timeless tools you can use to make your writing more memorable and enjoyable.

I asked Mark to break them down for me one by one: What is the tool? How does it work? When do you use it? Why is it good to apply? You'll find that these tools will make you a better writer.

You'll have a lot more fun when you write because you'll be so much more playful when crafting words. About the host Hey! I’m David Perell and I’m a writer, teacher, and podcaster. I believe writing online is one of the biggest opportunities in the world today. For the first time in human history, everybody can freely share their ideas with a global audience. I seek to help as many people publish their writing online as possible. Follow me Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-write/id1700171470 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidPerellChannel Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2DjMSboniFAeGA8v9NpoPv X: https://x.com/david_perell

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