Author Tom Perrotta's Advice on Becoming a Writer

If I had to pick my favorite author, it would be Tom Perrotta. He tells tales of suburban America that I think are cutting, relatable, and engrossing. Perrotta's novels, such as Election and Little Children, thrust him into the spotlight after they were adapted into critically acclaimed films; Perrotta co-wrote the screenplay for Little Children with Todd Field, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.His novel The Leftovers, about the aftermath of a Rapture-like event, was adapted into a Peabody Award-winning HBO television series, which he co-created and produced. Other notable works include the novels The Abstinence Teacher, Mrs. Fletcher (also adapted into an HBO mini-series), and Tracy Flick Can't Win (2022), along with the short story collection Nine Inches.Today, I wanted to look at the video of Perrotta giving writing advice and see what we could glean from his words. Let's dive in. Tom Perrotta's Advice For Writers I think it's extremely valuable to listen to authors, especially ones who have worked in both film and TV. There's a real demystification of the act of writing and lots of great advice on finding yourself and your voice. Perrotta found early inspiration in his life by just reading anything and everything. In the video, he recalls the profound impact of diving into worlds like Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. But beyond just being a fan, Perrotta felt a pull towards doing. When he turned to writing, something inside him clicked. Perrotta describes a sense of ease and natural ability that had eluded him in his other pursuits. This feeling solidified his ambition; by college, he knew writing was his path.Nurturing the SparkOnce you have that spark and that love of writing, you have to nurture it to run it into a blaze. You can do that by reading. Gobble up all the work you can and see how it makes you feel and what parts of yourself it helps bring out of your mind. Perrotta says he didn't have a particularly "literary" childhood in the traditional sense. However, he credits encouragement to read and influential English teachers, who introduced him to authors like the great Raymond Chandler, as vital supports. It helped him find his style on the page and the way he'd form his prose. Finding those friends and mentors who thought like him kept him on the path. And they didn't turn him off becoming a writer, they helped keep him moving forward. Coupled with this is the idea that writers also must be avid readers. It's through immersing oneself in the works of others that a writer truly hones their own craft.You get better and find out who you are just by reading other people's works. To Perotta, the one sign that someone is going to be okay as a writer is that they read vociferously. Summing It All UpTom Perrotta's story is a reminder that the path to finding your creative voice can be winding. You have to try a lot of things, read a lot of things, and then you have to sit down and do the hard work. It involves exploring different interests, recognizing where your natural affinities lie, and embracing the power of reading and mentorship.So, get out there and do it. Let me know what you think in the comments.

May 6, 2025 - 05:22

Author Tom Perrotta's Advice on Becoming a Writer

If I had to pick my favorite author, it would be Tom Perrotta. He tells tales of suburban America that I think are cutting, relatable, and engrossing.

Perrotta's novels, such as Election and Little Children, thrust him into the spotlight after they were adapted into critically acclaimed films; Perrotta co-wrote the screenplay for Little Children with Todd Field, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

His novel The Leftovers, about the aftermath of a Rapture-like event, was adapted into a Peabody Award-winning HBO television series, which he co-created and produced. Other notable works include the novels The Abstinence Teacher, Mrs. Fletcher (also adapted into an HBO mini-series), and Tracy Flick Can't Win (2022), along with the short story collection Nine Inches.

Today, I wanted to look at the video of Perrotta giving writing advice and see what we could glean from his words.

Let's dive in.

Tom Perrotta's Advice For Writers

I think it's extremely valuable to listen to authors, especially ones who have worked in both film and TV. There's a real demystification of the act of writing and lots of great advice on finding yourself and your voice.

Perrotta found early inspiration in his life by just reading anything and everything.

In the video, he recalls the profound impact of diving into worlds like Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. But beyond just being a fan, Perrotta felt a pull towards doing. When he turned to writing, something inside him clicked.

Perrotta describes a sense of ease and natural ability that had eluded him in his other pursuits. This feeling solidified his ambition; by college, he knew writing was his path.

Nurturing the Spark

Once you have that spark and that love of writing, you have to nurture it to run it into a blaze.

You can do that by reading. Gobble up all the work you can and see how it makes you feel and what parts of yourself it helps bring out of your mind.

Perrotta says he didn't have a particularly "literary" childhood in the traditional sense. However, he credits encouragement to read and influential English teachers, who introduced him to authors like the great Raymond Chandler, as vital supports.

It helped him find his style on the page and the way he'd form his prose.

Finding those friends and mentors who thought like him kept him on the path. And they didn't turn him off becoming a writer, they helped keep him moving forward.

Coupled with this is the idea that writers also must be avid readers. It's through immersing oneself in the works of others that a writer truly hones their own craft.

You get better and find out who you are just by reading other people's works.

To Perotta, the one sign that someone is going to be okay as a writer is that they read vociferously.

Summing It All Up

Tom Perrotta's story is a reminder that the path to finding your creative voice can be winding. You have to try a lot of things, read a lot of things, and then you have to sit down and do the hard work.

It involves exploring different interests, recognizing where your natural affinities lie, and embracing the power of reading and mentorship.

So, get out there and do it.

Let me know what you think in the comments.