meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The James Altucher Show

828 - Brad Meltzer: How to write the "Twist" in a Thriller Novel!

The James Altucher Show

James Altucher

Education, Business

4.62.7K Ratings

🗓️ 8 March 2022

⏱️ 47 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Do you know, some ongoing comic has no Act 3? Writing a twist in a novel and any kind of media is an art!In this episode, I was joined by Brad Meltzer,  American novelist, non-fiction writer, TV show creator, and comic book author, to talk about his process of writing his new book, The Lightning Rod!A few of the lessons that I learned from Brad are, there was a secret group that the government hired 15 years ago to come up with scenarios terrorists could attack the US. Characters are the most important part of writing a novel, Negative Feedback is the ONLY feedback, and don't give up when people say "NO"!Read the full list here:  https://notepd.com/idea/10-things-i-learned-from-thriller-writer-brad-meltzer-363The Idea Machine Website is in Beta! Come join us at notepd.com, where you could read and share your ideas! My new book Skip The Line is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever you get your new book!Join You Should Run For President 2.0 Facebook Group, and we discuss why should run for president.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltucher.com/podcast.Thanks so much for listening! If you like this episode, please subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts:Apple PodcastsStitcheriHeart RadioSpotify Follow me on Social Media:YouTubeTwitterFacebook ------------What do YOU think of the show? Head to JamesAltucherShow.com/listeners and fill out a short survey that will help us better tailor the podcast to our audience!Are you interested in getting direct answers from James about your question on a podcast? Go to JamesAltucherShow.com/AskAltucher and send in your questions to be answered on the air!------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book, Skip the Line, is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltuchershow.com------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to "The James Altucher Show" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsiHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This isn't your average business podcast and he's not your average host.

0:06.8

This is the James Altiger Show.

0:12.8

Today on the James Altiger Show.

0:16.1

What does it mean to write a good thriller novel?

0:18.3

What does it mean to write a twist for no one's in a guess where the twist leads to?

0:24.4

So Brad Meltzer who sold tens of millions of copies of his thriller novels, he has a new

0:28.0

book coming out, The Lightning Rod, and he comes on to talk about all sorts of things about

0:33.8

writing.

0:34.8

Any interest at all in thrillers, writing, movies, comics?

0:38.6

Listen to this interview with Brad Meltzer.

0:43.4

You know, in comics, what stories have a three-act structure, act one, act two, act three,

0:57.4

basically, right?

0:58.4

This beginning is the middle and it's the end.

1:00.5

And when I went to work for DC Comics, they said to me, so much of comics are about

1:03.9

act two.

1:04.9

There is no act three.

1:05.9

There is no end.

1:07.7

Which as a novelist, I'm like, I can't do that.

1:10.8

That's why my comic stories are always self-contained beginning at the middle end.

1:14.2

But for the most part, they want Superman's going to go forever.

1:17.3

So you're never going to end.

1:18.8

But when an episode be like, let's just take the Superman TV show from the 50s, that always

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from James Altucher, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of James Altucher and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.