Architect Michael Dean breaks down the hidden patterns behind the great essays of our time. In this video, we go over his 27-point framework that makes up every world-class piece of writing and how he uses the same system to analyze the Guggenheim and Apple Store. We also talk about what skills will still matter as AI continues to improve and why learning to write might be more important than ever. Enjoy!
A few links:
1. Join the Essay Architecture beta: https://essayarchitecture.com/
2. Follow Michael Dean on Substack: https://www.michaeldean.site/
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:41 Is writing quality objective?
00:03:18 Grading essays with AI
00:06:07 Guggenheim vs. Apple Store
00:08:33 How great writers start
00:11:37 Practice vs. performance
00:16:12 Editing for voice
00:25:30 Getting feedback like a comedian
00:29:06 A map of writing patterns
00:37:11 Rhythm, sound, and style
00:44:25 Wallace vs. Orwell
00:54:20 Wallace’s 37 examples
01:00:17 Three pillars of personal writing
01:05:51 Intention creates tension
01:12:18 What makes a great essay
01:20:34 AI’s influence on writing
01:28:16 Should schools ban ChatGPT?
01:31:11 Writing’s deeper meaning
01:39:47 How work writing will change
01:44:49 Personal writing vs. AI
01:50:28 Why writing still matters
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.
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