Navigating Alternate Realities with Blake Crouch

A Note from James: I'm so excited. I'm like a fanboy of my favorite TV show of the year. It's called Dark Matter, and it's on Apple TV Plus. I don't know how to describe it. It's a thriller, it's drama, it's science fiction, and it's emotional. It's just a well-written show. Every episode's a cliffhanger, and it's based on one of my favorite novels, Dark Matter, by one of my favorite novelists, Blake Crouch. Blake was also involved in writing the TV show. Blake agreed to come on the podcast, and we talk all things writing, thrillers, Dark Matter, TV, publishing, and he answered all my questions about my favorite show and his writing process. Here's Blake. Episode Description: In this episode, James Altucher interviews Blake Crouch, the mastermind behind the novel and TV adaptation of "Dark Matter." They discuss the intricacies of writing thrillers, the challenge of adapting a beloved novel for the screen, and the science and emotion behind the concept of the multiverse. Blake shares his insights into the creative process, his experiences with traditional and self-publishing, and the importance of emotional resonance in storytelling. Whether you're a fan of "Dark Matter" or an aspiring writer, this episode offers a deep look into the mind of a successful author navigating the intersection of science fiction and human experience. What You’ll Learn:The creative process behind writing and adapting "Dark Matter" for television.Insights into the multiverse theory and its narrative potential.The emotional and existential questions that drive Blake's storytelling.The evolution of Blake's writing career from self-publishing to mainstream success.The balance between science fiction concepts and human emotions in creating compelling stories. Chapters: 02:39 Exploring the Multiverse Concept 05:21 Character Development and Performance 08:52 Blake Crouch's Writing Journey 16:07 Self-Publishing vs Traditional Publishing 22:58 Defining the Thriller Genre 29:43 The Art of Surprising the Reader 33:12 The Art of Surprising Readers 34:03 Cliffhangers vs. Surprises 35:01 The Challenge of Writing Endings 35:59 The Value of a Great Book 36:59 Exploring Existential Questions 38:36 The Science of Gene Editing 43:29 The Appeal of Wayward Pines 45:23 The Complexity of Plot Twists 50:23 The Writing Process 55:35 The Impact of Success 01:00:04 Conclusion and Future Works Additional Resources:Blake Crouch's Official WebsiteWayward Pines SeriesRecursion by Blake CrouchUpgrade by Blake Crouch ------------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 RadioSpotify Follow me on social media:YouTubeTwitterFacebookLinkedIn