About this episodeLiane Moriarty discusses the inspiration behind her novel 'Here One Moment,' revealing it originated from an o…AI summary
Liane Moriarty discusses the inspiration behind her novel 'Here One Moment,' revealing it originated from an overheated conversation on a delayed flight combined with personal reflections on mortality following family health crises. She shares her writing process, including using the 'Freedom' app to block distractions and an hourglass technique to overcome writer's block, while also touching on her experiences with Hollywood adaptations and cultural differences between Australian and American audiences.
Key takeaways 6
Inspiration for 'Here One Moment' came from a specific incident on a delayed flight where a woman repeatedly tried to wake her sleeping husband, leading Moriarty to imagine a scenario where passengers knew their exact time and cause of death.
Moriarty writes from multiple perspectives by alternating characters to maintain narrative momentum and avoid the difficulty of sustaining a single POV, despite often promising herself she will write from just one character.
She uses specific productivity tools: the 'Freedom' app to block internet access for set periods and a physical hourglass to force 20 minutes of continuous writing without thinking.
Cultural differences noted include Australians being less complimentary in public spaces (like airports) compared to Americans, and Australians preferring understated reactions ('yeah that was your C') versus American enthusiasm ('woohoo').
Moriarty deliberately steps back from adaptation processes (like 'Big Little Lies') to avoid holding on too tightly, recognizing that television requires different structural arcs than novels.
She advises authors not to share their goals or premises widely, citing a study that suggests telling people your goals creates a premature dopamine rush that lowers motivation.
Notable quotes 5AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“I think it's just entertainment... it was just entertainment to take her mind away from it.”
▶ 4:36Moriarty reflecting on how readers use her books as escapism during difficult times, such as a child in intensive care.
“If you can find something you love and you can get some bastard to pay you to do it then that's that's the goal.”
▶ 55:07Her father's advice on career success, which motivated her early writing career.
“The time between your 40s and your 60s as snipers alley because that's when you likely to get one of those terrible diagnoses.”
▶ 4:42Moriarty explaining the thematic influence of mortality and aging on her current work.
“I don't believe that books need to be exact uh completely 100% faithful to the book... if I started to say things um then I would hold on too tightly.”
▶ 47:33Her philosophy on allowing creative freedom during film/TV adaptations.
“Feel the fear and do it anyway.”
▶ 29:45A piece of life advice she values, particularly regarding the fear of starting new writing projects.
Chapters & Sections (41)▼
0:00Author's Inspiration and Writing Processchapter3
0:00Author's Inspiration and Writing Process
2:38Confronting Suspicious Behavior on a Flight
3:50Mortality and Aging as a Life Experience
5:13Inspiration for Writing a Novelchapter5
5:13The Concept of Mortality and Life Expectancy
6:53Adaptation of Novels into Film and Television
8:16Experiences with Book Optioning and Publishing
9:42Experiences with Award Show Invitations and Protocol
11:01Celebrity Culture and the Perception of Fame
13:20Beliefs in Signs and Spirituality After Losschapter6
13:20Beliefs in Signs and Spirits After Loss
15:13Midlife Crisis and Career Reevaluation Strategies
16:36Character Development and Writing Techniques
18:15Writing Style and Authorial Influences
19:25The Writing Process and Creative Flow
20:55Challenges of Writing and Public Speaking
22:20Cultural Differences Between Americans and Australianschapter2
22:20Cultural Differences Between Australia and America
23:41Desire for Knowledge of Mortality and Life Secrets
27:17The Writing Process and Productivity Techniqueschapter2
27:17The Writing Process and Productivity Techniques
29:08Overcoming Fear and Embracing Change in Life
31:33Revisiting Forgotten Characters in Writingchapter2
31:33Revisiting Forgotten Characters in Writing
33:52Author's Creative Process and Book Adaptations
36:11Dealing with Negative Book Reviews and Criticismchapter2
36:11Dealing with Negative Book Reviews and Criticism
38:48Writing Motivation and Creative Process
40:41Author's Personal Experiences with Book Recognitionchapter2
40:41Author's Personal Experiences with Book Recognition
43:09Author's Reading Preferences and Book Recommendations
45:19Writing Multiple Perspectives in Fictionchapter2
45:19Writing Process and Creative Freedom
47:57Balancing Creative Input in Film Production
49:53The Creative Process of Character Developmentchapter2
49:53The Creative Process and Originality in Writing
51:09Writing Complex Characters and Research Challenges
54:14Childhood Influences on Creative Developmentchapter2
54:14Childhood Influences on Creative Development
57:08Creating Authentic Characters through Real-Life Inspiration
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