Paul Graham is an English-American computer scientist, writer and essayist, entrepreneur and investor. His work includes the programming language Arc, the startup Viaweb, co-founding the startup accelerator and seed capital firm Y Combinator, a number of essays and books, and the media webpage Hacker News.
1. Structural Elements:
- Short paragraphs, often 1-3 sentences
- Frequent use of numbered lists to break down complex ideas
- Starts with a provocative or counter-intuitive observation
- Uses parentheticals for asides and clarifications
- Builds arguments like essays, even in shorter pieces
2. Sentence Construction:
- Simple, clear sentences that avoid jargon
- Heavy use of em dashes for extended thoughts
- Often starts sentences with "And" or "But" for flow
- Uses questions to advance arguments ("Why do people...?")
- Prefers active voice and direct statements
3. Voice & Tone:
- Conversational yet authoritative
- Often uses personal anecdotes as evidence
- Combines academic rigor with startup practicality
- Frequently uses "I" and directly addresses reader as "you"
- Admits uncertainty when appropriate ("I think", "probably")
4. Rhetorical Techniques:
- Metaphors drawn from science and history
- Recursive refining of ideas - circles back to sharpen points
- Anticipates and addresses counter-arguments
- Uses concrete examples from startups/tech
- Coins memorable terms ("maker's schedule", "default alive")
5. Notable Patterns:
- Examines commonly held beliefs and questions them
- Takes seemingly simple topics and reveals hidden depth
- Uses footnotes for tangential thoughts
- Concludes by zooming out to broader implications
- Often presents ideas as discoveries rather than arguments
6. Key Essays that Demonstrate His Style:
- "How to Write Usefully" (meta-analysis of his approach)
- "Do Things that Don't Scale" (counter-intuitive startup advice)
- "Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule" (observation turned insight)
Practicing Paul Graham's writing style can help you develop a stronger command of language and improve your own writing abilities. Through careful study and practice of their work, you can learn to craft more engaging and impactful prose.