The magic of storytelling: Isabel Allende on crafting stories

In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, bestselling novelist Isabel Allende shares insights into her creative process and craft, as outlined in her latest book Storytelling – a profound exploration of the art and magic of writing.

Isabel Allende, born in Peru and raised in Chile, is a novelist, feminist, and philanthropist. She is one of the most widely read authors in the world, having sold more than eighty million copies of her books across forty-two languages. She is the author of several bestselling and critically acclaimed books, including The Wind Knows My Name, Violeta, A Long Petal of the Sea, The House of the Spirits, Of Love and Shadows, Eva Luna, and Paula. She has received fifteen honorary doctorates, been inducted into the California Hall of Fame, and received the PEN Center Lifetime Achievement Award and the Anisfield-Wolf Lifetime Achievement Award.

She sat down with NCW’s Holly Ainley to reflect on what it means to be a writer, and the role that writing plays in shaping her life and identity. They also explore how to navigate self-criticism as a writer, the importance of creating complex, three-dimensional characters, and developing an authentic voice as a writer.