In Episode 44 , we interview Bloomberg journalist and author Kurt Wagner about his book, Battle for the Bird: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk and the $44 Billion Fight to Save Twitter’s Soul. The conversation explores the unexpected turns and challenges Wagner faced while writing this book. Intending at first to write a biography about Jack Dorsey, Wagner took an unforeseen detour when Elon Musk entered the scene and changed the trajectory of the narrative—and Dorsey’s vision. The ensuing transformation of the book’s theme illustrates the fluid yet chaotic nature of creating anything. Kurt’s meticulous research and tenacious pursuit of sources —including 150 interviews and interactions with 115 Twitter employees results in a narrative rich in detail, providing an inside look at a company—and a founder’s soul, caught between the fierce demands of activist investors and a compromised vision. The transition from short-form journalism to an expansive book format posed its challenges. Wagner reflects on the demands of outlining, crafting a coherent flow, and the importance of maintaining reader engagement throughout. He describes his disciplined routine during his three month book leave—a regimen of writing that required an unwavering focus akin to endurance sports. And bonus: Kurt shares some of his favorite sentences from other writers that he keeps on his phone. We get to hear him read a few—and share so much more. You'll love Kurt and Battle for the Bird! Hope you enjoy this episode.
Page One, produced and hosted by author Holly Lynn Payne, celebrates the craft that goes into writing the first sentence, first paragraph and first page of your favorite books. The first page is often the most rewritten page of any book because it has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. We interview master storytellers on the struggles and stories behind the first page of their books.
About the guest author:
Kurt Wagner has been covering social media for more than a decade and has spent years writing about Twitter and its impact on society. He previously worked at the influential tech outlets Recode, Mashable, and Fortune. Kurt grew up near Seattle, went to college at Santa Clara University, and now lives in Denver with his family. You can follow him on Twitter or X @KurtWagner8.
About the host:
Holly Lynn Payne is an award-winning novelist and writing coach, and the former CEO and founder of Booxby, a startup built to help authors succeed. She is an internationally published author of four historical fiction novels. Her debut, The Virgin's Knot, was a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers book. As an author and writing coach, she knows that the first page of any book has to work so hard to do so much—hook the reader. So she thought to ask your favorite master storytellers how they do their magic to hook you. Holly lives in Marin County with her family and two Labrador retrievers, and enjoys mountain biking, hiking, swimming and pretending to surf. To learn more about her books and writing coaching services, please follow her on IG + X @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.
Tune in and reach out:
If you're an aspiring writer or a book lover, this episode of Page One offers a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice. I offer these conversations as a testament to the magic that happens when master storytellers share their secrets and experiences. We hope you are inspired to tune into the full episode for more insights. Keep writing, keep reading, and remember—the world needs your stories. If I can help you tell your own story, or help improve your first page, please reach out @hollylynnpayne or visit hollylynnpayne.com.
You can listen to Page One on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Stitcher and all your favorite podcast players. Hear past episodes. If you're interested in getting writing tips and the latest podcast episode updates with the world's beloved master storytellers, please sign up for my very short monthly newsletter at hollylynnpayne.com and follow me @hollylynnpayne on Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook. Your email address is always private and you can always unsubscribe anytime.
The Page One Podcast is created at the foot of a mountain in Marin County, California, and is a labor of love in service to writers and book lovers. My intention is to inspire, educate and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of my creative community! Be well and keep reading.
~Holly~