Best Literature & writing craft videos, as recommended on Hacker News

35 videos about literature & writing craft that Hacker News commenters keep recommending, mentioned between 2008 and 2026. Mostly talk, other, lecture. Channels that come up most: UChicago Social Sciences, Talks at Google, Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, University of California Television (UCTV). Sorted by how consistently HN recommended them over the years.

The most recommended is LEADERSHIP LAB: The Craft of Writing Effectively: HN users repeatedly say it changed how they think about writing, calling it a masterclass useful far beyond academia.

lectureLEADERSHIP LAB: The Craft of Writing EffectivelyUChicago Social Sciences · 15 HN recommenders · 2019–2026
otherThe Egg - A Short StoryKurzgesagt – In a Nutshell · 7 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
talkDOUGLAS ADAMS: Parrots, the Universe and EverythingUniversity of California Television (UCTV) · 5 HN recommenders · 2014–2025
talkIra Glass on Storytelling 3warphotography · 7 HN recommenders · 2018–2026
lectureLEADERSHIP LAB: Writing Beyond the Academy 1.23.15UChicago Social Sciences · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
lectureKurt Vonnegut, Shape of Stories (subtitulos castellano)Eva CollinsAlonso · 6 HN recommenders · 2019–2024
lectureKurt Vonnegut on the Shapes of StoriesDavid Comberg · 5 HN recommenders · 2012–2022
explainerAlexander Pope Wrote a 35-Page Takedown of a HistorianCGP Grey · 5 HN recommenders · 2021–2025
podcastNeuromancer (BBC radio play adaptation ) William GibsonMichael McGrath · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2025
talkEmacs For Writersthoughtbot · 3 HN recommenders · 2016–2024
otherHow To Be AloneAndrea Dorfman · 6 HN recommenders · 2010–2026
talk34C3 - Dude, you broke the Future!media.ccc.de · 4 HN recommenders · 2018–2024
lectureJorge Luis Borges: This Craft of Verse Lectures - thepostarchivethepostarchive · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2022
documentaryCouldn't Care Less. Cormac McCarthy in conversation with David KrakauerKarol Jałochowski · 3 HN recommenders · 2023–2025
documentaryBOOKSTORES: How to Read More Books in the Golden Age of ContentMax Joseph · 3 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
talkWhat nobody tells you about documentationPyCon AU · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
interviewIra Glass on the Creative Process (www.getoutthebox.org)Getoutthebox1 · 3 HN recommenders · 2012–2015
otherSolaris | SCIENCE FICTION | FULL MOVIE | directed by TarkovskyMosfilm · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2025
explainerShakespeare: Original pronunciation (The Open University)OpenLearn from The Open University · 4 HN recommenders · 2013–2025
talkBrave New World vs Nineteen Eighty-Four featuring Adam Gopnik and Will SelfIntelligence Squared · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2022
commentaryBlade Runner 2049 | "Cells Interlinked" and Pale Fire (LITERALLY ME! INCELS INTERLINKED)Fallopium Films · 2 HN recommenders · 2024–2026
otherThey're Made Out Of MeatStephen O'Regan · 2 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
interviewGeorge RR Martin asks Stephen King: "How do you write so Fast?!"Aegon Targaryen · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2025
interviewGaiman on Copyright Piracy and the WebOpenRightsGroup · 2 HN recommenders · 2011–2014
otherDavid Foster Wallace reads "Consider the Lobster" (on the 2003 Maine Lobster Festival)Manufacturing Intellect · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2020
commentaryCities Without PeopleJacob Geller · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2025
interviewAldous Huxley interviewed by Mike Wallace : 1958 (Full)someoddstuff · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2025
demoIllustrating Crafting InterpretersBob Nystrom · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
otherBabel Fish - The Oddest Thing In The Universe - The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - BBCBBC Studios · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2025
talkYour elusive creative genius | Elizabeth GilbertTED · 2 HN recommenders · 2011–2021
otherBlindsight Sci-fi Short FilmDanil Krivoruchko · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2026
talkAnathem | Neal Stephenson | Talks at GoogleTalks at Google · 1 HN recommender · 2008–2024
commentaryHarlan Ellison -- Pay the WriterNicholas Horton · 1 HN recommender · 2013–2021
otherOriginal Pronunciation - Hamlet | To Be, or not to be... | Ben CrystalShakespeare on Toast · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2025
talkxkcd | Randall Munroe | Talks at GoogleTalks at Google · 1 HN recommender · 2008–2026