The storytelling secrets of nonfiction master Robert Caro

Robert Caro is arguably the world’s most celebrated political biographer. Why? His dedication to the craft is unparalleled.

Caro believes in the value of original research. His legendary investigations have even given rise to the term “Caro-esque”.

If he takes 10 years to complete a book, only about a year of that is spent writing. The other nine years are spent digging into raw, unfiltered information. That’s where the truth lies.

Talking to people (again and again) is essential. What sets Caro’s work apart is that he focuses not just on the main players of an event, but zooms in on the everyday people affected by it.

Silence is Caro’s key tool for interviewing. When you’re silent, the other person tends to fill in the gap. This technique can draw out information that questions would not.

The devil is in the details. Caro often asks people: “What did you see?” Story and action are not enough. He wants the sensations: the smell of the room, the expressions on people’s faces.

Convey a sense of place. Caro brings scenes to life by putting the reader there. He moved to Texas for three years so that his biography of Lyndon Johnson could be “true to the reality”.

Stick to the plan. Caro doesn’t start writing until he has the story totally figured out. Once he gets going, he keeps checking in with his outline to make sure he’s staying true to that vision.

Writing is rewriting. Caro edits himself relentlessly: to the point that nothing more can be changed. This ensures maximum precision and clarity.

Treat it like a job. Caro sets himself daily writing goals – and sticks to them. He even wears a jacket and tie while writing to remind himself that the craft of storytelling is a serious business.