ReThinking: What being a lawyer taught John Grisham about writing novels

What It Covers

John Grisham discusses his transition from practicing law to writing 51 bestselling novels, maintaining a disciplined daily writing routine of 1,000 words from 7-11am, and how witnessing wrongful convictions changed his stance on capital punishment. He shares courtroom lessons that shaped his storytelling approach and current work exonerating innocent death row inmates.

Key Questions Answered

• •Trial preparation through revision: Grisham writes 1,000 words daily, then edits the previous day's work each morning before continuing. This method prevents wasting time on unusable material—he cut one-third (representing one year of work) from his first manuscript. The approach catches plot problems early and maintains narrative momentum without requiring complete rewrites of 50,000-word sections that lead nowhere.
• •Story validation process: Ideas must survive a multi-stage filter before writing begins. Most brilliant initial concepts fade after sitting untouched for weeks. Only stories that remain compelling after extended reflection and outline development earn the commitment to write. This prevents starting novels without knowing the ending, a common trap where writers produce 50,000 words before realizing they've written themselves into a corner.
• •Courtroom humor under pressure: Young lawyers in tense trial situations benefit from finding moments of levity. Grisham incorporates humor into his legal thrillers, though editors and his wife frequently remove it. The ability to lighten serious moments proves valuable in high-stakes environments, though publishers prioritize maintaining suspense over comedic relief in the thriller genre.
• •Death penalty perspective shift: A single question from a death row chaplain in 1994 reversed Grisham's support for capital punishment: "Do you think Jesus will approve of what we do here?" This moment, combined with discovering 18 wrongfully convicted people sent to Texas death row, demonstrates how targeted questions that invite self-reflection change minds more effectively than confrontational arguments about being wrong.
• •Optimal doubt management: Grisham maintains steady self-doubt throughout writing without reaching paralysis or overconfidence. He believes in stories before starting but questions execution throughout the process. This middle-ground approach—neither crippling uncertainty nor blind confidence—enables completion of 51 consecutive number one bestsellers while avoiding both writer's block and publishing work that fails quality standards.