How Co-Creator of Emmy-Winning “How I Met Your Mother” Carter Bays Writes

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

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Seven-time Emmy nominee and co-creator of the hit TV series "How I Met Your Mother," Carter Bays, spoke to me about working with David Letterman, being a recovering TV writer, and his debut novel "The Mutual Friend."

Carter Bays is best known as the co-creator of the sitcom How I Met Your Mother which ran on CBS for nine seasons. A companion series, How I Met Your Father, starring Hilary Duff, premiere on Hulu in 2022.

His latest is The Mutual Friend, described as a "... thought-provoking debut novel set in New York City, following a sprawling cast of characters as they navigate life, love, loss, ambition, and spirituality — without ever looking up from their phones."

A starred Kirkus review called the book, "... a perfect summer beach read, but one that deserves serious awards consideration as well," and NY Times bestselling author Clare Pooley called the book “... the most extraordinary and beguiling novel I’ve read in years."

Stay calm and write on ...

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In this file Carter Bays and I discussed:

• Why working on the Late Show with David Letterman was a comedy MFA
• How to get a laugh
• When he finds the time to write fiction
• The use of Easter eggs and twists in narrative structure
• Why you need to get your work in front of strangers
• And a lot more!

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Show Notes:

carterbays.com

The Mutual Friend: A Novel by Carter Bays [Amazon Affiliate]

Carter Bays on IMDb

Carter Bays on Facebook

Carter Bays on Instagram

Carter Bays on Twitter

Kelton Reid on Twitter

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