Richard Price on Writing: The Art of Building a World One Detail at a Time

Richard Price has long been known for his razor-sharp dialogue and immersive storytelling, whether in novels like Clockers or in his work on The Wire. 

In a recent interview with The Guardian, he reflected on his process—deeply rooted in observation, research, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity.

Writing as Eavesdropping

For Price, writing starts with listening. He describes his process as eavesdropping—absorbing how people talk, how they move through the world, and what details make them feel real. This attention to language makes his dialogue ring true, something he honed in his novels and screenwriting, where every line has to earn its place.

The Weight of Research

Price is known for embedding himself in the worlds he writes about. Whether it’s shadowing detectives or spending time in the neighborhoods he depicts, he believes that lived experience (or at least close proximity to it) is what separates convincing storytelling from cliché. “If you don’t do the research,” he says, “you’re just making things up.” And for Price, making things up without a foundation isn’t an option.

Character Through Subtext

One of the most compelling takeaways from his interview is his approach to backstory. Instead of dumping information on the reader, Price lets his characters’ pasts emerge through what they say and, more importantly, what they don’t. He trusts his audience to pick up on the subtext—to recognise that the way a person reacts to a situation often reveals more than a direct explanation ever could.

Writing as a Daily Grind

Despite his mastery, Price doesn’t romanticise writing. He talks about the daily struggle of getting words on the page, the endless rewriting, and the moments of self-doubt that never quite go away. But he also acknowledges that the best writing often comes from pushing through those tough stretches, from showing up every day even when the words don’t come easily.

For writers looking to sharpen their craft, there’s a lot to learn from Price’s approach. Pay attention to the way people talk. Do the work to understand the world you’re writing about. Let the backstory surface naturally rather than forcing it. And above all, accept that writing is, at its core, a process that rewards persistence, curiosity, and an obsession with getting it right.

Read the article here.