How Acclaimed Debut Author Austin Taylor Writes

Acclaimed debut novelist Austin Taylor spoke with us about the pressure cooker of Harvard life, studying AI law in the heart of Silicon Valley, and the inspiration behind her debut set in the biotech startup world of NOTES ON INFINITY. Austin Taylor graduated from Harvard University in 2021 with a joint degree in Chemistry and English. She is currently pursuing a JD at Stanford Law School as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar, with a focus on generative AI, copyright, and authorship. Her debut novel, Notes on Infinity, was named an Oprah Daily “Best Summer Read,” a Zibby Owens’ “Summer Read,” a Goodreads “Hottest Debut of 2025,” and is inspired in part by her undergraduate studies, peers, and lab work in Harvard’s chemistry department. Booklist wrote of the book, "With a trajectory that echoes that of Elizabeth Holmes’ Theranos, Taylor's debut provides an insider's glimpse into the high-stakes Ivy League climate and the potentially devastating personal consequences for those caught up in ambition beyond their abilities." Austin is also a private pilot, a registered Maine guide, and a bassist. [Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm] [If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen] In this file Austin Taylor, Milena, and I discussed: What it was like to grow up on a dairy farm in Maine Writing her debut novel during her gap year How The Social Network helped her capture the "momentum and excitement” of startup life Her morning ritual and daily word counts Why bad writing days are "almost always because [she’s] not reading enough" good stuff Balancing law school and writing her sophomore novel And a lot more! Show Notes: ElevenReader is a new, award-winning audio app for iOS, Android, Web Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/files! #squarepod austintaylorwrites.com Notes on Infinity: A Novel by Austin Taylor Austin Taylor on Instagram⁠ Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram Kelton Reid Instagram Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices