114 episodes

A podcast to help you overcome resistance and write with more joy, clarity, and confidence. If you’re working on a novel or memoir, stick around. Whether you haven‘t written a word since your 5-paragraph essay days or you have an MFA in Creative Writing, this weekly podcast is now your favorite writing companion on your journey to finish your first draft.

The First Draft Club By Mary Adkins | Author & Book Writing Coach

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 93 Ratings

A podcast to help you overcome resistance and write with more joy, clarity, and confidence. If you’re working on a novel or memoir, stick around. Whether you haven‘t written a word since your 5-paragraph essay days or you have an MFA in Creative Writing, this weekly podcast is now your favorite writing companion on your journey to finish your first draft.

    S07 E08 The Lean-In Method for Assessing Feedback

    S07 E08 The Lean-In Method for Assessing Feedback

    How do you get feedback without letting it derail you? The risk is real. Mary shares the single criterion she uses in deciding whether or not to take a piece of feedback.

    • 11 min
    S07 E07 The Real Secret to Writing Your Best Possible Book

    S07 E07 The Real Secret to Writing Your Best Possible Book

    In this short and sweet episode, Mary shares the secret to writing a book that's smarter than you (with some helpful words from George Saunders and Rufi Thorpe).

    • 9 min
    S07 E06 Rufi Thorpe (with Mary) on How to Control Your Reader's Mind

    S07 E06 Rufi Thorpe (with Mary) on How to Control Your Reader's Mind

    In this sneak peek into the private podcast inside The Book Incubator, Mary and Rufi discuss what they label "Newtonian Narratology" (you think we're kidding!), a.k.a. why it's better for your characters to try not to cry than to cry, and why you might not need to learn how to write that one emotion you struggle to write, after all.

    • 39 min
    S07 E05 Interview with Psychologist & Author Joe Sanok on How to Get Your Book Written

    S07 E05 Interview with Psychologist & Author Joe Sanok on How to Get Your Book Written

    Author of Thursday is the New Friday, Joe Sanok speaks with Mary about the neuroscience findings that can help aspiring authors finally finish their drafts.

    • 40 min
    S07 E04 3 Publishing Myths that Are Making Me Mad

    S07 E04 3 Publishing Myths that Are Making Me Mad

    There are people online selling solutions you don't need to problems that don't exist. As a writer aspiring to be published, it pays to be savvy. Mary unpacks 3 of these myths so you can avoid traps.

    • 14 min
    S07 E03 Here it is...the Novel-Writing Tool I Invented in 2023!

    S07 E03 Here it is...the Novel-Writing Tool I Invented in 2023!

    In this episode, Mary shares the origin story of her newest tool "A Novel in 52 Prompts" and shares the first 3 prompts so you can knock out your first 5,000 words.

    • 19 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
93 Ratings

93 Ratings

AGibsonWriter ,

Useful and actionable advice

I love Mary’s direct style and friendly tone. She makes writing fun and manageable.

LucyHighBaller ,

Just found this and I love it!

I think the information in these podcast is very useful. The podcast subjects are very interesting. I cannot wait to listen to all of them!

mrs blackmore ,

Great Writing Advice!

I have enjoyed listening to a number of these podcasts. I am a published author myself and find the topics and direction to be spot on. Some of it I already know but maybe forget to regularly employ. Some info is new. One can always benefit from hearing something again. The advice is very helpful no matter what the phase of your writing and career. Thank you to Ms. Adkins. Your delivery is great and I learn something useful and actionable with every episode.

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