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First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing

Mitzi Rapkin
Poetry
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Literature
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First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing is a weekly show featuring in-depth interviews with fiction, non-fiction, essay, and poetry writers. First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing highlights the voices of writers as they discuss their work, their craft, and the literary arts. This weekly show hosted by Mitzi Rapkin is a celebration of creative writing and the individuals who are dedicated to bringing their... more

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Artwork for First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing

Latest Episodes

Jess Row is the author of the novels The New Earth and Your Face in Mine as well as a collection of essays, White Flights: Race, Fiction, and the American Imagination. His short story collections include The Train to Lo Wu, Nobody Ever Gets Lost and... more

Richard Russo is the author of 11 novels, including most recently, Under the Falls, Somebody’s Fool, Chances Are . . . , Everybody’s Fool, and That Old Cape Magic; two collections of stories; and the memoir Elsewhere. In 2002 he received the Pulitzer... more

Michael Cunningham is a novelist, screenwriter, and educator. His novel The Hours received the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1999. He has taught at Columbia University and Brooklyn College. He is currently a professor in th... more

Rachel Eliza Griffiths is a poet, multimedia artist, memoirist and novelist. Her literary and visual work has been widely published in magazines, journals, and anthologies, including The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Poets and Writers, and Best Ameri... more

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Recent Guests

Rachel Eliza Griffiths
Poet, multimedia artist, and novelist
Author, The Flower Bearers; See the memoir and other published work
Episode: First Draft - Rachel Eliza Griffiths (Returns)
Kevin Powers
Author of Children of the Wild, A Line in the Sand, A Shout in the Ruins, The Yellow Birds; poet
Author
Episode: First Draft - Kevin Powers
Laura Dave
Author of The Last Thing He Told Me and The First Time I Saw Him
Author
Episode: First Draft - Laura Dave
Emeline Atwood
Author of the novel A Real Animal
Author, A Real Animal
Episode: First Draft - Emeline Atwood
Emily Rapp Black
Author of Poster Child, A Memoir, and I Would Die If I Were You
UC Riverside (Professor of Creative Writing)
Episode: First Draft - Emily Rapp Black
Ben Fountain
Author of Rasputin Swims the Potomac
Author
Episode: First Draft - Ben Fountain (Returns Again)
Zinzi Clemmons
Author of Freedom; essayist and novelist
Author, Freedom; What We Lose
Episode: First Draft - Zinzi Clemmons
Ruth Ozeki
Writer, filmmaker, and Zen Buddhist priest
Author of The Typing Lady and Other Fictions; The Book of Form and Emptiness; My Year of Meats; All Over Creation
Episode: First Draft - Ruth Ozeki
Emma Straub
Author of American Fantasy, Guggenheim Foundation fellow
Author, Books Are Magic (co-owner)
Episode: First Draft - Emma Straub

Host

Mitzi Rapkin
Host of First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 299 ratings
  • Interesting podcast...

    This was such an interesting episode to listen to, especially hearing Jim Newton talk about the intersection of journalism, biography, and storytelling. I liked how the conversation explored not just the writing process, but also the deeper cultural themes behind his work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mary Burruss
    United States3 months ago
  • What a great place to land!

    I couldn’t stop listening to the interview with Philip Schultz.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cool Dude's Wife
    United States5 months ago
  • One Pilgrimage after the other

    THE absolute best podcast on a writers' process from a prism of angles. Ultra-inspire time and again

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stone Statue
    Canadaa year ago
  • Dear Podcasters..

    I find it hard to believe that on an Anniversary episode, picking the best of 500 interviews to choose from, you chose the one about Iran on the VERY week Trump bombs their nuclear sites. We come here for anything but that stuff. We all have our own brains, our own opinions our own perspectives, we don’t need anyone else’s political agenda pushed. Sick of audiences being taken advantage of that were originally organically grown, for the sake of politics. It’s not subtle.

    Give us a freaking break... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    littlebird1983
    United Statesa year ago
  • Super helpful for writers

    Also really enjoyable for readers!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pang Dynasty
    Canada2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests consistently praised for insight and preparation.
Thoughtful, deep interviews with top writers.
Audience appreciation for the intimate view into the writing life.
Hosts ask unique, probing questions that reveal craft and process.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#166
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#148
Spain/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#154
South Africa/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#196
Austria/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#213
Spain/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

First Draft - Kevin Powers
Q: What got you interested in this story originally, and what was the germ of the idea that manifested into the book?
The germ combined historical interest in a specific battle with a personal fascination with intimate male relationships set against war. Powers discusses drawing on Epic patterns (Gilgamesh) and turning trauma into a love story about bonds between Roy, Ennis, and Samantha, driven by the characters' choices and relationships rather than battlefield spectacle.
First Draft - Kevin Powers
Q: What is it about the military? Was that common in your family to go to the military?
Powers explains that his own path wasn't about following a family tradition, but acknowledges a broader cultural pull and personal curiosity about war, duty, and what motivates young men. He emphasizes the distinction between romantic notions of warfare and the harsh realities he writes about, including how survival and loyalty shape his characters.
First Draft 12th Anniversary Best Of - Ross Gay
Q: What is joy to you?
Gay describes joy as a relational force that arises from our tethered connections and our willingness to carry each other's sorrows, a practice rather than a fleeting moment.
First Draft - Tom Perrotta
Q: What finally brought this story to the page for you?
It emerged from a convergence of personal grief, the act of returning home during the pandemic, and a longing to understand a past that felt both nostalgic and troubling. The process involved discovering how to frame the narrative so that the teen perspective could carry the emotional load without being overwhelmed by an adult commentator.
First Draft 12th Anniversary Best Of - Michael Cunningham
Q: What was the genesis of The Snow Queen?
He describes starting with a vision for a regular guy and a mysterious apparition, then letting the plot unfold without knowing the ending.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing

What is First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful interview series spotlighting writers across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and essays. Episodes center on craft, process, memory, and the life of creating books, often delving into drafting, revision, research, and the emotional journeys behind publication. Guests range from established novelists to poets and memoirists, with conversations that mix practical writing tips, personal narratives, and reflections on the literary world. A standout aspect is the host's deep, reader-friendly engagement and thorough preparation, which tends to yield intimate, actionable insights for aspiring writers and literary lovers alike.

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Which podcasts are similar to First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing:

1. Writers on Writing
2. Otherppl with Brad Listi
3. Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry
4. Poured Over
5. The Shakespeare and Company Interview

How many episodes of First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing are there?

First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing launched 11 years ago and published 591 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing?

Recent guests on First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing include:

1. Rachel Eliza Griffiths
2. Kevin Powers
3. Laura Dave
4. Emeline Atwood
5. Emily Rapp Black
6. Ben Fountain
7. Zinzi Clemmons
8. Ruth Ozeki

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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