The First Draft Club
By Mary Adkins | Author & Book Writing CoachA 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 podcast is now your weekly coffee date on your journey to finish your first draft. Visit maryadkinswriter.com for more resources.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 154 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ArtsEducationCoursesBooks | |||
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Latest Episodes
You're in the middle of writing a scene. Everything's flowing. Then suddenly—you stop.
You don't know how your character is going to react to what someone just said. Or you're about to write what you planned to write next, but suddenly it doesn't fe... more
You know those scenes you're dreading? The ones that feel like a slog, where you're just "filling in the blanks" between the parts you're actually excited about?
Here's what you need to know: just because something has to happen in your story doesn'... more
Sometimes the simplest solution to a revision problem is something you've forgotten you're allowed to change.
This is the forest-for-the-trees phenomenon. It's normal. It's human. But it can suck a bunch of energy when you're trying to fix problems ... more
If you're writing a memoir, you've probably realized: covering 20, 30, even 40 years of your life in one book feels impossible.
Where do you start? Where do you end? How do you fit everything in without writing a 500-page autobiography that no one a... more
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- She Nails It
I have listened to only a handful of these podcast episodes, but what I look for in a writing podcast is someone who inspires me to want to write, and someone who can affirm my thoughts and give me new ideas for ways to improve my writing.
The episode that made me want to leave this review was Mary’s episode on enneagram types and writing goals. At first I was of the impression she was going to say 1’s (my type) are going to need some crazy goal because they’re so put together… but that’s not m... more
Apple Podcasts5YoungWriter2007
United Statesa year ago - Just what I need!
Thanks Mary. I’m so glad I found your podcast. I look forward to listening and taking notes each day! I love that you tell us not to overthink the structure, and think of our novel as a collection of scenes.
Apple Podcasts5Love to write!
Australiaa year ago - So Helpful!
Subscribe, enroll and download all things Mary Adkins now! This is no nonsense, nitty gritty how-tos for writers. Easy to follow and a quick listen. 👍🏼👍🏼
Apple Podcasts5namdezoomUnited States2 years ago - Mind blowing
My first novel debuts in September (it’s traditionally published) and I stumbled across Mary’s eye-opening podcast (the episode on hiring a book publicist) was really informative. I highly recommend any writer - self-published or not - give her show a shot. Thanks so much for your insight.
Apple Podcasts5aliahdUnited States2 years ago - 💜 💜 💜 💜
This inspires me to write the best book that I can. I also appreciate the eloquence of the reviews. 😂
Apple Podcasts5LolPodcastUnited States2 years ago
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Apple Podcasts | #219 | United States/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #152 |  Canada/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #200 |  United Kingdom/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #110 |  France/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #128 | Australia/Arts/Books |
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Frequently Asked Questions About The First Draft Club
What is The First Draft Club about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This show centers on practical craft for novelists and memoirists, with a focus on maintaining original voice while navigating feedback, structure, and drafting processes. Episodes cover topics like giving characters distinct voices, deciding how much to Research, handling criticism, ending chapters effectively, and marketing a book without resorting to begging readers. A recurring thread is finishing a first draft through approachable frameworks, concrete techniques, and authorly wisdom, often anchored in the host's personal experiences and a mentorship mindset. Notably, the host blends literary craft with candid reflections on journaling, publishing, and building supportive writing ecosystems, which can be especially helpful for writers s... more
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How many listeners does The First Draft Club get?
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Which podcasts are similar to The First Draft Club?
These podcasts share a similar audience with The First Draft Club:
1. Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips
2. Helping Writers Become Authors
3. Essential Guide to Writing a Novel
4. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
5. The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers
How many episodes of The First Draft Club are there?
The First Draft Club launched 6 years ago and published 154 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact The First Draft Club?
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What guests have appeared on The First Draft Club?
Recent guests on The First Draft Club include:
1. Rufy Thorpe
2. Joe Sanok
3. Gayle Brown
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.