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The Book Incubator
Writing
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Novel Writing
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Self-Publishing
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Revision
Literary Agents
The Black List
Traditional Publishing
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Mary Atkins
Fiction
Plot
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Character Development

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 podcast is now your weekly coffee date on your journey to finish your first draft. Visit maryadkinswriter.com for more resources.

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Latest Episodes

This is part two of my conversation with memoirist Greg Marshall. In our conversation, we cover how to write a better paragraph, a technique Greg calls "literary Mad Libs," and how nonfiction writers should use all the same tools that fiction writers... more

This week I'm talking with my dear friend Greg Marshall, our memoir instructor inside the Book Incubator. Greg talks about how he wrote his own memoir, Leg, and how he didn't abandon the material in early drafts when it wasn't working. He just kept c... more

Register for my free workshop, How Much Money Can You Make On Your Book?, at workshop.thebookincubator.com. Live on Sep 10th or register to get the replay!

Publishing is a black box for aspiring authors. You don't know what you don't know about the ... more

In this episode, I'm sharing six ways I've found to make my own writing more pleasurable—the actual habits that get me into the story faster and with less friction. Some are practical (like why I don't write sitting at a desk). One of them has been t... more

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Recent Guests

Greg Marshall
Writer and memoir teacher, collaborator in The Book Incubator
Book Incubator
Episode: S11 E11 Finding a "Narrative Perch" for Your Memoir: An Interview with Greg Marshall, Part 1
Rufi Thorpe
Author and writer invited to discuss teaching writing
Episode: S11 E05 Rufi Thorpe and I Talk About How, Why, and What We Teach (Part 2)
Mary Pauline Lowry
Crime novelist and fellow Texan
Author of Last Night Was Killer, The Roxy Letters, Wildfire
Episode: S11 E03 Redefining “Success” as a Writer and Author: Interview with Crime Novelist & Fellow Texan Mary Lowry
Hannah Bratissani
In-house literary agent, now at Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Episode: S11 E02 Hey Plot-Haters! This Just In: People Only Change
Hannah Brattesani
In-house literary agent at The Book Incubator, now at Simon & Schuster
The Book Incubator / Simon & Schuster
Episode: S10 E24 How to Write a Great Query Letter: Interview with Hannah Brattesani, our New In-House Literary Agent at The Book Incubator
Stephanie Webb
Marketing Director, The Book Incubator; former writer in the program
The Book Incubator
Episode: S10 E23 Hearing “No” is Part of the Process: How 150+ Rejections Led to a "Big 5" Book Deal at Auction
Calin Duke
writer with background in fashion and costume design
(mentioned)
Episode: S10 E20 NEW TOOL: The Real-Time Outline, a.k.a. an Outline I Can Actually Stomach
Rufy Thorpe
Fellow novelist and close friend who teaches with Mary
The Book Incubator
Episode: S09 E02 A Free, Easy Way to Make Sure Your Story Works No Matter Who You Are (and Why Plot Matters)
Joe Sanok
Psychologist and author of 'Thursday is the New Friday'
HarperCollins
Episode: S07 E05 Interview with Psychologist & Author Joe Sanok on How to Get Your Book Written

Host

Mary Atkins
Host of The First Draft Club; associated with The First Draft Club / The Book Incubator (as founder with Rufy Thorpe) and related programs.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 183 ratings
  • 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 Podcasts
    5
    YoungWriter2007
    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 Podcasts
    5
    Love to write!
    Australia2 years 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 Podcasts
    5
    namdezoom
    United 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 Podcasts
    5
    aliahd
    United States2 years ago
  • 💜 💜 💜 💜

    This inspires me to write the best book that I can. I also appreciate the eloquence of the reviews. 😂

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LolPodcast
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Writers find the host's tone warm and encouraging, with practical takeaways you can apply immediately.
Episodes are short but packed with actionable drafting tactics.
Fans praise clear guidance and a personable, down-to-earth delivery.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#204
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#243
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#92
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#120
India/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#214
India/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#224
New Zealand/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S11 E05 Rufi Thorpe and I Talk About How, Why, and What We Teach (Part 2)
Q: What do you think is teachable and what isn't when it comes to writing?
The guests argue that while some aspects of craft and technique can be taught, true writing often hinges on a writer's obsessions, psychology, and willingness to experiment; the process is more about guiding a student to articulate their vision than prescribing a fixed method.
S11 E03 Redefining “Success” as a Writer and Author: Interview with Crime Novelist & Fellow Texan Mary Lowry
Q: How did you find and cultivate your voice as a writer, especially for crime fiction?
Her first step was realizing she wanted to center a funny, authentic voice around a female protagonist; attending an MFA program that taught three-act structure helped her learn to plot while preserving a playful, voice-driven narration, which became her signature.
S10 E05 5 Ideas for Ending a Chapter on a Cliffhanger (or a Cliffhanger-ish)
Q: Can you give me some pointers on how to end a chapter in a way that incites the reader to keep reading without being repetitive?
Mary discusses various strategies for ending chapters compellingly, focusing on tension and reader engagement.
S10 E06 Tips for Writing a Novel from 3 Braided or Parallel Points of View
Q: What is some advice you have for telling three different but related stories in one novel?
You can create inherent tension among characters or allow the stories to seem unrelated until they converge later, which keeps readers engaged.
S07 E05 Interview with Psychologist & Author Joe Sanok on How to Get Your Book Written
Q: Can you start to unpack how you managed to write your book?
Joe describes applying neuroscience methods and structuring his writing process using tools like Trello, even amidst personal challenges during the pandemic.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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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?

A practical, writer-focused show that helps people finish novels or memoirs with clear, actionable guidance. Episodes mix craft techniques, drafting strategies, and critiques of marketing advice, all delivered with warmth and a collaborative, behind-the-scenes vibe. Listeners tend to be aspiring or mid-career authors seeking sustainable processes, realistic timelines, and encouragement to trust their own projects. Notable is the host's emphasis on community, affordable creator programs, and tools that fit real drafting lives, not hype-driven marketing.

What stands out is a consistent focus on doable drafting workflows (outlining, scene work, feedback), a rejection of one-size-fits-all rules, and an ecosystem around the host's writing progr... more

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How many episodes of The First Draft Club are there?

The First Draft Club launched 6 years ago and published 175 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 The First Draft Club?

Recent guests on The First Draft Club include:

1. Greg Marshall
2. Rufi Thorpe
3. Mary Pauline Lowry
4. Hannah Bratissani
5. Hannah Brattesani
6. Stephanie Webb
7. Calin Duke
8. Rufy Thorpe

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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