The First Draft Club

S10 E10 On Earnestness and the Bravery of Making Stuff

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This week's episode is a little different. Less practical craft advice, more mindset. Because something's been on my mind lately: earnestness. A few w...

S10 E09 How to Give Your Characters Distinct Voices (and What NOT to Do)

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

"How do I give my characters distinct voices, especially when one of them is male and I'm not?" This question came from Barbara in a recent Wordshop c...

S10 E08 The Easier Way to Write Dialogue While Handwriting

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

"I'm handwriting my novel and finding that I'm not putting in much dialogue. This didn't feel like a struggle when I was typing. Is this common?" This...

S10 E07 Hot Take on Research for Fiction: More Isn’t Always Better (and Not Just Because It’s a Rabbithole)

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Here's my hot take: more research while drafting isn't always better.  Not just because research is a procrastination rabbit hole (though it definite...

S10 E06 Tips for Writing a Novel from 3 Braided or Parallel Points of View

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Writing from multiple points of view? Here's the secret to making it work. A writer in The Book Incubator asked: "How do I tell three different but re...

S10 E05 5 Ideas for Ending a Chapter on a Cliffhanger (or a Cliffhanger-ish)

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wonder how to end a chapter in a way that makes readers want to keep going—without using the same trick every single time? In this episode, I'm...

S10 E04 Book Marketing 101: What Never to Do, and What to Do Instead

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to episode 100 of The First Draft Club! 🎉 We're celebrating by talking about something every author needs to know: book marketing. It's the...

S10 E03 Why and When We Actually Need Feedback: 2 Times Feedback was Critical for My Book & What to Learn From It

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You've heard me say it before: feedback too early in your writing process is useless at best and derailing at worst. But at some point, feedback from ...

S10 E02 The #1 Reason Feedback is Stressful is Actually Not Even a Real Thing

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ever get feedback that makes your stomach drop? Like when someone says "I don't know what your book is about" or "I didn't relate to this character"—...

S10 E01 When Smart-sounding Writing Advice Isn’t

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this first episode of Season 10, Mary shares her personal experience of trusting her gut when receiving some seemingly smart advice that wasn't act...

S09 E10 What Kind of Writer Are You? A NEW TYPOLOGY!

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tired of being told you're either an "outliner" or a "pantser"? In this episode, Mary introduces a revolutionary new framework that recognizes writers...

S09 E09 Art as Conversation: 3 Writing Insights from my 7-Year-Old

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes the best creative advice comes from the most unexpected teachers. In this episode, Mary shares three powerful insights about artistic confid...

S09 E08 Thoughts on Long-Term Goals, Fatigue, and Mindset

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How do you motivate yourself to work toward big, overwhelming goals when gratification feels impossibly far away? In this episode, Mary shares her sum...

S09 E07 How to Research for Your Novel Without Getting Bogged Down

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever started researching for your novel only to get so overwhelmed by everything you learned that you couldn't write at all? In this episode, Mary int...

S09 E06 What I Learned from Ann Patchett about Reading Our Past Writing: A Lesson for Memoirists, Novelists, and Human Beings

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when a bestselling author annotates her own 25-year-old novel? In this episode, Mary shares what she discovered reading Ann Patchett's ne...

S09 E05 3 Ways I’m Using AI Ethically as a Novelist (Spoiler: It’s NOT to Write)

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let's settle this once and for all: Can novelists use AI ethically? In this episode, 3x HarperCollins novelist Mary Adkins shares exactly how she's in...

S09 E04 How I am Using Dictation to Write My Next Novel

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered if you could write your novel while taking a walk? In this episode, Mary shares her honest experiment with dictation writing—how she...

S09 E03 What Nora Ephron Can Teach Us About Writing, a.k.a. How to Be a Parent AND Write Books

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The First Draft Club, Mary shares the best advice she’s ever heard about balancing writing with parenting, courtesy of Nora Ephro...

S09 E02 A Free, Easy Way to Make Sure Your Story Works No Matter Who You Are (and Why Plot Matters)

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The First Draft Club, Mary Adkins dismantles the elitist myth that plot is somehow “lowbrow” or optional in literary fiction. ...

S09 E01 How to Not Ruin Your Novel: The Phenomenon of Premature Optimization

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There’s one mistake I see writers make over and over again—and it’s the reason so many great books never get finished. It’s called premature o...

Special Mid-Season Announcement - Mary's Memoir and a New Press!

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

BIG NEWS! ---------- Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thirdrailpress/third-rail-press-for-the-untold-stories-of-womens-lives Third Ra...

S08 E10 How Much Can You Make in Foreign Rights - My Story (with Actual Dollar Amounts!)

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How much can you actually make from your book? Should you consider foreign rights or just stick to the US? What can you expect to make after your adva...

S08 E09 Special Guests! Welcome, the Podcast is a Gameshow Now

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mary invited two fellow novelists and colleagues in The Book Incubator, Harrison and Autumn, to join her for a game she made up! Meet The Feedback Gam...

S08 E08 Is Revision Sucking? Two Strategies to Make It Joyful Again

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Mary breaks down her two best tips for making the revision process as fun as the writing process.  ---- Watch on YouTube at https://...

S08 E07 Killing Your Non-Darlings in Revision

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you wondered why you have trouble making revisions even when you know it's necessary? Mary explores this phenomenon and shares her own struggles ...

S08 E06 How to Write a Timeless Book (Whatever That Means)

15 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the first episode of 2025, Mary reveals that the best way to write a timeless book is to not try to make it timeless.  ---- Watch on YouTube at ht...

S08 E05 All the Numbers in Publishing No One Talks About

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What are the actual sales numbers for authors who get book deals versus authors who self-publish? Mary gets into the data—yep, hardcore math—to he...

S08 E04 My Top 5 Books of 2024 as a Writer

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mary shares the novels and memoirs that came out in 2024 that left her with the memorable reading experiences from a craft and writing perspective—o...

S08 E03 How to Fix an 80% Good Book Getting Rejections

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the last episode, Mary talked about how a 90% great book will get rejections 100% of the time. How do you make up the difference? Whether it's a 40...

S08 E02 Why You Can Write an Amazing Book That Doesn't Get Published

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mary talks about why a 90% great book will get rejected 100% of the time...and how to tell if that's what's happening from the rejections you're getti...

S08 E01 The Black List: The new publishing shortcut for aspiring novelists

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We're back for Season 8! Mary talks about a newcomer to publishing—The Black List—and shares costs, benefits, and how it could potentially save y...

S07 E12 3 Things to Know about Copyright & a Scam to Avoid if You’re Self-Publishing

13 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Don't fall for anyone offering you "global copyright" for a bunch of money. Here's what you need to know about copyright as an author and how to file....

S07 E11 Should You Hire a Book Publicist?

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Authors are hiring their own publicists—but how do you know if a publicist is worth the cost? Mary shares the questions she'd ask. --- PublicityxChr...

S07 E10 How Much I Was Paid for My First Novel & Why I Don't Think Big Publishing is Dead

16 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mary takes on the recent buzz around "Big 5" publishing being a waste of time for authors by sharing her own story and how she views authorial success...

S07 E09 The #1 Resource for When You're Querying

02 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How do you find the right literary agents or publishers to query? There's one resource that's worth every penny (and this isn't sponsored content): Pu...

S07 E08 The Lean-In Method for Assessing Feedback

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

S07 E07 The Real Secret to Writing Your Best Possible Book

04 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 Ru...

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

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

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

21 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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

S07 E04 3 Publishing Myths that Are Making Me Mad

14 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

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

07 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 firs...

S07 E02 The 2 Ways Playwright Tom Stoppard Changed My Creative Life

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Mary shares two stories about what Tom Stoppard the playwright taught her about life and creativity.

S07 E01 My Current Daily Routine as a Novelist (While Running a Business & Parenting)

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We're back for Season 7! In this first episode of the season, Mary walks us through her current daily writing routine as she balances a new novel, wor...

Live with Debut Novelist & Book Incubator grad Gayle Brown on her pub day!

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We interrupt this post-season break to bring you a chat between Mary and Gayle Brown, an alum of The Book Incubator whose debut novel that she wrote i...

S06 E09 3 New Tips for Writing Better Dialogue

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Mary builds on the 5 tips for writing stronger dialogue she shared back in the first episode of Season 5. These 3 strategies will hel...

S06 E08 What Makes a Book ”Good” Isn’t What You Think—It’s This

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What actually makes us call a book "good" is something Mary recently completely changed her view on. Here's how she thinks of a "good book" now, and w...

S06 E07 Should You Write a Memoir or a Novel Based on Your Life?

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Mary shares the 3 questions she'd ask herself if deciding whether to write a true personal story or a fictionalized version based on real events. Also...

S06 E06 Why Creative Writing Classes Are So Bad

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Mary gets very real about why most creative writing classes make you feel discouraged and directionless, and how to handle such a cla...

S06 E05 What IS Upmarket Fiction? How to Write a Novel that Appeals to the Widest Audience

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What makes a novel count as “literary fiction?” How is it different from “upmarket” fiction? And are they both better than commercial fiction?...

S06 E04 My Hot Take: Why AI is Going to Make Good Writers MORE Valuable, Not Less

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Mary takes on the threat of AI to professional writing and discusses why she believes it will never replace human storytellers.

S06 E03 On Literary Snobbery: How to Recognize It, Understand It, and Handle it

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There's an undercurrent of literary snobbery that pervades many creative writing spaces. In this episode, Mary names it, shares personal stories of wh...

S06 E02 Live with a Literary Agent

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Literary agent Marisa Corvisiero chats with Mary about what contract terms she tries to negotiate for her clients, why she thinks it's savvy for autho...

S06 E01 What I’ve Been Writing & Why I Abandoned My Latest Novel

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this first episode of Season 6, Mary shares what she's been working on during this long break between seasons and why she set aside her latest nove...

WE’RE BACK!

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After a long break, Mary is back for season 6 with more writing tips and some fun new episodes!

S05 E10 Should you get an MFA in Creative Writing? The Pros & Cons

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mary applied for MFA programs 3 times and was accepted twice, but never went. In this episode, she shares her story, as well as what she sees as the p...

S05 E09 3 Things No One Tells You About Getting a Literary Agent

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Literary agents: no one really knows the secret to getting one or everything they do for you once you have one. Here, Mary shares the 3 things she did...

S05 E08 The 3 Most Common Unfounded Fears of Writers

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There's plenty for writers to worry about without worrying about the things we DON'T need to be concerned by. In this episode, Mary discusses the thre...

S05 E07 5 Steps to Getting a Literary Agent

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Getting a literary agent was, for Mary, the hardest part of becoming a published author. Here, she breaks down the process into actionable steps. Chec...

S05 E06 After You’re Published: 5 Surprises

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Publishing your first book mostly feels amazing, but there are a few surprises you may not expect. In this episode, Mary shares 5 of those surprises. ...

S05 E05 How to Write Your Book in 45 Minutes a Day

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Writing a book—and not just any book, but a good book—doesn't have to take over your life or take forever. You can write a solid draft in 45 minut...

S05 E04 How to Decide What Comes Next in Your Novel

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You've started writing...but at 10 or 40 pages in, how do you decide what happens NEXT in your story? In this episode, Mary shares 4 favorite strategi...

S05 E03 How to Write a Novel (The Complete, Proven Guide)

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Here it is—Mary's entire process for writing a publishable novel, broken down into 7 steps. You won't want to miss this one. Check out the video of ...

S05 E02 How I Wrote My First Book (My Personal Journey)

18 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It took Mary 99 years to write her first book (well, 6). In this episode, she shares the 3 biggest mistakes she made that she doesn't want you to make...

S05 E01 How to Write Compelling Dialogue

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Does your dialogue sound like a third-grade play? You'll want to get these strategies for writing better dialogue. Here's how Mary makes sure to write...

Big News from Mary!

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mary's novel PALM BEACH is out! Order the book to get free access to a private workshop only for book purchasers—listen to this mini-episode for det...

Big News from Mary!

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 8/3/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not...

10 Hacks for Just Getting Started

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The first blank page is the hardest one to take down. In this episode, Mary offers original 10 hacks for overcoming your demons and getting your book ...

S04 E09 10 Hacks for Just Getting Started [Reissue]

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 5/7/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not...

Your Best Writing Goals Based on Your Enneagram Type

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mary breaks down the 9 Enneagram types and evaluates different writing goals for each one. If you loathe the term "writing goals," you need to listen—...

S04 E08 Your Best Writing Goals Based on Your Enneagram Type [Reissue]

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 4/30/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will no...

How to Overcome Resistance

23 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here's the pep talk—and a bonus assignment—that will help you overcome resistance, if not once and for all, at least for this week.

S04 E07 How to Overcome Resistance [Reissue]

23 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 4/23/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will no...

The Four Notebooks Method

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

See the Reissue episode for updated information on The Four Notebooks Method. --- Mary teaches you her signature method for handwriting your novel or ...

S04 E06 The Four Notebooks Method [Reissue]

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 4/16/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will no...

Let me guess: the idea was better in your head?

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How do we deal with the fact that our stories, once on paper, are never as good as they were in our minds? Mary offers 3 strategies for handling this ...

S04 E05 Let me guess: the idea was better in your head? [Reissue]

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 4/9/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not...

How to Write Act 3 of the 3-Act Structure (Part 4 of 4)

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mary wraps up a four-episode series on the 3-act structure with a breakdown of her favorite of the three acts, Act 3, and talks about how to find the ...

S04 E04 How to Write Act 3 of the 3-Act Structure (Part 4 of 4) [Reissue]

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 4/2/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not...

How to Write Act 2 of the 3-Act Structure (Part 3 of 4)

26 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mary talks all things Act 2—and, most importantly, gets into why Act 2 isn't a formula but a personal challenge for you, the author.

S04 E03 How to Write Act 2 of the 3-Act Structure (Part 3 of 4) [Reissue]

26 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 3/26/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will no...

How to Write Act 1 of the 3-Act Structure (Part 2 of 4)

19 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the second of four parts on the 3-act structure, Mary dives into what we mean by Act 1 and how to break it down into a manageable tool.

S04 E02 How to Write Act 1 of the 3-Act Structure (Part 2 of 4) [Reissue]

19 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 3/19/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will no...

My Least Annoying and Most Usable Breakdown of the 3-Act Structure (Part 1 of 4)

12 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the first episode of Season 4, Mary kicks off a four-episode series breaking down the 3-act structure...in a way that won't terrify you, turn you o...

S04 E01 My Least Annoying and Most Usable Breakdown of the 3-Act Structure (Part 1 of 4) [Reissue]

12 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 3/12/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will no...

How to Choose a Point of View for Your Novel

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Choosing a point of view is a critical early step in the novel-writing process. In this episode, Mary talks about how to choose a point of view, and w...

S03 E08 How to Choose a Point of View for Your Novel [Reissue]

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 2/25/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will no...

How to Choose a Book Writing Coach

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are a lot of book writing coaches out there these days. What should you look for in one? (Video link: https://youtu.be/sfLpylT_x38)

S03 E07 How to Choose a Book Writing Coach [Reissue]

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 2/18/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will no...

4 Signs You're Ready to Hire a Book Writing Coach

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When is a good time to hire a book writing coach? Here's how to know that it's the right call. (Video link: https://youtu.be/OL1SAbCriaY)

S03 E06 4 Signs You’re Ready to Hire a Book Writing Coach [Reissue]

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 2/11/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will no...

What does a book writing coach do?

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

I had never heard the term "book writing coach" until I became one. What does a book writing coach do, and how might one benefit you? (Video link: htt...

S03 E05 What does a book writing coach do? [Reissue]

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 2/4/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not...

How to Get a Literary Agent: 5 Don't's

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You have to get a literary agent to sell your book, and for me, this was the hardest part of getting published. Here are the 5 big mistakes to avoid. ...

S03 E04 How to Get a Literary Agent: 5 Don’t’s [Reissue]

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 1/28/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will no...

The Writing Generator for People Who Aren't in 7th Grade

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ever want a writing prompt but not one written for a 12-year-old working on a Halloween story? This writing prompt generator is the only one you'll ev...

S03 E03 The Writing Generator for People Who Aren’t in 7th Grade [Reissue]

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 1/21/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will no...

How much can an author expect to make on a book?

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What's a book advance, how is it paid out, and how do you get a really big one? Mary covers the last taboo in publishing: money. (Video link: https://...

S03 E02 How much can an author expect to make on a book? [Reissue]

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 1/14/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will no...

Can anyone write a book?

07 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The 3 things you absolutely must have in order to write a book—at least a decent one. (Video link: https://youtu.be/kdoRLY27Too)

S03 E01 Can anyone write a book? [Reissue]

07 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This episode originally aired on 1/7/2021. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not...