The First Draft Club

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 that require way less effort than you think. In this episode, I'm sharing 14 fixes you might not be thinking about as possibilities—from cutting entire...

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 asked for?  Here's what I want you to know: a memoir isn't what happened to you. It's how you changed because of what happened to you. A memoir is a sto...

Don't solve a minor problem by making your draft "mid." This comes up when writers are quick to assume something "isn't working" because an early reader expressed confusion or skepticism (which is often confusion by another name).  Here's the thing: before a bold and original idea is seen as bold and original, it's often just seen as confusing. Why? Because we haven't seen something quite like it...

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 weeks ago, my friend sent me a meme where women were sharing the most basic things they love—the "least bougie" everyday things they'd be judged for. Things like drip coffee, McDonald's fries, cheap bath towels, spiral notebooks. And when she asked me...

"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 call, and I have opinions on this based on years of trial and error. I've tried things that flopped and things that actually worked when it comes to creating distinct character voices. In this episode, I'm sharing what I learned—starting with what NOT...

"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 question came from Miranda in a recent Wordshop call, and I'd never heard anyone articulate this problem (which I experienced myself!) before.  If you handwrite your drafts and notice you're avoiding dialogue (or writing less of it than you think yo...

Here's my hot take: more research while drafting isn't always better.  Not just because research is a procrastination rabbit hole (though it definitely is), but because too much research can actually squash your creativity and weaken your draft.  In this episode, I'm breaking down the creativity-squashing effect of research, when to research lightly vs. thoroughly, and why fiction isn't constraine...

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 related stories in one novel where they all come together in the end?" In this episode, I'm sharing my approach to braiding multiple storylines into one cohesive novel. The key isn't the technical craft—it's how your POV characters relate to each other...

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 answering a question from Shannon, a writer in The Book Incubator, who asked: "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? I can only think of one way to do it." I'm...

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 thing every author dreads—and honestly, I'm not a book marketing expert. But I do have a hot take about something you should never, ever do when promoting your book (because it doesn't work and it's not a good look). In this milestone episode, I'm sha...

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 readers you trust becomes absolutely critical. In this episode, I'm sharing two concrete examples from my memoir You Might Feel a Little Pressure—one story I was resistant to cutting and one I almost cut but didn't. Both taught me something important...

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"—and suddenly you're convinced you need three months to fix it? Here's the truth: most "big" feedback requires WAY less work than it sounds like. Sometimes it's one paragraph. Sometimes it's literally one sentence. In this episode, I share a story abou...

In this Season 10 premiere of The First Draft Club, I'm sharing about times when I've encountered "expert" advice that sounded smart but felt wrong—and why I now think trusting that feeling is one of the most important skills you can develop as a writer.   You'll learn: • Why impressive credentials don't always mean good advice • The problem with "show don't tell" and other condescending writing r...

Tired of being told you're either an "outliner" or a "pantser"? In this episode, Mary introduces a revolutionary new framework that recognizes writers exist on a spectrum—not just at two extremes.  Based on years of teaching novelists through The Book Incubator™, she reveals five distinct writer types that help you find your perfect writing process. From her own journey discovering that neither pa...

Sometimes the best creative advice comes from the most unexpected teachers. In this episode, Mary shares three powerful insights about artistic confidence and creative decision-making—learned from watching her 7-year-old son navigate art ownership and musical performance. If you've ever found yourself seeking permission for creative choices or writing by committee instead of trusting your vision,...

How do you motivate yourself to work toward big, overwhelming goals when gratification feels impossibly far away? In this episode, Mary shares her summer reality check: facing an entire house to organize, French lessons to restart, and a secret new watercolor hobby—all while running a business and raising a kid. Drawing from her experience writing five books, Mary reveals the counter-intuitive sec...

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 introduces the "marginalia method"—a simple but powerful technique that prevents research overwhelm while making the process more fun and efficient. Mary breaks down the two common research traps writers fall into: research overwhelm (feeling paralyzed...

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 newly annotated edition of "Bel Canto"—and why it taught her something crucial about how we treat our past creative work and ourselves. Ann Patchett's handwritten notes in the margins revealed something unexpected: even successful authors can be too ha...

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 integrating AI into her writing process WITHOUT letting it do the actual writing. Mary breaks down three specific applications that genuinely enhance her productivity while maintaining complete creative control. From multi-dimensional research queries...

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 wrote nearly half of her latest manuscript (around 50,000 words) using nothing but her iPhone and daily neighborhood walks. Mary breaks down her journey from being "dictation curious" to discovering a writing method that increased her productivity witho...

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 Ephron. If you've ever felt like you're constantly dropping the ball—on your book, your job, or your family—this episode will speak directly to you. Mary breaks down the concept of “glass balls vs. plastic balls,” how it changed her perspective, and how it...

In this episode of The First Draft Club, Mary Adkins dismantles the elitist myth that plot is somehow “lowbrow” or optional in literary fiction. Drawing from her own experience and actual Big 5 rejection letters, she explains why plot is essential—not just for publication, but for reader satisfaction. Plus, she shares her favorite low-pressure, free method for making sure your story works, no matt...

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 optimization, and while it’s a term from computer science, it applies perfectly to writing a novel. In this episode, I break down what premature optimization looks like for writers, why it’s so dangerous in a first draft, and how it’s connected to the failure...

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

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 advance? In the season finale, Mary gets personal and answers your questions.  ---- Watch on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins