The First Draft Club

The trick to writing believable dialogue is to remember a key thing about humans: we're bad at it.

This episode originally aired on 10/2/2020. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not have this notice. The trick to writing believable dialogue is to remember a key thing about humans: we're bad at it.

All the questions answered during Season 1 in one quick-to-digest episode!

This episode originally aired on 8/28/2020. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not have this notice. All the questions answered during Season 1 in one quick-to-digest episode!

If you have to have a protagonist, you must need an antagonist, right? No. What you do need is more interesting.

This episode originally aired on 8/21/2020. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not have this notice. If you have to have a protagonist, you must need an antagonist, right? No. What you do need is more interesting.

All stories have a history. How much of that history you share with the reader, and where you bring it in, can determine whether that reader sticks with your book or not. In this episode, we discuss a rule of thumb for incorporating backstory into your novel or memoir.

This episode originally aired on 8/14/2020. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not have this notice. All stories have a history. How much of that history you share with the reader, and where you bring it in, can determine whether that reader sticks with your book or not. In this episode, we discuss a rule of thumb for incorporati...

Am I writing a short story or a novel? Am I ready to write my memoir? Mary addresses how to decide, and when the right time is to make the call.

This episode originally aired on 8/7/2020. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not have this notice. Am I writing a short story or a novel? Am I ready to write my memoir? Mary addresses how to decide, and when the right time is to make the call.

Every writer struggles with the middle. In this episode, Mary shares her favorite tactic for making it through.

This episode originally aired on 7/31/2020. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not have this notice.   Every writer struggles with the middle. In this episode, Mary shares her favorite tactic for making it through.

A writer asks when writing her book will start to feel like a real project, and not like a side hobby she may or may not finish.

This episode originally aired on 7/24/2020. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not have this notice. A writer asks when writing her book will start to feel like a real project, and not like a side hobby she may or may not finish.

That is the question.

This episode originally aired on 7/17/2020. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not have this notice. That is the question.

A writer asks about that terrifying term "the inciting incident," and Mary gets real in her answer.

This episode originally aired on 7/10/2020. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not have this notice.   A writer asks about that terrifying term "the inciting incident," and Mary gets real in her answer.

In this episode, Mary talks everything chapters: yes or no, how long, how many, and what about parts?

This episode originally aired on 7/3/2020. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not have this notice.   In this episode, Mary talks everything chapters: yes or no, how long, how many, and what about parts?

In this inaugural episode of The First Draft Club, Mary answers a writer's question about how long it should take to write a first draft of a book and how long one should expect to revise.

In this episode, Mary tackles the question of what to do when you just can't finish a &%$ draft. If you have six half-written books in your home, this episode is for you.

This week, a writer asks, should I revise as I go, or wait? Mary has a very strong opinion on this question.

This episode originally aired on 6/26/2020. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not have this notice. In this inaugural episode of The First Draft Club, Mary answers a writer's question about how long it should take to write a first draft of a book and how long one should expect to revise.

This episode originally aired on 6/26/2020. Due to a technical issue with Apple Podcasts deleting our episodes, this is a repost. New episodes will not have this notice. In this episode, Mary tackles the question of what to do when you just can't finish a &%$ draft. If you have six half-written books in your home, this episode is for you.