The First Draft Club

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 you months (or even years) in your publishing journey. If you dream of publication but dread the long, uncertain querying process, this episode is for you.   Show Notes: In this episode, I cover:· What is The Black List? Learn how this groundbreaking platform, originally created for Hollywood screenwriters, works—and why it's now disrupting the world of fiction publishing. · How it works for novelists: I'll break down how you can use The Black List to host your manuscript, receive professional evaluations, and get noticed by literary agents and publishers. · Is it worth the investment? I'll share costs, benefits, and why I think it could save you months (or even years!) in your publishing journey. Why I was skeptical—and why I changed my mind: My honest take on whether publishing needed a tool like this and why it might be a game-changer for early adopters. If you've ever felt stuck in the slow query process or wondered how to get professional feedback on your manuscript without waiting months, this episode has the answers you've been looking for. Resources Mentioned: The Black List Fiction Submissions: https://blcklst.com/fiction The Author's Guild Membership: https://authorsguild.org/membership/

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. ------ Alessandra Torre Ink: https://ati.mykajabi.com/fearlessly-publish

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. --- PublicityxChristina: https://www.publicityxchristina.com/  

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. --- Mary's Blog: https://maryadkinswriter.com/blog/in-defense-of-big-publishing The Elysian Article: https://www.elysian.press/p/no-one-buys-books

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): Publisher's Marketplace. Here's why, and how to use it.

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 a piece of feedback.

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 Rufi Thorpe).

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 kidding!), a.k.a. why it's better for your characters to try not to cry than to cry, and why you might not need to learn how to write that one emotion you struggle to write, after all.

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

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 unpacks 3 of these myths so you can avoid traps.

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 first 5,000 words.

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

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, work, and parenting.

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 in the program is out this week. Learn about her writing journey, what pub day feels like, and what advice she has for getting a literary agent. You can buy A Deadly Game at Amazon (https://shorturl.at/gsvE3) or Barnes and Noble (https://shorturl.at/nyF18), or leave a review on Goodreads (https://shorturl.at/eopsG).

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 help improve your dialogue further. ----- Season 5, Episode 1: https://thefirstdraftclub.podbean.com/e/how-to-write-compelling-diagloue/

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 why.

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, join our 10,000-Word Challenge starting next week! ----- Join Mary's (FREE!) 10,000-Word Challenge starting Monday, Oct. 23rd, and write the first 10,000 words of your novel or memoir in 10 days! Visit https://maryadkinswriter.com/10k-challenge-live to get started. 

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 class.

What makes a novel count as “literary fiction?” How is it different from “upmarket” fiction? And are they both better than commercial fiction? Mary defines these categories and discusses why she believes upmarket is your sweet spot as a new novelist.

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

There's an undercurrent of literary snobbery that pervades many creative writing spaces. In this episode, Mary names it, shares personal stories of what it looks like, and talks about why it can be destructive.

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 authors to publish both traditionally and independently, and how un-agented and self-publishing authors can get help with their contracts. Check out Marisa's Authorpreneur Workshop HERE (https://www.corvisieroagency.com/writers-workshop.html). First Draft Club listeners get 15% off with the code FIRSTDRAFT2024.

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 novel, never to return to it. Trigger warning: Pregnancy loss is mentioned.

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

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 pros and cons of an MFA in Creative Writing. Check out the video of this episode on the YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/c4VV9HX-jdQ

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 didn't know about getting a literary agent and working with one (until she did). Check out the video of this episode on the YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/Snvvn5As2M4

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 three fears writers often have that they don't need to have. Check out more on the YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNkf-ON2jDRU1IdB2sb03Jw/featured

Getting a literary agent was, for Mary, the hardest part of becoming a published author. Here, she breaks down the process into actionable steps. Check out the video of this episode on the YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/tt871Fqw8_s

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. Check out the video of this episode on the YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/45eLaVuDC7g

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 minutes a day, 5 days a week, over just a few months. Here's how. Check out the video of this episode on the YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/rS6lgWjMXhs

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 strategies. Check out the video of this episode on the YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/lzr2tPx-zSE

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 this episode on the YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDIhmteyHSU&ab_channel=MaryAdkins    

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...and what to do instead. Check out the video of this episode on the YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJxT-ffg_5k&ab_channel=MaryAdkins

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 the way people actually talk. Check out the video of this episode on the YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9aWlbH3vQY&ab_channel=MaryAdkins

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 draft underway.

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—you may just need a different kind.

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.

Mary teaches you her signature method for handwriting your novel or memoir—The Four Notebooks Method—and tells you how you can pre-order her notebook and corresponding system. Check out https://www.maryadkinswriter.com/fournotebooksmethod

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 situation.

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 magic of it in your own writing.

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.

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.

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 off, or make you feel like you're supposed to be writing by formula.

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 what to look out for in third person.

There are a lot of book writing coaches out there these days. What should you look for in one?

When is a good time to hire a book writing coach? Here's how to know that it's the right call.

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?

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.

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 ever need to jog you out of a stuck place.

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.

The 3 things you absolutely must have in order to write a book—at least a decent one.