Podcasts about first draft

"Get [your book] all the way to the end. You learn so much that way that you will not learn in any other way."- S.A. Barnes (This post went live for supporters on May 23, 2025. If you want early, ad-free, and sometimes expanded episodes, support at Patreon!) In this episode, we talk about the creative process with guest author S.A. Barnes. We discuss her latest release, Cold Eternity, a space horror novel, and her upcoming work, Death's Daughter, set to release in May, 2026. Stacey shares her journey of balancing writing with her teaching career and we discuss the trial of writing sequels and crafting compelling narratives. We explore the nuances of genre blending, the emotional stakes in horror, and the importance of getting to the end of a draft, no matter how messy it may be. Join us as we also discuss Bully #3, the Sponge, who only wants your house to be clean and then it will let you write. Transcript Links S.A. Barnes Cold Eternity Becca Syme Event Horizon (movie) Aliens (movie) Ghost Ship (movie) Evergreen Links See all books from Season 21 Like the podcast? Get the book! I Should Be Writing. My newsletter, The Hot Mic, and the community of Fabulists over at Patreon. Supporting either of those will get you perks like access to the discord, exclusive content, and early, ad-free episodes. Socials: Bluesky, Instagram, YouTube, Focusmate Theme by John Anealio Savor I Should Be Writing tea blends Support local book stores! Station Eternity, Six Wakes, Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition and more! OR Get signed books from my friendly local store, Flyleaf Books! — "Dancing Through Genres with S.A. Barnes and Bully 3, The SPONGE" is brought to you in large part by my supporters, the Fabulists, who received an early, expanded version of this episode. You can join our Fabulist community with a pledge on Patreon! Some of the links above may be affiliate, allowing you to support the show at no extra cost to you. Also consider leaving a review for ISBW, please! CREDITS Theme song by John Anealio, art by Numbers Ninja, and files hosted by Libsyn (affiliate link). Get archives of the show via Patreon. May 20, 2025 | Season 21 Ep 9 | murverse.com "Dancing Through Genres with S.A. Barnes and Bully 3, The SPONGE" by Mur Lafferty is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 In case it wasn't clear: Mur and this podcast are fully supportive of LGBTQ+ folks, believe that Black Lives Matter, and trans rights are human rights, despite which direction the political winds blow. If you do not agree, then there are plenty of other places to go on the Internet.

Lauren Groff is a three-time National Book Award finalist and The New YorkTimes–bestselling author of the novels The Monsters of Templeton, Arcadia, Fates and Furies, Matrix, and The Vaster Wilds, and the celebrated short story collections Delicate Edible Birds and Florida. She has won The Story Prize, the ABA Indies' Choice Award, France's Grand Prix de l'Héroïne, and the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and has been a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her work regularly appears in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and elsewhere. Her work has been translated into thirty-six languages. She lives in Gainesville, Florida.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Folk is the author of the novel Sky Daddy and the short story collection Out There. Her short fiction and essays have appeared in the New Yorker, n+1, the New York Times, Granta, and The Baffler, among other venues. A former Stegner Fellow, she's also received fellowships and residencies from MacDowell, the Headlands Center for the Arts, and Willapa Bay AiR. She lives in San Francisco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Republicans advanced the largest portions of the Trump agenda package, which the president calls the big, beautiful bill, out of committee. It includes trillions in tax cuts along with changes to Medicaid that would affect millions of people. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports on what’s in this sweeping plan. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

House Republicans advanced the largest portions of the Trump agenda package, which the president calls the big, beautiful bill, out of committee. It includes trillions in tax cuts along with changes to Medicaid that would affect millions of people. Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports on what’s in this sweeping plan. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Our draft prospect breakdowns continue today with Brantford Bulldogs center Jake O'Brien. And despite the familiar last name, unlike yesterday, he is not related to a previous Philadelphia Flyers draft pick!Charlie, Kelly & Bill discuss the possibility of Danny Briere selecting O'Brien 6th overall, as well as the continued search for a head coach and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Bob Johnson is an award-winning short story writer and graduate of the lowa Writers' Workshop. His work has been published by The Common, Philadelphia Stories, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, The Barcelona Review, and elsewhere. His story "The Continental Divide" was named Short Story of the Year in The Hudson Review. He lives in South Bend, Indiana. His collection is called The Continental Divide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on our show, we bring you a story by Andrea Askowitz called A Numbers Game. This story was previously published in Memoirland, a curated compilation of the week's best personal essays on the internet. It was also read live on stage at the Flagstaff Festival of Science in 2024. A Numbers Game is a braided essay. So, In this episode, we will discuss the braided essay and how Andrea's came to be. Just a hint: Nicole Walker had something to do with it!More about how we became associated with the Flagstaff Festival of Science…Three years ago, we were hired by Dr. Jane Marks and Dr. Bruce Hungate, two famous ecologists from the Center for Ecosystem Science and Society (ECOSS) at Northern Arizona University. They heard our podcast and then started taking our classes which led to the idea that their students would benefit from taking our classes. So we've been doing online workshops and in-person workshops to help these scientists personalize their stories. This story was written during our second year collaborating with ECOSS. If you're looking for a writing coach to help your student with college application essays, contact Allison Langer.Writing Class Radio is hosted by Allison Langer and Andrea Askowitz. Audio production by Matt Cundill, Evan Surminski, and Aiden Glassey at the Sound Off Media Company. Theme music is by Justina Shandler.There's more writing class on our website including stories we study, editing resources, video classes, writing retreats, and live online classes. Join our writing community by following us on Patreon. If you want to write with us every week, you can join our First Draft weekly writers groups. You have the option to join Allison on Tuesdays 12-1 ET and/or Mondays with Eduardo Winck 8-9 pm ET. You'll write to a prompt and share what you wrote. If you're a business owner, community activist, group that needs healing, entrepreneur, or scientist and you want to help your team write better, check out all the classes we offer on our website, writingclassradio.com.Join the community that comes together for instruction, an excuse to write, and the support from other writers. To learn more, go to www.Patreon.com/writingclassradio. Or sign up HERE for First Draft for a FREE Zoom link.A new episode will drop the first WEDNESDAY of the month.There's no better way to understand ourselves and each other, than by writing and sharing our stories. Everyone has a story. What's yours?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Barry Trotz has decided to keep Andrew Brunette and run it back. After one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the team is doing... nothing? Plus, the Preds landed the No. 5 pick in the draft. How should we rank the top of the 2025 NHL Draft? Emma and Braden talk hockey. ⁠⁠Watch all episodes on YouTube⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Sign up to Lower Broad Hockey⁠⁠. Brought to you by: SinkersBeverages.com ⁠⁠Join The In Crowd⁠⁠ today! And ⁠⁠Shotgun Willie's BBQ⁠⁠ - Order your meat for Sunday's party today!

Discover the five most common big-picture mistakes writers make in their first drafts—and learn exactly what you can do to fix them.Congratulations, you finished your first draft! …But now what? If you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed as you dive into editing your messy first draft, you're so not alone. As a developmental editor, I've reviewed hundreds of first drafts, and I've noticed that most new writers struggle with the same core issues—problems that have nothing to do with your writing talent, but everything to do with fundamental story principles.In this episode, I'm sharing the 5 most common big-picture mistakes I see writers make in their first drafts (and exactly what you can do to fix them). You'll hear me talk about things like:[00:00] How to figure out if your story starts in the right place (and the one simple question that can help you find the perfect spot to begin your first chapter)[00:00] The difference between meaningful conflict vs. random plot events—and why your protagonist's transformation depends on this key storytelling element[00:00] How to fix weak narrative drive (aka the dreaded "so what?" problem that causes readers to abandon books), and how to create seamless scene-to-scene connections[00:00] Character development strategies for increasing emotional stakes in your novel without resorting to melodramatic plot twists or artificial tension[00:00] The one mistake that might make readers feel cheated at the end of your novel (even if they can't explain why), and how to fix itIf you've finished your first draft but feel something's not quite working, or if you're struggling to revise a manuscript that just doesn't seem to come together, this episode will give you the clarity and direction you need to transform your story!

Lynn Steger Strong is the author of the novels Hold Still, Want, Flight and The Float Test. Her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, New York, The Paris Review, Time, and elsewhere. She has taught writing at The Pratt Institute, Fairfield University, Catapult, and Columbia University. She was born and raised in South Florida. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Dallas Cowboys turned the page this offseason by passing on extending McCarthy and hiring Brian Schottenheimer as the new Head Coach. We'll discuss Schotty had a good draft or not, plus our favorite and least favorite draft picks... #dallascowboys #cowboysdraft #cowboysblog The Frisco Report can be found on Spotify, Apple, Google. http://www.TheFriscoReport.com

Welcome to the season finale of "First Draft." Mike Greenberg, Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr. close the book on the 2025 NFL Draft season with final team-grades! 00:00 Welcome to First Draft! 3:30 Shedeur Sanders draft reaction 7:07 2025 NFL Draft QBs 10:15 Browns draft grade 14:30 Travis Hunter 17:00 Jaguars draft grade 18:42 Abdul Carter 19:30 Giants draft grade 21:15 Will Campbell 22:30 Patriots draft grade 24:00 Seahawks draft grade 28:00 Colston Loveland 29:00 Bears draft grade 30:24 Dallas Cowboys draft grade 34:40 Panthers draft grade 36:46 Falcons draft grade 40:04 Ravens draft grade 43:00 Washington Commanders draft grade 44:00 Thank you fans! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vauhini Vara has been a reporter and editor for The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and the New York Times Magazine, and is the prize-winning author of The Immortal King Rao and This is Salvaged. She lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. Her new nonfiction book is called Searches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ethan and Chris talk about a recent Underdog Fantasy-style draft with other analysts in the community. The pair discusses their own selections, slip-ups, general draft thoughts, and more!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-2-canton/donations

NFL Draft is tonight... 6 o'clock. Hans Olsen from the KSL SportZone joins us live.

Congratulations! You've finished writing your first draft—an achievement that puts you ahead of countless aspiring writers who never make it past the dreaming stage. But now you're staring at your manuscript, wondering, "What next?" Maybe you've tried jumping straight into revisions only to find yourself overwhelmed, confused, or just plain stuck. Or maybe you're just avoiding it altogether.If your excitement about finishing your draft has given way to editing anxiety, you're not alone. Every author—even the most seasoned professionals—reaches this crossroads, where the path forward seems foggy at best.Tune in to learn the exact novel editing framework that has helped my clients and students transform their messy drafts into completed manuscripts.You'll hear me talk about things like:[06:21] The game-changing approach to organizing your editing notes that'll prevent months of wasted time and getting stuck in "revision loops"[07:17] How mapping what you actually wrote (not what you intended to write) can expose the hidden strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript[10:05] The #1 mistake first-time novelists make when editing their messy first drafts (and how to avoid falling into this all too common trap)[16:05] The four-category sorting system that helps you prioritize feedback and make confident decisions about which changes to implement[23:22] How your publishing path impacts your editing to-do list (and which steps to take if you're self-publishing or traditional publishing)If you've finally finished your first draft but find yourself paralyzed by the editing process, or if you've been revising the same chapters for months without making real progress, this episode gives you the clear, structured approach you need.

00:00 Four-Minute Offense 6:30 Today's Show and This Week 13:50 Doug's Big One = That's Not How That Goes 40:45 D-Backs Are Doing It Right 48:30 Town Hall Tuesday with Fun Katie 1:25:30 Cardinals Draft Breakdown Breakdown Breakdown 1:46:45 Vs Vegas

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Mike Greenberg, Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., the crew provides their final evaluations on the top-10 selections heading into Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cardinals DE Calais Campbell and Rich discuss his return to Arizona 18 years after they drafted him, reveals how Tyreek Hill's pre-game detainment by police impacted the Miami Dolphins last season, why Miami Hurricanes QB Cam Ward is deserving of the #1 overall draft pick, and more.     The Ringer's Todd McShay and Rich break down the upcoming NFL Draft and the brewing intrigue surrounding how the top 10 picks could shake out, how high or how low Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders goes, if the Tennessee Titans should select Cam Ward or Travis Hunter #1 overall, and more.     Yankees fan Rich reacts to Max Fried losing his no-hitter do to an in-game change by the official scorer on a play that happened two innings previously. Please check out other RES productions: Overreaction Monday: http://apple.co/overreactionmonday    What the Football with Suzy Shuster and Amy Trask: http://apple.co/whatthefootball   The Jim Jackson Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jim-jackson-show/id1770609432   No-Contest Wrestling with O'Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-contest-wrestling/id1771450708 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lisa Hofmann-Kuroda is a literary translator.  Born in Tokyo, and raised in Texas, she is the co-translator of Ryke Akutagawa's Kappa and the translator for Yuko Tsushima's Wildcat Dome.  She lives in New York City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fabulous Evie McGee Colbert stops by The Late Show to help Stephen select the perfect greeting card for Easter in this podcast-exclusive extended cut! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for something a bit different and inspired by First Draft on ESPN We have Bobby Skinner from Giants Nation Pod, Monte from He's A Giant, regular contributor Aaron aka Mayo and our own Shane facing off against each other to build the best super team from this years list of draft prospects What will their strategy be and who will win the 1st ever BBUKIRL Super Team Draft Follow Bobby and Giants Nation Pod here - https://x.com/BobbySkinner_ / https://x.com/GiantsNationPod Follow Monte and He's A Giants here - https://x.com/MONTECRI5TO / https://x.com/HesAGiantPod Follow Aaron/Mayo here - https://x.com/aggno92

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Mike Greenberg, Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., we're alternating picks as Kiper and Yates go pick for pick in this latest mock draft! 00:00 Welcome to First Draft! 1:27 Best hair in the business? 5:06 Cam Ward selected by Tennessee Titans 5:31 Picks 3-5 6:15 Raiders select Ashton Jeanty 12:54 Shedeur Sanders to New Orleans Saints 17:16 Top 10 Picks 22:16 Mike Drop: answering burning NFL Draft questions 23:00 Could Shedeur Sanders fall? 26:50 When is the earliest you would take a wide receiver? 30:00 Outside of Hunter and Carter, which defensive player will be the best pro? 33:43 New York Giants select Tyler Shough 36:00 49ers draft James Pearce Jr. 38:00 Chargers draft Rylie Mills 39:10 Ravens select Demetrius Knight Jr. 41:00 Jaguars select Andrew Mukuba 42:51 Texans select Ty Robinson 45:00 Thank you for watching! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Craig sits down with new Mystics General Manager Jamila Wideman for an in-depth conversation about her vision for the team. Wideman breaks down why she selected Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Georgia Amoore in the WNBA Draft, what she was looking for in this class of players, and how she plans to shape the Mystics moving forward.

Discover how a 72-year-old data scientist overcame perfectionism to publish her debut science fiction novel after decades of dreaming about it.Are you stuck with half-finished manuscripts or endlessly revising the same chapters? Does your story refuse to translate from your imagination to the page the way you envision it?You're not alone. The very perfectionism that drives you to write can become the biggest obstacle to finishing your novel.In this episode, Cheryl Arko shares her transformative journey from decades of false starts to published author at 72, revealing the exact strategies that helped her finally complete her science fiction novel after years of struggle.Tune in to hear:[14:31] The reverse outlining technique that revealed why Cheryl's scenes weren't working (and exactly how to fix them)[17:47] How entering a writing competition boosted her confidence and validated her manuscript's potential (and earned her a finalist spot!)[20:39] The two-phase writing approach that freed Cheryl from perfectionism paralysis (and helped her make twice the progress in half the time)[29:35] How developing her antagonist into a more three-dimensional character solved plot problems Cheryl had been stuck on for months[35:01] The practical reasons Cheryl chose self-publishing at 72 (and how to decide what's right for you based on your timeline and goals)If you've ever abandoned a manuscript or worried it's too late to realize your writing dreams, this episode proves that with the right approach, you can finally type "The End" on your novel—no matter your age or how long you've been trying.

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Mike Greenberg, Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., we're revealing Mel Kiper's fourth NFL Mock Draft of 2025 with a breakdown of Round 1. 00:00 Welcome to First Draft! 5:48 The mock draft is now open! 6:23 New York Giants select Abdul Carter 9:30 Abdul Carter and Micah Parsons comparison 12:10 Armand Membou goes to New York Jets 13:00 Pick 1 through 8 14:08 Shedeur Sanders selected by New Orleans Saints 21:50 Dallas Cowboys draft Omarion Hampton 28:26 Pick 13-16 28:34 Cincinnati Bengals select Jihaad Campbell 31:13 Picks 22-25 31:37 Jaxson Dart picked by Los Angeles Rams 37:36 Baltimore Ravens select Malaki Starks 44:10 Thank you for watching! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lynne Tillman is a novelist, short story writer, and cultural critic. Her novels are Haunted Houses; Motion Sickness; Cast in Doubt; No Lease on Life, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award; American Genius, A Comedy, and Men and Apparitions. Her nonfiction books include The Velvet Years: Warhol's Factory 1965–1967, with photographs by Stephen Shore; Bookstore: The Life and Times of Jeannette Watson and Books & Co.; and What Would Lynne Tillman Do?, a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in Criticism. Her new collection is Thrilled to Death.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Kevin Negandhi, Field Yates, Jordan Reid, Matt Miller, and Mel Kiper Jr., and we're drafting teams! Our 4 analysts go pick for pick in a mega mock draft to determine who has the greatest team! Let us know in the comments who you think drafted the best team! Time Codes: 00:00 Welcome to First Draft! 2:17 Mega Mock Draft Team Structures by Position 3:10 Round 1 is now open! 8:38 Round 2 14:20 Round 3 21:30 Round 4 31:00 4 round recap 32:53 Round 5 41:00 Round 6 48:50 Round 7 56:17 Round 8 1:04:01 Round 9 1:09:13 Round 10 1:14:50 Full team recap 1:19:50 Thank you for watching! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Five years after the start of the COVID pandemic, we revisit journals from the nurses who lived through it. The stories are part of a first draft of history being remembered by the official Manhattan Borough Historian in his new book on New York's essential workers, “When the City Stopped: Stories from New York's Essential Workers.” 

Five book coaches reveal their most powerful mindset hacks to help you crush self-doubt, overcome perfectionism, and finally finish your first draft—even if you've been stuck for months.Picture this: You sit down with a fresh cup of coffee, open your laptop to write your novel, and then that voice of doubt creeps in: "This is terrible. You don't know what you're doing." And then you're staring at a blinking cursor, completely frozen.Sound familiar?If you're nodding your head, you're not alone. Whether you're just starting your first novel or you've been trying to finish that draft for months (or years!), these mental roadblocks aren't signs of failure—they're normal challenges every writer faces.Tune in to this episode to hear five proven mindset strategies from professional book coaches and editors who have helped countless first-time novelists overcome writer's block, self-doubt, and procrastination to finally type "The End" on their first drafts.[02:11] The surprising mindset shift that turns "This writing is terrible" into productive writing sessions[08:41] How to carve out writing time that actually works (without quitting your day job or neglecting your family)[14:43] Why waiting to "feel inspired" is killing your novel—and the counterintuitive approach that actually works[20:12] The five simple questions that can rescue your story when you're stuck in the dreaded "middle slump"[27:08] How strategic "neglect" might be the missing ingredient to finally type "The End" on your manuscriptIf you're an aspiring author who is writing your first draft, or if you've started multiple manuscripts but keep getting stuck in the middle, this episode's for you!

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Mike Greenberg, Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., we're concluding Field's fourth NFL Mock Draft of 2025 with a breakdown of Round 2. 00:00 Welcome to First Draft! 5:08 Field Yates' Mock Draft 4.0 6:05 Tyler Shough drafted by the Cleveland Browns 13:30 Titans select Donovan Ezeiruaku 17:00 Emeka Egbuka drafted to the Bears 21:09 Mason Taylor selected by the New York Jets 24:28 Cowboys select TreVeyon Henderson 28:45 Colts select Carson Schwesinger 32:57 Shavon Revel Jr. drafted to the Seahawks 36:00 Elic Ayomanor selected by the Chargers 40:40 Saints select QB Will Howard 45:54 Thank you for watching! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Colum McCann is the Dublin-born author of thirteen books. He has won numerous international honors including the U.S National Book Award and an Oscar. His work has been published in over 40 languages. He is the co-founder of Narrative 4, a global non-profit that uses storytelling to build community engagement in schools around the world. His new novel is called Twist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've been spiraling about your first draft or sitting in front of a blinking cursor like it's judging you… This episode is your big reminder to let your first draft be as messy, weird, lumpy, and unhinged as it needs to be. The first draft isn't about perfection, it's about aliveness. It's the start of a relationship, where you and your story are just getting to know each other. You're learning its voice, its shape, and its secret little quirks. It is awkward, but intimate and sacred. It is the spiritual bond between you, believing in your story, and the STORY THAT CHOSE YOU to write it!

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Mike Greenberg, Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., we're running through Round 1 of Field's fourth NFL Mock Draft of 2025. 00:00 Welcome to First Draft! 1:02 Is Field Yates morphing into Mel?! 3:44 Mock Draft begins 4:30 Shedeur Sanders to the Giants! 14:40 Shemar Stewart to the Saints! 21:30 49ers draft Walter Nolen 26:18 Cowboys select Tetairoa McMillan 32:00 Kelvin Banks Jr. picked by Arizona Cardinals 33:50 Bengals draft Grey Zabel 37:56 Steelers select QB Jaxson Dart 41:00 Rams draft Maxwell Hairston 43:35 Patriots trade up to select Josh Conerly Jr. 47:30 Mel Kiper's hair throughout the years 49:20 Thank you for watching! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode, we're going to talk about using the letter form (epistolary) and specifically not telegraphing. If you don't know what telegraphing is, don't worry. You will after you hear our discussion at the end. The story in this episode is written by one of our favorite students, Danielle Huggins. This is the 4th time Danielle's been featured on the podcast but the first time she's joined us in the virtual studio. We are recording for the podcast as usual and you can also watch us on YouTube. Danielle's essay is titled A Letter to My Sister: I'm Sorry. Danielle Huggins is a writer from Northern New Jersey. She has been published in the Washington Post, Mutha Magazine, and GoMAG.com. She is a frequent contributor to Writing Class Radio. Danielle has taken First Draft, Second Draft, Final Draft, and Memoir. She is currently working on a memoir and attends First Draft Class as often as she can. She is on TikTok under @bipolardanielle and lives with her husband, daughter, mother, a wire fox terrier, and Sadie Cat. If you loved this story and want more, you can listen to Episode 105: Teach us Something We Don't Know. Episode 139: This is What Mania Looks Like. And Episode 152: How Music Inspires Storytelling. If you're looking for a writing coach to help your student with college application essays, contact Allison Langer.Writing Class Radio is hosted by Allison Langer and Andrea Askowitz. Audio production by Matt Cundill, Evan Surminski, and Aiden Glassey at the Sound Off Media Company. Theme music is by Justina Shandler.There's more writing class on our website including stories we study, editing resources, video classes, writing retreats, and live online classes. Join our writing community by following us on Patreon. If you want to write with us every week, you can join our First Draft weekly writers groups. You have the option to join Allison on Tuesdays 12-1 ET and/or Mondays with Eduardo Winck 8-9 pm ET. You'll write to a prompt and share what you wrote. If you're a business owner, community activist, group that needs healing, entrepreneur, or scientist and you want to help your team write better, check out all the classes we offer on our website, writingclassradio.com.Join the community that comes together for instruction, an excuse to write, and the support from other writers. To learn more, go to www.Patreon.com/writingclassradio. Or sign up HERE for First Draft for a FREE Zoom link.A new episode will drop the first WEDNESDAY of the month.There's no better way to understand ourselves and each other, than by writing and sharing our stories. Everyone has a story. What's yours?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., we're running through Yates' top-50 Big Board Rankings. 00:00 Welcome to First Draft! 1:49 Field Yates' Top-50 Prospects 2:30 Will Campbell 6:00 Will Johnson 12:32 Field Yates big board rankings 13:38 Shedeur Sanders 21:37 Omarion Hampton 24:25 Donovan Ezeiruaku 27:00 Jaxson Dart 30:50 Darius Alexander 32:17 Elijah Arroyo 35:00 Jacob Parrish 36:30 Chandler Martin 39:30 Willie Lampkin 44:23 KeAndre Lambert-Smith 46:11 Thank you for watching! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Karen Russell is the author of six books of fiction, including the New York Times bestsellers Swamplandia! and Vampires in the Lemon Grove. She has received MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellowships and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, she now lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, son, and daughter. The Antidote is her second novel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., we're diving into the 2025 NFL Draft and its positional uncertainty surrounding some of the nation's top prospects, including Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart and Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan. 00:00 Welcome to First Draft! 2:52 Jalen Milroe 8:35 Jaxson Dart 16:19 Luther Burden III 19:44 Tetairoa McMillan 23:21 Jihaad Campbell 27:07 Will Campbell 31:17 Mykel Williams 34:47 Will Johnson 38:49 Marcus Mbow 41:09 JT Tuimoloau 44:50 Shaun Dolan 46:47 Isaac TeSlaa 49:07 Thank you for watching! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Writing your first novel is a journey unlike any other—equal parts exhilarating, frustrating, magical, and challenging. But here's what you need to know right now: it's completely doable with the right approach.Something I've discovered after working with hundreds of writers is that finishing a novel requires more than just talent or a great idea. It takes the right mindset, practical tools, and a strategic approach that keeps you moving forward even when inspiration fades.Tune in to learn the exact novel-writing framework that has helped my clients and students transform their ideas into completed manuscripts, with a special focus on the foundational elements that make stories truly resonate with readers.You'll hear me talk about things like:[02:10] The #1 reason most first-time novelists abandon their manuscripts (spoiler alert: it's not writer's block)[13:25] Why understanding your protagonist's inner obstacle is the key to creating a page-turning novel[20:20] The simple 3-part story structure that successful authors use to prevent getting stuck in the dreaded "murky middle"[26:45] Which writing routines actually work for busy people (and why marathon writing sessions might be sabotaging your progress)[30:20] The psychological trick that transforms "someday" writers into authors who actually finish their first draft[32:50] Episode recap and final thoughtsIf you've been dreaming about becoming an author but find yourself staring at a blank page or blinking cursor, or if you've started multiple manuscripts only to abandon them when the going gets tough, then this episode is for you!

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., we're running through the rest of Kiper's third NFL Mock Draft of 2025. selections 11-32! Time Codes: 00:00 Welcome to First Draft! 3:00 Mel Kiper's Mock Draft 3.0! 4:00 Kiper's Top 10 NFL Draft Picks 4:30 49ers select Armand Membou 8:14 Dolphins select Will Campbell 13:00 Colston Loveland drafted to the Colts 17:36 Bengals draft Shemar Stewart 20:56 Seahawks draft Nick Emmanwori 23:51 Tetairoa McMillan drafted by the Broncos 26:01 Steelers select Derrick Harmon 27:54 Chargers select Matthew Golden 30:22 Emeka Egbuka selected by the Packers 35:00 James Pearce Jr. drafted to the Lions 38:00 Chiefs draft Kelvin Banks Jr. 45:00 Thank you for watching! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mai Der Vang is the author of Primordial, Yellow Rain, and Afterland. Her honors include th Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize from the Academy of American Poets, an American Book Award, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry, the First Book Award from the Academy of American Poets, among others. The recipient of a Guggenheim and Lannan Literary Fellowship, she teaches in the MFA Program in Creative Writing at Fresno State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., we're running through Kiper's third NFL Mock Draft of 2025. The Top-10 selections and more! 4:15 Mel Kiper's Mock Draft 3.0 Pick 1 12:31 Abdul Carter to Cleveland 15:52 Giants draft Shedeur Sanders 21:54 Heisman winner Travis Hunter drafted by New England Patriots 24:45 Jaguars select Mason Graham 27:06 Raiders draft Ashton Jeanty 30:18 New York Jets select Tyler Warren 33:12 Jalon Walker to Carolina 36:00 Should the Saints draft Jaxson Dart in the top 10? 45:00 Chicago Bears select Mykel Williams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Mike Greenberg, Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., we're breaking down the best edge rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft Class, headlined by Penn State's Abdul Carter, and Georgia's duo of Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker. 00:56 Who has the best hair on First Draft?! 3:33 Top 10 Edge Rushers in NFL Draft 4:06 Abdul Carter 8:23 Jalon Walker 9:22 Mykel Williams 12:29 Jihaad Campbell 15:04 Mike Green 20:36 Shemar Stewart 21:35 Nic Scourton 27:45 Oluwafemi Oladejo 29:47 Donovan Ezeiruaku 31:37 James Pearce Jr. 34:54 Quinshon Judkins 36:16 Wyatt Milum 38:29 Chaz Chambliss 40:08 Ozzy Trapilo 41:55 Best hair in the business? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erika Krouse writes fiction and nonfiction.   Her book Tell me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigationwon the Colorado Book Award for Creative Nonfiction and the 2023 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime.  Erika's novel, Contenders, was a finalist for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award. Her previous short story collection Come Up and See Me Sometime, won the Paterson Fiction Award, was a New York Times Notable Book of the year, and is translated into six languages. Her new short story collection is Save Me, Stranger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Mike Greenberg, Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., we're breaking down Field's Mini Mock Draft Top-10 amid the NFL Free Agency period. 4:26 Field Yates' mini mock 7:50 Las Vegas Raiders 9:55 Cam Ward at #1 11:17 Cleveland Browns pick strategy 20:39 New York Giants draft strategy 24:51 Patriots take Abdul Carter at #4 29:20 Ashton Jeanty 31:30 Geno Smith 33:25 New York Jets draft strategy 34:28 Armand Membou 38:54 Panthers draft strategy 40:15 Tetairoa McMillan 49:00 Thank you for watching! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Mike Greenberg, Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., we're evaluating the blockbuster trade that sent former Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders. Plus, Mel and Field's biggest steals of the 2025 NFL Draft! 3:00 Raiders acquire Geno Smith 4:30 Raiders draft strategy 12:05 Steals of the NFL Draft 14:07 Malaki Starks 16:25 Josh Simmons 18:00 Jack Bech 20:31 Trey Amos 22:04 Omarr Norman-Lott 23:44 Ashton Gillotte 27:45 Tory Horton 29:07 Josaiah Stewart 36:45 Teddye Buchanan 38:07 Nic Scourton 41:33 Que Robinson 43:51 Jack Kiser 44:52 Thank you for watching! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to "First Draft"! Hosted by Mike Greenberg, Field Yates and Mel Kiper Jr., we're reacting to the best and worst performances from the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. 3:00 Stud of the NFL Combine! 4:00 Maxwell Hairston 5:34 Jahdae Barron 7:30 Matthew Golden 12:45 Jaylin Noel 13:50 Jayden Higgins 16:46 Jared Wilson 19:17 Armand Membou 28:10 Duds of the NFL Combine! 28:30 Harold Fannin Jr. 30:30 Tez Johnson 34:45 Kaleb Johnson 36:20 Savion Williams 37:42 Mason Taylor 39:40 Orange Crusher: Darien Porter 42:00 Orange Crusher: Bhayshul Tuten 43:00 Thank you for watching! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices