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A podcast to help you overcome resistance and write with more joy, clarity, and confidence. If you’re working on a novel or memoir, stick around. Whether you haven’t written a word since your 5-paragraph essay days or you have an MFA in Creative Writing, this podcast is now your weekly coffee date on your journey to finish your first draft. Visit maryadkinswriter.com for more resources.
A podcast to help you overcome resistance and write with more joy, clarity, and confidence. If you’re working on a novel or memoir, stick around. Whether you haven’t written a word since your 5-paragraph essay days or you have an MFA in Creative Writing, this podcast is now your weekly coffee date on your journey to finish your first draft. Visit maryadkinswriter.com for more resources.
Episodes
Wednesday Jan 28, 2026
S10 E02 The #1 Reason Feedback is Stressful is Actually Not Even a Real Thing
Wednesday Jan 28, 2026
Wednesday Jan 28, 2026
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 about a writer who got devastating feedback—and how we fixed the entire problem with about 12 words. Then I break down why feedback feels so overwhelming and what it actually takes to implement it.
You'll learn:
• Why feedback packaged in generalizations feels bigger than it is
• The actual writing required to fix common "big" issues
• How to assess what feedback really means in terms of work
• Why figuring out character motivation in fiction is SO different than in real life
• Concrete time estimates for common feedback (from "3 minutes" to "a few weeks")
Download the free Feedback Reality Check Guide: https://prodigious-inventor-6525.kit.com/c778014a10
This spreadsheet shows you the actual estimated time commitment for 7 common pieces of "feels big" feedback.
Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.
Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator ( / book.incubator )
Happy writing! — Mary
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RESOURCES:
Learn my Four Notebooks Method & get your free template:
http://bit.ly/3wGmMTc
A Novel in 52 Prompts - A scene-by-scene blueprint for writing your novel:
https://www.thebookincubator.com/novel-in-52-prompts
Ready to write your dream book? Apply for The Book Incubator in just 5 minutes with no obligation to enroll and get my free 60-minute training HOW TO WRITE YOUR DREAM BOOK WITH A FULL-TIME JOB (AND A LIFE):
https://bit.ly/3wEwrJQ

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