The First Draft Club

S02 E02 Is it bad to start a new book before I finish writing this one? [Reissue]

This episode originally aired on 10/9/2020. 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 about juggling projects, following creativity's lead, and The Bachelorette.

Help! How do I write good dialogue?

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

S02 E01 Help! How do I write good dialogue? [Reissue]

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.

Let's recap our season takeaways.

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

S01 E12 Let’s recap our season takeaways [Reissue]

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!

Do I need an antagonist?

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

S01 E11 Do I need an antagonist? [Reissue]

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.

How do we include background without boring the reader?

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.

S01 E10 How do we include background without boring the reader? [Reissue]

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 incorporating backstory into your novel or memoir.

What if I don't know what it is I'm writing?

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.