The First Draft Club

By By Mary Adkins | Author & Book Writing CoachEducation Arts Books How To Courses

The First Draft Club episodes

July 22 S11 E03 Redefining “Success” as a Writer and Author: Interview with Crime Novelist & Fellow Texan Mary Lowry
Mary Pauline Lowry is a crime writer and fellow Texan who just published her debut novel LAST NIGHT WAS KILLER. In this interview, we talk about what success actually looks like when you're a working writer.
In this episode, Mary Pauline shares:
• The messy reality of publication week
• How she found a funny voice in crime writing
• What "literary citizenship" actually means
• Why having a writer community is everything
• The honest truth about writing visibility and "platform"
If you're writing because you think success looks a certain way, this episode might change your mind...in a good way.
You can find Mary Pauline's new book, LAST NIGHT WAS KILLER, here: http://harpercollins.com/products/last-night-was-killer-mary-pauline-lowry
Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.
Want to watch the video episodes? Visit https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins
Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator
Happy writing! — Mary
========================
RESOURCES:
+ Ready to write your dream book? Apply for The Book Incubator with no obligation to enroll and get my free training HOW TO WRITE AN (ACTUALLY) GOOD BOOK IN 45 MINUTES A DAY: https://www.thebookincubator.com/
+ A Novel in 52 Prompts - A scene-by-scene blueprint for writing your novel:
https://www.thebookincubator.com/novel-in-52-prompts
========================
Hi, I'm Mary!
I'm the author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable” according to the Associated Press). My memoir, You Might Feel A Little Pressure, was released by Third Rail Press in 2025.
My books have been published in 13 countries, and I've written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. I founded an MFA-alternative, The Book Incubator, which has now helped hundreds of writers finish their books over 12 months and continues supporting them through publication (yes, forever!).
When I’m not writing, I’m probably building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn or bathing with an overpriced Lush bath bomb. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time trying to domesticate a stubborn tabby and shamelessly watching reality TV.
========================
Social:
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator
48 min
July 15 S11 E02 Hey Plot-Haters! This Just In: People Only Change
I used to hold two competing ideas in my head. I believed "people don't change"—I sort of prided myself on this vaguely cynical outlook. But then I'd teach the definition of story, which is that a story is about someone changing.
So I harbored this two-clause belief: people mostly don't change, but stories are about when they do.
But in practice, it meany that making a character change on the page was always uphill. It felt like dragging a kid who refuses to walk. If you believe people don't change, but your job as a writer is to make them, there's always inertia.
Then I had an epiphany on the train, which is what brought about this episode.

Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.
Want to watch the video episodes? Visit https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins
Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator
Happy writing! — Mary
========================
RESOURCES:
+ 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 with no obligation to enroll and get my free 60-minute training! https://www.thebookincubator.com/
========================
Hi, I'm Mary!
I'm the author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable” according to the Associated Press). My memoir, You Might Feel A Little Pressure, was released by Third Rail Press in 2025.
My books have been published in 13 countries, and I've written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. I founded an MFA-alternative, The Book Incubator, which has now helped hundreds of writers finish their books over 12 months and continues supporting them through publication (yes, forever!).
When I’m not writing, I’m probably building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn or bathing with an overpriced Lush bath bomb. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time trying to domesticate a stubborn tabby and shamelessly watching reality TV.
========================
Social:
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator
11 min
July 08 S11 E01 How I Deal with Rejection and Negative Feedback: Why “Thick Skin” Isn’t Realistic or Helpful
Let’s talk about what all of us face as writers, all the time: disappointing reactions to our work. I'm talking about more than just rejections from agents or publishers. I mean ALL of it—the negative feedback from people who read our work as we’re writing it. The negative reviews that come in after it’s published. And yes, the rejections that come as we’re pitching it.

All over the internet, you'll find admonishments to aspiring authors and authors to have thick skin, reminders that rejection is part of the process. And it IS. Rejection and negative feedback are baked into the process at ALL stages of being writer, which is why, today, I wanted to do a deep dive into how to actually deal with it, psychologically.

Not “let it roll off” or “cultivate thick skin,” because honestly, those have never worked for me.

How do we handle all the disappointing responses to our work when we are thin-skinned writers who will always keep putting our work out there, because we love it, and we love the work and connecting with people and aren’t going to give up our dream?

THAT’S what I want to talk about today.

• Why "having thick skin" is overrated advice
• The difference between feedback that matters and feedback you can ignore
• How to tell if a critique actually has something legitimate in it (and what to do if it does)
• The cost of every creative choice
• The bigger reason we write books in the first place

Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.

Want to watch the video episodes? Visit https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator

Happy writing! — Mary

========================

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

========================

Hi, I'm Mary!

I'm the author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable” according to the Associated Press). My memoir, You Might Feel A Little Pressure, was released by Third Rail Press in 2025.

My books have been published in 13 countries, and I've written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. I founded an MFA-alternative, The Book Incubator, which has now helped hundreds of writers finish their books over 12 months and continues supporting them through publication (yes, forever!).

When I’m not writing, I’m probably building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn or bathing with an overpriced Lush bath bomb. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time trying to domesticate a stubborn tabby and shamelessly watching reality TV.

========================

Social:

+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator
16 min
July 01 S10 E24 How to Write a Great Query Letter: Interview with Hannah Brattesani, our New In-House Literary Agent at The Book Incubator
This is the season finale of The First Draft Club—and we have huge news.
The Book Incubator has a new in-house literary agent!
Her name is Hannah Brattesani. She's worked at the Friedrich Agency and Folio Literary Management and is now at Simon & Schuster. She's represented some of the best writers writing today. And now she's on our team to help you turn your manuscript into a sellable pitch.
In this episode, Hannah reveals:
• The #1 mistake she sees in query letters (and how to fix it)
• Why your comp titles matter more than you think
• A framework from Pixar that will change how you write your logline
• How to figure out if your book is "commercial" or "literary"—and why it matters
• What agents actually look for when they open your email
• The truth about rejections
• The one piece of querying advice she disagrees with
If you're thinking about querying agents, or you will be someday, this episode is essential listening.
Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.
Want to watch the video episodes? Visit https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins
Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator
Happy writing! — Mary
========================
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
========================
Hi, I'm Mary!
I'm the author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable” according to the Associated Press). My memoir, You Might Feel A Little Pressure, was released by Third Rail Press in 2025.
My books have been published in 13 countries, and I've written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. I founded an MFA-alternative, The Book Incubator, which has now helped hundreds of writers finish their books over 12 months and continues supporting them through publication (yes, forever!).
When I’m not writing, I’m probably building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn or bathing with an overpriced Lush bath bomb. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time trying to domesticate a stubborn tabby and shamelessly watching reality TV.
========================
Social:
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator
38 min
June 24 S10 E23 Hearing “No” is Part of the Process: How 150+ Rejections Led to a "Big 5" Book Deal at Auction
Stephanie Webb, our marketing director at The Book Incubator, just got a dream book deal with Simon & Schuster. But it didn't come easily—or quickly.
In this episode, we talk about:
• Why rejection is completely baked into publishing
• The psychology of almost quitting (and why it happens right before the breakthrough)
• The one editor's insight that changed everything
• How book auctions actually work
• The query letter that got her a literary agent
Find Stephanie Webb and hear more about her writing journey on Instagram @heystephwebb : https://www.instagram.com/heystephwebb/
Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.
Want to watch the video episodes? Visit https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins
Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator
Happy writing! — Mary
========================
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
========================
Hi, I'm Mary!
I'm the author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable” according to the Associated Press). My memoir, You Might Feel A Little Pressure, was released by Third Rail Press in 2025.
My books have been published in 13 countries, and I've written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. I founded an MFA-alternative, The Book Incubator, which has now helped hundreds of writers finish their books over 12 months and continues supporting them through publication (yes, forever!).
When I’m not writing, I’m probably building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn or bathing with an overpriced Lush bath bomb. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time trying to domesticate a stubborn tabby and shamelessly watching reality TV.
========================
Social:
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator
========================
#writingtips
#bookwriting
#writer #authortube
48 min
June 17 S10 E22 When to Tell and When to Show: Lessons from Rufi Thorpe & Shel Silverstein
Of all the writing adages I tend to whine about, "show, don't tell" is probably at the top of the list—because it just isn't true.
Good writing involves plenty of telling. The actual craft question is: When is it best to tell, and when is it best to show?
My colleague Rufi Thorpe—author of Margo's Got Money Troubles and the best writing teacher I've ever had—came up with an amazing answer. And that's what this episode is all about.
Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.
Want to watch the video episodes? Visit https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins
Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator
Happy writing! — Mary
========================
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
========================
Hi, I'm Mary!
I'm the author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable” according to the Associated Press). My memoir, You Might Feel A Little Pressure, was released by Third Rail Press in 2025.
My books have been published in 13 countries, and I've written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. I founded an MFA-alternative, The Book Incubator, which has now helped hundreds of writers finish their books over 12 months and continues supporting them through publication (yes, forever!).
When I’m not writing, I’m probably building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn or bathing with an overpriced Lush bath bomb. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time trying to domesticate a stubborn tabby and shamelessly watching reality TV.
========================
Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator
9 min
June 10 S10 E21 How to Write a Book During Summer
Book ideas have their own timeline. They can be persistent, demanding, and impatient—like a kid begging to go to Dave & Buster's. If you sit on an idea too long, it might just leave and find another writer to collaborate with (as Elizabeth Gilbert says).
So what if you decided to grab your idea by the tail this summer and actually write the draft?
In this episode, I'm sharing five features of summer that can work FOR you as a writer.
Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.
Want to watch the video episodes? Visit https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins
Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator
Happy writing! — Mary
========================
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
========================
Hi, I'm Mary!
I'm the author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable” according to the Associated Press). My memoir, You Might Feel A Little Pressure, was released by Third Rail Press in 2025.
My books have been published in 13 countries, and I've written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. I founded an MFA-alternative, The Book Incubator, which has now helped hundreds of writers finish their books over 12 months and continues supporting them through publication (yes, forever!).
When I’m not writing, I’m probably building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn or bathing with an overpriced Lush bath bomb. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time trying to domesticate a stubborn tabby and shamelessly watching reality TV.
========================
Social:
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator
15 min
June 03 S10 E20 NEW TOOL: The Real-Time Outline, a.k.a. an Outline I Can Actually Stomach
A new outlining tool for writers who hate outlining.
Outlining a novel feels to me like writing a novel by spreadsheet. I'm not an outliner.
But I also learned early on that pure pantsing doesn't work for me, either. I need some structure—some scaffolding for my story.
So recently, while revising my novel, I invented something I'm calling The Real-Time Outline.
It's simple. It's blowing my mind how effective it's been. And I'm breaking it down in detail in this episode.
Resources mentioned:
Calin Duke's new book, How to Upcycle Nearly Everything for the Outdoors https://www.calinduke.com/
What Kind of Writer Are You? A NEW TYPOLOGY! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qzm3bQCqQN4
Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.
Want to watch the video episodes? Visit https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins
Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator
Happy writing! — Mary
========================
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
========================
Hi, I'm Mary!
I'm the author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable” according to the Associated Press). My memoir, You Might Feel A Little Pressure, was released by Third Rail Press in 2025.
My books have been published in 13 countries, and I've written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. I founded an MFA-alternative, The Book Incubator, which has now helped hundreds of writers finish their books over 12 months and continues supporting them through publication (yes, forever!).
When I’m not writing, I’m probably building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn or bathing with an overpriced Lush bath bomb. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time trying to domesticate a stubborn tabby and shamelessly watching reality TV.
========================
Social:
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator
18 min
May 27 S10 E19 Hot Take on Book Marketing Advice that Makes Me Want to Claw Out My Eyes
If you've Googled "how to market my book," you've probably come across the same advice: show up on Instagram, film yourself, build a following, cultivate your author brand.
Here's the thing: most of that advice is not going to work.
I've sensed this for a long time, but I didn't have a better alternative—until I realized something based on my experience as a reader, an author, and someone who watches other authors promote their books online.
Resources mentioned:
Book Marketing 101: One Thing You Should Never Do, and What to Do Instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKaH_M8Y2G4&t=5s
Jenn DePaula: https://www.instagram.com/jenndepaulabookmarketing/
Our marketing director at The Book Incubator, Stephanie Webb: https://www.instagram.com/heystephwebb/
Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.
Want to watch the video episodes? Visit https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins
Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator
Happy writing! — Mary
========================
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
========================
Hi, I'm Mary!
I'm the author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable” according to the Associated Press). My memoir, You Might Feel A Little Pressure, was released by Third Rail Press in 2025.
My books have been published in 13 countries, and I've written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. I founded an MFA-alternative, The Book Incubator, which has now helped hundreds of writers finish their books over 12 months and continues supporting them through publication (yes, forever!).
When I’m not writing, I’m probably building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn or bathing with an overpriced Lush bath bomb. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time trying to domesticate a stubborn tabby and shamelessly watching reality TV.
========================
Social:
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator
20 min
May 20 S10 E18 The Small Thing You Can Ask Beta Readers That Makes All the Difference
There's a kind of feedback that fills you with relief and gratitude, and there's a kind that leaves you with low-grade anxiety—even when the feedback is good and you want to use it.
The difference is just one simple thing most readers don't do by default.
I've had dozens of readers and editors over the years. And I've realized that even among professionals—agents, editors, trusted writer friends—there's feedback that's incredibly helpful and feedback that makes you want to eat a pint of ice cream and give up.
In this episode:
• The one rule that separates good feedback from "guess what I'm thinking" feedback
• Why my HarperCollins editor was so easy to work with (and I didn't realize it until now)
• How a novelist friend sent me notes that made me want to send her 18,000 Crumbl cookies
• What to ask your beta readers so you're not playing a scavenger hunt with your manuscript
Episode mentioned: Season 10 Ep 2: The #1 Reason Feedback is Stressful Is Not Even a Real Thing (https://open.spotify.com/episode/7dCqcaEG6OcVW129sXw1AG?si=cc4NHJS1TcaPBgLyPpHawA)
Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit thebookincubator.com.
Want to watch the video episodes? Visit https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins
Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @book.incubator
Happy writing! — Mary
========================
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
========================
Hi, I'm Mary!
I'm the author of the novels When You Read This (Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable” according to the Associated Press). My memoir, You Might Feel A Little Pressure, was released by Third Rail Press in 2025.
My books have been published in 13 countries, and I've written for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more. I founded an MFA-alternative, The Book Incubator, which has now helped hundreds of writers finish their books over 12 months and continues supporting them through publication (yes, forever!).
When I’m not writing, I’m probably building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn or bathing with an overpriced Lush bath bomb. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time trying to domesticate a stubborn tabby and shamelessly watching reality TV.
========================
Social:
+ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator
13 min

About The First Draft Club

From the publisher's feed

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…