The First Draft Club

Tired of being told you're either an "outliner" or a "pantser"? In this episode, Mary introduces a revolutionary new framework that recognizes writers exist on a spectrum—not just at two extremes.  Based on years of teaching novelists through The Book Incubator™, she reveals five distinct writer types that help you find your perfect writing process. From her own journey discovering that neither pantsing nor outlining worked for her (leading to 13 rewrites over six years!), Mary developed this new typology that helps writers identify their ideal level of planning versus creative freedom. If you've ever felt like existing writing advice doesn't fit your natural creative process, this episode will help you discover where you fall on the spectrum and how to optimize your approach for the best possible writing experience. 🎧 What you’ll learn: ✅ Why the outliner vs. pantser binary doesn't serve most writers✅ The five distinct novelist types and what each needs to succeed✅ How to identify your writer type based on what "lights you up"✅ Why having a "Big Question" is crucial for every writer type✅ The tools each type uses✅ How to move along the spectrum as your needs change✅ Why finding the right process dramatically increases your chances of finishing your book RESOURCES MENTIONED• The Book Incubator™ Program: https://www.thebookincubator.com/  • The Four Notebooks Method - full training available after application & acceptance to The Book Incubator: https://maryadkinswriter.com/podcast/the-four-notebooks-method • Podcast episode about A Novel in 52 Prompts PLUS the first 3 prompts free: https://open.spotify.com/episode/34hNY3NH794fg6fNumO4wo?si=mmq4XjA5SBC9VTm1EK3Yjw  • A Novel in 52 Prompts: https://www.thebookincubator.com/novel-in-52-prompts • Take the Five Novelist Types Assessment: https://writertypes.thebookincubator.com/ ======================== 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 (https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator/) Happy writing!— Mary ======================== I’m Mary Adkins, author with HarperCollins and book writing coach (for novels and memoirs). I’m so glad you found me!  + Learn my Four Notebooks Method & get your free template: http://bit.ly/3wGmMTc  + Ready to write your dream book? Apply for my program 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    ======================== Mary Adkins is a recovered lawyer, mom to a goofy kid, novelist, and writing coach.  She moved from the hectic world of corporate law into novel-writing…and has published 3 novels (and counting!) with HarperCollins. During her career transition, she learned a whole bunch of stuff about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to writing, revising, landing an agent, and getting published. She created www.thebookincubator.com to help aspiring writers on their journey.  Want to improve your craft, get your book done, and—most importantly—make it FUN again?  Learn more about The Book Incubator™ at https://www.thebookincubator.com/

Sometimes the best creative advice comes from the most unexpected teachers. In this episode, Mary shares three powerful insights about artistic confidence and creative decision-making—learned from watching her 7-year-old son navigate art ownership and musical performance. If you've ever found yourself seeking permission for creative choices or writing by committee instead of trusting your vision, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on artistic ownership and creative confidence. 🎧 What You'll Learn:✅ Why treating art as conversation (not sacred object) transforms your creative process✅ How to develop the confidence to make creative decisions without seeking permission✅ The difference between artistic confidence and writing by committee✅ The power of pure trust in your creative vision Want more?Apply for The Book Incubator: https://www.thebookincubator.com/Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator/Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins Love this episode? Subscribe to First Draft Club and leave us a review! Your support helps other writers discover the show.

How do you motivate yourself to work toward big, overwhelming goals when gratification feels impossibly far away? In this episode, Mary shares her summer reality check: facing an entire house to organize, French lessons to restart, and a secret new watercolor hobby—all while running a business and raising a kid. Drawing from her experience writing five books, Mary reveals the counter-intuitive secret to achieving long-term goals. She shares how she went from writing zero short stories to publishing her first novel, why she's skipping watercolor exercises to paint portraits, and what her French tutor taught her about the futility of "homework." If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer scope of your writing goals, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on how to stay motivated when the finish line is nowhere in sight. 🎧 What you’ll learn: ✅ Why willpower alone isn't enough for long-term goals✅ The mindset shift that makes big projects sustainable✅ How to find motivation when gratification is months away✅ Why skipping the "basics" might be exactly what you need✅ How to let your mood guide your writing choices✅ The overlap between "hard" and "fun" in creative work✅ Real strategies for staying excited about your writing process Want more?Apply for The Book Incubator: https://www.thebookincubator.com/Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator/Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins Love this episode? Subscribe to First Draft Club and leave us a review! Your support helps other writers discover the show.

Ever started researching for your novel only to get so overwhelmed by everything you learned that you couldn't write at all? In this episode, Mary introduces the "marginalia method"—a simple but powerful technique that prevents research overwhelm while making the process more fun and efficient. Mary breaks down the two common research traps writers fall into: research overwhelm (feeling paralyzed by too much information) and research fanaticism (trying to include everything you've learned). She then shares her practical solution that keeps research manageable and actionable. If you've ever felt stuck because your research made your story feel too complex, or if you want to make your research process more productive, this episode will give you a game-changing tool. 🎧 What you'll learn: ✅ Why starting with a "Big Question" is crucial for novel success✅ The two research traps that stop writers from finishing their books✅ How the marginalia method prevents research overwhelm✅ Why constraints actually make you more creative, not less✅ How to make research feel like a treasure hunt instead of homework✅ The practical steps for implementing this method today       Want more?Apply for The Book Incubator: https://www.thebookincubator.com/Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator/Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins Love this episode? Subscribe to First Draft Club and leave us a review! Your support helps other writers discover the show.

What happens when a bestselling author annotates her own 25-year-old novel? In this episode, Mary shares what she discovered reading Ann Patchett's newly annotated edition of "Bel Canto"—and why it taught her something crucial about how we treat our past creative work and ourselves. Ann Patchett's handwritten notes in the margins revealed something unexpected: even successful authors can be too hard on their younger selves.  Mary breaks down the three types of annotations Patchett made and shares a personal story about memoir feedback that changed how she thinks about self-compassion in writing. If you've ever cringed at your old writing or been too critical of your past creative work, this episode offers a mindset shift that every writer needs to hear.  Want more?Apply for The Book Incubator: https://www.thebookincubator.com/Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.incubator/Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maryadkins Love this episode? Subscribe to First Draft Club and leave us a review! Your support helps other writers discover the show.