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First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing

Mitzi Rapkin
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David James Duncan
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First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing is a weekly show featuring in-depth interviews with fiction, non-fiction, essay, and poetry writers. First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing highlights the voices of writers as they discuss their work, their craft, and the literary arts. This weekly show hosted by Mitzi Rapkin is a celebration of creative writing and the individuals who are dedicated to bringing their... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes548Founded10 years ago
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Artwork for First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing

Latest Episodes

Megha Majumdar is the author of the novel A Guardian and a Thief, which is Oprah’s Book Club selection for October 2025. The novel is a finalist for the National Book Award and the Kirkus Prize and has been longlisted for the American Library Associa... more

Paula Saunders is a graduate of the Syracuse University creative writing program and was awarded a postgraduate Albert Schweitzer Fellowship at the State University of New York at Albany, under Schweitzer chair Toni Morrison. Her first book, The Dist... more

Diane Seuss is the author of the poetry collections Frank: Sonnets, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award; Still Life with Two Dead Peacocks and a Girl; Four-Legged Girl, finalist for the Pulitzer Prize; Wolf Lake, W... more

Tracy K. Smith is a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, memoirist, editor, translator and librettist. She served as the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States from 2017-2019. Smith is the author of five poetry collections: Such Color: New and Selected Poem... more

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Recent Guests

Paula Saunders
Author of the novels, The Distance Home and Starting from Here.
Episode: First Draft - Paula Saunders
Diane Seuss
Poet and author of multiple poetry collections including Frank, Sonnets
Episode: First Draft - 12th Anniversary Best Of - Diane Seuss
Stewart O'Nan
Author of the novel Evensong
Episode: First Draft - Stewart O'Nan
Angela Flournoy
Author of The Wilderness and The Turner House, with literary accolades including the National Book Award finalist and NAACP Image Award finalist.
Episode: First Draft - Angela Flournoy
Jonathan Parks-Ramage
Novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and journalist, author of "It's Not the End of the World"
Episode: First Draft- Jonathan Parks-Ramage
Peter Orner
Author of The Gossip Columnist's Daughter and several acclaimed novels and story collections.
Dartmouth College
Episode: First Draft - Peter Orner (Pete for the 5-Peat)
Jane Hamilton
Author of the novel, The Phoebe Variations.
Episode: First Draft - Jane Hamilton
Jason Mott
Author of the novel People Like Us, National Book Award winner for Hell of a Book
Episode: First Draft - Jason Mott
Abby Geni
Author of the short story collections, including The Body Farm.
Episode: First Draft - 12th Anniversary Best Of - Abby Geni

Host

Mitzi Rapkin
Host of the podcast, she specializes in interviewing authors and exploring the art of writing and literary expression with them, showcasing insights into their creative processes and experiences.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 279 ratings
  • One Pilgrimage after the other

    THE absolute best podcast on a writers' process from a prism of angles. Ultra-inspire time and again

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stone Statue
    Canada4 months ago
  • Dear Podcasters..

    I find it hard to believe that on an Anniversary episode, picking the best of 500 interviews to choose from, you chose the one about Iran on the VERY week Trump bombs their nuclear sites. We come here for anything but that stuff. We all have our own brains, our own opinions our own perspectives, we don’t need anyone else’s political agenda pushed. Sick of audiences being taken advantage of that were originally organically grown, for the sake of politics. It’s not subtle.

    Give us a freaking break... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    littlebird1983
    United States5 months ago
  • Super helpful for writers

    Also really enjoyable for readers!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pang Dynasty
    Canada10 months ago
  • Inspiration

    Love this podcast. It’s a daily source of inspiration for my next read and for my writing. Go on, give it a listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    vialG
    United States10 months ago
  • Such thoughtful questions and answers

    I appreciate the depth of these exchanges. Each guest seems grateful for how thoughtful the interview goes. Such a benefit for us writers in the trenches. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RKRK7312
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many appreciate the depth of conversation that sheds light on the complexities of writing and the creative process.
Listeners praise the podcast for its thoughtful and thorough interviews with authors.
The host's research and engagement resonate with audiences, leading to favorable comparisons with other author interviews.
Some feedback expresses concerns about the inclusion of political topics, indicating a desire for a more focused literary discussion.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#245
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#157
India/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#211
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#211
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#211
Philippines/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

First Draft - Paula Saunders
Q: What about your change in perspective of these stories, like writing before you had children and writing as a very young woman?
It became more understandable after I became a mother.
First Draft - Paula Saunders
Q: What was really nagging at you when you started this book?
I had stories I can tell, and I thought maybe my stories were too dark to tell.
First Draft - 12th Anniversary Best Of - Diane Seuss
Q: How do we love fully?
My love for things is partial, stemming from the survival of different kinds of traumas that you learn to hold back.
First Draft - 12th Anniversary Best Of - Diane Seuss
Q: When you were putting this together, did you make discoveries about your life or about how things connected that you never had before because you were writing it this way?
I didn't make new connections so much as I found new language because of the nature of the form.
First Draft - Stewart O'Nan
Q: What do you hope people walk away with?
I hope they care about what's going on in the lives of the characters and bring their own lives into the stories.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing

What is First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast features insightful interviews with a diverse array of authors, including fiction, non-fiction, essay, and poetry writers. Each episode explores the creative processes behind the writers' works, delving into themes of craft, identity, and societal impact. The discussions often touch on personal experiences, emotional complexities, and the transformative power of storytelling, making it a rich resource for writers and readers alike. Noteworthy is the host's ability to engage authors in profound conversations that illuminate both the struggles and triumphs of the writing journey, fostering a deeper appreciation for literature and the writing craft.

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Which podcasts are similar to First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing:

1. Otherppl with Brad Listi
2. Between The Covers : Conversations with Writers in Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry
3. Writers on Writing
4. The Shakespeare and Company Interview
5. The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

How many episodes of First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing are there?

First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing launched 10 years ago and published 548 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing?

Recent guests on First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing include:

1. Paula Saunders
2. Diane Seuss
3. Stewart O'Nan
4. Angela Flournoy
5. Jonathan Parks-Ramage
6. Peter Orner
7. Jane Hamilton
8. Jason Mott

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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