Season 2, Episode 3: Messy First Drafts

Episode 3 is here! A reminder that you can find Writing in the Dark on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and subscribing is a great way to support our work. Thanks, as always, for listening.Show notesIn this episode, Julia F. Green and Ralph Walker delve into the mess, struggle, and joy of the first draft, sharing their own writing routines and challenges. They discuss different drafting techniques, including outlines and character-driven prompts, as well as how to embrace the inevitable messiness of shitty first drafts. They also explore the internal and external pressures that can come with drafting, the importance of establishing personal benchmarks to celebrate progress, and the benefits of a strong creative community. This episode aims to demystify the often intimidating first draft process, urging writers to experiment and find joy in the journey of storytelling.Writing in the Dark is co-hosted by Julia F. Green (Substack, website, Bluesky) and Ralph Walker (Twitter, website) and edited by Aaron Fyler, with cover art by Jarmusch. Listen to previous episodes. Get full access to Writing is Joy at writingisjoy.substack.com/subscribe