41. Talking Messy First Drafts with Claudia Zuluaga

24/09/2025 57 min
41. Talking Messy First Drafts with Claudia Zuluaga

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Episode Synopsis

John and Laura talk with Claudia Zuluaga—author of Fort Starlight and longtime creative writing teacher at John Jay College—about the art of surviving your messy first draft. Together, they explore why messy drafts are essential, how to push past perfectionism, and strategies to keep going when the words feel chaotic. A conversation full of honesty and insight, this episode reminds us that the first draft’s job is simply to exist.