People Who Do Things

Author: John H. Matthews and Laura Buchwald

Join hosts John H. Matthews (Runt, Designated Survivor) and Laura Buchwald for conversations with creators, including authors, screenwriters, musicians, playwrights and more, as well as chats between the hosts about the basics of writing, inspiration, getting over writer's block, and more.
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Language: en-us

Genres: Arts, Books, Music, Music Interviews

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41. Talking Messy First Drafts with Claudia Zuluaga
Wednesday, 24 September, 2025

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.