Drafting the Past
@draftingthepast.bsky.social
A podcast about the craft of writing history, hosted by Kate Carpenter. Find it at draftingthepast.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
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creating a podcast devoted to the craft of writing history
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Did you know? Patreon supporters of Drafting the Past at any level now get access to an ad-free version of the podcast. www.patreon.com/draftingthep...
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Thank you @timeshighered.bsky.social for publishing my essay advocating for the value of developmental editing in scholarly writing & publishing!
Takeaway for authors: learning to edit your own work in this way will help you get published better (and faster)
Takeaway for authors: learning to edit your own work in this way will help you get published better (and faster)
Why developmental editing is essential to strong academic writing, and how strengthening a manuscript’s argument, evidence, structure and style can make all the difference: https://ow.ly/uaxL50XVFka #HigherEd #AcademicSky #EduSky
What is developmental editing, and why does your scholarly manuscript need it?
Academics might find it hard to see the flaws in their work, but to be a writer is to be edited – embrace it. Laura Portwood-Stacer outlines the importance of developmental editing
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Thank you @timeshighered.bsky.social for publishing my essay advocating for the value of developmental editing in scholarly writing & publishing!
Takeaway for authors: learning to edit your own work in this way will help you get published better (and faster)
Takeaway for authors: learning to edit your own work in this way will help you get published better (and faster)
A delight to host @renatakeller.bsky.social for ep 83! We talked her book The Fate of the Americas (@uncpress.bsky.social), including how she wrangled 20 countries' stories. She also let me pry about the challenges of writing thru the loneliness of new parenthood draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 83: Renata Keller Makes Space for Herself Through Writing
Kate Carpenter interviews historian Renata Keller about her new book on the Cuban Missile Crisis, The Fate of the Americas.
draftingthepast.com
January 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
A delight to host @renatakeller.bsky.social for ep 83! We talked her book The Fate of the Americas (@uncpress.bsky.social), including how she wrangled 20 countries' stories. She also let me pry about the challenges of writing thru the loneliness of new parenthood draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Season 5 kicked off last week, and Jeff Roche shows us how you can imagine exactly who your audience is. buttondown.com/draftingthep...
Do You Know Who Your Audience Is?
Season 5 of Drafting the Past kicks off with Jeff Roche, author of The Conservative Frontier.
buttondown.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Season 5 kicked off last week, and Jeff Roche shows us how you can imagine exactly who your audience is. buttondown.com/draftingthep...
Headed to #AHA26 today, recorder and mic in hand! If you see me in the book exhibit, come say hi and tell me the most influential writing advice you know!
January 8, 2026 at 12:43 PM
Headed to #AHA26 today, recorder and mic in hand! If you see me in the book exhibit, come say hi and tell me the most influential writing advice you know!
Oh, excellent, thanks for sharing!
January 6, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Oh, excellent, thanks for sharing!
The first ep of 2026 (and season 5) is here! I chatted with Jeff Roche about his book THE CONSERVATIVE FRONTIER (@utexaspress.bsky.social). We talked about his excellent writing voice, how music shapes his process, and his intriguing note organizing method. draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
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Episode 82: Jeff Roche Knows Exactly Who His Reader Is
Jeff Roche and Kate Carpenter discuss the writing process for The Conservative Frontier, including how Jeff develops his voice and organizes sources.
draftingthepast.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:56 PM
The first ep of 2026 (and season 5) is here! I chatted with Jeff Roche about his book THE CONSERVATIVE FRONTIER (@utexaspress.bsky.social). We talked about his excellent writing voice, how music shapes his process, and his intriguing note organizing method. draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
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I can't wait to read it!
January 6, 2026 at 1:51 PM
I can't wait to read it!
Reposted by Drafting the Past
So pleased that Unrooted got a shout-out as one of listeners’ favourite history reads of 2025!
If you’re interested in the history of women in botany, check it out! 🌿🌾
If you’re interested in the history of women in botany, check it out! 🌿🌾
It's here! Listeners shared some of their favorite history reads from 2025--inclusing one book published 90 years ago! draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 81: The Best History Books You Read This Year
Listeners call in to Drafting the Past to tell host Kate Carpenter about the best history books they read in 2025.
draftingthepast.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:17 AM
So pleased that Unrooted got a shout-out as one of listeners’ favourite history reads of 2025!
If you’re interested in the history of women in botany, check it out! 🌿🌾
If you’re interested in the history of women in botany, check it out! 🌿🌾
Reposted by Drafting the Past
getting myself out of holiday mode and back to book writing mode by catching up on @katecarp.bsky.social brilliant @draftingthepast.bsky.social
January 4, 2026 at 10:55 AM
getting myself out of holiday mode and back to book writing mode by catching up on @katecarp.bsky.social brilliant @draftingthepast.bsky.social
Reposted by Drafting the Past
It was a pleasure to share a few words about my favorite read of the year with one of my favorite podcasts, though fitting all my thoughts into 90 seconds felt like an impossible challenge. Looking forward to reading some of the books shared by others!
It's here! Listeners shared some of their favorite history reads from 2025--inclusing one book published 90 years ago! draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 81: The Best History Books You Read This Year
Listeners call in to Drafting the Past to tell host Kate Carpenter about the best history books they read in 2025.
draftingthepast.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:00 AM
It was a pleasure to share a few words about my favorite read of the year with one of my favorite podcasts, though fitting all my thoughts into 90 seconds felt like an impossible challenge. Looking forward to reading some of the books shared by others!
Reposted by Drafting the Past
I started with the OpEd Project, then listened to a lot of the Longform podcast (since @draftingthepast.bsky.social wasn’t around yet!). Took a few nonfiction writing workshops but felt awkwardly jammed in with memoirs. Also continue to find web.archive.org/web/20230201... very helpful!
Editing
Here are some types of pitches for our Human Interest, Culture, and History sections that I’d love to receive for Slate. I'm looking to commission pieces that make connections across culture, life…
web.archive.org
December 30, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I started with the OpEd Project, then listened to a lot of the Longform podcast (since @draftingthepast.bsky.social wasn’t around yet!). Took a few nonfiction writing workshops but felt awkwardly jammed in with memoirs. Also continue to find web.archive.org/web/20230201... very helpful!
Reposted by Drafting the Past
I’m already seeing subscribers tick up for my newsletter about writing, literary agents, and publishing ahead of the “I’m going to write a book this year!” crowd. Welcome! Sign up here: www.agentsandbooks.com
Agents & Books
Writing, Publishing, and the Creative Life
www.agentsandbooks.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I’m already seeing subscribers tick up for my newsletter about writing, literary agents, and publishing ahead of the “I’m going to write a book this year!” crowd. Welcome! Sign up here: www.agentsandbooks.com
Including shoutouts for @alexiscoe.bsky.social, @erinnmccomb.bsky.social, @pdtoler.bsky.social, @beckyaikman.bsky.social, @tracyslater.bsky.social and many more!
December 30, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Including shoutouts for @alexiscoe.bsky.social, @erinnmccomb.bsky.social, @pdtoler.bsky.social, @beckyaikman.bsky.social, @tracyslater.bsky.social and many more!
It's here! Listeners shared some of their favorite history reads from 2025--inclusing one book published 90 years ago! draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 81: The Best History Books You Read This Year
Listeners call in to Drafting the Past to tell host Kate Carpenter about the best history books they read in 2025.
draftingthepast.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:10 PM
It's here! Listeners shared some of their favorite history reads from 2025--inclusing one book published 90 years ago! draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
How do you practice writing? What's your version of running through your scales or doing mile repeats?
buttondown.com/draftingthep...
buttondown.com/draftingthep...
Getting Your Reps In
How do you practice writing? My two recent guests have some ideas.
buttondown.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:42 AM
How do you practice writing? What's your version of running through your scales or doing mile repeats?
buttondown.com/draftingthep...
buttondown.com/draftingthep...
New episode with Amy Farrell (@amyefarrell.bsky.social)! We talked about incorporating her story in her history of the Girl Scouts, INTREPID GIRLS (@uncpress.bsky.social). Plus, getting an agent, wrangling sources, developing an accessible voice, & more. Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Episode 80: Amy Erdman Farrell Leaps Into Something New
Kate Carpenter interviews Amy Erdman Farrell about researching and writing her new book about the history of the Girl Scouts, Intrepid Girls.
draftingthepast.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:32 PM
New episode with Amy Farrell (@amyefarrell.bsky.social)! We talked about incorporating her story in her history of the Girl Scouts, INTREPID GIRLS (@uncpress.bsky.social). Plus, getting an agent, wrangling sources, developing an accessible voice, & more. Listen: draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
Last call to tell me your favorite history book that you read this year!
I need your help! I want to put together a year-end episode, and I want to know what you read this year. Go here: www.speakpipe.com/DraftingtheP... and record a short message telling me who you are and the best history book you read this year. Doesn't have to be published this year!
Send a voice message to
DraftingthePast
A podcast devoted to the craft of writing history.
www.speakpipe.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Last call to tell me your favorite history book that you read this year!
Some wise words from documentary filmmaker Penny Lane: open.substack.com/pub/lennypan...
May the proliferation of AI challenge us to write with verve.
May the proliferation of AI challenge us to write with verve.
My only writing advice is please, please try to sound like a human being
Everywhere I look people are complaining about A.I. slop. Here is how I use the fear of sounding like ChatGPT as a motivational tool to level up my writing.
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Some wise words from documentary filmmaker Penny Lane: open.substack.com/pub/lennypan...
May the proliferation of AI challenge us to write with verve.
May the proliferation of AI challenge us to write with verve.
Thanks for listening and sharing!
December 20, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Thanks for listening and sharing!
Reposted by Drafting the Past
Reupping this as it may be helpful!
My best advice to aspiring authors of scholarly books is to read other scholarly books recently published by your target press. This may seem obvious and yet is not!
December 17, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reupping this as it may be helpful!
Reposted by Drafting the Past
Out now! My convo with the inimitable @wellerstein.bsky.social about his new book, THE MOST AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY. I loved going deep with Alex on the challenges of document management and the very practical things (post on reddit!) he does to hone his craft. draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
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Episode 79: Alex Wellerstein Reminds Us That Writing Is a Skill to Hone - Drafting the Past
Kate Carpenter interviews historian Alex Wellerstein about his new book, The Most Awful Responsibility, and his research and writing process.
draftingthepast.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Out now! My convo with the inimitable @wellerstein.bsky.social about his new book, THE MOST AWFUL RESPONSIBILITY. I loved going deep with Alex on the challenges of document management and the very practical things (post on reddit!) he does to hone his craft. draftingthepast.com/podcast-epis...
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Reposted by Drafting the Past
In my academic writing group, we've been talking about the value of having a method: when you need to revise a draft, you sit down and do this thing first. Then you do the next thing, and you keep going down the list of tasks until voilà, you've revised your draft.
December 16, 2025 at 4:02 PM
In my academic writing group, we've been talking about the value of having a method: when you need to revise a draft, you sit down and do this thing first. Then you do the next thing, and you keep going down the list of tasks until voilà, you've revised your draft.
December 16, 2025 at 3:39 PM