Explore the fascinating world of rapidly spinning neutron stars and their emission mechanisms in this lecture by Keith Riles, part of the Summer School on Gravitational-Wave Astronomy. Delve into the potential sources of continuous gravitational waves, focusing on rapidly spinning neutron stars in our galaxy. Learn about the physics behind these extreme objects and the mechanisms by which they could emit detectable gravitational waves. Gain insights into the importance of these studies for the upcoming observing runs of LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA, and understand how the detection of such signals could revolutionize our understanding of neutron star physics and gravitational-wave astronomy.