From “Am I Good Enough?” to “I Believe in My Work” with Book Coach Karmen Špiljak
This week on the Write It Scared podcast, I sat down with Karmen Špiljak—an indie author, developmental editor, and book coach who helps emerging writers trust their voice and finish the stories that linger with readers.
And trust me, this episode and article are packed with gems—especially if you’ve ever wrestled with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, or the extra hurdles of writing in a language that’s not your own.
How Fantasy Author Michelle Miles Built a Thriving Indie Publishing Career
What does it really take to write and publish more than forty books—and still love the process? Fantasy author Michelle Miles has done just that, carving out a sustainable indie career through persistence, patience, and a fierce refusal to quit. Her story is a reminder that there’s no one right path to publication—just the one that keeps you writing.
Tackling Big Issues with Humor: Lessons from Kid-Lit Author Ali Terese
This week on the Write It Scared podcast, I had the joy of talking with middle-grade and YA author Ali Terese, whose books prove that stories can be both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply empowering.
Her novels tackle big issues like period equity, bodily autonomy, and health equity for kids. And they do it through comedy, friendship, and activism.
Ali calls them stories about “messy girls changing the world,” and I—as a mom to a nine-year old who insists she’s already a tween—couldn’t love that description more.
From False Starts to Finished Novel: How Bruce Buchanan Wrote His Debut Fantasy
What does it take to finally finish a novel after years of false starts? For fantasy author Bruce Buchanan, the answer was persistence, community, and the decision to stop giving up.
Like many of us, Bruce spent years starting and stopping projects, second-guessing himself, and walking away when the doubts got loud.
In our recent conversation, Bruce shared how he broke through that cycle, what kept him moving forward, and the lessons he learned along the way.
Mining Real Life for Story Gold With Debut Author Christine Ma-Kellams
This week on The Write It Scared Podcast, I had the pleasure of talking with debut author Christine Ma-Kellams—a Harvard-trained cultural psychologist, Pushcart-nominated writer, and now, published novelist with her book The Band.
We dug into a lot of juicy topics: perfectionism, social media, mental health, a fresh spin on what it means to “write what you know,” as well as how to keep going when the voice of doubt gets loud.
Christine's journey is an inspiration to all of us as she’s someone who has figured out how to trust herself in this chaotic writing journey.
How to Set Creative Intentions That Actually Support You (Not Drain You)
This week I’m giving you the same intention-setting prompts I share inside my group coaching cohorts every September.
This is your grounding check-in. Your permission slip. Your reminder that your writing matters—and that it’s okay to return to it gently.
Why You Don’t Need a Literary Background to Write a Great Novel
Helping writers work through self-defeating thoughts is something I love to do. Honestly, what helps more than anything is just listening and being a mirror to allow them to see what’s really going on.
How to Write Brave: A Powerful Conversation with Author Brooke Adams Law
Let's be real, writing can be terrifying. It's vulnerable, messy, and incredibly brave. But what if instead of letting fear hold us back, we embraced it and used it to fuel our creativity?
Lessons in Overcoming Writing Doubt with Author Amy L. Bernstein
If you’ve ever stared at your blinking cursor and wondered if you’re even cut out for this whole writing thing, this one’s for you.
Why Never Giving Up on Your Writing Dreams Matters
Author Joshua Moehling, shares his journey from his early childhood dreams of being Stephen King, to facing reality and rejection from the publishing world, to eventually succeeding in accomplishing his dream of becoming a published author.
Breaking Through Doubt and Embracing Your Unique Voice as an Author
How do you come back from the dead?
Recover from being told who you are and what you write is wrong?
From bending yourself around like a pretzel trying to fit someone else's writing mold only to figure out that it’s pointless because it sucked the joy and life out of what you stand for?
If you write dark, spicy romance in the wheelhouses of sci-fi or fantasy, or if you struggle to express your voice in writing, you don’t want to miss this conversation.
Announcing The Write It Scared Podcast - Why I’m Doing It Scared!
This podcast for fiction writers has been a dream of mine for a long time and I want to share with you the why behind it.
The Mission: Tell the truth about why writing a novel is so hard by acknowledging that most writers grapple with two stories: the one they want to put on the page to the best of their ability and the often subconscious internal story that prevents them from doing it.
How to Tone Down the Critic and Tune In To Your Inner Writer’s Wisdom
As writers, we often talk about the painful struggle of dealing with our inner critic and are constantly looking for ways to silence that internal writing bully. You know the voice I'm talking about. It’s that pushy one who always says some version of "not good enough."
How to Find a Writing Community That Will Help You Accomplish Your Goals
Even when we have dozens of characters dancing through our minds, this writing business can get damn lonely. We have big ideas and exciting plots to explore, but many of us don't have anyone to share with, especially when we're new. If you are looking for a community, I wholeheartedly encourage you to find your tribe because the benefits far outweigh the cost!
How to Create Writing Habits that Stick: Applying Atomic Habits
We’re fifteen days into 2024, and I bet most of us are still feeling the freshness, motivation, and excitement of all the opportunities to come … but, sadly, experience teaches that motivation only lasts so long.
What really keeps us in the game is our habits.
Cultivating good writing habits in service of the changes we want to make and the people we want to become.
That’s the secret sauce. Here’s how to do it!
How to Set Smarter Writing Goals in 2024
There's a huge gap between the dream of holding your published novel in your hands and actually writing it. This article will help you set achievable writing goals in service to your publishing dreams.
One Big Mistake to Avoid When Writing Your Novel: Why “Write Fast” Isn’t Always the Best Advice
How the “write hard, write fast” advice resulted in me deleting over half of my first novel.
I believe there is a place for hard, fast writing, not looking back, and maintaining forward momentum, and that place is after you have created a plan.
Don't Quit Writing: How to Love the Process When Results Feel Uncertain
I had a conversation with a writer the other day who was trying her hand at a new genre, and she was nervous she couldn’t pull it off. That worry had stopped her for a good six months. Her concern: What if it’s all for nothing? Sometimes that’s my worry too.
It got me thinking that maybe we’re asking the wrong question with the wrong mindset.