The Whole Writer

After 120 episodes of conversations about writing, revision, creativity, and the person behind the page, The Whole Writer is entering a new chapter. In this final regular episode, I share why I’m stepping away from the podcast, what the experience has meant to me, and where my work with writers is headed next. Drawing on a lesson I often share with my editing clients, I reflect on what happens whe...

You know that chapter in your novel or memoir you've rewritten five times? The one you keep returning to while the rest of your manuscript waits? What if the reason you're stuck has less to do with your writing and more to do with what you're afraid you'll discover when you move on? In this episode, I'm exploring a side of revision that doesn't get talked about enough...

Stuck in revision even after fixing the pacing, the dialogue, and the structure? In this episode of The Whole Writer, I share the one question I've found beneath every manuscript problem: What does this story need from me that I haven't been willing to give it yet? After years of guiding writers through developmental edits and novel revision, I've seen the same pattern again and aga...

I'm joined by creativity coach Charlotte Donlon for a conversation I think has been missing from most craft circles: what it actually means to write from a compassionate place. We talk about her forthcoming book Spiritual Direction for Writers, and why she believes all of life is the writing life, not just the days we sit down to draft. Charlotte opens up about coming to writing later in life...

Struggling with how to revise a novel or memoir once the first draft is done? In this episode, I reframe revision as the real heart of writing a book, not just fixing typos and tightening scenes. Learn why the self-editing process is emotional as much as technical, how to find the story underneath your story, and why writers lose themselves when they revise to please feedback instead of revising t...

A quick note before the new season starts: revision has no roadmap, and that's exactly the problem. Introducing Whole Revision, a ten-week cohort for my paid Substack subscribers, opening September 8th. I'd love to see you inside! To join, visit this link here. Email: nicole@nicolemeier.com

What if the secret to writing a compelling novel—and querying it successfully—starts with understanding what's deeply meaningful to you? In this episode, I sit down with author Karin Gillespie to explore how to identify the personal connection in your writing and translate it into a pitch that agents and editors can't ignore. Karin, author of nine novels and creator of the popular Substa...

Jane Friedman discusses the major shifts she's witnessed in publishing over the past ten years.  Inside this episode, we explore: the explosive growth of audiobooks the new tools and platforms available to writers today  the rise of the creator economy and its impact on authors the emergence of AI in writing and publishing Jane brings her signature practical wisdom and market intelligence to...

Bestselling author J.T. Ellison shares what it really takes to build a creative life that stands the test of time.  From honoring the seasons of your writing career to navigating burnout and rediscovering joy, J.T. offers candid insights into the mindset shifts, boundaries, and community connections that keep creativity sustainable. Whether you're in the trenches of a first draft or navigatin...

I'm sharing an interview I originally recorded for the Cracking Open podcast because the conversation feels just as relevant for our Whole Writer community. We talk about something I believe deeply: creativity isn't reserved for people with endless time, perfect circumstances, or extraordinary talent. It's a practice of returning to yourself—again and again. In our conversation, we...

Is AI quietly eroding your creative confidence? I’m sharing what I’m seeing in manuscripts as an editor, discussing the concept of “agency decay,” and making a case for why the messy, uncertain work of drafting is exactly where your writer’s voice gets made. In this episode: Why AI-generated pages are recognizable to agents, editors, and book coaches What “agency decay” is and how it chips away at...

What happens when traditional publishing stalls your career — and you decide to take matters into your own hands? In this episode, Nicole sits down with award-winning novelist Annie Cathryn ( The Friendship Breakup , Eat the Cake ) to talk candidly about her journey from querying 125 literary agents, landing a traditional publishing deal, and ultimately making the leap to self-publishing her lates...

That quiet, nagging feeling about your manuscript? It might be trying to tell you something important. In this episode, novelist and writing mentor Nicole Meier gets honest about one of the hardest decisions a writer can face: knowing when it's time to set a manuscript aside, pivot your publishing path, or start something new — and how to make that call from a place of clarity rather than fea...

Feeling stuck, discouraged, or lost somewhere between your first draft and your publishing dreams? In this episode of The Whole Writer, I sit down with New York Times bestselling novelist Miranda Beverly-Whittemore ( Bittersweet , Fierce Little Thing ) for an honest, inspiring conversation about the realities of a long writing career — and how to keep going anyway. Miranda shares the full arc of h...

If you're writing a novel or memoir and you can't shake the feeling that you're somehow running out of time — this episode is for you. In today's episode, I'm talking about one of the most common and most painful stories writers carry: the belief that the book should already be done, that you're behind, that everyone else is further along. And I want to challenge that...

Most writers focus on the book in front of them — but what does it actually take to build a novelist career that lasts? In this episode, I sit down with Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author Camille Pagán to talk about the long game of fiction writing: what it looks like, what gets in the way, and how to keep going when the path gets hard. Camille shares the body-of-work strategy th...

If you're a novel or memoir writer who isn't finishing your manuscript, this episode is for you. Most stuck writers assume they need more discipline — more willpower, more consistency. But after sitting with dozens of manuscripts as a developmental editor, I've found that's almost never the real issue. What's actually getting in the way is one of two very specific problems...

What if your writing passion and your paid writing career aren’t meant to fully overlap? Many novelists and memoir writers feel discouraged when their creative work doesn’t immediately translate into income. You love writing. You feel called to tell stories. But the reality of publishing, book deals, and building an author platform can make it feel like you’re falling behind financially while chas...

If you keep rewriting the same pages of your novel or memoir instead of finishing your draft, this episode is for you. Many writers get stuck in the hard middle of drafting — scrolling back, revising sentences, and wondering why they can’t move forward. But this isn’t a productivity problem. It’s often about perfectionism, fear, and losing connection to the emotional reason you started writing you...

What do you do when your book sales trend down? When an agent says they can’t sell you again? When the genre you’re known for no longer fits? In this episode of The Whole Writer , Nicole Meier sits down with internationally published author Darien Gee to talk about creative pivots, pen names, publishing slumps, and the courage it takes to trust yourself as a writer. Darien shares: • Why publishing...

Feeling creatively frozen from following too many writing formulas? You're not alone. In this milestone 100th episode, I'm sharing why the era of templates and "proven systems" might be holding your novel or memoir back—and what soul-centered writing looks like instead. If you've been hitting all the "right" plot points but your manuscript still feels lifeless, o...

What if the secret to writing a compelling novel—and querying it successfully—starts with understanding what's deeply meaningful to you? In this episode, I sit down with author Karin Gillespie to explore how to identify the personal connection in your writing and translate it into a pitch that agents and editors can't ignore. Karin, author of nine novels and creator of the popular Substa...

I'm talking directly to the novel and memoir writers who are exhausted, stuck, and wondering if they can ever find their way back to the page. If imposter syndrome has you questioning whether you're "really" a writer, or if burnout has made your creative dreams feel more like burdens, this conversation is for you. Instead of another productivity pep talk or goal-crushing strate...

From nonfiction writer to debut novelist with a Big Five traditional publishing book deal. In this candid episode, Kelly pulls back the curtain on the querying literary agents process , what actually happens behind the scenes when pursuing traditional publishing , and how she navigated the long road to landing a book deal . She discusses the crucial role of literary community for novel writers , t...

In this transformative episode, I sit down with Gabriela Blandy—writer, life coach, breathwork facilitator, and shamanic practitioner—to explore the deeper reasons behind creative resistance and procrastination.  Gabriela reveals that most of us weren't taught that our dreams are our most precious possession, leading to automatic patterns of looking away from our creative urges. She explains...