For Women who Write

In this episode of For Women Who Write , certified writing coach, editor, and self-publishing expert Mikaela Mathews breaks down some of the biggest myths surrounding self-publishing. With years of experience helping women write, publish, and grow their books, Mikaela explains why self-publishing is no longer the “lesser” option it was once considered. Mikaela tackles two common misconceptions: th...

What if the thing you think will restrict your creativity is actually what helps unlock it? In this episode, Mikaela Mathews shares why outlining doesn’t have to mean rigid rules, Roman numerals, or boring middle-school English assignments. Instead, the right structure can give writers the freedom to explore their ideas, go deeper, and make real progress on the book they’ve been thinking about. Mi...

In this episode of For Women Who Write , Mikaela Mathews sits down with her friend Erika Millard, a business owner, mom of four, host of the Get Comfy with Numbers podcast, and now, Bible study author. Erika’s book started with a simple thought: “Someone should write a book about this.” Then came the realization that maybe she was the one who should write it. Mikaela and Erika talk about what happ...

What does it actually look like to write a book when you’re raising kids, homeschooling, working, and already have a very full life? In this episode of For Women Who Write , Mikaela sits down with her client and friend Alexis, a therapist and mom of three who, not that long ago, was pretty convinced she wasn’t going to write a book. Now, she’s writing one. Alexis shares what changed for her, how a...

Mikaela is writing a book. And even after years of coaching writers, editing manuscripts, and teaching women how to write their books, the process of writing her own has been much messier than she expected. Her book has changed directions more than once. She’s written a full rough draft she decided not to publish. She resisted outlining. She’s received feedback that made her rethink entire chapter...

Marketing your book can feel overwhelming. Do you need thousands of followers? Should you be posting every day? What about Amazon ads? And what happens if your launch doesn’t go as planned? In this episode of For Women Who Write , Mikaela sits down with nonfiction book marketing expert Renee Puvvada, founder of Smokin’ Hot Books®, to talk about what actually helps a self-published book sell—and ho...

One of the biggest fears aspiring authors face isn't writing a book—it's writing one that feels like every other book on the shelf. In this episode, Mikaela Mathews explains why so many nonfiction books end up sounding generic and shares a practical approach to creating a book that stands out without trying to reinvent the wheel. Listeners will learn why originality isn't about find...

Have you been telling yourself you'll write your book when life finally slows down? Between work, family, business, and everything else on your plate, it can feel like writing a book has to wait for "someday." But what if the issue isn't finding more time—it's learning how to make it? In this episode, I'm sharing a conversation that started around my own kitchen table...

What if the book you're meant to write starts with simply putting your thoughts on paper? In this heartfelt episode of For Women Who Write, Mikaela sits down with first-time author Shannon to discuss the journey behind her beautiful devotional, Becoming: 30 Days to Becoming a More Present, Peaceful, and Purposeful Mom. Shannon shares how encouragement from her adult children first planted the...

How do you know if your book is actually any good? If you've ever asked yourself that question, you're not alone. It's one of the most common fears writers face—but it may not be the question that's really keeping you stuck. In this episode, we're unpacking what's underneath that question. We'll talk about why seeking constant reassurance never brings the confide...

What happens after you publish your book? In this inspiring episode of For Women Who Write, Mikaela sits down with author, speaker, and former educator Christy Smith to discuss her journey from aspiring writer to published author of It Begins with a Book: An Everyday Guide to Growing Young Readers. Christy shares how she explored different writing paths, including poetry and children’s stories, be...

AI has quickly become one of the biggest conversations in the writing world. Some writers embrace it. Others want nothing to do with it. So where should it fit into the writing process? In this episode, I'm sharing my personal thoughts on AI as a book coach, editor, and writer. You'll hear why I believe your stories, experiences, and wisdom are the parts of your book that should never be...

In this episode of For Women Who Write , Mikaela challenges one of the most common beliefs aspiring authors hold: “I’m not a writer.” If you've ever felt like you aren't creative enough, talented enough, or qualified enough to write a book, this conversation is for you. Mikaela explores how limiting beliefs formed through past experiences, criticism, and self-doubt can keep women from pu...

What does it really look like to write a book while running businesses, raising children, and managing everyday life? In this episode, Mikaela sits down with author, marketer, and entrepreneur Miranda Trudeau to talk about the honest realities of writing and launching a book. Miranda shares how she knew it was finally the right season to write her second book, No Place I'd Rather Be , the sys...

In this episode of For Women Who Write , Mikaela answers one of the most important questions aspiring authors face: When should you hire a book coach or editor? Through a personal story about assembling furniture without following the instructions, Mikaela shares why having the right guidance from the beginning can save writers time, frustration, and unnecessary revisions. She explains the distinc...

In this solo episode of For Women Who Write Podcast, Mikaela tackles one of the biggest struggles aspiring authors face: figuring out what to write about. If you’ve ever thought, “I want to write a book, but I don’t know what my book should be about,” or “I have too many ideas and no clarity,” this episode will help you move past the mental block and finally gain direction. Drawing from both coach...

In this episode of For Women Who Write Podcast, Mikaela sits down with leadership coach and strategist Kristen to talk about the real behind-the-scenes journey of writing and publishing her first book, The Mama Bear Leader: How Human Centered Leadership Can Reimagine the Way We Work. From navigating self-doubt and stop-start momentum to finding clarity through structure, Kristen shares how she wen...

In this live coaching session, Mikaela sits down with nervous system coach and mom of two, Shena Black, to help her narrow down her book idea. This episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the book-writing process as Mikaela coaches Shena through clarifying her book idea, identifying her message, narrowing her audience, and building a transformational framework designed to help overwhelmed mo...

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to write a book… but I don’t know what to write about,” this episode is for you. Today, Mikaela walks you through the powerful questions that help aspiring authors move past overwhelm, overthinking, and mental blocks so they can finally gain clarity on their book idea. Drawing from parenting psychology, coaching principles, and years of experience helping women writ...

Marketing can feel uncomfortable for so many writers. You finally finish the book . . . and then realize people actually need to know it exists. In this episode, Mikaela sits down with marketing strategist and publishing partner Miranda Trudeau to talk about what marketing really is—and what it isn’t. Together, they unpack: • Why marketing feels “icky” for so many women • The mindset shift that ch...

Have you ever felt called to write a Bible study or devotional but were not sure where to start or how they are different? In this episode, I break it all down for my faith-based writers. We dive into the key differences between devotionals and Bible studies, what readers expect from each, and how you can structure your content to truly impact lives. I walk you through how to create a clear transf...

If people keep telling you to write a book, this episode is for you. I’m joined by my client Lyndi Zavy, author of Cheerleading from Quicksand , to talk about what it actually looked like to take her message from scattered ideas into a finished book while she was still living it. We talk about burnout (or what she calls “quicksand”), writing in the middle of the process, and how her ideas went fro...

Brianna LaShell Rabb is a nonprofit coach, legacy strategist, and now a published, Amazon bestselling author of The Work That Outlives You . In this episode, Mikaela sits down with her very first podcast guest to talk about what the book-writing journey actually looked like from the inside. Brianna started her first nonprofit at 16. She's been in the sector for over a decade. And still, she h...

Before you write a single word, there's one step most aspiring authors skip. It's also the reason so many books never get finished.  This episode breaks down the five signs that tell you it's time to stop waiting and start outlining. From knowing your why to finding your unique angle in a crowded space, these are the markers that separate women who dream about writing a book from th...

If you have a podcast, there’s a good chance you’re already holding the foundation of a book. You just haven’t structured it yet. In this episode, we’re walking through what it actually looks like to take your podcast content and turn it into something more permanent. Something structured. Something you’d feel proud putting your name on. Because talking and writing are not the same. And that’s whe...