The Whole Writer

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...

I've been noticing some common themes in the conversations I'm having with writers. So today, instead of answering specific questions you've sent me, I want to address five patterns I keep seeing in my work with novel writers. Patterns that go beyond craft and into how we sustain ourselves as creative people. These aren't just technical writing problems. They're the deeper...

Today I'm diving deep into the writer mindset with my dear friend and accomplished therapist, coach, author, and speaker Molly Carroll. We cover so much ground from the transformative power of morning rituals to reframing our resistance through a completely new lens. Molly shares incredible insights about self-care through the creative process, and honestly, so much more than I could have hop...

There's something happening to us writers right now, isn't there? The algorithms reward, consistency. The platform's demand content, and somewhere in the rush we've started to believe that faster means better. That value comes from volume, that our worth as creators is measured in word counts and publishing schedules. If you've been feeling the pressure of creating faster,...

Here's the question I'm diving into this week on The Whole Writer. Who are you becoming as a writer? Not what are you writing, or how much you're writing, not whether you'll finish that draft or land the agent or get the publishing contract. Who are you becoming? Becoming is about evolution. It's about transformation. Join me as we take a deeper look. 🎙️ Website | Substack

Struggling with self-doubt or writer's block? Discover five essential truths that will transform how you approach your novel or memoir. Learn how to write authentically, believe in your manuscript, avoid burnout, and embrace the right opportunities for your book. Essential advice for fiction writers at any stage of their writing journey. 🎙️ Find more on Nicole Meier here.

What if you could publish your memoir or novel directly to readers as you write it? Writer Jessy Easton shares how she's serializing her memoir "The One Who Leaves" on Substack, building a dedicated readership while crafting her story in real-time. We discuss the creative freedom of serial publishing, how it changes the writing process, and why connecting directly with readers can b...

If you’re a novelist or fiction writer keeping your work tucked away, convinced you’re “not ready” to share it, this episode is for you. We’re talking about what it really means to gatekeep your writing—and how doing so might be holding your creative growth hostage. I’ll unpack the mindset behind working in a silo and the fears that keep writers protecting their stories a little too tightly. I&apo...

I'm thrilled to welcome Jane Friedman to the show! Jane has spent her entire career in the publishing industry, and I've been following her work for close to a decade. In this conversation, I ask Jane about the major shifts she's witnessed in publishing over the past ten years.  We explore: the explosive growth of audiobooks the new tools and platforms available to writers today  th...

Join me for a conversation with author and writing mentor Kathryn Craft as she reveals insights from her new craft book for writers. In this episode, Kathryn Craft shares transformative techniques for novel writers and fiction writers ready to elevate their storytelling. Discover how to master the invisible spaces between words where author meets reader, and learn why revising your novel requires...

Are you getting feedback from the wrong critique group? In this episode, I share why surrounding yourself with the right writing community is essential for novel writers. I'll show you how to find critique partners who actually read your genre, build a supportive writing community that accelerates your craft, and know when it's time to work with a developmental editor or book coach. Whet...