The Writing Mom Podcast

Have you been away from your novel for a few weeks, months, or even years? If so, this episode is for you. Returning to writing after a break can feel surprisingly difficult, not because you've forgotten how to write, but because so much emotion gets wrapped up in coming back. Guilt, pressure, self-doubt, and unrealistic expectations often make the return harder than it needs to be. In this ep...

We often talk about writing as something we do, but in this episode, I want to talk about who we become when we keep writing through motherhood. Writing isn't just about finishing a novel; it can help you reconnect with yourself, show up more fully in your life, and model something powerful for your kids. I'm sharing how writing helped me find my way back to myself after becoming a mom, wh...

If you've ever told yourself, "I'd write my novel if I just had more time," this episode is for you. As moms, it's easy to look at our busy schedules and assume finishing a book isn't realistic. But what I've learned - both through writing seven novels and coaching other moms - is that finishing isn't about having huge blocks of free time. It's about learning...

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a more personal behind-the-scenes look at how I’m approaching writing during my upcoming maternity leave with baby #2. This isn’t an episode about productivity or “bouncing back” creatively after birth. Instead, it’s a conversation about self-trust, flexibility, identity, and what it looks like to build a writing life that can move with you through different seasons...

If you feel like you’ve started your novel over multiple times, this episode is for you. Maybe you keep rewriting chapter one, changing story ideas, creating new outlines, or losing momentum halfway through. In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many writers get stuck in the restart cycle, and why it’s usually not a discipline problem, but a pattern rooted in perfectionism, fear, and uncertain...

After working with so many moms trying to write novels, I’ve started to notice the same patterns showing up over and over again. In this episode, I’m breaking down the five biggest mistakes I see mom writers make - from waiting for more time, to trying to figure everything out alone, to making the goal so big that your brain immediately shuts down. We’re also talking about perfectionism, overthink...

If you came to me today and said, “I want to write a novel,” this is exactly what I’d tell you. In this episode, I’m walking you through the mindset shifts and practical changes I wish more moms had at the very beginning of their writing journey, because it would save so much time, confusion, overwhelm, and self-doubt. We’re talking about why you need to start smaller than you think, how to build...

Ep 50: 5 Truths About Writing a Novel as a Busy Mom (After 50 Episodes of the Podcast) We made it to 50 episodes of The Writing Mom Podcast! 🎉 And instead of just celebrating this milestone, I wanted to use this episode to share the five biggest truths I’ve learned about writing novels as a busy mom, from my own writing life, from coaching clients, and from having these conversations week after w...

So many moms trying to write a novel believe they should be able to figure it out on their own. That needing support means they’re not disciplined enough, serious enough, or capable enough. But in this episode, I want to challenge that belief and talk about what actually happens when you try to write your novel completely alone. We’re diving into the hidden emotional and practical costs of doing e...

If you’ve ever thought about booking a consultation call with me, but hesitated because you’re not sure what will happen, or whether you’re “ready," this episode is for you. Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of what actually happens on a consultation call, why it’s so valuable (even though it’s free), and how it can be the moment things finally start to click with your writing. Most mom...

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I stopped writing for months. This time, I didn’t. Not because I have more time, energy, or a simpler life, but because something deeper changed. In this episode, I’m sharing a personal look at what shifted between my first pregnancy and this one when it comes to my writing. From the moment I felt like I had lost myself in early motherhood, to the realizatio...

What if the reason you’re stuck isn’t your writing ability… but how you think the process is supposed to work? In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful breakthrough from one of my clients, who realized that writing a novel is a lot like oil painting. Instead of trying to perfect each scene as you go, you have to build the full composition first, layer by layer. That shift helped her finally let go...

If you’ve ever wondered what actually happens inside a book coaching session (or whether it could help you), you’re going to love this episode. Today, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how I work with new clients and what we focus on first when they feel stuck with their novel. Most writers come in thinking they need more time, more motivation, or a better outline… but what they really ne...

You finally have a pocket of time… and still don’t write. Sound familiar? In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of one of the biggest breakthroughs I help my clients have: realizing that the block isn’t always time, it’s often fear. We’ll talk about the emotional resistance that shows up when you sit down to write, why it’s completely normal, and how it can disguise itself as “being bu...

If you’ve ever felt like your writing “isn’t working” and immediately wanted to scrap everything and start over, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m taking you inside another key part of my coaching process: how to evaluate your writing as you go so you can keep moving forward - without falling into the stop-and-restart cycle. We’ll talk about why so many writers assume something is wrong when...

A lot of writing advice assumes you have long stretches of quiet time and a perfectly consistent routine. But for moms, life rarely works that way. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my coaching process to share how we build writing plans that actually work within your real life, not some imaginary future where everything is calm and predictable. We’ll talk about why traditional...

Many writers believe their problem is motivation or discipline, but more often, the real issue is not knowing what to do next. In this episode, I’m giving you another behind-the-scenes look at my coaching process and how I help writers move from vague goals like “finish my book” to small, clear steps that actually fit into real life. We’ll talk about why big writing goals can keep you stuck, how t...

If you’ve ever told yourself, “I just don’t have time to write,” this episode is for you. Today, I’m giving you a peek behind the curtain into my coaching process and sharing what I’ve learned from working with busy moms who want to write, but feel stuck. Often, it’s not actually a time problem. It’s an overwhelm problem. Writing a novel feels huge and undefined, so your brain doesn’t know where t...

So many writers—especially moms—feel pressure to write something practical, marketable, or “worth the time.” In this episode, we’re talking about what happens when you stop writing the book you think you should write… and start writing the one you actually want to. I’m sharing how stepping away from a planned series after becoming a mom helped me reconnect with my creativity—and ultimately return...

If you feel like you should be more disciplined with your writing—but by the end of the day you have nothing left to give—this episode is for you. Today we’re talking about why willpower isn’t the real issue for moms who want to write. Between decision fatigue, emotional labor, and the mental load of daily life, your brain is already working overtime. Instead of relying on motivation, I’ll walk yo...

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of what it really looked like to write and publish my seventh book while parenting a two-year-old, working a day job, and building my coaching business. A lot of moms assume that writing has to wait until kids are older, but I share why it isn’t easy to write with a toddler… and how it is absolutely possible when your expectations, rhythm, and mindset...

If you’ve ever told yourself, “I just don’t have time to write,” this episode gently pushes back on that story. In today’s conversation, I unpack why time is usually the excuse, and fear is often the real barrier. I talk about the common fears that keep mom-writers stuck, how those fears get disguised as “being busy,” and what that can look like in real life (like avoiding your manuscript, over-pl...

If you’ve been waiting for life to calm down before you fully commit to your writing… this episode is your gentle reality check: busy seasons aren’t the exception — they’re the norm, especially for moms. Work, family responsibilities, childcare hiccups, and the mental load don’t magically disappear. But your writing life doesn’t have to disappear either. In this episode, I’m sharing how to stay cr...

Self-publishing while raising kids isn’t simple—and it isn’t always easy—but it has been deeply worth it for me. In this episode, I’m sharing an honest reflection on what self-publishing has really looked like as a mom: the steep learning curve, the overwhelm, and the moments where I wondered how I’d juggle all the roles involved… alongside the freedom, confidence, and connection that made it all...

Josee here. We're halfway through January, and I haven't gotten back into my writing routine. Rather than beat myself up about it, I'm revisiting the first episode of this podcast and lowering my expectations back to 20 minutes of writing a day. If you're also struggling to get back to writing in the new year, maybe this episode will help you out, too. Enjoy! Ready to create a writ...