The Whole Writer
Each week, The Whole Writer podcast with Nicole Meier creates space for writers to nurture both their craft and themselves, exploring what it means to write from a place of wholeness rather than depletion.
If you’re an emerging author seeking guidance, this podcast is for you!
Episodes
76 episodes
75. REPLAY: Why Your Flawed First Draft is a Gift
Today, I want to talk about one of the hardest parts of writing: embracing the imperfection of that first draft. I know it can feel like you’re slogging through a swamp of clunky dialogue, meandering plots, and sentences that don’t quite shine....
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Season 1
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Episode 75
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10:20
74. Are You Ready For Creative Expansion?
In this episode I explore what happens when writers feel creatively restless—when the work that once excited us begins to feel too safe or familiar. I dive into the intimate process of following new themes and subject matter that tr...
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Season 2
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Episode 74
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13:14
73. The Evolution of Women's Fiction with Literary Agent Erin Niumata
Join me for an illuminating conversation with literary agent and doctoral researcher Erin Niumata about the past, present, and future of women's fiction as a genre. With nearly 20 years at Folio Literary Management and ongoing PhD r...
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Season 2
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Episode 73
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30:18
72. What Happens When You're Given Freedom to Write with Amanda Vano
In this episode, I sit down with author Amanda Vano. After receiving a workplace grant for her creative goals, Amanda shares how having dedicated time and accountability accelerated her writing journey from someone with no formal creative train...
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Season 2
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Episode 72
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35:10
71. The Whole Writer in Action: From Query Doubt to Dream Deal with Kelly Kearsley
Join me for an intimate living room chat with author Kelly Kearsley, who shares her remarkable journey from seasoned nonfiction writer to debut novelist with a Big Five book deal. In this candid conversation, Kelly reveals the reali...
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Season 2
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Episode 71
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37:47
70. The Secret to Unlocking Creative Flow with Gabriela Blandy
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 tha...
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Season 2
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Episode 70
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52:00
69. Real Answers for Real Writing Struggles: Part 2
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 69
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17:09
68. Building a Creative Life That Lasts with J.T. Ellison
In this inspiring episode, 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 j...
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Season 2
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Episode 68
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35:02
67. Choosing Collaboration Over Competition with Ali Brady
In this episode, I sit down with the writing duo Ali Brady (Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey) about creative collaboration. The former critique partners share how they evolved from giving each other feedback to co-authoring bestse...
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Season 2
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Episode 67
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31:34
66. How to Build Your Literary Village
Writing can feel lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. In today’s episode, I’m diving into what it really means to build your literary village: the people who support, challenge, and celebrate you from idea to launch. I’m sharing the behind...
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Season 2
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Episode 66
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12:20
65. Your Most Daring Act: Sharing Your Work with Tedd Hawks
Join me today as creative coach Tedd Hawks and I talk about why sharing your writing is so terrifying, the neurological reasons our brains resist putting our work out there, how to overcome the fear of rejection by reframing it as fear of regre...
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Season 2
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Episode 65
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29:26
64. What's Really Holding Writers Back with Molly Carroll
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 t...
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Season 2
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Episode 64
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47:04
63. How to Find Your Sustainable Pace: Slow Writing in a Fast World
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 63
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14:08
62. Same Story, New Title: My Name Change Announcement
Today's episode marks a gentle transition, one I've been contemplating for some time and am excited to finally share it with you. This podcast is embracing a new name, The Whole Writer. I'm sharing the why inside the...
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Season 2
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Episode 62
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7:42
61. Is Fear Keeping Your Story Invisible?
In this episode I dive into the quiet, hidden fear that holds so many writers back — the comfort of invisibility. Whether you’ve told yourself “I’m not ready yet” or “this isn’t good enough,” chances are it’s not your story that’s t...
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Season 2
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Episode 61
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8:54
60. Are You Living the Life of a Whole Writer?
What does it mean to be a whole writer? For me and for so many of the writers I work with, it means expanding our definition of success.It means creating a writing life that includes, yes, the craft of storytelling, but also a creative r...
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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8:42
59. Writing from the Heart: How Following Her Intuition Landed a Book Deal with Jennifer O'Brien
In this heartfelt episode, we chat with debut novelist Jennifer O'Brien, whose publishing journey took a surprising and inspiring turn. After a real-life dream of buying a fixer-upper didn’t pan out, she turned the experience into fiction—craft...
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Season 2
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Episode 59
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25:38
58. Nurture Your Revisions: How to Approach Your Next Draft with special guests
For the next three episodes, I'm doing something special. Recently I had the Joy of gathering with 15 of my book coaching friends, an inspiring group of thoughtful, compassionate coaches and editors who are all deeply invested in helping writer...
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Season 2
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Episode 58
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27:02
57. Nurture Your Mindset: How to Move Through Roadblocks with special guests
For the next three episodes, I'm doing something special. Recently I had the Joy of gathering with 15 of my book coaching friends, an inspiring group of thoughtful, compassionate coaches and editors who are all deeply invested in helping writer...
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Season 2
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Episode 57
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27:25
56. Nurture Your Novel: How to Start Strong and Keep Going with special guests
For the next three episodes, I'm doing something special. Recently I had the Joy of gathering with 15 of my book coaching friends, an inspiring group of thoughtful, compassionate coaches and editors who are all deeply invested in helping writer...
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Season 2
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Episode 56
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28:20
55. Why Your First Pages Matter More Than You Think
Today I'm discussing one of the most crucial parts of your novel: the first pages. You've heard it a million times, your opening pages need to quote hook readers, but why is that so important? Well, these first pages are your novels, handshake....
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Season 2
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Episode 55
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10:51
54. Why Your Flawed First Draft is a Gift
Today, I want to talk about one of the hardest parts of writing: embracing the imperfection of that first draft. I know it can feel like you’re slogging through a swamp of clunky dialogue, meandering plots, and sentences that don’t quite shine....
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Season 2
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Episode 54
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10:02
53. Fixing that ONE Thing in Your Novel
Today we're talking about that one thing: the mysterious, nagging problem in your novel that you just can't seem to fix. Every writer hits this wall, and today I'm going to help you find a way through.Join me as I discuss four effective ...
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Season 2
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Episode 53
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8:40
52. A Chat With My Literary Agent: How to Land & Work with One, with Abby Saul
In this episode, I sit down with my literary agent Abby Saul for a deep dive into the querying process, the realities of an agent’s role, and what makes a submission stand out. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the thought of query...
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Season 2
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Episode 52
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39:58
51. Building Your Author Platform Before You Publish
In today’s publishing world, authors aren’t just storytellers—they’re also the CEOs of their own brand. That responsibility can feel overwhelming, but the good news is, you don’t have to do everything all at once.In this episode, Gretche...
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Season 2
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Episode 51
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13:14