42: Three Ways to Go From Force to Flow in Your Novel

Feeling stuck in your writing? There’s a difference between forcing a story and letting it flow. ⁠With the New Year approaching, it’s easy to feel the pressure to “just get it done.” But sometimes, the best progress happens when we lean into flow.⁠
In today’s episode, I’m sharing three ways to know when to push and when to let go: ⁠
1️⃣ Write from intention, not tension. ⁠
2️⃣ Build habits that invite ease, not strain. ⁠
3️⃣ Approach your story with curiosity, not pressure.⁠
Tune in to learn more.
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Transcript

STEPS TO STORY EP 42 - Three Ways to Go From Force to Flow in Your Novel

[00:00:00] Nicole Meier: Today, I want to talk about something that many of us wrestle with, the difference between forcing our stories and letting them flow. This is a big one for so many writers, especially those who feel that nagging pressure to just get it done. I mean, after all, the new year is just around the corner, and for many of us, it's just the beginning.

[00:00:20] Nicole Meier: That can feel like a ticking clock. If you're feeling blocked or frustrated with the way your work in progress is shaping up, this episode is definitely for you.

[00:00:36] Nicole Meier: Welcome to Steps to Story, the show that helps aspiring authors turn their ideas into action and transform their dream of writing a book into a reality. I'm your host, Nicole Meier, multi published author and certified book coach. I spent the first part of my fiction writing career desperate for guidance that was unavailable to me.

[00:00:58] Nicole Meier: I wrote draft after draft, flying by the seat of my pants, with lots of passion but little guidance. Thankfully, there was a writing community that opened its arms and welcomed me. This community sustained me. But when it came to strengthening my novel writing process, I was determined to find a better way.

[00:01:19] Nicole Meier: One that didn't involve piecemeal strategies and confusing courses. Now, more than a decade later, I'm serving my younger self, who yearned for support while writing a book. If you're an emerging author seeking guidance, this podcast is for you. Are you on the list to get my novel writing guide? I designed this workbook to take you through five essential strategies that will level up your novel writing process.

[00:01:48] Nicole Meier: Grab your free copy at NicoleMeier. com forward slash crafting greatness. That's NicoleMeier. com forward slash crafting greatness or at the link in the show notes.

[00:02:09] Nicole Meier: Hi writers, welcome back to Steps to Story. Before we get into today's topic, I want to let you know that there are only two spots left for a fabulous writing retreat that I'm a part of. My BookWorks partner and I are thrilled to invite emerging authors to join us this February for a cozy, inspiring retreat in scenic Oregon.

[00:02:32] Nicole Meier: This intimate gathering is designed for those craving dedicated writing time, insightful workshops on both story structure and author platforms. and a supportive community. If this sounds like the creative escape you've been seeking, feel free to DM me on Instagram at nicolemeierwrites or reach out via email at nicole at nicolemeier dot com.

[00:02:55] Nicole Meier: I'm here and ready to answer all of your questions because we'd love to have you join us. Okay, now on to the episode. Today I want to talk about something that many of us wrestle with, the difference between forcing our stories and letting them flow. This is a big one for so many writers, especially those who feel that nagging pressure to just get it done.

[00:03:19] Nicole Meier: I mean, after all, the new year is just around the corner, and for many of us, it's a big That can feel like a ticking clock. Are you nodding along right now? If you're feeling blocked or frustrated with the way your work in progress is shaping up, this episode is definitely for you. Because there's a time for pushing forward with a bit of grit, but there's also a point where you have to let go and flow.

[00:03:44] Nicole Meier: Today I'll share three ways to identify when it's time to lean into flow and to let go of that pressure to force things. Thanks. By the end of this episode, I hope you'll feel more connected to your story and find that sweet spot between discipline and surrender. Alright, point number one. Let's start with the idea of writing from tension versus writing from intention.

[00:04:08] Nicole Meier: Pretty clever, right? But it hits the nail right on the head. Think of tension as that need to prove something, to hit a word count, to measure up to some invisible standard. This tension can keep you writing. Sure, it's like trying to run a marathon with your jaw clenched the whole time. It just isn't sustainable.

[00:04:28] Nicole Meier: When you're writing from intention, though, you're clear on why you're doing what you're doing. You're tapping into something deeper. Let's say your intention is to capture a character's unique voice. or to explore a specific story message. By setting an intention before you write, you'll find your words aligning with your purpose and creating a natural flow.

[00:04:51] Nicole Meier: Here's a simple intention setting exercise. The next time you sit down to write, start with small questions like, What am I hoping to say in this scene? Or, What feeling am I trying to evoke? When you lead with a clear intention, the process becomes less about muscling through and more about listening to the story's needs.

[00:05:14] Nicole Meier: Make sense? All right, now that we've talked about tension versus intention, let's move on to point number two. My second point is about habits. Habits can either create ease or add strain. Think about it. What kind of habits are you having right now in your writing process? When writing feels like pushing a boulder up a hill, it's often a sign that something in our routine isn't serving us.

[00:05:41] Nicole Meier: Consistency, for instance, is incredibly powerful for getting into a flow state. Even ten minutes of writing each day is more valuable than one forced, hours long marathon session. I really believe this. When you approach your writing time with healthy habits, you're giving your creative muscles gentle, consistent workouts.

[00:06:03] Nicole Meier: You're warming them up, preparing them for deeper dives. Just like an athlete trains, writers need routines that are regular and manageable to build those creative muscles. Okay, so let's do an example. Let's imagine a writer. Every day before she writes, she spends five minutes free writing in a journal.

[00:06:23] Nicole Meier: I've done this myself and I love it. She writes whatever's on her mind, things she's worried about, any distractions, intentions for her story, and then clears them out of the way. This habit over time allows her to start each session fresh and with a sense of flow because she's warmed up her mind and body for the work.

[00:06:43] Nicole Meier: If you're looking to build a healthy habit, Try a small pre writing ritual, whether it's free writing or something as simple as taking a few deep breaths. These small moments can set the stage for creative flow rather than a forced grind, and that sounds much better, doesn't it? Okay, my third and final point is about staying curious.

[00:07:06] Nicole Meier: Rather than placing pressure on yourself to, quote, produce. We've all been there, right? But curiosity is such a powerful motivator because it brings play back into your writing. Instead of thinking, I have to get this scene right, try shifting your mindset to something like, what would happen if, or, I wonder how my character would react to this.

[00:07:30] Nicole Meier: That open ended question is an invitation to explore. Force in creativity often comes from pressure to finish quickly, to meet a deadline, or to hit a self imposed standard. But if you approach your writing with curiosity, you're more likely to surprise yourself, to find angles and ideas that you wouldn't have considered otherwise.

[00:07:51] Nicole Meier: Let's go over another example here. Picture a writer who's stuck on a scene. He knows what needs to happen, but it's not working. Rather than forcing himself to push through, he takes a step back and starts a separate document for just for playing with possibilities. He writes down every what if question that comes to mind.

[00:08:11] Nicole Meier: What if this character walked away instead? What if they confessed something? What if they got into an argument instead of agreeing? This exercise shifts the writer out of that forceful place and more into a state of flow. And often this playful curiosity unlocks the exact solution he needs to make the scene feel authentic.

[00:08:31] Nicole Meier: Check. When you give yourself permission to explore and discover, you allow your creativity to stretch and surprise you. So keep those creative muscles warm by inviting curiosity into your writing process. It really is one of the most powerful ways to stay in the flow. So there you have it writers, three ways to move from force to flow.

[00:08:54] Nicole Meier: I think it's really important to think about this as we move through the holiday season and we have a lot of things pulling for our attention. So let's do a quick recap, shall we? The first point I made from moving from force to flow is write from intention rather than tension. This brings clarity and purpose to your work.

[00:09:13] Nicole Meier: The next point here is build healthy habits that keep your creative muscles gently active and ready to write. And then the third point here is approach your writing with curiosity instead of pressure to meet an outcome. Okay, everyone, I hope this gives you a fresh perspective on finding ease in your writing over this next holiday season.

[00:09:34] Nicole Meier: Have In my opinion, the time for forcing things is over. Let yourself flow into the story. It's waiting for you to listen rather than to push. Thanks for joining me today, everybody. I hope you'll take some of these ideas into your next writing session. Until next time, keep writing, keep dreaming, and remember, your story matters.

[00:09:59] Nicole Meier: If you want to check out my coaching programs for fiction writers, visit NicoleMeier. com. That's M E I E R. And if you liked this episode, I'd love you to take a minute to leave a rating and review for this podcast. This will help more writers like you to discover the show and to get going on their writing journey.

[00:10:20] Nicole Meier: Thanks so much for listening. Until next time, happy writing, everyone.