.jpg)
Steps to Story
The Steps to Story podcast with your host Nicole Meier, delivering weekly episodes (in short and accessible recordings!) that provide fiction writers with essential steps and strategies, so they can get clear on their big story idea, complete their manuscripts, and follow their novel writing dreams.
If you’re an emerging author seeking guidance, this podcast is for you!
Episodes
61 episodes
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...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 60
•
8:42
.jpg)
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 59
•
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 58
•
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 57
•
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 56
•
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....
•
Season 2
•
Episode 55
•
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....
•
Season 2
•
Episode 54
•
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 ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 53
•
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 52
•
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 51
•
13:14
50. What It's Like to Be An Author in Today's Market with Tracey Lange & Kerry Chaput
I'm pulling back the curtain in today's episode and talking about what it's really like to be an author in today's market. With me, are two of my author friends to help with a healthy and honest discussion around the business of being an author...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 50
•
50:53
49. How to Handle Feedback Without Losing Your Voice
Today we’re diving into a topic that every novelist encounters sooner or later: how to handle feedback without losing your voice. Inside this episode, I'll cover the different types of feedback you might receive, how to process it with grace an...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 49
•
11:32
48. How to Move From Fear to Flow with Rhonda Douglas
Today on the pod we're covering an important topic, the writer mindset. For anyone who has found themselves facing creative anxiety or procrastination, this episode is for you. My guest today is Rhonda Douglas, an award winning poet an...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 48
•
32:01
47. BTS of a Writing Conference: A Roundtable Discussion
In this week's episode, I'm having an honest and inspired roundtable discussion with four of my writing clients. We dive into the nerves, surprises, and triumphs of attending their first writers' conference. We share:✨ Why they took the pl...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 47
•
51:50
46. Lost in the Process? Here's the Order to Writing Your Book.
What comes first when writing a novel? The dreaming or the drafting? The plotting or the planning? It seems simple—until it doesn’t. First-time novelists often hit a moment where they wonder: Am I doing this all wrong?In this episode...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 46
•
12:25
45: No More Daydreaming: The Real Plan You Need to Write and Publish Your Novel
If you're here, it’s because you’ve got a story on your heart that’s yearning to be written—and published.But let’s get real for a second: Are you just daydreaming about being an author, or are you actually building the roadmap to make it ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 45
•
9:21
44. REPLAY: The Unfiltered Truth Behind My Author Journey
Inside this (replay) episode I'm sharing an unfiltered look at my author journey over the last decade. After four published novels, I'm sharing the Top 10 things I've learned - everything from working with gatekeepers, understanding market tren...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 44
•
17:25
43. Behind-the-Scenes of Self-Publishing a Debut Novel with Saleema Ishq
Ever wish you could go behind-the-scenes and ask an author how they went from idea to finished manuscript, how they overcame writing challenges, and how they went about the business of self-publishing their first book? Good news, I'm doing that...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 43
•
29:58
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 fl...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 42
•
10:32
41. An Author’s Guide to Thriving with Camille Pagan
Listeners, you’re in for a treat today. I’m chatting with friend and author coach, Camille Pagan. We’re diving into the topics of... author mindsetcareer decisions roadblocks market trends
•
Season 1
•
Episode 41
•
31:29
40. Real Answers for Real Writing Struggles
Today is another Ask Me Anything! Inside this episode I'm answering these five questions:1) How to tell if you're over-revising your novel manuscript.2) What to do if you've hit a wall and can't move forward.3) How to consider socia...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 40
•
23:39
39. Are You Relying on Tactics or Strategy in Your Novel Writing?
In today's episode, I'm diving into a crucial question for novel writers. Are you relying on tactics or strategies to move your work and progress forward? This is a subtle but essential distinction, and getting clear on it can make all...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 39
•
12:18
38. Writing Retreats: Five Reasons Why They Can Be a Game Changer
Today I'm diving into one of my all time favorite topics: writing retreats. What makes them such a transformative experience for authors and how can they benefit our writing?I'm talking about solo retreats, group retreats, and everything in...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 38
•
10:29
37. Strengthening Your Story's Bones: Customized Support for Story Structure
In today's episode of Steps to Story, we're diving into one of the most crucial aspects of storytelling, your story's structure. For those of you who follow me, you'll know that my mission is to help you blend story structure with the ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 37
•
10:59
36. Level Up Your Thriller, Mystery & Suspense with Samantha Skal & Kerry Savage
Suspense, mysteries and thrillers, oh my! Welcome to spooky season! Inside this episode of Steps to Story I'm talking with book coaches Samantha Skal and Kerry Savage about:The ideation of twistsKnowing your villain
•
Season 1
•
Episode 35
•
45:41