107. Cultivating Hope as a Novel Writer with Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

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 her publishing journey: from selling her debut novel at 25 in a six-figure deal, to having a second book sell fewer than 2,000 copies, to eventually landing on the New York Times bestseller list — and what she learned at every painful, pivotal turn.In this episode, you'll discover:How to strategically study the books you love to write more compelling, commercially resonant fictionWhy outlining doesn't have to be at odds with literary writing — and how Miranda thinks about plot like a piece of gossipWhat it really means to shelve a manuscript, and how to emotionally move forwardHow shame silences writers in publishing — and why breaking that silence mattersMiranda's plot coaching work and how she helps stuck writers rediscover their story's potentialA simple, powerful practice for reigniting hope when writing feels impossibleWhether you're querying your first novel, navigating submission with your agent, or wondering if your shelved manuscript means you've failed — this conversation will remind you why you started and how to keep going.🎙️Connect with Miranda: Website | The Plot Solution on Substack 🎙️Connect with Nicole: Website | Dear Whole Writer on Substack