The Whole Writer

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

If you're writing a novel or memoir and you can't shake the feeling that you're somehow running out of time — this episode is for you.In today's episode, I'm talking about one of the most common and most painful stories writers carry: the belief that the book should already be done, that you're behind, that everyone else is further along. And I want to challenge that story directly.Because here's what I've come to believe after years of writing and working with writers: writing a book is not a single event. It's a practice. And when you start treating it like one — when you bring long-game thinking to your creative life — something genuinely shifts.In this episode, I share:Why treating your book like a finish line is keeping you stuckThe one question that changes how you approach your manuscript every dayWhat it actually means to build a sustainable writing practiceHow to get unstuck when your draft isn't working the way you hopedWhy the writers who finish books they're proud of are the ones who stopped rushing and started tendingWhether you're working on your first novel, somewhere in the middle of a memoir, or trying to restart a writing practice that's gone quiet — this one's for you.🎙️ Find more at NicoleMeier.com🎙️ Connect with Nicole on Substack