Podcast
The Whole Writer
Hosted by Nicole Meier · EN
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!
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
106. Why You Feel Behind on Your Book (And What to Do Instead)
1w ago00:11:54Tap to summarizeIf 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
Transcribe →105. How to Build a Novelist Career: Body of Work, Publishing Mindset & Staying in the Game with Camille Pagán
3w ago00:31:49Tap to summarizeMost writers focus on the book in front of them — but what does it actually take to build a novelist career that lasts? In this episode, I sit down with Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author Camille Pagán to talk about the long game of fiction writing: what it looks like, what gets in the way, and how to keep going when the path gets hard.Camille shares the body-of-work strategy that transformed her career after a rocky start, why operating from your "Plan B" quietly undermines your writing goals, how to build belief before you have evidence of your own success, and what patterns she sees most often in authors who struggle to sustain a career versus those who don't. She also talks about her author coaching membership and what emerging and published novelists alike need to hear about the publishing industry right now.Whether you're drafting your first novel, navigating life after a debut, or wondering if a long-term writing career is even possible for you — this episode will give you the perspective shift and practical grounding you need.🎙️You can find more about Camille Pagan here.🎙️You can find more about Nicole Meier here.
Transcribe →104. Stuck on Your Novel or Memoir? It's Patience or Focus (Not Discipline)
Apr 700:15:20Tap to summarizeIf you're a novel or memoir writer who isn't finishing your manuscript, this episode is for you.Most stuck writers assume they need more discipline — more willpower, more consistency. But after sitting with dozens of manuscripts as a developmental editor, I've found that's almost never the real issue. What's actually getting in the way is one of two very specific problems: a patience problem or a focus problem. They look similar. They feel similar. But they have completely different causes — and completely different solutions.In this episode, I walk you through both, including how to tell which one is running the show for you right now, and what to do once you know.If you've been spinning your wheels on your novel or memoir, feeling stuck, frustrated, or like you're somehow falling behind other writers — this episode will help you finally name what's happening and move forward.Topics covered:Why stuck writers misdiagnose their own problemWhat a patience problem really looks like in your draftWhat a focus problem is doing to your creative energyThe key questions to help you figure out which one you haveThe Whole Writer podcast explores what it means to write from a place of wholeness — nurturing both your craft and yourself.🎙️Find more on Nicole Meier here.
Transcribe →103. Writing for Love vs. Writing for Money: The Passion Pay Gap with Will Parker Anderson
Mar 2400:29:17Tap to summarizeWhat if your writing passion and your paid writing career aren’t meant to fully overlap?Many novelists and memoir writers feel discouraged when their creative work doesn’t immediately translate into income. You love writing. You feel called to tell stories. But the reality of publishing, book deals, and building an author platform can make it feel like you’re falling behind financially while chasing creative fulfillment.This episode explores the Passion Pay Gap — the emotional and financial space between what you love to write and what currently pays your bills.I’m joined by Will Parker Anderson, senior editor at Penguin Random House and founder of Writer Circle, who offers a deeply encouraging and realistic perspective on:• Why most writers won’t earn a full-time income from books alone • How your day job can support — not sabotage — your creative life • The myth of “getting paid to do what you love” • How to define success beyond book deals and advances • Making peace with seasons of slow creative progress • Practical ways to keep writing when life feels fullIf you’ve ever wondered:“Am I wasting my writing talent?” “Should I quit if my books aren’t paying?” “Is it possible to pursue publishing and still enjoy writing?”This conversation will feel like a deep exhale.Whether you're drafting your first novel, querying agents, writing memoir, or balancing writing with a full-time career, this episode offers clarity, permission, and a healthier way to think about money, creativity, and your long-term writing life.Because being a writer isn’t just about landing a book deal.It’s about building a meaningful body of work — in ways that fit your real life.🎙️Find more on Will Parker Anderson here.🎙️Find more on Nicole Meier here.
Transcribe →102. Why You Keep Rewriting Instead of Finishing Your Book
Mar 1000:12:42Tap to summarizeIf you keep rewriting the same pages of your novel or memoir instead of finishing your draft, this episode is for you.Many writers get stuck in the hard middle of drafting — scrolling back, revising sentences, and wondering why they can’t move forward. But this isn’t a productivity problem. It’s often about perfectionism, fear, and losing connection to the emotional reason you started writing your book.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why writers get trapped in the rewriting loopHow to move forward in your first draft without abandoning qualityThe difference between drafting and revisionHow to reconnect with the core emotional thread of your storyWhat it really takes to finish a novel or memoirWhether you’re writing your first book or revising a manuscript that feels stuck, this episode will help you build momentum and write forward with courage.If you want deeper guidance on structure and revision, join my Substack membership for novel and memoir writers ready to strengthen their drafts before they spiral.🎙️Find Nicole's Substack here.
Transcribe →101. When Your Publishing Career Stalls: Pivots, Pen Names, and Starting Again with Darien Hsu Gee
Feb 2400:34:01Tap to summarizeWhat do you do when your book sales trend down? When an agent says they can’t sell you again? When the genre you’re known for no longer fits?In this episode of The Whole Writer, Nicole Meier sits down with internationally published author Darien Gee to talk about creative pivots, pen names, publishing slumps, and the courage it takes to trust yourself as a writer.Darien shares:• Why publishing “success” doesn’t always mean creative fulfillment • What happens when your numbers trend down • How to switch genres without losing yourself • The power of micro prose as a daily writing practice • Why creative detours are often the path forwardFrom being told she couldn’t be sold again to building a new literary life through short-form writing and Substack, Darien’s story is a powerful reminder that your writing career doesn’t have to stay in one lane.If you’re navigating a season of uncertainty, considering a genre shift, or wondering whether you still have another book in you — this conversation is for you.Because being a whole writer means trusting yourself, even when the industry feels shaky.🎙️Find more on Darien here.🎙️Find more on Nicole here.
Transcribe →100. Beyond the Template: Finding Your Individual Calling as a Writer
Feb 1000:18:44Tap to summarizeFeeling creatively frozen from following too many writing formulas? You're not alone. In this milestone 100th episode, I'm sharing why the era of templates and "proven systems" might be holding your novel or memoir back—and what soul-centered writing looks like instead.If you've been hitting all the "right" plot points but your manuscript still feels lifeless, or if you're exhausted from trying to fit into someone else's productivity system, this episode is for you.We'll explore:The crucial difference between using frameworks as tools versus following templates as replacements for your creative visionWhy your individual calling matters more than any formula (and how to hear it)What it actually looks like to write from the inside out rather than the outside inHow to distinguish between your calling and the voice of fear telling you to "follow the system"Permission to honor your natural rhythm, even when it doesn't match what successful writers "should" doWhether you're drafting your first manuscript or your fifth book, this conversation offers a different path forward—one built on authenticity, trust, and the courage to write what only you can write.Because the question isn't "Am I doing this right?" It's "Am I doing this true?"Join me for an honest, encouraging conversation about building a creative practice that sustains rather than depletes you.Website | Substack
Transcribe →99. How to Find What's Meaningful in Your Novel (and Pitch It Like a Pro) with Karin Gillespie
Jan 2700:32:45Tap to summarizeWhat if the secret to writing a compelling novel—and querying it successfully—starts with understanding what's deeply meaningful to you? In this episode, I sit down with author Karin Gillespie to explore how to identify the personal connection in your writing and translate it into a pitch that agents and editors can't ignore.Karin, author of nine novels and creator of the popular Substack "Pitch Your Novel," shares her 20+ year publishing journey—from traditional publishing with the Big Five to indie publishing and back again. She's seen the industry from every angle, and she's here to help you navigate today's competitive landscape with wisdom, warmth, and practical guidance.In this episode, we discuss:Why your personal connection to your story matters more than you thinkHow to write a novel with a clear desire line that drives your narrative forwardThe essential elements every query letter needs (including the one-sentence pitch most writers forget)How to identify and pitch your book's genre in today's marketWhat "comps" are and why they're crucial to your query successThe reality of submission in 2025—and why it's so different from even five years agoHow to create your pitch before you write your novel (and why this can save you heartbreak)Finding joy in the writing process, even when the business side feels overwhelmingWhether you're drafting your first manuscript or querying your fifth novel, this conversation offers both tactical advice on how to query a literary agent and gentle encouragement to stay connected to what makes your writing meaningful.Connect with Karin Gillespie: Substack: Pitch Your NovelMentioned Resources:Publisher's MarketplaceQuery TrackerAmazon for comp researchIf you're ready to learn how to write a novel that matters to you and stands out in the marketplace, this episode is your roadmap.The Whole Writer is a podcast for fiction writers who want to nurture both their craft and their creative well-being. Hosted by Nicole Meier, multi-published author and book coach.Want more support on your writing journey? Visit nicolemeier.com to explore coaching programs for fiction writers.If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and review—it helps other writers discover the show!🎙️Find Karin Gillespie here.🎙️Find Nicole Meier here.
Transcribe →98. Coming Home to Wholeness (NEW SEASON!)
Jan 1300:15:25Tap to summarizeI'm talking directly to the novel and memoir writers who are exhausted, stuck, and wondering if they can ever find their way back to the page. If imposter syndrome has you questioning whether you're "really" a writer, or if burnout has made your creative dreams feel more like burdens, this conversation is for you.Instead of another productivity pep talk or goal-crushing strategy, I'm offering something different: three gentle invitations to help you reconnect with your writing practice without the pressure. These aren't tips or tasks to add to your already overwhelming list—they're possibilities for approaching your creative work with intention, space, and self-compassion.Whether you're struggling to start writing again after a long break, feeling depleted by the constant pressure to produce, or simply need permission to slow down, this episode will help you find a sustainable path forward. We'll explore how to distinguish between momentum that energizes and momentum that drains, why even good work can deplete you without adequate space, and how to create a writing practice that nourishes rather than exhausts you.This is for writers who are ready to stop pushing and start listening—to themselves, to their needs, and to what their creative work truly requires to flourish.Perfect for: memoir writers dealing with burnout, novelists experiencing imposter syndrome, writers seeking to restart their practice, anyone feeling overwhelmed by creative goalsLet's connect!📚Dear Whole Writer Substack 📚Nicole Meier Book Coaching & Developmental Editing
Transcribe →97. REPLAY: From Query Doubt to Dream Deal with Kelly Kearsley
Jan 600:37:47Tap to summarizeFrom nonfiction writer to debut novelist with a Big Five traditional publishing book deal.In this candid episode, Kelly pulls back the curtain on the querying literary agents process, what actually happens behind the scenes when pursuing traditional publishing, and how she navigated the long road to landing a book deal. She discusses the crucial role of literary community for novel writers, the mindset shifts required to take your fiction writing seriously, and how her background in journalism both supported—and complicated—her transition to writing novels.Kelly also offers practical, honest insight for writers querying agents, including how to treat your writing like a profession, manage rejection, and understand that becoming a published novelist is about far more than finishing a manuscript—it’s a transformation of your entire creative life.Find Kelly at her Substack and Website.Find Nicole at her Substack and Website.
Transcribe →