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 fiction
Why outlining doesn't have to be at odds with literary writing — and how Miranda thinks about plot like a piece of gossip
What it really means to shelve a manuscript, and how to emotionally move forward
How shame silences writers in publishing — and why breaking that silence matters
Miranda's plot coaching work and how she helps stuck writers rediscover their story's potential
A simple, powerful practice for reigniting hope when writing feels impossible

Whether 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