The Write It Scared Podcast

We’ve reached the end of the first quarter of the year, and this is a perfect moment to pause and ask a far more useful question than “What did I accomplish?”
Is the way I’m approaching my writing actually working for me right now?
In this short solo episode, I share a gentle, guilt-free Q1 reset and reflection questions to help you course-correct, plus a behind-the-scenes look at my own writing progress — including finishing a draft, facing rejection, uncovering major plot issues, and doing the slow revision work that actually moves books forward.
If your year hasn’t gone as planned, don’t feel like you're behind. Instead, use your reflections to create a new plan of action that makes how you approach your writing work for you! 
Slow and steady still counts.
Timestamps
00:00 Gentle Q1 check-in
00:28 Why this checkpoint matters
01:25 Quarter One reality check
02:21 Key reflection questions
04:01 Personal Q1 writing update
05:00 Draft win + rejection whiplash
05:27 Discovering and fixing a major logic flaw
06:37 Slow, steady revision plan
07:39 Your Q1 reset for Q2
08:50 Coaching support & next steps
09:41 Final thoughts
Need extra support?
If you’d like personalized guidance, structure, or accountability as you move forward, learn more about working with me as a book coach: writeitscared.co
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you.
Support the show
 To become a supporter of the show, click here!

To get in touch with Stacy:
Email: [email protected]

https://www.writeitscared.co/wis
https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/

Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: 
Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide 
Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

Want to write fear that actually gets under a reader’s skin—not just jump scares on the page? Start with what unsettles you.
Horror and thriller author Nicole M. Wolverton joins me to discuss why discomfort can be more powerful than terror, how writing from your own fears creates unforgettable stories, and why horror can be deeply empowering during difficult times. 
Nicole is also very candid about the process, the realities of publishing, rejection, and the mindset she attributes to her success in publishing and marketing. 
Timestamps
 
 01:10 – Meet Nicole Woolverton
 03:16 – Nicole’s Writing Origins
 04:30 – Why We Crave Horror
 05:15 – Fear, Resilience, and Difficult Times
 07:15 – Her Novels and Settings
 09:33 – Gastro Horror and Disgust on the Page
 12:42 – What Makes Horror Truly Work
 16:17 – Process: Outlining vs. Drafting
 21:16 – Publishing Fears and Limbo
 25:26 – “You Don’t Ask, You Don’t Get”
 28:29 – Rejection and Redefining Success
 31:06 – Advice for Writers
Guest Bio
Nicole M. Wolverton is an unapologetic fear enthusiast who writes horror and thrillers for adults and young adults. She is the author of A Misfortune of Lake Monsters (CamCat Books, 2025), The Trajectory of Dreams (Bitingduck Press, 2013), and the upcoming Meat Sweats (Horrorsmith Publishing, 2026). She also served as Editor of the menopause-themed horror anthology Bodies Full of Burning, published by Sliced Up Press. Her short fiction, creative nonfiction, and essays also appear in about 50 anthologies, magazines, and podcasts. Nicole holds a master's degree in horror and storytelling from the University of Pennsylvania; her academic interests center on building resilience through horror media and gastrohorror.
Links
Website
[email protected]
Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you.
Support the show
 To become a supporter of the show, click here!

To get in touch with Stacy:
Email: [email protected]

https://www.writeitscared.co/wis
https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/

Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: 
Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide 
Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

Writing can be hard, lonely work. Talking about the struggle can release pressure and help you get back to the page—but only if you’re sharing with the right people.
I talk about why feelings aren’t facts, how isolation keeps writers stuck, and how to build a small circle of writing trust that you can lean into when you feel stuck.
Timestamps
 00:00 Writing Struggle + Isolation
 01:44 Listener Question About Short Stories
 03:44 Why Venting Helps Writers
 05:45 Feelings Aren’t Facts
 07:57 Choosing Who to Tell
 09:48 Building a Circle of Trust
 12:27 Final Thoughts
Links to Other Episodes Mentioned
S2 Ep 53 How Writing Short Stories Can Make You a Stronger Novelist with Demi Michelle Schwartz
S3 Ep 78 From “Am I Good Enough?” to “I Believe in My Work” with Book Coach Karmen Špiljak
S2 Ep 54 Finding the Right Writing Community For You

Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you.
Support the show
 To become a supporter of the show, click here!

To get in touch with Stacy:
Email: [email protected]

https://www.writeitscared.co/wis
https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/

Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: 
Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide 
Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

If you’ve ever told yourself you’re lazy, undisciplined, or just “bad at finishing,” this episode might reframe everything.
In this episode of the Write It Scared podcast, I talk with book coach and editor Nicole Bross about how ADHD impacts a writer’s mindset, motivation, and process—especially for those diagnosed later in life. We unpack the shame spiral so many writers fall into, why traditional writing advice doesn’t work for everyone, and how diagnosis can open the door to self-compassion and smarter systems.
We also talk about her book A Novel Approach: Strategies for ADHD Writers (co-written with Kirsten Donaghey), including practical tools for overcoming paralysis, managing shiny object syndrome, and using outlines to reduce overwhelm and actually finish.
If you’ve struggled with consistency or focus, this one is equal parts strategy and permission to be kinder to yourself.
Timestamps
 00:00 The Writing Advice Shame Spiral
 01:41 Meet Nicole + Her Book
 05:46 Late ADHD Diagnosis + Mindset Shift
 13:51 Building Better Writing Systems
 17:03 ADHD Creative Strengths
 27:14 Motivation + Shiny Object Syndrome
 32:02 Why Outlines Help
 37:35 Paralysis vs. Procrastination
 41:12 Final Encouragement
You can learn more about Nicole and her work here:
🌐 Writing: https://nicolebross.com
🌐 Book Coaching: https://manuscriptalchemy.com
The Novel Approach: Strategies for ADHD Writers is available wherever books are sold. 
Links mentioned:  
When Your Brain is the Enemy: Life as a Writer with ADHD by Nicole Bross
 
Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you.
Support the show
 To become a supporter of the show, click here!

To get in touch with Stacy:
Email: [email protected]

https://www.writeitscared.co/wis
https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/

Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: 
Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide 
Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

If you’re querying—or even thinking about it—this episode is going to change how you approach your pitch.
In this episode of the Write It Scared podcast, I sit down with literary agent and author Ann Rose to talk about what actually makes a query stand out. (Spoiler: it doesn’t have to be perfect. It has to be clear.) We dig into hook, stakes, market realities, why “Dexter meets Legally Blonde” works, and what happens after an agent requests a full.
We also talk about imposter syndrome, the slower publishing climate, why publishing is product (even though writing is art), and why you might want to write your query—and your synopsis—before you finish your book.
If you’ve been overthinking your pitch letter, this one will ground you fast.
Timestamps
 00:00 Queries Need Clarity (Not Perfection)
 03:30 Ann’s Path to Agenting
 07:15 Her Novels + Hook Examples
 19:29 The Current Publishing Climate
 23:57 What Makes a Hook Work
 27:46 From Full Request to Offer
 30:53 Writing Is Art, Publishing Is Product
 34:50 Why You Should Write the Query First
 36:45 Why Synopses Matter

Tobias website - www.thetobiasagency.com
Ann's website - www.amroseauthor.com
Instagram/Threads/TikTok - totally_anntastic

Books By Ann Rose
The Seemingly Impossible Love Life of Amanda Dean 
A Hexcellent Chance to Fall in Love 
www.annroseauthor.com

Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you.
Support the show
 To become a supporter of the show, click here!

To get in touch with Stacy:
Email: [email protected]

https://www.writeitscared.co/wis
https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/

Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: 
Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide 
Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears