Fear of rejection is one of the most common — and least talked about — reasons writers stop writing their books.

Not because they lack discipline.

Not because they don’t care enough.

But because writing asks us to be seen… and being seen can feel emotionally unsafe.

In this episode of Write the Darn Book, we explore why rejection, criticism, and judgement affect writers so deeply — often stopping momentum long before a book is finished — and how to keep writing without forcing confidence or pretending fear isn’t there.

This conversation is grounded in mindset work, nervous-system awareness, and writer identity, and gently reframes rejection as information rather than a verdict on your worth or ability.

You’ll learn why:

• anticipated judgement can shut down creativity before anyone says a word
• finishing a book often feels scarier than starting
• self-criticism is often protection, not proof of high standards
• emotional safety — not toughness — is what helps writers keep going

This episode is for you if you’ve ever:

• held back from finishing your book
• softened your voice out of fear of judgement
• stalled near the end of a draft
• or felt paralysed by imagined criticism

You don’t need fear to disappear to finish your book.

You need understanding, self-trust, and permission to keep writing anyway.

✍️ FREE Live Masterclass Invitation - 26th Feb

If this episode resonated and you recognise how fear, judgement, or self-monitoring has shaped your writing, I’d love to invite you to join me for my upcoming free live masterclass:

Write The Darn Book™ — Unlock Your Writing Personality

📅 Thursday 26 February

⏰ 7:30pm AEDT (45 minutes)

🎥 Live online via ZOOM + replay available

SAVE YOUR SPOT & REGISTER NOW – https://maddisonmichaels.com/masterclass

In this FREE masterclass, you’ll learn how your natural writing personality influences:

• how you respond to feedback and criticism
• how pressure and judgement affect your momentum
• and what you need to feel emotionally safe enough to finish your book

There’s also an optional VIP Masterclass immediately after at 8:30pm AEDT, for writers who want a deeper dive and personalised insight.

⭐️ Leave a Review

If this episode resonated with you, I’d be so grateful if you took a moment to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Your review helps Write the Darn Book reach more writers who are ready to honour their stories, trust their creative process, and keep showing up for the book they’re meant to write. 💗

Your Thoughts Are Shaping Your Writing Reality — Here’s How to Change the Story

Have you ever noticed how writing feels effortless on some days…
and on others, sitting down at the page feels heavy, tense, or uncomfortable — even when you want to write?

That experience isn’t about discipline, motivation, or talent.

In this episode of Write the Darn Book, we’re exploring how the thoughts you repeatedly think about writing — often without realising it — are actively shaping your writing reality.

Drawing on neuroscience, nervous-system awareness, and mindset-first coaching, this episode breaks down why writing can start to feel unsafe or difficult over time, and how subtle thought patterns influence flow, resistance, self-doubt, and momentum.

This conversation is especially supportive if you’ve ever felt stuck in stop–start writing cycles, frustrated with yourself as a writer, or confused about why writing feels harder than it “should.”

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why thoughts are not neutral — and how they shape your writing experience
• How repeated writing thoughts create familiar patterns in the brain
• The link between thoughts, nervous-system safety, and creative flow
• Why pressure-based thinking leads to resistance and avoidance
• How to shift writing thoughts gently, without forcing positivity
• What “bridge thoughts” are — and how they support momentum and trust
• How your thoughts shape your identity as a writer over time

Rather than trying to fix yourself or push harder, this episode invites a more compassionate, sustainable approach — one that works with your mind and creativity, not against them.

Join me live for my FREE VIRTUAL MASTERCLASS on the 26th February!

If this episode resonated, I’d love to invite you to join me live for my free virtual masterclass:

✍️ Write The Darn Book™ — Unlock Your Writing Personality


📅 Online via ZOOM - Thursday, 26 February 2026


⏰ 7:30pm AEDT | 45 minutes live

In this live session, you’ll discover how your unique personality wiring influences the way you think, feel, and show up to writing — and how to work with that wiring to create flow, consistency, and momentum, without forcing yourself into systems that don’t fit.

You can register for free via this link 👇

https://maddisonmichaels.com/masterclass

There’s also an optional VIP deep-dive session available for those who want to go deeper.

As always, thank you for being here — and for honouring the story that chose you 💗

If this episode resonated with you, I’d be so grateful if you took a moment to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Your review helps Write the Darn Book reach more writers who are ready to honour their stories, trust their creative process, and keep showing up for the book they’re meant to write 💗

Thank you so much for being here — and for honouring the story that chose you.

The Truth About Writing Consistency (It’s Not Willpower)

Why consistency breaks down — and what the brain actually needs to repeat writing

Writing consistently isn’t a motivation problem — and it’s not a discipline issue either.

Many writers genuinely want to write. They care deeply about their stories, make time when they can, and keep intending to show up… yet writing still slips. When that happens, frustration and self-doubt often follow, even though nothing has actually gone wrong.

In this episode of Write the Darn Book, we explore writing consistency from a neuroscience and nervous-system perspective, uncovering why consistency breaks down, why willpower isn’t the solution, and what the brain actually needs in order to repeat creative work.

Rather than focusing on routines, productivity hacks, or rigid schedules, this conversation explains how the brain responds to uncertainty, emotional exposure, and open-ended creative effort — and why modern writers often struggle more than ever in a world built around instant rewards and quick stimulation.

This episode is about understanding, not fixing — offering relief, clarity, and a far kinder explanation for why writing consistency has felt so elusive.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why writing consistency breaks down even when desire and intention are strong
• How the brain responds to uncertainty and open-ended creative work
• Why willpower and discipline aren’t effective solutions for writers
• How modern attention patterns and instant-reward culture affect creative focus
• What the brain actually needs in order to repeat writing sustainably
• Why understanding must come before change

If writing consistency has ever left you questioning yourself as a writer, this episode offers a grounding reframe — and a deeper sense of trust in your creative process.

✍️ Free Masterclass Invitation — Unlock Your Writing Personality

If today’s episode resonated and you’re starting to see that consistency isn’t about forcing yourself — but about understanding how your brain and nervous system work — I’d love to invite you to join my FREE LIVE Masterclass: Write The Darn Book™ — Unlock Your Writing Personality

In this session, you’ll learn how your natural writing personality shapes the way you start, stop, procrastinate, and build momentum — and how to work with your wiring instead of forcing habits that don’t fit.

👉 Find out more and register at https://maddisonmichaels.com/masterclass

(There’s also an optional VIP deep-dive experience for writers who want deeper teaching and personalised insight.)

💗 Leave a Review

⭐️ If this episode resonated with you, I’d be so grateful if you took a moment to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Your review helps Write the Darn Book reach more writers who are ready to honour their stories, trust their creative process, and keep showing up for the book they’re meant to write. 💗