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. 💗

Episode 14 — Lost Your Creative Spark As A Writer?

3 Ways to Realign With Your Story

Have you ever sat down to write… knowing you still care deeply about your book — but the spark you once felt just isn’t there anymore?

Writing feels heavier than it should. Scenes feel flat or disconnected. And the harder you try to push through, the further away the story seems to drift.

In this episode of Write the Darn Book, we’re exploring why losing your creative spark doesn’t mean anything has gone wrong — and how to gently realign with your story in a way that restores connection, clarity, and flow.

Rather than forcing motivation or discipline, this episode invites you to listen more closely to what your story — and your creative system — are asking for.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why creative spark fades when alignment is lost (not because you’re failing as a writer)
• How to reconnect with the emotional promise at the heart of your story
• A powerful way to deepen connection with your protagonist’s inner truth
• How pressure and urgency affect your nervous system — and your creativity
• How returning to your natural processing style can restore creative safety and flow

This episode is especially supportive if you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or unsure why writing suddenly feels harder than it used to — even if you’re experienced, committed, and still deeply invested in your book.

✨ FREE LIVE MASTERCLASS — 19 FEBRUARY

If this episode resonated with you and helped something click, I’d love to invite you to my free live masterclass:

Unlock Your Writing Personality

How to understand your creative wiring and build a writing rhythm that actually works for you.

In this live teaching session, you’ll discover:

• why different writers get stuck in different ways
• how your personality and creative processing style influence your writing
• and how to realign your writing process so it feels clearer, lighter, and more sustainable

The masterclass is completely free to attend, with an optional VIP upgrade Masterclass Session available for those who want to go deeper and integrate the work after the Free Session is finished.

👉 Register here: https://maddisonmichaels.com/masterclass

⭐️ 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. 💗

Is Perfectionism Secretly Hindering Your Draft? How to Escape the Trap — Fast

Perfectionism can feel like care, dedication, or high standards — but for many writers, it quietly becomes the very thing that stalls progress.

In this episode of Write the Darn Book, we explore how perfectionism shows up during the drafting process, why it often feels productive while keeping you stuck, and how to loosen its grip so you can stay in creative flow and keep moving forward.

This conversation is especially for writers who find themselves stopping to edit, refine, or “get it right” — and then struggling to re-enter the story or continue writing afterward.

You’ll also hear how perfectionism can show up differently depending on your natural writing personality, and how understanding your tendencies can help you work with your mind and nervous system rather than against them.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why perfectionism is often a protection strategy, not a discipline problem
• How perfectionism disguises itself as progress — and quietly freezes your draft
• The real role of a first draft (and why it’s not meant to be perfect)
• Common ways perfectionism stalls momentum without you realising
• A simple, practical approach to help you keep writing without lowering your standards
• How stopping mid-scene can actually support creative flow and consistency
• When perfectionism is signalling self-doubt — and when it may be pointing to story misalignment
• How different writing personalities (Owl, Eagle, Peacock, Dove) experience perfectionism differently

Writing Personality & Perfectionism

Perfectionism doesn’t look the same for every writer.

In this episode, we gently touch on how your natural writing personality can influence whether perfectionism shows up as overthinking, pressure, self-doubt, or emotional hesitation — and why recognising your pattern can make it easier to move forward with compassion and clarity.

If you’d like to discover your dominant Bird Personality and better understand your writing tendencies, you can take the free quiz at:

👉 maddisonmichaels.com

💗 Support for Your Writing Journey

If today’s episode resonated with you and stirred up something inside you… and you’re ready for deeper support to break through your blocks and finally write the book you’re meant to write…

I currently have a few spots left for 1:1 coaching.

You can explore working with me at: 👉 maddisonmichaels.com/coaching

We’ll chat and see whether we’re the right fit for each other.

⭐️ 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. 💗

The 10-Minute Consistency Ritual for When Life Gets Chaotic

Have you ever set aside time to write… only to find yourself pulled in a dozen other directions?

When work ramps back up, routines fill out, and life gets busy, writing is often the first thing to slide — not because you don’t care, but because it suddenly feels harder to fit in.

In this episode of Write the Darn Book, we explore what’s really happening when writing feels harder to access — and how to stay connected to your book without pressure, guilt, or unrealistic expectations.

You’ll be guided through a simple 10-minute consistency ritual designed for real life — one that helps your mind feel safe returning to writing, builds a sustainable habit through repetition, and gently leads you back into genuine writing momentum over time.

Rather than pushing harder or waiting for more time, this episode shows you how small, contained writing moments rewire your relationship with writing — so consistency becomes something your mind actually supports.

✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why writing often feels harder when life gets busy
• How your mind decides whether writing feels like pain or pleasure
• Why consistency comes before productivity
• How setting a clear 10-minute timer reduces resistance and builds safety
• How small, repeatable writing moments create a lasting habit
• How this ritual naturally leads back into longer writing sessions

⭐️ 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. 💗

💗 Deeper Support

If today’s episode resonated with you and stirred up something inside you… and you’re ready for deeper support to break through your blocks and finally write the book you’re meant to write… I currently have a few spots left for 1:1 coaching. If you feel called to explore having me as your writing coach, head to maddisonmichaels.com/coaching and reach out — we’ll chat and see whether we’ll be a fit to work together on this writing journey of yours.

You're showing up.

You're trying.

You're doing the mindset work, the visualisations, the reframes…

So why does writing still feel hard?

If you've ever wondered whether you're doing something wrong - or whether change is even happening at all - this episode offers a powerful reframe that will completely shift how you understand your writing struggles.

In this episode of Write the Darn Book, we explore why real, lasting change in your writing life often feels invisible at first, and why so many writers quit right before things start to work.

Drawing on neuroscience-informed principles, identity-level mindset work, and creative nervous system safety, this episode breaks down the four phases of creative rewiring - the stages your brain naturally moves through when you're changing patterns around procrastination, consistency, confidence, and self-trust.

You'll learn:

• Why early writing change rarely shows up as immediate results
• What's actually happening in your brain when mindset work "feels like it's not working"
• Why motivation comes and goes - and why that's normal
• The phase where most writers quit (and why staying matters more than trying harder)
• How identity change lags behind effort - and why that's not a failure
• What it really takes to move from force and resistance into ease and flow

This episode will help you release self-judgement, stop second-guessing your process, and trust that the work you're doing is landing - even if you can't see the evidence yet. It also closes with a guided future-self visualisation, designed to help you begin wiring in the identity of the author you are choosing to become - grounding your next steps in clarity, confidence, and self-trust.

If writing still feels hard - this episode will help you understand why... and why that doesn't mean you're failing.

🌟 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 ❤️

And if today's episode stirred something inside you… and you're ready for deeper support to break through your blocks and finally write the book you're meant to write - I currently have a few spots left for 1:1 coaching. If you feel called to explore having me as your writing coach, head to https://maddisonmichaels.com/coaching and reach out - we'll chat and see whether we'll be a fit to work together 💕

Have you ever sat down to write and quietly wondered whether you’re actually a real writer — or whether you’re just pretending?

That question shows up for far more writers than you might realise. And it doesn’t mean you’re failing, behind, or not meant to be writing.

In this episode of Write the Darn Book, we’re talking about self-doubt — not as something to fight or eliminate, but as something to understand. We explore why self-doubt shows up so strongly for writers, what it’s really responding to beneath the surface, and how it can quietly shake your sense of identity every time you return to the page.

You’ll learn why self-doubt isn’t evidence that you don’t belong, how to stop letting fearful thoughts define who you are as a writer, and how to reconnect with a steadier, more grounded writing identity — even when doubt is present.

This episode is a gentle but powerful invitation to stop questioning whether you’re “allowed” to write, and to start trusting yourself again.

• Why self-doubt is so common for writers — especially when the work matters

• How your nervous system responds to vulnerability and creative exposure

• Why self-doubt often sounds logical, even when it isn’t telling the truth

• The difference between thoughts, fear, and identity

• How to come back to the page without waiting for confidence

• A guided visualisation to help you reconnect with your writing identity

• You’ve ever wondered whether you’re a “real” writer

• You struggle with imposter syndrome or identity-based self-doubt

• You feel blocked, hesitant, or shaken when you try to write

• You want to write from a place of steadiness rather than pressure

The episode closes with a gentle guided visualisation to help you settle self-doubt, reconnect with your writer self, and return to the page with more trust and clarity.

If today’s episode resonated with you and stirred something inside you — and you’re ready for deeper support to work through self-doubt, resistance, or identity-level blocks that are holding you back from finishing your book — I currently have a few spots available for 1:1 coaching.

If you feel called to explore having me as your writing coach, head to writethedarnbook.co and reach out. We’ll chat and see whether working together feels like the right fit.