Hosted by authors Chelsea Bieker & Kimberly King Parsons

Chelsea and Kim explore the long game of writing careers, sharing insights from their own publishing journeys and discussing why patience and persistence matter more than speed. 

The Marathon Metaphor

Publishing Realities

The Truth About Craft

Q1: "I'm 45 and just starting my first novel. How do I deal with feeling decades behind?"

Q2: "I've been querying for 3 years with no agent while friends get book deals. Should I keep going?"

Q3: "How do I balance learning craft with actually writing?"

January 11 - April 20, 2026

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Access everything you need for a sustainable writing practice:

Join at thefountainpractice.com

You're not behind. You're not too late. You're exactly where you need to be in your unique creative marathon. The next 100 days will pass regardless—how will you use them?

If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share with a writer who needs to hear it. Your creative practice is worth investing in. Welcome to your practice!

Your creative voice matters—and protecting it is essential to writing the book only you can write. What does it really mean to have creative non-negotiables as a writer? In this inspiring (and juicy) episode of Connected, we dive deep into the artistic principles that guide our writing lives. We share personal stories about staying true to our unique voices in workshops, the transformative power of The Fountain's Intensive and how it’s altering our writing realities, and why knowing what you won't compromise on is crucial for authentic creative expression. From Chelsea's experience realizing what she wanted to protect in her work to Kim's unwavering commitment to first-person present tense, we reveal how gaining clarity about your creative non-negotiables can transform your writing practice. We also explore how our new morning routines have revolutionized our creative process and answer burning questions from The Fountain community about what to do when you're the slowest writer in your accountability group, practice differences, and practical outcomes of simple practices. 

This episode is your invitation to identify and honor the creative truths that make your writing uniquely yours and some really actionable tips on how to get clarity. If you've ever felt pressured to water down your voice or wondered how to stay true to your artistic vision, this conversation will empower you to write from a place of unwavering authenticity and create the terms in which your work will thrive. 

In This Episode We Talk About: 

-How The Fountain's 100-Day Summer Intensive is transforming writers' daily practices

-Chelsea's breakthrough about giving her book project a "bigger cage" and releasing limiting stories 

-Kim's transformation from "glacial writer" identity to completing a novel in two years

-The danger of taking feedback from beta readers and why less voices can mean stronger work 

-Why you should never compromise style and a talk about POV

-How to distinguish between helpful feedback and voices that dilute your unique style 

-The importance of creative non-negotiables in maintaining your authentic voice

-Our morning writing routines and the power of the three-step flow practice

-How clearings and anchors work to bypass your inner critic

-The myth of writing speed and why consistency matters more than word count

Why you should only take advice from people who have what you want

Mentioned In the Episode:

The Fountain Practice - Join our membership

-The Weekly Fountain - Monday writing prompts on @thefountainpractice on Instagram

-Sign up for our bi-monthly newsletter with writing exercises

-To Find Us:  @thefountainpractice (Instagram)

The Fountain Practice (Website)

Email: [email protected]

Ready to write the book only you can write?
No more waiting for the perfect writing retreat or ideal conditions. Your stories are ready now. Join our community of writers who are discovering what it means to write from a place of trust rather than doubt. Start Your Journey at fountainpractice.com

CONNECTED: A Podcast For The Whole Writer - Episode 2: Taking Imperfect Swings on the Page and in Life

Episode Overview

In this episode of Connected, hosts Kimberly King Parsons and Chelsea Bieker explore the creative and practical dimensions of the writing life. They begin by discussing the challenges of balancing creative writing with business responsibilities, then dive into the neuroscience of taking "imperfect swings" in your creative practice and life.

The hosts also share details about their exciting summer intensive program and answer community questions about:

How to handle friends not "getting" your writing

What to do if someone copies your work

How to balance writing with being a busy parent with a full-time job

Key Topics Covered Balancing Creative Work & Business Strategies for protecting writing time while managing business responsibilities The hosts share how they maintain creative energy during busy periods How structure and boundaries can actually enhance creativity Taking Imperfect Swings The neuroscience behind embracing imperfection in the creative process How releasing perfectionism leads to greater creative output and satisfaction. 

Resources Mentioned

The Fountain Summer Intensive registration information: thefountainpractice.com

The May Fountain Members Meetup: "The Connective Query Letter" (May 30)

Email us if you have a question for a future episode of Connected: [email protected]

CONNECTED: A Podcast for the Whole Writer

Episode 1: Why Craft Isn't Enough: The Missing Piece for Writers

Welcome to the very first episode of CONNECTED — a podcast for the whole writer. In this kickoff conversation, award-winning and bestselling authors Chelsea Bieker and Kimberly King Parsons pull back the curtain on The Fountain Practice, their platform for creative awakening for writers, revealing how the work they're doing is unlike anything else in the writing world. CONNECTED is our way to answer Fountain member questions and offer another layer of support for writers. If you've ever felt like craft instruction alone isn't enough to unblock your voice, this is the episode for you.

We dive deep into how true creative transformation happens—not from grinding harder or learning more formulas, but from meeting yourself on a subconscious level. You'll hear how The Fountain uses neuroscience-backed techniques and trauma-informed tools to help writers rewrite limiting beliefs, heal creative blocks, and finally feel safe showing up to the page to manifest the creative lives of their dreams.

Chelsea and Kim also introduce the Summer Book-Writing Intensive—a 100-day experience designed to support writers as they build books from the inside out. You'll learn how this container helps writers move beyond fear, comparison, and imposter syndrome to reach a flow state grounded in emotional and creative safety. We also explore our custom Clearings—audio-based visualization journeys set to binaural frequencies designed to regulate the nervous system, clear creative obstacles, and rewire the brain for creative flow. If you've been trying to write and struggling to find your flow, and desire clarity, this episode will show you a new path.

In This Episode, We Cover:

Why traditional writing instruction often doesn't address the deeper blocks writers face

The neurological roots of resistance, procrastination, and creative burnout

How Clearings unlock the body-brain connection that fuels authentic writing flow

The importance of community and "vision holding" in sustaining a writing practice

The origin story of The Fountain Practice and its unique approach

What to expect from the upcoming Summer Book Writing Intensive: A powerful reframe for writers who've felt stuck, blocked, or unable to finish their work

Key Moments:
[03:15] How The Fountain addresses both craft and the emotional/neurological roots of creative blocks [08:30] The science behind Clearings and binaural frequencies for accessing the creative subconscious [13:45] How visualization creates "creative downloads" and regulates the nervous system
[20:30] Introduction to the 100-day summer intensive writing program structure and approach
[27:40] The power of community and "vision holding" in accelerating creative breakthroughs
[32:15] Creating supportive relationships that sustain your writing practice
[37:00] How The Fountain app creates a focused alternative to draining social media

Resources Mentioned:

Learn more about The Fountain Practice: thefountainpractice.com

Explore the Summer Book-Writing Intensive (June 1–September 8, 2025)

Download The Fountain app through Kajabi for on-the-go access to your courses, Clearings, and Community!

Connect with us: [email protected]

If this episode resonated with you, we'd love if you subscribed, rated, and shared it with your writer friends. The path to becoming a whole writer begins with understanding both the craft and the neuroscience of creativity—and it starts together.