In this episode, I’m sitting down with Nika Maples, someone who played a really meaningful role in my own journey.

What started as a desire to improve my writing turned into something much bigger, and in this conversation, we talk about how that happens more often than we realize. Nika shares how she went from being an English teacher who couldn’t quite figure out how to write a book, to someone who now helps others do exactly that. She breaks down the difference between short-form and long-form writing, and why writing a book requires a completely different kind of endurance.

We talk honestly about what holds people back from writing, especially the feeling that no one wants to hear what they have to say. Nika reframes what many people call “imposter syndrome” and explains why that label doesn’t really fit. She shares practical ways to get started, whether you have no idea what to write about or you already have a topic but feel stuck. From collecting stories from your own life to creating what she calls a “book bank,” she gives simple, doable steps that take the pressure off and help you move forward.

We also talk about writing the hard parts of your story and how to approach that in a healthy, thoughtful way. Nika shares her own experience writing honestly while still honoring the people involved and why slowing down in that process matters.

This conversation is a mix of practical writing advice, encouragement, and a reminder that most of what you need is already in you. You just have to start getting it out on paper.

To find out more about Nika and her work, visit nikamaples.com.

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