How Women Write

I'm writing my next book in public. And honestly, it's a little scary.

In this episode, I walk through what led here: finishing my fourth book, Writing with the Moon and feeling the pull toward something a lot more personal, the three words I wrote in my journal back in 2023 (medicine, woman, writer), and the moment a client's instinctive comment, "I don't know what it is, your medicine, but the words are flowing" — told me I needed to pay more attention to that word — medicine.

I talk about the North Node shift into Aquarius and what it's asking me to do differently — stop sharing the safe, curated version of myself filled with practical tips and tricks, and start showing up bolder, in more places. And I open up about the practice that cracked this whole book open: simplifying my food, and what I noticed in my own body while chopping onions for dinner.

This isn't a book announcement with a release date and a plan. It's an invitation to come sit at my writing table while I figure it out — no outline, no strategy, written completely out of order, live, on Substack.

• Why my last two books were "safe" to write — and why this one isn't

• The three words that started this book, three years before I understood them

• What the North Node shift into Aquarius is asking me to do differently

• Why I'm throwing away every rule I've ever taught clients about writing a book

• How simplifying my food became the doorway into this book's whole premise

• What "written in public" actually means — voice memos, drafts, video, no set schedule

• Where to follow along and what paid subscribers get access to

• Subscribe to The Medicine Pages on Substack — $5/month, the raw drafts as they happen

• The Intuitive Writing School — Studio members get this as a bonus

• Hire Jacqueline for private Intuitive Writing Mentoring

• Substack: Energy-First Writing

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

00:00 Writing In Public

00:31 Burnout And A New Direction

03:09 Medicine Woman Writer

04:50 Stories Over Tips

06:33 Astrology And Boldness

08:18 Nonlinear Drafts On Substack

11:05 What The Book Is

11:16 Food As A Gateway

13:47 One Voice Everywhere

14:52 How To Follow Along

16:20 Invitation

Pippa Wilford named her business after Dagaz — the rune for daybreak, that instant when everything finally becomes clear. It's a fitting name for a woman who didn't set out to become an author. She was a civil servant, then a corporate recruiter, then a mother inside a neurodiverse household — and somewhere in the middle of life, writing kept finding her.

Now she's the author of The Nurtured Nest, co-author of Designed to Thrive and Unfold Now, and the writer behind a full moon newsletter called From the Water's Edge.

I love our conversation so much. In it, you'll hear Pippa walk through what it looked like to write as a projector in Human Design. She worked with four-hour blocks of time in her diary, and learned how many words per hour she could write and used that information as a tool to avoid perfectionism.

She talks about co-authoring a book with a Human Design master and how they traded chapters back and forth until their editor couldn't always tell whose voice was whose. And she gets honest about the freeze response so many smart women hit the second they sit down to write their story.

If you've ever thought your expertise has "already been said" by someone else — this one's for you. Did you know that there's no one else with your design? And there won't be for another 20,000 years. This may have been my favorite tidbit in support of authors continuing to share their authentic voice.

• Know your words-per-hour, then don't outrun it. Before writing The Nurtured Nest, Pippa timed a half-hour, stream-of-consciousness session to learn her natural pace — then never wrote faster than that number again. It killed perfectionism before it had a chance to start.

• Writing and editing are not the same job. She wrote her first draft messy and fast, then went back later to shape it. Doing both at once, she says, is what slows most people down — and what makes writing feel like work instead of flow.

• Design your writing blocks around your actual energy, not the calendar. As a Human Design projector, Pippa doesn't have consistent access to energy — so she blocks four-hour windows, doubles her time estimate, and gives herself grace to walk away when it isn't flowing.

• A great editor is gold dust. Pippa's editor told her the manuscript changed her relationship with her own daughter — proof, Pippa says, that if a book does nothing else, it's already worth having written.

• Co-authoring works when you lean into different strengths. Writing Designed to Thrive with a Human Design master, Pippa brought structure and he brought depth — they wrote separate chapters and traded them until even their editor couldn't always tell who'd written what.

• The freeze response is usually an old story, not the truth. Pippa calls it a "rubber band" effect — something in the present moment pings you back to a much earlier one, often a single critical comment, that has nothing to do with your actual ability today.

• No one else has your design. Human Design holds that your exact chart won't repeat for another 20,000 years — which means the thing you think has "already been said" hasn't. Not by you.

Pippa Wilford works with capable professionals who are outwardly successful yet navigating transition — personally, professionally, or both. Her work helps people translate inner complexity into composed clarity, so decisions become simpler, energy is used more wisely, and life becomes more fulfilling — building self-trust, greater coherence, and deep joy along the way.

After fifteen years leading organisational change across the Civil Service and telecommunications sector, the arrival of family life within a neurodiverse household brought familiar tensions into sharper focus: work, care, responsibility, and the curious way accomplished people so often find themselves exhausted or doubting their own judgement.

She stepped away from corporate work and retrained as a coach with Henley Business School and as a counsellor in Transactional Analysis. This foundation underpins her work, offering a clear and practical framework for self-awareness, choice, and sustainable change. Alongside this, Pippa integrates reflective systems including Human Design and Colour Mirrors, using them with discernment to support insight and embodiment rather than quick fixes.

She is the author of The Nurtured Nest (2023) and co-author of Designed to Thrive and Unfold Now (both 2026). She is the founder of Dagaz and creator of the Eclosion Framework™, developed through years of working with professionals who want clarity rather than hype, structure rather than self-optimisation, and change that feels both grounded and sustainable.

She lives on the south coast of England with her two adult children and a dog who continues to teach the household about presence, boundaries, and impeccable timing.

• Pippa's website: dagaz.me

• Book: The Nurtured Nest (2023)

• Book: Designed to Thrive (2026)

• Pippa on LinkedIn

• Pippa on Facebook

• The Intuitive Writing Studio

• Hire Jacqueline for private Intuitive Writing Mentoring

• Substack: Energy-First Writing

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro: Pippa Wilford

00:50 Degaz (Daybreak) Writing Origins

02:35 The Spark for Nurtured Nest

04:35 Fast Drafting Method

08:33 Editing Process

10:43 Timelines and Writing Habits

14:45 Human Design and Writing Energy

16:41 Coauthoring Workflow

18:51 Finding Authentic Voice

21:11 Why Writers Freeze

25:31 What Pippa's Writing Next

28:55 Closing Advice: Just Start

Nadine Maldonado didn't set out to write a book. She was only trying to survive the tragic loss of her daughter. It turned out that a gifted journal and metallic pens became the place she could finally put down the brave face and begin healing.

Years later, those pages became Lemon Seeds: When Life Squeezes You, Faith Grows You, her testimony of grief, divorce, and rebuilding around faith.

In this conversation, Nadine walks through the real, unglamorous shape of her writing process — the manuscript she "power wrote" in a month and then couldn't stand, the three months she put it down and refused to answer her publisher's texts, and the moment she felt God tell her the book wasn't finished until He was in it.

She talks candidly about not trusting her own grammar, why she stopped trying to sound like her favorite author, and what it felt like to hand her kids the first copy.

If you're sitting on years of journal entries and wondering whether they're "enough" to become a book — this one's for you. There are so many relatable pieces of advice for new writers packed into this episode.

• Your journal is the first draft. Nadine didn't write Lemon Seeds from scratch — she went back through 15 years of handwritten journal entries and shaped them into a manuscript.

• The messy first pass is supposed to be messy. She "power wrote" the whole book in a month with no punctuation or structure, then went back to find the actual throughline. Get it out first. Structure it later.

• Putting the manuscript down isn't the same as giving up. Nadine stopped reading, editing, or responding to her publisher for three months — and that pause is exactly what let her hear what the book needed most.

• You don't need to be a "good writer" to finish a book. Nadine openly says grammar and sentence structure aren't her strength — and that the story, not the polish, is what actually connects with readers.

• Repetition in a draft is often a signal. She noticed she kept telling versions of the same story from different seasons of healing — a common pattern when writing through trauma — and used that awareness to tighten the manuscript.

• Trying to sound like someone else will stall you. Nadine wanted her book to read like her favorite author's—until she realized it had to come from her.

• The book opens doors you can't see coming. Since the book launch, Nadine has stepped into speaking, women's ministry, and connection she never planned for — proof that finishing is often just the beginning.

Nadine Maldonado is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and faith-driven leader passionate about helping others find purpose in the middle of life's most difficult seasons. Through her book, Lemon Seeds: When Life Squeezes You, Faith Grows You!, she shares a powerful testimony of loss, resilience, and the transformative power of faith.

After experiencing profound heartbreak, personal setbacks, and seasons of uncertainty, Nadine discovered that some of life's greatest challenges become the very soil where God grows purpose. Her message encourages readers to stop seeing their struggles as the end of the story and start seeing them as seeds for future growth.

Known for her authenticity, vulnerability, and ability to connect biblical principles with real-life experiences, Nadine inspires audiences to trust God even when the path ahead is unclear. Through speaking engagements, mentoring, and her writing, she helps people embrace healing, strengthen their faith, and step boldly into the calling placed on their lives.

Nadine is a mother, business owner, and passionate advocate for living a life of purpose, obedience, and impact. Her mission is simple: to remind people that even when life squeezes them, faith can still grow.

• Nadine's website: nadinemaldonado.com

• Instagram: @lifeasnadine_

• Facebook: Nadine Maldonado

• Book: Lemon Seeds: When Life Squeezes You, Faith Grows You! (Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

• The Intuitive Writing Studio

• Hire Jacqueline for private Intuitive Writing Mentoring

• Substack: Energy-First Writing

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

00:00 Meet Nadine Maldonado

01:37 Early Writing Memories

03:06 Journaling Through Grief

05:48 Lifelong Journals and Legacy

09:12 Why She Wrote Lemon Seeds

11:22 Drafting and Editing Reality

16:11 Finding Her Writing Rhythm

17:20 Tools Over Perfection

19:15 Holding the Book at Last

23:04 Impact and Reader Responses

24:42 What's Next and Final Advice for New Authors

28:30 Wrap Up

Kara Vaval is an attorney, speaker, two-time author, and founder of The InPowerment Institute. She's also the woman behind the Laptop Lifestyle Lawyer brand — and one of the most honest voices I've had on this show about what it actually takes to write through the hard stuff.

In this episode, we get into her Main Karacter™ framework — what it means to stop living a clearance rack version of your life and start writing the one you actually want. We talk about the beautiful, non-linear process of writing two books while running a business, the divine appointments that built her career, and why she believes her healed trauma is a report from the other side — one she was responsible for sharing.

And the feedback she's received on her books has shown her that we are all so much more alike than we are different. She says, "We are all branches of the same tree."

If you've been telling yourself your story is too heavy, too complicated, or too much — this one's for you.

• The Main Karacter™ shift — moving from survival mode to a life you're actually creating

• Why writing a book might be the most healing thing you do — and the difference between bleeding on the reader and serving them

• How Kara wrote two books without a rigid daily writing schedule — talk-to-text, her own rhythm, no 4 am alarm required, with a book coach holding sacred space for her process

• Owning your fact pattern — while your circumstances are unique, your humanity is universal

• Writing as a responsibility — if you made it to the other side, you owe it to someone still in the thick of it to report back

00:00 Meet Kara Vaval

01:11 Haiti Roots & Childhood Loss

03:20 New York Tragedy

04:36 Pregnancy Plot Twist

05:38 Target To Mary Kay

06:46 Discovering Mindset Work

07:27 Writing 28,000 Days

08:39 Divorce Sparks New Book

13:02 The Healing of Writing Your Book

14:54 Writing Without Bleeding on the Reader

20:31 Abandonment Wound Lessons

22:46 Healing Breaks While Writing

24:07 Editing Fatigue

24:50 Finding a Nonlinear Writing Flow

28:23 Attorney Mindset Meets Creativity

34:36 Turning Pain Into Purpose

38:22 Advice to Her Younger Self

42:18 Where to Find Kara

• Visit Kara Vaval's Website

• Order: From Clearance to Priceless

• Order: 28,000 Days… Make Yours Count

• Follow Kara on Instagram

Kara Vaval, Esq. is a Florida-based attorney, keynote speaker, and transformational coach known as The Laptop Lifestyle Lawyer®. She is the President of Vaval Law, a personal injury firm, and the CEO of The InPowerment Institute, LLC, a platform through which she empowers high-achieving women to step fully into the lead role of their lives using her signature Main Karacter™ framework.

A two-time author, Kara first made waves with her debut book, 28,000 Days…Make Yours Count, inspiring women to live with urgency and intention. Her highly anticipated second book, From Clearance to Priceless (launched March 30, 2026, with a foreword by renowned motivational speaker Lisa Nichols), is a bold call for women to reclaim their self-worth, rewrite their narratives, and rise into their fullest potential.

A media favorite and advocate for resilience, authenticity, and success on one's own terms, Kara Vaval brings both professional expertise and lived experience to every platform she graces — making her one of today's most compelling voices in women's empowerment.

• The Intuitive Writing Studio

• Private Coaching & Writing Support

• Substack: Energy-First Writing

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

In this solo episode, I'm sharing my own signature story — the one I almost didn't tell. The deeper story with all the details lives in my book Unfussy Life. This is the first time I've talked it out like I did here.

Every writer has a story they keep almost telling. A moment they mention in passing, then move past like it's not a big deal. It's always a big deal — but not in the sense of it needing to be a Netflix feature. Though maybe it is.

This story — it's your signature story. Which is not your whole life explained in 50,000 words, but the moment (or handful of moments) that explains why you do what you do. And it's the foundation for your work, blogs, and even your book.

This week, you'll hear mine: the ten-year-old with sketchbooks full of fashion designs, the one question that made me close the sketchbook for nearly two decades, the safe road into the corporate world, three layoffs in five years, and the aha moments that I only recognized when looking back.

You'll hear about the dream that finally shook me awake and pushed me to finish Unfussy Life.

If you've got a version of yourself tucked in a drafts folder, a journal, or a document you haven't opened in years — this episode is for you.

• The childhood sketchbook and the question that closed it for good

• When the "safe" corporate road stopped feeling good

• Getting laid off three times in five years — and what it revealed

• The dream that finally pushed me to finish the book

• Why your signature story is the foundation everything else is built on

• How Authentic Visibility helps you find and build around your own signature story

• Unfussy Life by Jacqueline Fisch

• Authentic Visibility — live 4-week intensive, starting July 13. Join Authentic Visibility now —>

00:00 The Story You Almost Tell

00:53 What Is a Signature Story?

02:37 Creative Kid to Closed Sketchbook

05:01 Taking the Safe Road

05:38 Meeting Love and Moving Countries

07:55 Layoffs and Finding Writing Work

10:30 Quitting Corporate for Freedom

11:25 Blogging and Becoming a Writer

12:57 Drafting the First Big Book

14:20 Memoir Realization and Finishing

17:37 Why Your Story Matters

20:42 Invitation to Authentic Visibility

22:49 How to Join and Closing

• The Intuitive Writing Studio

• Authentic Visibility Live Experience Starting July 13

• Substack: Energy-First Writing

• LinkedIn

• Instagram

Want to start listening to Writing with the Moon from the beginning? Start here.

In this series, I'm reading my entire book, Writing with the Moon, for free. In this episode, I read the final section — what to do when you're finished reading, how to keep your writing practice going, gratitude, and where to learn more about the author — me!

Grab the book: https://theintuitivewritingschool.com/writing-with-the-moon

Tired of writing alone? Click here.

Explore additional resources from the book: Writing with the Moon Resources

Looking for the audio for another sign? Navigate to it here:

• PART 1: Start Here | Writing with the Moon Book | Ep 75

• PART 1 CONT: Start Here | Writing with the Moon Book | Ep 77

• Aries

• Taurus

• Gemini

• Cancer

• Leo

• Virgo

• Libra

• Scorpio

• Sagittarius

• Capricorn

• Aquarius

• Pisces

00:00 Welcome to the Final Section of Writing with the Moon

00:41 What's Next for Your Writing Practice

02:38 Invitation to Join The Intuitive Writing Studio (plus a bonus)

03:22 Gratitude and Thanks

04:06 Resources and Next Steps

04:46 About Jacqueline Fisch

05:35 Final Wrap and Where to Buy the Book

Substack: Energy-First Writing | LinkedIn | Instagram | 1:1 Mentoring & Speaking

Want to start listening to Writing with the Moon from the beginning? Start here.

In this series, I'm reading my entire book, Writing with the Moon, for free. In this episode, I continue with PART TWO: PISCES.

When to listen to this section:

• At the start of Pisces season: February 19 to March 20

• During a Pisces moon

• Then, navigate using timestamps below to the current moon phase: new, waxing, full, or waning

Discover:

• Pisces overview: dates, symbol, meaning, energy, planets, house, gems, colors, essential oils

• Body, Mind, Spirit suggestions for Pisces

• High and Low Vibe Pisces expressions

• Writing with Pisces energy

• Suggested actions and prompts for the new, waxing, full, and waning moons

Grab the book: https://theintuitivewritingschool.com/writing-with-the-moon

Tired of writing alone? Click here.

Looking for the audio for another sign? Navigate to it here:

• PART 1: Start Here | Writing with the Moon Book | Ep 75

• PART 1 CONT: Start Here | Writing with the Moon Book | Ep 77

• Aries

• Taurus

• Gemini

• Cancer

• Leo

• Virgo

• Libra

• Scorpio

• Sagittarius

• Capricorn

• Aquarius

00:00 Welcome to Writing with the Moon — free audiobook version

00:37 Pisces Sign Basics

04:33 Pisces Writing Themes

06:00 Flow and Intuition

07:12 Unconscious Writing Tips

08:30 High Vibe vs Low Vibe Pisces

09:18 Nourishing Body, Mind, Spirit

10:00 New Moon Actions & Prompts

11:40 Waxing Moon Actions & Prompts

13:21 Full Moon Actions & Prompts

14:35 Waning Moon Actions & Prompts

15:49 Wrap Up and Where to Buy the Book

Substack: Energy-First Writing | LinkedIn | Instagram | 1:1 Mentoring & Speaking

Want to start listening to Writing with the Moon from the beginning? Start here.

In this series, I'm reading my entire book, Writing with the Moon, for free. In this episode, I continue with PART TWO: AQUARIUS.

When to listen to this section:

• At the start of Aquarius season: January 20 - February 18

• During an Aquarius moon

• Then, navigate using timestamps below to the current moon phase: new, waxing, full, or waning

Discover:

• Aquarius overview: dates, symbol, meaning, energy, planets, house, gems, colors, essential oils

• Body, Mind, Spirit suggestions for Aquarius

• High and Low Vibe Aquarius expressions

• Writing with Aquarius energy

• Suggested actions and prompts for the new, waxing, full, and waning moons

Grab the book: https://theintuitivewritingschool.com/writing-with-the-moon

Tired of writing alone? Click here.

Look for the next sections coming each Monday and Thursday.

00:00 Welcome to Writing with the Moon — free audiobook version

00:34 Aquarius Basics and Symbols

01:23 Rulers and 11th House Themes

02:04 Aquarius Aesthetics and Tools

04:26 Aquarius Content Ideas

05:13 Writing with Aquarius Energy

07:36 Nourishing Body, Mind, Spirit

08:19 New Moon Actions & Prompts

09:54 Waxing Moon Actions & Prompts

11:57 Full Moon Actions & Prompts

13:41 Waning Moon Actions & Prompts

15:15 Wrap Up and Where to Find Book

Substack: Energy-First Writing | LinkedIn | Instagram |

1:1 Mentoring & Speaking | Writing Community

Want to start listening to Writing with the Moon from the beginning? Start here.

In this series, I'm reading my entire book, Writing with the Moon, for free. In this episode, I continue with PART TWO: CAPRICORN.

When to listen to this section:

• At the start of Capricorn season: December 22 - January 19

• During a Capricorn moon

• Then, navigate using timestamps below to the current moon phase: new, waxing, full, or waning

Discover:

• Capricorn overview: dates, symbol, meaning, energy, planets, house, gems, colors, essential oils

• Body, Mind, Spirit suggestions for Capricorn

• High and Low Vibe Capricorn expressions

• Writing with Capricorn energy

• Suggested actions and prompts for the new, waxing, full, and waning moons

Grab the book: https://theintuitivewritingschool.com/writing-with-the-moon

Tired of writing alone? Click here.

Look for the next sections coming each Monday and Thursday.

00:00 Welcome to Writing with the Moon — free audiobook version

00:29 Capricorn Overview

01:20 Symbols and Sensory Guides

02:37 Mantras, Keywords, and Content Ideas

04:32 Writing With Capricorn

06:04 High Vibe vs Low Vibe Capricorn

07:06 Nourishing Body, Mind, Spirit

07:41 New Moon Actions & Prompts

08:54 Waxing Moon Actions & Prompts

10:38 Full Moon Actions & Prompts

12:16 Waning Moon Actions & Prompts

13:46 Wrap Up and Next Episodes

Substack: Energy-First Writing | LinkedIn | Instagram | LinkedIn

Want to start listening to Writing with the Moon from the beginning? Start here.

In this series, I'm reading my entire book, Writing with the Moon, for free. In this episode, I continue with PART TWO: SAGITTARIUS.

When to listen to this section:

• At the start of Sagittarius season: November 22 - December 21

• During a Sagittarius moon

• Then, navigate using timestamps below to the current moon phase: new, waxing, full, or waning

Discover:

• Sagittarius overview: dates, symbol, meaning, energy, planets, house, gems, colors, essential oils

• Body, Mind, Spirit suggestions for Sagittarius

• High and Low Vibe Sagittarius expressions

• Writing with Sagittarius energy

• Suggested actions and prompts for the new, waxing, full, and waning moons

Grab the book: https://theintuitivewritingschool.com/writing-with-the-moon

Tired of writing alone? Click here.

Look for the next sections coming each Monday and Thursday.

00:00 Welcome to Writing with the Moon — free audiobook version

00:30 Sagittarius Sign Basics

03:23 Keywords and Content Inspiration

05:22 Writing with Sagittarius Moon

08:14 High Vibe vs Low Vibe Sagittarius

08:56 Nourishing Body, Mind, Spirit

10:17 New Moon Actions & Prompts

12:05 Waxing Moon Actions & Prompts

13:52 Full Moon Actions & Prompts

15:34 Waning Moon Actions & Prompts

17:02 Wrap Up and Invitation to Buy the Book

Substack: Energy-First Writing | LinkedIn | Instagram | LinkedIn