ENTER THE 1 YEAR Anniversary Celebration to WIN a FREE 90-MIN PLOT STRATEGY SESSION!

DOWNLOAD "THE WRITE MINDSET" FREE WORKBOOK from Write It Scared!

Writing is challenging enough without beating ourselves up along the way, right? 

In this episode of The Write It Scared Podcast, I’m getting personal—celebrating the podcast’s one-year milestone (woohoo!) and opening up about a topic that deserves more honest conversation: being a perimenopausal writer.

If you’ve experienced brain fog, trouble concentrating, or felt like your creativity took an unexpected vacation, trust me—you’re not alone. I share a bit of my own journey navigating perimenopause, offering encouragement and practical strategies for dealing with these temporary (but very real!) cognitive struggles.

Then, we tackle another sneaky writing struggle—procrastination vs. percolation. Not every pause or hesitation is avoidance, and I'll break down how to recognize the difference between genuinely procrastinating and when you're actually percolating (aka your brain needs processing time).

Plus, I introduce a special free resource, “The WRITE Mindset” workbook, designed specifically to help you shift those unhelpful inner critic thoughts into positive actions.

Above all, this episode is about reminding you to be gentle with yourself. Writing isn't always linear or easy—but with patience, self-compassion, and the right support, you’ve absolutely got this.

Episode Breakdown

• 00:00 – Let's stop beating ourselves up (please!)
  
  
• 00:23 – Welcome back to Write It Scared! (One year already? Yay!)
  
  
• 01:31 – The truth about being a perimenopausal writer (because someone has to say it)
  
  
• 06:54 – Procrastination vs. Percolation: what's really holding you back?
  
  
• 13:35 – Final thoughts and what’s coming next
  
  

Final Thoughts

If there’s one takeaway from this episode, I hope it’s this: your struggles—whether hormonal, creative, or somewhere in between—are temporary, normal, and manageable. Keep engaging with your story, lean into support when you need it, and give yourself the kindness and grace you’d offer a friend.

Happy writing, friends—you’re doing great, even when it feels messy!

Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you.

Support the show

To become a supporter of the show, click here!

To get in touch with Stacy:

Email: [email protected]

https://www.writeitscared.co/wis

https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/

Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared:

Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide

Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears