Are you getting feedback from the wrong critique group? In this episode, I share why surrounding yourself with the right writing community is essential for novel writers. I'll show you how to find critique partners who actually read your genre, build a supportive writing community that accelerates your craft, and know when it's time to work with a developmental editor or book coach.

Whether you're drafting your first manuscript or seeking feedback on your latest chapters, I'll help you intentionally choose the voices that belong in your creative space. Learn how to "read up" to improve your writing, protect your confidence while finding your people, and invest in teachers and editors who truly understand your vision. Perfect for fiction writers and aspiring novelists at any stage of the journey.

Find me at nicolemeier.com | Manuscript Evaluations | Developmental Edits | Book Coaching

Go behind the scenes of a thriving book festival with Amanda Bullock from podcast sponsor, Literary Arts. She reveals what it takes to create an unforgettable experience for book lovers, novel writers, and readers alike. This episode explores how a major regional literary festival celebrates Pacific Northwest writers while building a vibrant author community.

Discover the unique programming that makes a book festival come alive, from intimate popup readings where local authors and emerging writers share their work inside art galleries, to bustling book fairs featuring regional authors and independent writers. Learn how festival organizers create platforms for both established and debut authors, including launching youth writing anthologies and offering workshops for aspiring novel writers.

Perfect for writers, book readers, festival organizers, and anyone passionate about supporting literary culture and the author community.

Find more on PDX Book Festival here.

Find more on Nicole Meier here.

In this episode, we explore how  writers can elevate their creative process by intentionally designing their writing space. Join us as I interview Dorena Kohrs, The Space Doula, who shares her expertise on creating creative spaces that fuel inspiration and productivity.

Discover how your creative space directly impacts your writing practice and learn practical strategies for transforming any area into a dedicated writing sanctuary. We dive deep into the powerful act of decluttering your creative workspace, discussing why holding onto certain items can drain your creative energy and block your creative process.

Dorena guides us through the art of infusing your writing space with intention and positive energy, helping writers understand the connection between their physical creative environment and their ability to access flow state. We discuss the importance of claiming a creative space just for yourself—whether it's an entire room or a corner desk—and how this act of self-permission can transform your creative process.

Perfect for novelists, fiction writers, and anyone seeking to optimize their creative spaces for deeper work. 

Topics covered: 

• creative space design
• writing space optimization
• decluttering for writers
• creative process enhancement
• energy and intention in creative spaces
• claiming space for creative work

🎙️Find more on Dorena Kohrs here.

🎙️Find more on Nicole Meier here.

Join me in this conversation with Anne Boyd, author of the viral Substack newsletter "Audacious Women Creative Lives" and former literature professor who made a dramatic life transformation at 52.

In this powerful episode, Anne shares her journey from academic burnout to creative freedom, revealing how autoimmune disease, divorce, empty nest syndrome, and grief catalyzed her decision to "burn her whole life to the ground" and start over.

Topics Covered:

• Midlife career transitions and reinvention
• Leaving academia for full-time writing
• Overcoming creative blocks and writer's block
• The connection between trauma, healing, and creativity
• Writing process insights from completing a Master's in Creative Writing
• Building a thriving Substack community of 10,000+ subscribers
• Balancing motherhood with creative ambitions
• Novel writing techniques and revision strategies
• The mind-body connection in creative work

Perfect for: Women writers, midlife career changers, aspiring novelists, memoir writers, creative entrepreneurs, anyone struggling with writer's block, mothers rediscovering their identity, and writers interested in the deeper psychological aspects of creativity.

🎙️Find more on Anne Boyd at her Substack

🎙️Find more on Nicole Meier at her Substack

In this solo episode, I’m talking directly to novelists about a mindset shift that can change how you see yourself and your manuscript: you don’t need to be fixed. Your writing voice is already inside you—it doesn’t need to be installed or made more “writerly.” It needs to be nurtured, strengthened, and given space to take shape.

What we’re exploring:

✨ Why the language of “fixing” your manuscript (or yourself) is so damaging.
 ✨ The difference between strengthening a draft and treating it like it’s broken.
 ✨ How to recognize and trust the voice that’s already yours.
 ✨ What supportive book editing and coaching should feel like (and red flags to watch out for).
✨ Practical ways to nurture both your writing and your creative self.

What I want novelists to remember:
 Your first draft isn’t broken—it’s raw material, full of possibility. And you, as the writer, aren’t broken either. With the right support and a compassionate writing mindset, you can uncover the authentic voice that’s already within you and shape it into stories that feel whole and alive.

🎙️Learn more about my coaching and editing services at nicolemeier.com

In this conversation episode, I sit down with Jill Beissel, debut novelist and author of Glitter and Gold, to talk about what it really takes to stay resilient on the path to publication. We’re speaking to writers who are deep in the query trenches, facing rejection, or holding onto the dream of signing with a literary agent and landing a traditional book deal.

What we’re exploring:

✨ How Jill faced over 100 rejections before finding the right agent and publisher.
 ✨ Why joy in the writing process matters more than outside validation.
 ✨ The balance between persistence and patience while querying.
 ✨ What it feels like to finally hold your debut novel in your hands after years of effort.

What I want novelists to remember:

Rejection isn’t the end of your story—it’s part of the path. Every “no” brings you closer to the right “yes.” Your resilience, your joy, and your belief in your story are the things that will carry you through to publication.

🎙️Learn more about Jill Beissel at jillbeisselwrites.com

🎙️Learn more about my coaching and editing services at nicolemeier.com

📚Learn more about Portland Book Festival at PDXBookfest.org

In this conversation episode, I sit down with Dr. Candice Stanfield Wiswell, a writer, psychologist, and ADHD writing coach, to talk about what it means to build a joyful and sustainable writing life with ADHD. We’re speaking to writers who feel scattered, stuck in perfectionist loops, or frustrated by inconsistent progress.

What we’re exploring:

✨ ADHD isn’t a flaw in your writing life—it’s a different way of thinking that can fuel creativity and depth.
 ✨ Why typical writing routines don’t always work, and how to create flexible, menu-style options instead.
 ✨ The NICE framework (Novel, Interesting, Challenging, Extremely urgent) and how it can help you harness your brain’s natural rhythms.
 ✨ The role of body doubling, community, and self-compassion in making writing feel lighter.

What I want novelists with ADHD to remember:

Your brain isn’t broken—it’s brilliant. You don’t need rigid rules or harsh discipline to make progress. You need curiosity, permission, and practices that honor how your mind actually works. Writing with ADHD is not about fixing yourself; it’s about discovering sustainable ways to nurture your creativity and finish the stories on your heart.

🎙️Learn more about Dr. Candice Stanfield Wiswell at creativethrivecoaching.com

🎙️Learn more about my coaching and editing services at nicolemeier.com

In this solo episode, I explore the delicate balance between external writing resources (craft books, courses, workshops) and your internal creative intuition. I'm talking to writers who feel overwhelmed by all the advice out there while trying to maintain their authentic voice.

What I'm sharing:

Resources and intuition aren't opposites—they're dance partners that should work together. I want you to think of craft books and courses as offerings from other writers' journeys, not commandments you must follow. Creative intuition isn't "winging it"—it's sophisticated intelligence drawing on everything you've experienced.

Four gentle practices I've discovered:

1. Learning and Letting Go: Sit with advice before applying it; let your project tell you what it needs
2. Internal Compass Check: Feel whether advice makes your work more alive or less alive
3. Selective Bibliography: Choose 1-2 craft resources that consistently nourish your creative spirit
4. Conversation Practice: Engage with craft advice as dialogue, not gospel

What I want novel writers to remember:

Trust your creative ecosystem—you're already a complete creative being. Create resource boundaries, honor your creative seasons, and remember that your novel is a living thing that grows through collaboration between conscious learning and unconscious knowing.

You don't have to choose between being studious and intuitive—you can be a "whole writer" who honors both craft knowledge and creative authenticity.

📚Learn more about my coaching and editing services at nicolemeier.com

In this episode, I sit down with my literary agent Abby Saul for a deep dive into the querying process, the realities of an agent’s role, and what makes a submission stand out. 

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the thought of querying, you won’t want to miss her top advice for catching an agent’s eye in a crowded inbox.

We also debunk common myths about what agents actually do, break down what grabs their attention in a query letter, and explore current market trends—plus, how to balance industry awareness with staying true to your unique voice. And for writers facing rejection, Abby shares words of encouragement to help you keep going.

Whether you’re just starting to query or refining your pitch, this episode is packed with insights to help you navigate the path to representation with more confidence!

For more on Abby Saul, visit larkwords.com

For more on Portland Book Festival, visit PDXBOOKFEST.ORG

I'm pulling back the curtain in today's episode and talking about what it's really like to be an author in today's market. With me, are two of my author friends to help with a healthy and honest discussion around the business of being an author. Tracey Lange and Kerry Chaput join me to discuss:

• Balancing writing time and publishing responsibilities
• Working on a deadline
• The benefits of writing groups
• Feedback and revisions
• The journey of draft to publication
• The ever-changing market

You can find more on Tracey Lange here.

You can find more on Kerry Chaput here.

For more on Nicole: Website | Books | Substack