For Women who Write

26: How to Know What Book You’re Meant to Write

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to write a book… but I don’t know what to write about,” this episode is for you. Today, Mikaela walks you through the powerful questions that help aspiring authors move past overwhelm, overthinking, and mental blocks so they can finally gain clarity on their book idea. Drawing from parenting psychology, coaching principles, and years of experience helping women write and publish books, Mikaela explains why asking the right questions can unlock creativity and move you out of “freeze mode” and into action. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why your “why” matters more than you think * How anger can actually point you toward your message * The problem/solution framework behind compelling nonfiction books * How to know if your book idea will work in the marketplace * Why specificity matters when choosing your topic * The key question that helps determine whether your book has a clear transformation Whether you have too many ideas, no ideas, or you’re simply unsure what direction to take, this episode will help you uncover the message you’re truly meant to write. Plus, Mikaela shares practical exercises and journal prompts you can use immediately to gain clarity and confidence in your next step as an author. Join us for a workshop [https://www.mikaelamathews.com/workshop] here!

25: Book Marketing for Women Who Hate Marketing

Marketing can feel uncomfortable for so many writers. You finally finish the book . . . and then realize people actually need to know it exists. In this episode, Mikaela sits down with marketing strategist and publishing partner Miranda Trudeau to talk about what marketing really is—and what it isn’t. Together, they unpack: • Why marketing feels “icky” for so many women • The mindset shift that changes everything • How to think about marketing as leadership and service • Why relationship-building matters more than algorithms • Social media, Instagram, Threads, and whether you actually need them • How to market your book without becoming someone you’re not • What makes a strong bestseller launch • The practical steps authors should take before launch day This conversation is honest, encouraging, and deeply practical for writers who want to share their work confidently without sounding pushy or performative. Marketing is simply helping the right people find the message they’ve already been looking for.

24: How to Write a Bible Study or Devotional

Have you ever felt called to write a Bible study or devotional but were not sure where to start or how they are different? In this episode, I break it all down for my faith-based writers. We dive into the key differences between devotionals and Bible studies, what readers expect from each, and how you can structure your content to truly impact lives. I walk you through how to create a clear transformation for your reader, choose a focused theme, and build a strong outline that keeps your writing intentional and effective. Whether you are writing for busy moms, women navigating loss, or anyone seeking deeper faith, this episode will give you practical steps and clarity to move forward with confidence. If you are ready to finally bring your Bible study or devotional to life, this episode is for you.

23: What Happens When You Finally Write the Book Everyone Keeps Telling You to Write

If people keep telling you to write a book, this episode is for you. I’m joined by my client Lyndi Zavy, author of Cheerleading from Quicksand, to talk about what it actually looked like to take her message from scattered ideas into a finished book while she was still living it. We talk about burnout (or what she calls “quicksand”), writing in the middle of the process, and how her ideas went from dozens of documents into one clear, structured manuscript. You’ll also hear the simple framework she now uses to help others move forward and why structure matters more than most writers think. In this episode, we talk about:  • The moment she realized “burnout” didn’t fully capture what she was experiencing and why she started calling it “quicksand” instead   • What it looks like to write a book in the middle of your own process, not after it’s neatly resolved  • How her ideas lived across dozens of documents before becoming one clear manuscript  • Why having support (a coach, an editor, real accountability) made the difference between “almost written” and finished  • And the simple framework she built—the 3 D’s and ABC’s—that now helps others find their way back to solid ground If your book idea has been sitting in Google Docs, half-started and unfinished, this will meet you right there. Connect with Lyndi: • Rivers & Roads [https://www.rivers-roads.com/] • Book: Cheerleading from Quicksand [https://www.amazon.com/Cheerleading-Quicksand-Practical-Burnout-Yourself/dp/B0GY9Z89DP/ref=sr_1_1?crid=XRBHBFZJRJX4&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g8gUu090PnO0smRXseXkew.YrhNV805VaWIP2DDTkEowAdGKuKCoYQz121XA3Ehcok&dib_tag=se&keywords=lyndi+zavy&qid=1777314186&sprefix=lyndi+zavy%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1] (available now)

22: She Wrote the Book. Now She's a Bestseller. — with Brianna LaShell Rabb

Brianna LaShell Rabb is a nonprofit coach, legacy strategist, and now a published, Amazon bestselling author of The Work That Outlives You. In this episode, Mikaela sits down with her very first podcast guest to talk about what the book-writing journey actually looked like from the inside. Brianna started her first nonprofit at 16. She's been in the sector for over a decade. And still, she hesitated. Not because she didn't have enough to say, but because she wasn't sure she had permission to say it.  In this conversation, we talk about: * How Brianna knew she was actually ready to write the book (hint: it wasn't when she felt fully confident) * Why she chose to work with a coach instead of figuring it out alone  * The moment mid-process when she scrapped a month's worth of work for a new framework  * What launch day actually felt like  * The exciting results post-book This is a conversation about doing the thing. And when you're ready to make it happen like Breanna, join me for the Plan your Book Workshop [http://www.mikaelamathews.com/workshop]!