The Writing Mom Podcast

Ep 50: 5 Truths About Writing a Novel as a Busy Mom (After 50 Episodes of the Podcast)

Ep 50: 5 Truths About Writing a Novel as a Busy Mom (After 50 Episodes of the Podcast) We made it to 50 episodes of The Writing Mom Podcast! 🎉 And instead of just celebrating this milestone, I wanted to use this episode to share the five biggest truths I’ve learned about writing novels as a busy mom, from my own writing life, from coaching clients, and from having these conversations week after week. In this episode, we’re talking about why you probably don’t need more time (you need a smaller next step), why perfect writing conditions are a myth, and why your identity as a writer matters more than your routine ever will. I’m also sharing the difference between motivation and decision-making, how motherhood changed the way I approach my writing, and why trying to do this dream completely alone often keeps writers stuck for years. This episode is part encouragement, part reality check, and part roadmap for the mom who still wants to finish her novel... even if life looks nothing like she expected. If you take one thing away from these 50 episodes, let it be this: your writing is still possible. It just might not look the way you thought it would. Book a free consultation call: https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book [https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book]

Ep 49: The Hidden Cost of Writing Your Novel Alone

So many moms trying to write a novel believe they should be able to figure it out on their own. That needing support means they’re not disciplined enough, serious enough, or capable enough. But in this episode, I want to challenge that belief and talk about what actually happens when you try to write your novel completely alone. We’re diving into the hidden emotional and practical costs of doing everything solo: overthinking, second-guessing, endlessly rewriting, losing momentum, and staying stuck for years without realizing it. I’m also sharing some of the common patterns I see with my coaching clients, from writers sitting on 30k words for years to moms who desperately want to write but feel too overwhelmed to even begin. Most importantly, this episode is about reframing support. Getting help doesn’t mean you’re incapable, it means you’re no longer willing to make this harder than it needs to be. If you’ve been spinning in circles with your novel and wondering why it still feels so heavy, this episode will help you understand what might actually be going on underneath the surface. Book a free consultation call: https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book [https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book]

Ep 48: What to Expect on a Consultation Call (And Why It Might Be the Turning Point for Your Novel)

If you’ve ever thought about booking a consultation call with me, but hesitated because you’re not sure what will happen, or whether you’re “ready," this episode is for you. Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes of what actually happens on a consultation call, why it’s so valuable (even though it’s free), and how it can be the moment things finally start to click with your writing. Most moms I talk to aren’t lacking motivation - they’re stuck in overwhelm, indecision, or trying to figure it all out on their own. And what this call offers isn’t pressure, it’s clarity. You’ll hear how we start the call to get you comfortable, how we unpack what’s really been keeping you stuck, and the kind of shifts that happen when your writing finally has a clear path forward. I’m also sharing a real example of a client who went from spinning on a trilogy idea for years… to feeling immediate relief and focus in a single conversation. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you ask for help. You just need a space to think clearly, make a decision, and take your next step. If you’ve been sitting in “someday” with your novel, this might be the moment things change. Book your free consultation here: https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book [https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book]

Ep 47: Why I Stopped Writing During My First Pregnancy (And Why I Didn’t This Time)

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I stopped writing for months. This time, I didn’t. Not because I have more time, energy, or a simpler life, but because something deeper changed. In this episode, I’m sharing a personal look at what shifted between my first pregnancy and this one when it comes to my writing. From the moment I felt like I had lost myself in early motherhood, to the realization that I still wanted to be a writer, to rebuilding a writing practice that actually fit my life... this is the full story behind how I found my way back. And why, this time around, continuing to write isn’t even a question. We’ll talk about the real reasons I stopped the first time, the identity shift that brought me back, and the self-trust that now carries me through exhaustion, uncertainty, and a completely different season of life. If you’ve ever wondered whether writing is still possible for you as a mom - or how to hold onto that part of yourself - this episode will meet you there. Because your writing doesn’t disappear when your life changes. It just needs a new way to exist. If you’re trying to figure out how writing fits into your life now, you don’t have to do it alone. Book a free consultation to build a writing rhythm that works for your real life: https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book [https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book]

Ep 46: What Oil Painting Taught My Client About Finishing Her Novel

What if the reason you’re stuck isn’t your writing ability… but how you think the process is supposed to work? In this episode, I’m sharing a powerful breakthrough from one of my clients, who realized that writing a novel is a lot like oil painting. Instead of trying to perfect each scene as you go, you have to build the full composition first, layer by layer. That shift helped her finally let go of perfectionism and move forward with her draft. We’ll talk about why polishing too early keeps so many writers stuck, how to think about your novel in layers (from rough draft to final polish), and why getting to the end of your story is what actually makes the beginning stronger. If you’ve been rewriting chapter one over and over or feeling like your draft isn’t “good enough,” this episode will help you see your writing process in a completely new way. Because your first draft isn’t meant to be beautiful; it’s meant to exist. If you want support staying in the draft and finishing your novel instead of getting stuck in perfectionism, book a consultation here: https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book [https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book]