The Writing Mom Podcast

Josee Smith
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

A cozy podcast for moms who dream of writing a novel but feel pulled in a hundred directions. Hosted by certified book coach and working mom Josee Smith, this show is your gentle nudge to make space for your story, 20 minutes at a time. You’ll find honest conversations about writing in the middle of motherhood, practical tips for building a sustainable routine, and encouragement to call yourself a writer now, not someday. Subscribe for weekly episodes and visit www.joseesmithbookcoach.com to book a free consult and start writing your novel—for real this time.

  1. 1d ago

    Ep 56: How Writing Changes You as a Mom

    We often talk about writing as something we do, but in this episode, I want to talk about who we become when we keep writing through motherhood. Writing isn't just about finishing a novel; it can help you reconnect with yourself, show up more fully in your life, and model something powerful for your kids. I'm sharing how writing helped me find my way back to myself after becoming a mom, why pursuing your creative dreams isn't selfish, and the unexpected impact it can have on your family. If you've ever wondered whether writing still has a place in your life as a mom, this episode is for you. I'm currently on maternity leave, but I'm building a waitlist for future coaching clients. If you'd like to be the first to hear when coaching spots open this fall, please fill out this interest form: https://forms.gle/Bd6AwbRRqpUmboKQ9.

    13 min

  2. Jun 24

    Ep 55: How to Actually Finish Your Novel (Even With Limited Time)

    If you've ever told yourself, "I'd write my novel if I just had more time," this episode is for you. As moms, it's easy to look at our busy schedules and assume finishing a book isn't realistic. But what I've learned - both through writing seven novels and coaching other moms - is that finishing isn't about having huge blocks of free time. It's about learning how to use the time you already have. In this episode, we're talking about why writing feels so overwhelming, what actually leads to finishing a novel, and how I went from writing in tiny pockets of time to publishing books while working, raising a toddler, and growing a coaching business. If you're ready to stop waiting for the perfect season and start making progress with the life you have right now, this episode will show you how. If you'd like support building a writing rhythm that works with your real life, book a free consultation call here: https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book

    16 min

  3. Jun 17

    Ep 54: How I’m Thinking About Writing During Maternity Leave

    In today’s episode, I’m sharing a more personal behind-the-scenes look at how I’m approaching writing during my upcoming maternity leave with baby #2. This isn’t an episode about productivity or “bouncing back” creatively after birth. Instead, it’s a conversation about self-trust, flexibility, identity, and what it looks like to build a writing life that can move with you through different seasons of motherhood. I’m reflecting on what happened during my first pregnancy and postpartum experience—why I stopped writing for months, what helped me reconnect to that part of myself, and what feels different this time around. We’re also talking about the gentle, realistic way I plan to stay connected to my creativity during maternity leave, without pressure, rigid expectations, or perfectionism. If you’re a mom wondering whether writing still fits into your life after kids, or you’re navigating a season where creativity feels harder to access, I hope this episode reminds you that your writing life doesn’t have to disappear just because life changes. It may simply need a softer shape for a while. If you want support building a writing life that actually works with your real life and changing seasons, book a free consultation call here: https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book

    28 min

  4. Jun 10

    Ep 53: Why You Keep Starting Over With Your Novel (And How to Stop)

    If you feel like you’ve started your novel over multiple times, this episode is for you. Maybe you keep rewriting chapter one, changing story ideas, creating new outlines, or losing momentum halfway through. In this episode, I’m breaking down why so many writers get stuck in the restart cycle, and why it’s usually not a discipline problem, but a pattern rooted in perfectionism, fear, and uncertainty. We’re talking about what starting over is actually costing you, why clarity comes from continuing (not restarting), and how to finally move forward even when the story feels messy or unresolved. The version of you who finishes will teach you far more than the version of you that keeps trying to perfect it. If you’ve been stuck in this cycle, you don’t need a better idea, you need a clearer path forward. Learn more about how 1:1 coaching can help by booking a free consultation call here: https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book

    15 min

  5. Jun 3

    Ep 52: The Biggest Mistakes I See Mom Writers Make

    After working with so many moms trying to write novels, I’ve started to notice the same patterns showing up over and over again. In this episode, I’m breaking down the five biggest mistakes I see mom writers make - from waiting for more time, to trying to figure everything out alone, to making the goal so big that your brain immediately shuts down. We’re also talking about perfectionism, overthinking, and why so many writers stay stuck rewriting instead of finishing. If you’ve been struggling to make progress on your novel, this episode will help you understand what’s actually keeping you stuck... and why it’s probably not laziness or lack of talent. You’re not behind, and you’re not failing. You just need a different approach. If you want help breaking out of these patterns and finally making progress on your novel, book a free consultation call here: https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book

    17 min

  6. May 27

    Ep 51: Everything I’d Tell You If You Were Starting Your Novel Today

    If you came to me today and said, “I want to write a novel,” this is exactly what I’d tell you. In this episode, I’m walking you through the mindset shifts and practical changes I wish more moms had at the very beginning of their writing journey, because it would save so much time, confusion, overwhelm, and self-doubt. We’re talking about why you need to start smaller than you think, how to build writing into your real life (instead of waiting for perfect conditions), and why claiming the identity of “writer” matters before you feel fully ready. I’m also sharing why messy drafts are completely normal, how motherhood changed my own writing process, and why trying to figure everything out alone often keeps writers stuck far longer than necessary. This episode is part pep talk, part roadmap, and part reality check for the mom who keeps thinking about writing a novel but isn’t sure where to begin, or how to finally move forward. Book a free consultation call: https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book

    18 min

  7. May 20

    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

    22 min

  8. May 13

    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

    16 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

A cozy podcast for moms who dream of writing a novel but feel pulled in a hundred directions. Hosted by certified book coach and working mom Josee Smith, this show is your gentle nudge to make space for your story, 20 minutes at a time. You’ll find honest conversations about writing in the middle of motherhood, practical tips for building a sustainable routine, and encouragement to call yourself a writer now, not someday. Subscribe for weekly episodes and visit www.joseesmithbookcoach.com to book a free consult and start writing your novel—for real this time.

Information

  • Creator
    Josee Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Josee Smith
  • Show Website
    The Writing Mom Podcast

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