Write The Darn Book! Beat Writer’s Block, Strengthen Your Craft & Finally Finish Writing Your Book.

Maddison Michaels
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semiweekly

Welcome to Write the Darn Book™, a mindset-first, craft-supported, spiritually aligned podcast for writers who feel called to write a book, but keep getting stuck somewhere between the idea and the finished draft. If writer’s block, procrastination, self-doubt, perfectionism, overthinking, or the everyday chaos of life keeps pulling you away from the page, you’re in the right place. And my friend, you are not broken! You are a writer with a story, message, or book inside you. And sometimes what you need isn't more pressure, more hustle, or another generic writing routine. Sometimes what you need is a deeper understanding and awareness of how your mind works, how you are uniquely wired to write, and what actually helps you move from stuck… into creative flow. Hosted by Maddison Michaels, award-winning, multi-published author of 9 books, certified Life Coach, NLP Practitioner, Hypnotherapist, and creator of the Write The Darn Book™ Method, this podcast blends mindset, neuroscience-supported tools, writing craft, story structure, intuitive creativity, emotional regulation, faith, and grounded writing support to help you finally write and finish the book you’re meant to write. Each week, we’ll explore both sides of the writing journey. On Mindset Mondays, we’ll dive into the inner work of writing: writer’s block, procrastination, self-doubt, perfectionism, fear, resistance, creative flow, writer identity, nervous-system safety, NLP tools, intuition, and the deeper patterns that shape how you show up to the page. On Writing Wednesdays, we’ll move into the outer work of writing: story structure, character, dialogue, pacing, revision, synopsis writing, query letters, publishing insight, author life, writing routines, and the practical steps that help you move your book forward. Because writing a book is never just about the manuscript. It’s about the writer you become while you’re writing it! Each episode will help you: ✨ Break through writer’s block, procrastination, and self-doubt ✨ Develop a stronger writing mindset and deeper creative confidence ✨ Understand your writing personality and unique creative wiring ✨ Build a writing process that works with your mind, body, and life ✨ Strengthen your craft, story structure, and manuscript momentum ✨ Use NLP, emotional regulation, and neuroscience-supported tools to reconnect with flow ✨ Navigate the practical realities of writing, revising, querying, publishing, and finishing ✨ Trust your voice, honour your story, and finally write the darn book Whether you’re writing fiction, non-fiction, or a book to support your business, message, or calling, this space is here to support you through both the inner work and the outer work of finishing. So grab your cup of liquid gold, settle in, and let’s write the darn book together. 💕 And remember...You are the vessel for the story. Let the words flow through you and onto the page. 🌟 Make sure you hit follow so you can binge listen and never miss an episode! And if you’d love to discover how you’re uniquely wired to write, take the free Writing Personality Quiz at maddisonmichaels.com/quiz. For deeper personalised support, you can also book a Writing Personality Blueprint Session at maddisonmichaels.com/blueprint.

  1. 2d ago

    65. Is Your Writing Setup Making Writing Harder? Simple Changes for Comfort, Focus and Flow!

    Episode 65: Is Your Writing Setup Making Writing Harder? Simple Changes for Comfort, Focus and Flow Writing Wednesday episodes explore the outer work of writing: craft, structure, revision, publishing, process, and the practical steps that help you finish your book. Have you ever opened your manuscript with every intention of writing, only to find yourself rubbing your neck, shifting in your chair, squinting at the screen, or struggling to focus because your body already feels uncomfortable? Sometimes it isn’t the writing that’s making the session feel hard. It’s the space you’re trying to write in. In this episode, Maddison explores how your chair, keyboard, screens, lighting, sound environment, and physical comfort can either support your attention or quietly pull it away from the page. She also takes you inside her own writing “command centre”, complete with three screens, a split ergonomic keyboard, sit-stand equipment, a walking treadmill, a microphone, an exercise ball, and a few other tools she keeps ready for whenever she needs them. But this episode isn’t about copying somebody else’s desk or buying expensive equipment. It’s about understanding what would best support the way you’re uniquely wired to write.   Inside this episode, you’ll discover: How physical discomfort can quietly reduce your writing focus and momentum Why Maddison’s setup suits her Owl, Eagle, Auditory Digital and Visual tendencies How your Bird Writing Personality and NLP modality may influence your ideal writing environment Why dictation, multiple screens, music, movement or a minimalist desk will suit different writers Simple, low-cost changes you can test using items you already have The Tiny Setup Check to help you identify one point of friction and make writing feel easier Your writing space never needs to look perfect. It simply needs to support your body, your attention, your creative wiring, and the book you’re here to write.   🌟 For personalised support with your writing patterns, creative wiring and manuscript momentum, book a free 15-minute clarity call with Maddison at: maddisonmichaels.com/call   ❤️ If this episode helped you, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with another writer whose desk might be making writing harder than it needs to be.

  2. 4d ago

    64. How to Start Writing Your Book Without Waiting For Permission!

    Ep 64 - Mindset Monday episodes explore the inner work of writing: blocks, beliefs, identity, resistance, procrastination, perfectionism, and creative flow. There may be a book calling to you deep in your heart and soul, but part of you is still waiting for a green light. Perhaps you’re waiting until you feel more confident. Until your writing skills are stronger. Or until someone with more experience tells you that your idea is good enough and you truly should write it. But while you wait for that reassurance, you may be quietly handing control of your creative life to someone else. In this episode of Write The Darn Book, Maddison explores the invisible permission structures that keep writers circling their books instead of writing them. She shares the personal moment on a footpath outside a writers conference when she realised that nobody else could decide whether she was ready to become an author. She had to choose the book, finish it, and begin behaving like the writer she wanted to become. You’ll also discover the three permission blocks that commonly keep writers waiting: Waiting for someone else to say yes Waiting until you feel good enough Waiting for the perfect circumstances Maddison will then guide you through creating your own Writer’s Declaration, a personal statement that helps you reclaim control of your writing life and reconnect with the deeper reason your book needs to exist. Because confidence rarely arrives before you begin. It grows through writing the pages, learning the craft, and keeping the promises you make to yourself. Your Writer’s Declaration Take out your journal and complete these three statements: I am the writer of… This book matters because… From today, I give myself permission to… Then place your declaration somewhere visible and choose one action that brings those words to life. Open the manuscript. Write the scene that keeps calling to you. Or protect your next writing session and honour the time you’ve set aside. This is your story. You are the only person who can write it the way it needs to be written. You are the vessel for your story, and if you want to share it with the world, you have to begin.   Ready for deeper writing support? If you know you want to write this book but permission, confidence, resistance, or a lack of clear structure keeps pulling you away from the page, you’re welcome to book a free 15-minute clarity call with Maddison. This is a chance to talk about your book, explore what has been keeping you stuck, and see whether one of Maddison’s coaching pathways is the right next step for you. Book your free clarity call: maddisonmichaels.com/call Connect with Maddison: www.maddisonmichaels.com Instagram: @maddisonmichaelsauthor   If this episode spoke to you, follow Write The Darn Book and share it with another writer who may still be waiting for permission to begin. You are the vessel for the story. Let the words flow through you and onto the page.

  3. Jul 17

    63.5. Create a Writing Process That Works for Your Brain (Workshop Series Part 3)

    Welcome to the final part of this special three-part workshop series exploring NLP modalities and how they influence the way you write. Over the past week we've explored how understanding your unique creative wiring can help you move away from one-size-fits-all writing advice and towards a writing process that genuinely works for you. In this final workshop session, we bring everything together so you can begin applying what you've learned to your own writing practice with greater clarity, confidence, and self-trust. If this is your first episode in the series, I'd encourage you to head back and begin with Part 1 before continuing. ✨ Discover your Writing Personality: https://maddisonmichaels.com/quiz 🌐 Learn more: https://maddisonmichaels.com You are the vessel for the story. Let the words flow through you and onto the page.

  4. Jul 15

    63. How Your NLP Modality Shapes the Way You Write (Workshop Series Part 2)

    Welcome to Part 2 of this special three-part workshop series on NLP modalities and writing. In this episode, we continue exploring how your natural creative wiring influences the way you write, think, create, and experience the writing process. As the workshop unfolds, you'll begin recognising why certain writing approaches have always felt natural to you, while others may have created unnecessary frustration. If you haven't listened to Part 1 yet, I'd recommend heading back and starting there first, as each episode builds on the one before it. The final part of this workshop will be released as a special bonus episode this Friday. ✨ Discover your Writing Personality: https://maddisonmichaels.com/quiz 🌐 Learn more: https://maddisonmichaels.com You are the vessel for the story. Let the words flow through you and onto the page.

  5. Jul 13

    62. Why Writing Feels So Hard: Discover Your NLP Writing Modality (Workshop Series Part 1)

    This week I'm doing something a little different! I'm sharing a special three-part workshop all about NLP modalities and how the way your brain naturally processes information shapes the way you write. If you've ever wondered why some writing advice feels effortless for other writers but leaves you feeling frustrated, this workshop is for you. In Part 1, we'll explore: • What NLP modalities are • We'll start diving into the four different ways writers naturally process information • Why there is no one "right" way to write • How understanding your natural wiring can transform your writing process Whether you're writing fiction, non-fiction, or your very first book, understanding how you're naturally wired to create can help you stop fighting yourself and start working with your brain instead of against it. This is Part 1 of a special three-part workshop series. Part 2 continues this Wednesday, with the final bonus episode releasing on Friday. ✨ Discover your Writing Personality: https://maddisonmichaels.com/quiz 🌐 Learn more: https://maddisonmichaels.com You are the vessel for the story. Let the words flow through you and onto the page.

  6. Jul 8

    61. How to Build a Chapter Roadmap Without Boxing Yourself or Your Writing In

    Episode 61: How to Build a Chapter Roadmap Without Boxing Yourself or Your Writing In! Writing Wednesday episodes explore the outer work of writing: craft, structure, revision, publishing, process, and the practical steps that help you finish your book.   Episode Summary If chapter planning makes you feel either beautifully supported or completely boxed in, this episode is for you. In today’s Writing Wednesday episode, Maddison explores how to build a flexible chapter roadmap that gives your manuscript direction without suffocating your creativity. Because structure should support the writing, not control it. Whether you’re an Owl who loves a clear plan, a Peacock who resists anything that feels too rigid, a Dove who needs emotional safety around the process, or an Eagle who wants to keep moving with purpose, this episode will help you create a roadmap that works with your wiring rather than against it. You’ll learn how to give each chapter a clear purpose, identify the shift that happens by the end, and leave enough space for discovery as the book reveals itself on the page. Because a chapter roadmap is not a cage. It’s a walking track.   Inside This Episode In this episode, you’ll learn: Why chapter planning feels freeing for some writers and suffocating for others The difference between useful structure and rigid over-planning How to create a flexible chapter roadmap using purpose, movement, and discovery Maddison also walks you through a simple next-three-chapters exercise you can use immediately, whether you’re writing fiction, non-fiction, memoir, or a book for your business.   You’ll learn how to ask: What is this chapter here to do? What changes by the end? What possible ingredients could I use without locking myself into every detail? This episode is especially useful if you’ve been avoiding your outline because you don’t want to box yourself in, or if you’ve been over-planning because you’re scared to write until the whole manuscript feels perfectly mapped.   Free Clarity Call If today’s episode helped you realise your manuscript needs more structure, but you’re worried structure will kill the flow, this is exactly the kind of work Maddison does with writers inside her coaching. You can start applying today’s process on your own. But if you’d love personalised support to see the shape of your book more clearly, identify where the structure is too loose or too tight, and build a roadmap that fits the way you naturally create, you can book a free 15-minute clarity call. This is a mutual fit conversation, not a coaching session and not a pushy sales call. It’s a chance for both of you to explore where you are with your book, what’s getting in the way, and whether one of Maddison’s coaching pathways is the right next step. Book your free clarity call at: maddisonmichaels.com/call   Support The Podcast If this episode gave you a clearer way to think about your manuscript, please take a moment to follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with another writer who’s feeling boxed in by planning or lost without structure.   Your book does not need a perfect plan before you begin. But it does need a path. And sometimes that path is closer than you think!   You are the vessel for the story. Let the words flow through you and onto the page.

  7. Jul 6

    60. The Joy of Writing: How To Fall Back in Love with Your Story

    THE JOY OF WRITING: HOW TO FALL BACK IN LOVE WITH YOUR STORY Mindset Monday episodes explore the inner work of writing: blocks, beliefs, identity, resistance, procrastination, perfectionism, and creative flow.   EPISODE SUMMARY Have you ever opened your manuscript and realised the spark has gone quiet? You still care about the book. You still want to finish it. But the joy that brought you to the story in the beginning feels harder to reach. And when that happens, it is so easy to make it mean something terrible. Maybe this book is wrong. Maybe you have lost your passion. Maybe you are forcing something that should feel easier. But what if the loss of joy is not a sign the story has abandoned you? What if it is a signal that pressure has started speaking louder than pleasure? In this episode, Maddison explores why joy can fade during the writing process, especially when your manuscript moves from discovery into performance, judgement, pressure, or the messy middle. She also shares how she lost the joy halfway through her latest manuscript, what her own Owl, Eagle, and Auditory Digital wiring taught her, and how listening to the story instead of forcing it helped her reconnect with the book. This episode will help you stop seeing lost joy as failure and start seeing it as information. Sometimes the way back to the page is not more pressure. Sometimes it is clarity, space, play, intuition, and the willingness to ask your story what it actually needs from you.   INSIDE THIS EPISODE In this episode, you’ll explore: Why losing joy in your writing rarely means you have chosen the wrong book How pressure, comparison, feedback, and perfectionism can crowd out creative pleasure The difference between ordinary resistance and your deeper writer’s intuition asking you to pause How your Bird Writing Personality and NLP modality can shape what joy feels like for you Why discovery writing can feel freeing at first, then unsettling when your structure disappears How Maddison’s own manuscript joy returned when the villain’s motivation finally clicked into place The three-part Joy Reset practice to help you reconnect with your story   THE JOY RESET PRACTICE This week’s gentle writing invitation is simple: Spend ten minutes writing something purely for fun. No pressure to use it. No pressure to polish it. No pressure to make it part of the manuscript. You might write a secret scene, a letter from your character, or one tiny moment in the most vivid, indulgent, playful way you can. This is not wasted writing. This is relationship repair between you and the story.   FREE CLARITY CALL INVITATION If this episode stirred something in you, and you are tired of looking at the same manuscript, the same notes, and the same unfinished chapters while wondering why you are not making the progress you wanted to make this year, this is your gentle but direct nudge. Awareness is beautiful. Awareness matters. But awareness without action is still just knowledge sitting on the shelf. If you would love support, structure, accountability, and personalised tools to help you understand what is actually getting in the way of your book, you can book a free 15-minute clarity call with Maddison. This is a mutual fit conversation. It is a chance for both of you to look at where you are, what has been getting in the way, and whether one of Maddison’s coaching pathways is the right support to help you finally get this book written. Book your free clarity call at: maddisonmichaels.com/call   SUPPORT THE PODCAST If this episode gave you exactly what you needed, please take a moment to follow Write The Darn Book, leave a review, or share it with another writer who needs help coming back to the page. And remember, you are the vessel for the story. Let the words flow through you and onto the page.

  8. Jul 1

    59. Traditional, Indie, or Hybrid? How to Choose the Publishing Path That Fits You and Your Writing

    Traditional, Indie, or Hybrid? How to Choose the Publishing Path That Fits You Writing Wednesday episodes explore the outer work of writing: craft, structure, revision, publishing, process, and the practical steps that help you finish your book.   Episode Summary How do you know whether traditional publishing, independent publishing, or hybrid publishing is the right path for your book? In this episode of Write The Darn Book, Maddison Michaels explores the publishing pathway decision through the lens of fit, self-trust, creative wiring, and the kind of author career you actually want to build. Rather than treating one publishing route as better than another, this episode helps you look at what your book needs, what you’re willing to carry, and what kind of publishing experience will best support you. Why This Decision Can Feel So Overwhelming Choosing a publishing path can bring up more than practical questions about agents, covers, royalties, timelines, edits, and distribution. For many writers, it also touches questions of validation, control, credibility, creative freedom, patience, support, and whether they feel like a “real” author. This episode helps you take the pressure out of the decision and come back to the path that fits your book, your temperament, your current life season, and your long-term author goals. Key Takeaways There is no one “right” publishing path. There is only the path that best fits your book, your temperament, your goals, and your current life season. Traditional publishing can offer validation, professional support, industry credibility, and more space to focus on the writing, but it also asks for patience, resilience, and a willingness to work within a gatekeeper system. Independent publishing can offer freedom, control, speed, ownership, and direct decision-making, but it also asks the author to carry more responsibility for production, investment, and marketing. Hybrid publishing can offer support and flexibility when the company is reputable, but it requires careful research, clear contracts, and strong discernment. Your creative wiring matters. Your Bird Writing Personality does not choose your publishing path for you, but it can show you where you may need more support, structure, patience, or self-trust. The best publishing path is not the one that looks most impressive from the outside. It is the one that helps your book reach the right readers while allowing you to keep becoming the writer you are here to be. Inside This Episode You’ll hear about: Why publishing decisions can feel so emotionally loaded The trade-offs between traditional, independent, and hybrid publishing How your creative wiring, goals, capacity, and current life season can shape the right pathway for you Questions To Help You Choose Your Publishing Path Inside the episode, Maddison invites you to ask: What does this book need? What kind of publishing experience will help me stay steady and connected to the work? What does my long-term author career need next? These questions can help you move away from comparison and make a more grounded, conscious decision about the publishing path that fits you.   Writing Personality Blueprint Session If this episode has brought up questions about your writing path, your creative wiring, or the kind of support you need to move your book forward, you’re invited to book a Writing Personality Blueprint Session with Maddison. This personalised session helps you understand your DOPE Bird Writing Personality, your NLP Writer’s Mind Modality, your resistance patterns, and the kind of writing process that will actually support you. Book your Writing Personality Blueprint Session here: https://maddisonmichaels.com/blueprint   Support The Podcast If this episode helped you, please share it with another writer who is trying to choose the right publishing path for their book. And if you’re enjoying Write The Darn Book, I’d be so grateful if you left a quick review. It helps more writers find the show and get the support they need to finally write the darn book. Remember, you are the vessel for the story. Let the words flow through you and onto the page.

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About

Welcome to Write the Darn Book™, a mindset-first, craft-supported, spiritually aligned podcast for writers who feel called to write a book, but keep getting stuck somewhere between the idea and the finished draft. If writer’s block, procrastination, self-doubt, perfectionism, overthinking, or the everyday chaos of life keeps pulling you away from the page, you’re in the right place. And my friend, you are not broken! You are a writer with a story, message, or book inside you. And sometimes what you need isn't more pressure, more hustle, or another generic writing routine. Sometimes what you need is a deeper understanding and awareness of how your mind works, how you are uniquely wired to write, and what actually helps you move from stuck… into creative flow. Hosted by Maddison Michaels, award-winning, multi-published author of 9 books, certified Life Coach, NLP Practitioner, Hypnotherapist, and creator of the Write The Darn Book™ Method, this podcast blends mindset, neuroscience-supported tools, writing craft, story structure, intuitive creativity, emotional regulation, faith, and grounded writing support to help you finally write and finish the book you’re meant to write. Each week, we’ll explore both sides of the writing journey. On Mindset Mondays, we’ll dive into the inner work of writing: writer’s block, procrastination, self-doubt, perfectionism, fear, resistance, creative flow, writer identity, nervous-system safety, NLP tools, intuition, and the deeper patterns that shape how you show up to the page. On Writing Wednesdays, we’ll move into the outer work of writing: story structure, character, dialogue, pacing, revision, synopsis writing, query letters, publishing insight, author life, writing routines, and the practical steps that help you move your book forward. Because writing a book is never just about the manuscript. It’s about the writer you become while you’re writing it! Each episode will help you: ✨ Break through writer’s block, procrastination, and self-doubt ✨ Develop a stronger writing mindset and deeper creative confidence ✨ Understand your writing personality and unique creative wiring ✨ Build a writing process that works with your mind, body, and life ✨ Strengthen your craft, story structure, and manuscript momentum ✨ Use NLP, emotional regulation, and neuroscience-supported tools to reconnect with flow ✨ Navigate the practical realities of writing, revising, querying, publishing, and finishing ✨ Trust your voice, honour your story, and finally write the darn book Whether you’re writing fiction, non-fiction, or a book to support your business, message, or calling, this space is here to support you through both the inner work and the outer work of finishing. So grab your cup of liquid gold, settle in, and let’s write the darn book together. 💕 And remember...You are the vessel for the story. Let the words flow through you and onto the page. 🌟 Make sure you hit follow so you can binge listen and never miss an episode! And if you’d love to discover how you’re uniquely wired to write, take the free Writing Personality Quiz at maddisonmichaels.com/quiz. For deeper personalised support, you can also book a Writing Personality Blueprint Session at maddisonmichaels.com/blueprint.

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