The Write It Scared Podcast

Stacy Frazer

A podcast to help fiction writers work through self-doubt and learn the craft of writing a novel. 

  1. 12/28/2025

    Critique Partners & Traditional Publishing: What You Need to Know with Gabrielle K. Byrne

    Draft It Scared Group Coaching Open For Enrollment–Apply Here! If you’ve ever questioned how to find the right critique partner—or survive traditional publishing—this episode will feel like a deep breath. Fantasy author and book coach Gabrielle K. Byrne joins me to talk about building healthy critique relationships, navigating the realities of publishing, and learning to let go so you can fall back in love with your writing process.  It’s honest, grounding, and full of the writer-to-writer wisdom we all need. Timestamps  01:23 Meet Gabrielle K. Byrne  03:54 Gabby’s winding path to publishing  09:42 Evolving your writing process  21:11 Imposter syndrome + comparison  29:21 The truth about traditional publishing  32:12 What really happens in revisions  35:23 The Three Ps: practice, persistence, patience  40:23 How to work with critique partners  46:50 Finding your writing community  51:08 Gabby’s wish for writers Links:  Julie Artz CP Match Gabrielle Byrnes Books and Book Coaching  Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    56 min
  2. 12/21/2025

    A 3-Day Book, a 30-Year Book, and Everything In Between with Author Susan Sloate

    What if you wrote one book in three days… and another in thirty years? That’s the creative range of today’s guest, Susan Sloate, and trust me—this conversation will make you breathe a little easier about your own writing timeline. In this episode, Susan and I get real about the messy, magical parts of the writing life: panic, procrastination, emotional landmines, unexpected breakthroughs, and the quiet confidence that your story is already finished in your head—you just have to mine for it. She also shares how music threads through her process, how she handles fear and imposter syndrome, and what keeps her coming back to the page after decades in the industry. If you need a dose of perspective, permission, or hope… this one’s for you. Episode Breakdown 01:11 — Meet Susan Sloate  05:21 — From screenwriting to novels  09:18 — The spark behind Scenes from a Song  15:02 — Panic, process, and creative problem-solving  24:03 — A book 30 years in the making  30:17 — Emotions + writing  32:22 — Doubt, fear, imposter syndrome  37:02 — Susan’s final wisdom for writers LINKS Website: www.susansloate.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanSloateAuthor X.com: @Susan_Sloate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susan_sloate/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/233349.Susan_Sloate Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    42 min
  3. 12/14/2025

    The Magic of Writing Cozy Mysteries with Iris Applewood

    Don’t believe you’re cut out to be a writer? Think again.  Cozy mystery author Iris Applewood talks about how personal challenges and a whole lot of curiosity shaped her path to writing cozy mysteries and what she’s learned about the genre. We explore the creation of her magical town, Serenity Falls, how community is a character, and discuss what to do when your “whodunit” isn’t so clear.  It’s a grounded, encouraging conversation about following your heart and finding joy in the mystery of creating novels. Timestamps:  01:23 Meet Iris Applewood  02:44 Draft It Scared announcement  04:13 Iris’s writing journey  13:04 Writing process + challenges  17:57 Community as a character  19:36 Storytelling challenges  19:56 Internal narratives  20:34 First manuscript struggles  24:56 Plotting vs. pantsing  26:55 Building a routine  27:47 Turning real-life into a story  31:05 Creative vulnerability To connect with Iris and read her books, please visit her website: https://irisapplewood.com/ Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    37 min
  4. 12/07/2025

    Writing Rom-Coms and Outsmarting Your Inner Critic with Regency Romance Author Kate Archer

    Info on Group Book Coaching with Write It Scared Working on a rom-com?  This conversation with bestselling author Kate Archer is packed with craft insights and the best mindset support! We get into what makes humor land, how to keep your characters authentic, and how to keep conflict fresh in a genre built on familiar beats. Kate also shares how she built her writing life, the routines that keep her grounded, and the strategies she uses to push past fear, resistance, and the inner critic.  It’s an honest, encouraging look at the realities of writing comedy, staying consistent, and showing up for your creativity. Timestamps:  01:23 Meet Kate Archer  03:58 Kate’s writing journey  07:32 Why Regency romcoms resonate  12:27 Crafting humor that feels true  22:23 Writing from the servant’s perspective  22:43 Revision + learning through mistakes  25:04 The power of a writing schedule  27:43 Overcoming psychological blocks  33:46 The struggle + joy of writing  36:14 Advice for aspiring writers  41:14 Final thoughts + where to find Kate Links: Visit Kate at: https://www.facebook.com/ and https://katearcher.weebly.com/ or get in touch at katearcherauthor@yahoo.com. Check out Kate's books here  Draft It Scared Small Group Book Coaching  Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    43 min
  5. 11/21/2025 · BONUS

    Special Announcement: Black Friday Book Coaching Sale

    Special Offer: Mini-Blueprint Strategy Session  Author Accelerator is running a Black Friday Book Coaching Sale, and I’m one of 80 certified coaches offering a limited-time Mini Blueprint Strategy Session to help 100 writers get unstuck before the year ends. If you’ve been spinning your wheels or second-guessing your story, this session is designed to help you find clarity and momentum. For $299 USD, you’ll get: Big-Picture Project AnalysisProfessional editorial feedback on your first 3,000 wordsA 50-minute private coaching call with meThis offer is ideal for commercial fiction writers—romance, mystery, thriller, speculative, and more—and it expires December 1. I only have space for three writers this winter, so if this sounds like what you need, head to writeitscared.co Or check out the other participating coaches on the Author Accelerator Black Friday Book Coaching Sale website.  Let’s get you unstuck and excited to write again.  See you Monday! Have a comment or idea about the show? Send me a direct text! Love to hear from you. Support the show To become a supporter of the show, click here! To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/wis https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

    3 min
5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

A podcast to help fiction writers work through self-doubt and learn the craft of writing a novel. 

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