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

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

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. 4d ago

    69. The Scene Card Shuffle: What to Do When Your Plot Feels Stuck!

    Episode 69: The Scene Card Shuffle: What to Do When Your Plot Feels Stuck Is your plot stuck, even though you’ve already written plenty of scenes? Sometimes a novel loses momentum because it needs a stronger idea. But often, the scenes you need are already there. They’re simply appearing in an order that weakens the connection between action, choice, and consequence. In this episode of Write The Darn Book, Maddison shares a practical scene card shuffle to help you step back from the pages of your manuscript and see the shape of your plot more clearly. You’ll learn how to place every scene onto a separate card, diagnose the points where your story’s momentum drops, and experiment with a new sequence without committing to a major rewrite. You’ll also discover how one carefully moved scene can strengthen several chapters, close a plot gap, or give your messy middle the momentum it’s been missing. Because a stuck plot doesn’t automatically mean your story is broken. Sometimes, it means the right scene is standing in the wrong place. Inside this episode: Why plot problems are often sequence problems rather than idea problems How to identify what changes by the end of every scene The difference between a causal story chain and a series of disconnected events Four common structural issues hidden inside a draft How to test a new scene order without dismantling your manuscript Ways Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, and Auditory Digital writers can adapt the card method to their creative wiring How to turn your completed shuffle into a clear and manageable revision plan   Your next step Write every current scene on a separate card and lay them out in manuscript order. Choose the section where your plot feels weakest, then move one card. Test what happens when a discovery comes earlier, a consequence moves closer, or an emotional scene lands after a more powerful trigger. You’re not trying to repair the entire book in one sitting. You’re looking for one change that creates a stronger chain of cause, choice, and consequence.   Listen next If your plot is moving but your protagonist’s choices still need greater emotional weight, listen to Episode 67: Writing Your Protagonist: How to Build a Main Character Readers Root For From Page One. Follow Write The Darn Book so you never miss an episode, and share this one with a writer whose messy middle might need a scene card shuffle.   🌟 Want Maddison as your writing coach to help support you on your writing journey? Head to www.maddisonmichaels.com/call and book in a FREE  15min clarity call to see if one of Maddison's coaching pathways would be a good fit.

  2. Aug 5

    68. Missed Your Writing Plan? How to Reset, Rebuild Self-Trust and Keep Writing

    Episode 68: Missed Your Writing Plan? How to Reset, Rebuild Self-Trust and Keep Writing   You made a writing plan. You chose your sessions, set your goals, and genuinely intended to show up. Then the week unfolded differently. Perhaps life became busier than expected. Perhaps you opened the manuscript and resistance took over. Or perhaps the sessions came and went, leaving you with that familiar voice saying, “See? You never follow through.” Missing a writing goal can quickly become more than disappointment about the words you didn’t write. It can trigger guilt, self-criticism, and doubt about whether you can trust yourself to ever finish your book. In this follow-up to Episode 66, The Sunday Reset, Maddison explores what a missed writing plan actually means and why turning it into a judgement about who you are makes returning to the page even harder. You’ll learn a simple three-part reset to help you separate the missed result from your identity, understand what disrupted the plan, and rebuild self-trust through one small writing promise you can genuinely keep. Because self-trust isn’t built by following every plan perfectly. It’s built by knowing how to return to yourself and your book when the week goes differently than you intended.   Inside this episode: Why one missed writing week can trigger a cycle of shame and avoidance How to separate what happened from what you believe it says about you The difference between capacity, clarity, and resistance Why a stricter plan is rarely the best response to a missed goal How one small writing promise can begin rebuilding self-trust How Dove, Owl, Peacock, and Eagle writers may respond differently when a plan falls apart How to create your next Sunday Reset using better information about yourself and your writing Dove writers may need to release guilt and protect one writing session from other demands. Owl writers may need to make one practical adjustment rather than creating a more complicated planning system. Peacock writers may need to reduce an overly ambitious plan and make their return to the manuscript feel enjoyable. Eagle writers may need to resist compensating with a harsher target and choose a smaller result that restores momentum. The Bird Writing Personalities are tendencies rather than fixed labels, and many writers recognise themselves in more than one type. Choose the recovery approach that supports the pattern showing up for you right now.   🌟Ready to discover more about how you’re naturally wired to write? Take the free Writing Personality Quiz at: maddisonmichaels.com/quiz   ❤️ And if you keep creating plans but find yourself caught in the same cycle of avoidance, guilt, and self-doubt, you can book a free 15-minute clarity call with Maddison at: maddisonmichaels.com/call If this episode helped you, please follow the podcast, leave a quick review, and share it with another writer who needs to hear that a missed writing plan is information, not a verdict on who they are. You are the vessel for the story. Let the words flow through you and onto the page.

  3. Jul 29

    67. Writing Your Protagonist: How to Build a Main Character Readers Root For From Page One

    Episode 67: Writing Your Protagonist: How to Build a Main Character Readers Root For From Page One Your protagonist is the emotional doorway into your story. They’re the character asking your reader to follow them into the unknown, care about what they want, and stay beside them through every mistake, setback, and transformation. But readers rarely connect with a main character simply because they’re clever, capable, charming, or heroic. They connect when they can feel the longing, fear, wound, or contradiction beneath the character’s behaviour. In this episode, Maddison explores how to create a protagonist who feels emotionally real from page one. You’ll learn how your character’s external want, deeper wound, protective flaw, and emotional need work together to create a powerful character arc. Maddison also introduces a fresh way to use the Dove, Owl, Peacock, and Eagle personality tendencies as a character-development lens. Your protagonist may be a blend of several types, and their behaviour may shift when pressure rises. These tendencies can help you uncover what your character values, what they fear, and how their greatest strength may also create their biggest challenge. Inside this episode: Why your protagonist needs emotional logic more than universal likeability How to identify what your character wants in each scene The connection between a character’s wound, belief, and protective behaviour Why a protagonist’s greatest strength and central flaw often share the same emotional root How Dove, Owl, Peacock, and Eagle tendencies can deepen your character development How small choices and moments of exposed humanity help readers connect from page one Three questions you can use to audit your protagonist’s opening scene For personalised support with your characters, story structure, manuscript direction, or the patterns making it harder to move your book forward, book a free 15-minute clarity call with Maddison: maddisonmichaels.com/call This is a mutual fit conversation where you can explore what your book needs and whether one of Maddison’s coaching pathways feels like the right next step. If this episode helped you understand your protagonist more clearly, share it with another writer and leave a review. Your review helps more writers discover the podcast and find the support they need to write and finish their books.

  4. Jul 27

    66. The Sunday Reset For Writers: How to Plan Your Writing Week So You Actually Show Up

    Episode 66: The Sunday Reset: How to Plan Your Writing Week So You Actually Show Up Mindset Monday episodes explore the inner work of writing: blocks, beliefs, identity, resistance, procrastination, perfectionism, and creative flow. Do you begin each week hoping you’ll find time to write, only to reach the weekend wondering where the days went and why your manuscript barely moved? The problem usually isn’t that you’ve lost your motivation or suddenly become less committed to your book. It’s that your writing was left to compete with every other demand in your week without being given a clear place to land. In this episode, Maddison walks you through a simple 15-minute Sunday Reset to help you create a realistic weekly writing plan around the life you actually have. You’ll learn how to choose specific writing sessions, decide exactly what you’ll work on before you sit down, and create a small writing minimum that keeps you connected to your manuscript even during a busy week. You’ll also discover how to customise the reset for your Bird Writing Personality. A Dove may need to protect their writing session when other people need them. An Owl may need to finish planning before planning becomes another form of procrastination. A Peacock may need variety without creating a week that’s too ambitious. And an Eagle may need a meaningful target that creates progress without turning the week into another test. Because a good writing plan isn’t about controlling every hour. It’s about creating enough clarity and structure that showing up becomes easier. Inside this episode: Why “I’ll write when I can” leaves too much room for resistance The simple 15-minute Sunday Reset for planning your writing week How to choose realistic writing sessions based on your energy and capacity Why every session needs a clear manuscript task and a small writing minimum How Dove, Owl, Peacock, and Eagle writers can personalise their weekly plan How a weekly reset strengthens your writing rhythm and writer identity The Bird Writing Personalities are tendencies rather than fixed labels, and many writers recognise themselves in a blend of types. Choose the adjustments that support the way you’re writing and living right now.   🌟 Ready to understand more about how you’re uniquely wired to write? Take the free Writing Personality Quiz at: maddisonmichaels.com/quiz   🖋️ And if you’d love personalised support to create a writing rhythm that fits your life, your manuscript, and the way you naturally work, book a free 15-minute clarity call with Maddison at: maddisonmichaels.com/call   OR consider a personalized Writing Personality Blueprint Session at maddisonmichaels.com/blueprint   ❤️ If this episode helped you, please follow the podcast and leave a quick review. You can also share it with another writer who keeps hoping they’ll find time to write but needs a clearer place to begin.   You are the vessel for the story. Let the words flow through you and onto the page.

  5. Jul 22

    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.

  6. Jul 20

    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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

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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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