We’ve reached the end of the first quarter of the year, and this is a perfect moment to pause and ask a far more useful question than “What did I accomplish?”

Is the way I’m approaching my writing actually working for me right now?

In this short solo episode, I share a gentle, guilt-free Q1 reset and reflection questions to help you course-correct, plus a behind-the-scenes look at my own writing progress — including finishing a draft, facing rejection, uncovering major plot issues, and doing the slow revision work that actually moves books forward.

If your year hasn’t gone as planned, don’t feel like you're behind. Instead, use your reflections to create a new plan of action that makes how you approach your writing work for you!

Slow and steady still counts.

Timestamps

00:00 Gentle Q1 check-in
00:28 Why this checkpoint matters
01:25 Quarter One reality check
02:21 Key reflection questions
04:01 Personal Q1 writing update
05:00 Draft win + rejection whiplash
05:27 Discovering and fixing a major logic flaw
06:37 Slow, steady revision plan
07:39 Your Q1 reset for Q2
08:50 Coaching support & next steps
09:41 Final thoughts

Need extra support?

If you’d like personalized guidance, structure, or accountability as you move forward, learn more about working with me as a book coach: writeitscared.co

You don’t have to figure it out alone.

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

Want to write fear that actually gets under a reader’s skin—not just jump scares on the page? Start with what unsettles you.

Horror and thriller author Nicole M. Wolverton joins me to discuss why discomfort can be more powerful than terror, how writing from your own fears creates unforgettable stories, and why horror can be deeply empowering during difficult times.

Nicole is also very candid about the process, the realities of publishing, rejection, and the mindset she attributes to her success in publishing and marketing.

Timestamps

01:10 – Meet Nicole Woolverton
03:16 – Nicole’s Writing Origins
04:30 – Why We Crave Horror
05:15 – Fear, Resilience, and Difficult Times
07:15 – Her Novels and Settings
09:33 – Gastro Horror and Disgust on the Page
12:42 – What Makes Horror Truly Work
16:17 – Process: Outlining vs. Drafting
21:16 – Publishing Fears and Limbo
25:26 – “You Don’t Ask, You Don’t Get”
28:29 – Rejection and Redefining Success
31:06 – Advice for Writers

Guest Bio

Nicole M. Wolverton is an unapologetic fear enthusiast who writes horror and thrillers for adults and young adults. She is the author of A Misfortune of Lake Monsters (CamCat Books, 2025), The Trajectory of Dreams (Bitingduck Press, 2013), and the upcoming Meat Sweats (Horrorsmith Publishing, 2026). She also served as Editor of the menopause-themed horror anthology Bodies Full of Burning, published by Sliced Up Press. Her short fiction, creative nonfiction, and essays also appear in about 50 anthologies, magazines, and podcasts. Nicole holds a master's degree in horror and storytelling from the University of Pennsylvania; her academic interests center on building resilience through horror media and gastrohorror.

Links

Website
nicole@nicolewolverton.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

Writing can be hard, lonely work. Talking about the struggle can release pressure and help you get back to the page—but only if you’re sharing with the right people.

I talk about why feelings aren’t facts, how isolation keeps writers stuck, and how to build a small circle of writing trust that you can lean into when you feel stuck.

Timestamps
00:00 Writing Struggle + Isolation
01:44 Listener Question About Short Stories
03:44 Why Venting Helps Writers
05:45 Feelings Aren’t Facts
07:57 Choosing Who to Tell
09:48 Building a Circle of Trust
12:27 Final Thoughts

Links to Other Episodes Mentioned

S2 Ep 53 How Writing Short Stories Can Make You a Stronger Novelist with Demi Michelle Schwartz

S3 Ep 78 From “Am I Good Enough?” to “I Believe in My Work” with Book Coach Karmen Špiljak

S2 Ep 54 Finding the Right Writing Community For You

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