In this solo episode, I explore the delicate balance between external writing resources (craft books, courses, workshops) and your internal creative intuition. I'm talking to writers who feel overwhelmed by all the advice out there while trying to maintain their authentic voice.
What I'm sharing:
Resources and intuition aren't opposites—they're dance partners that should work together. I want you to think of craft books and courses as offerings from other writers' journeys, not commandments you must follow. Creative intuition isn't "winging it"—it's sophisticated intelligence drawing on everything you've experienced.
Four gentle practices I've discovered:
- Learning and Letting Go: Sit with advice before applying it; let your project tell you what it needs
- Internal Compass Check: Feel whether advice makes your work more alive or less alive
- Selective Bibliography: Choose 1-2 craft resources that consistently nourish your creative spirit
- Conversation Practice: Engage with craft advice as dialogue, not gospel
What I want novel writers to remember:
Trust your creative ecosystem—you're already a complete creative being. Create resource boundaries, honor your creative seasons, and remember that your novel is a living thing that grows through collaboration between conscious learning and unconscious knowing.
You don't have to choose between being studious and intuitive—you can be a "whole writer" who honors both craft knowledge and creative authenticity.
📚Learn more about my coaching and editing services at nicolemeier.com
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