
19: The Step Most Writers Skip (That Makes Everything Harder)
From For Women who Write by Mikaela Mathews
March 30, 2026 · 25 min
About this episode
This episode discusses the importance of outlining in the writing process and how skipping this step can lead to frustration for writers.
Let’s talk about something most writers completely miss. You start researching how to write a book and suddenly you’re flooded with advice on writing, publishing, marketing. But there’s a step that quietly gets skipped. And it’s usually the reason you feel stuck. In this episode, I’m walking you through why outlining isn’t optional, and why trying to “figure it out while you write” is what creates so much frustration in the first place. Here’s the truth: Good writing is clear thinking. And if...
People in this episode
Host: Mikaela Mathews
Topics covered
- writing
- outlining
- book research
- frustration in writing
- clear thinking
Keywords
- writing advice
- publishing
- marketing
- outlining
- clear thinking
More episodes of For Women who Write
- 29: So You Don't Know What to Write About · June 9, 2026 · 35 min
- 28: Why Structure Changes Everything When Writing a Book | Interview with Kristin Haluch · June 2, 2026 · 25 min
- 27: The Exact Questions I Use as a Book Coach to Help Writers Find Their Book Idea · May 27, 2026 · 1h 2m
- 26: How to Know What Book You’re Meant to Write · May 19, 2026 · 35 min
- 25: Book Marketing for Women Who Hate Marketing · May 11, 2026 · 33 min
- 24: How to Write a Bible Study or Devotional · May 5, 2026 · 24 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the For Women who Write podcast page.