Ep 43: Evaluating as You Go (Instead of Starting Over)

Ep 43: Evaluating as You Go (Instead of Starting Over)

From The Writing Mom Podcast by Josee Smith

April 1, 2026 · 13 min

About this episode

In this episode, Josee Smith discusses how to evaluate your writing as you go to avoid the urge to start over and build momentum in your writing process.

If you’ve ever felt like your writing “isn’t working” and immediately wanted to scrap everything and start over, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m taking you inside another key part of my coaching process: how to evaluate your writing as you go so you can keep moving forward - without falling into the stop-and-restart cycle. We’ll talk about why so many writers assume something is wrong when progress feels messy, how small adjustments are often more powerful than complete overhauls, and why treating your writing like an experiment helps you build momentum instead of losing it. I’ll also share real client examples of what happens when you keep going - even when things feel unclear - and how that’s often where the clarity actually comes from. Because finishing your novel isn’t about finding the perfect system. It’s about learning how to adjust as you go. If you’re tired of constantly starting over, coaching can help you build a writing process that grows with you. Book a consultation to find your path forward: https://calendly.com/joseesmith/book

People in this episode

Host: Josee Smith

Topics covered

  • writing process
  • evaluation
  • coaching
  • momentum
  • novel completion

Keywords

  • writing evaluation
  • coaching process
  • writing momentum
  • novel writing
  • small adjustments

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