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How Women Write

How Women Write

Written by: Jacqueline Fisch
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 Hosted by Jacqueline Fisch, a nonfiction author, writing coach, and former corporate professional. This show blends authenticity, practicality, and intuition. Jacqueline shares holistic writing strategies designed for female entrepreneurs with a story to tell. Here, integrity, personal growth, and wellness meet actionable tips and guidance. Whether you're working on books, blogs, website copy, or social media, you'll learn how to hit your writing goals while creating a nourishing, sustainable writing life. Expect honest, in-depth interviews with real women writers, entrepreneurs, and leaders, alongside candid solo episodes and behind-the-desk stories that offer simple, inspiring lessons for your writing journey. In a world of AI and shortcuts, your authentic voice is your superpower. Subscribe and discover how to stop struggling with writing—and start embracing your gifts.2026 Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • 56: Laughter is Healing: Comedian Lady Q on Storytelling & Finding Your Authentic Voice

    56: Laughter is Healing: Comedian Lady Q on Storytelling & Finding Your Authentic Voice
    Jan 21 2026
    I can't tell you how excited I am to introduce you to the first comedian I've had on the podcast, Lady Q! When I realized that comedians are, at their heart, storytellers, I knew I had to have her on, and I can't wait for you to be delighted. Lady Q is a clean comedian and inspirational speaker who blends humor, faith, and healing. She shares her incredible journey with us, starting with her time as a youth pastor who made her church's women's conference laugh in 2008, launching her 17-year career. You'll get to hear about her joke writing process, how she finds fresh material from major life transitions—like raising kids, dating, and getting married later in life—and why she prioritizes telling stories that make people think, not just laugh. Lady Q also leaves us with powerful tips for writers and speakers on finding your authentic voice and even what she does to protect her voice before stepping onto the stage. Key Takeaways: Your Life is Material: Experiences are the best source of content. Comedians Say What You're Thinking: Aka, saying the quiet part out loud. A comedian's job is to be brave enough to speak the relatable, funny, and sometimes awkward observations that the audience is already thinking. The Joke Writing Process: Lady Q prepares for a set by thinking about the event, the audience, and her personal experiences related to the topic. Then, she'll write the jokes out but gives herself permission to go off-script to keep the conversation flowing. Be Authentically You: Her biggest tips for storytelling — find your voice, use your regular voice (not your work voice, or "customer service voice" as my kids sometimes say to me), and be vulnerable. She intentionally limits watching other comedians to avoid unconsciously mimicking their style, which is smart advice for writers, too! Protecting Your Energy and Voice: Before a show, she meditates, limits talking, avoids eating and her phone, and focuses on her opening line. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 01:18 Meet LaQuitcha Walker 02:36 Early Comedy Days 04:38 Crafting Comedy: Writing and Performing 08:10 Evolving Material: Life Changes and New Stories 14:58 Navigating Comedy in 2020 18:12 Journaling and Story Mining 20:26 The Pressure of Daily Writing 20:40 Journaling and Overthinking 21:07 The Comedian's Dilemma 21:22 Preparing for a Leadership Conference 23:31 Crafting Jokes for Different Events 28:11 Handling Audience Reactions 31:47 Being Authentically You 34:53 Final Thoughts and Tips for Speaking Meet Lady Q (LaQuitcha Lanay Walker) Lady Q is a nationally recognized clean comedian and inspirational speaker who blends humor, faith, and healing. A two-time PrayzeFactor People's Choice Award winner and Presidential Lifetime Achievement honoree, she inspires audiences worldwide to rediscover joy, purpose, and laughter through life's challenges. Connect with Lady Q: Lady Q's YouTube Promo Video Instagram Upcoming events: A Night of Love and Laughter, a date-night experience in Tampa, FL Live 2 Lead, Mableton, GA Connect with Jacqueline Fisch: The Intuitive Writing School Substack: Energy-First Writing Fractional CCO services and speaking LinkedIn Instagram
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    39 mins
  • 55: What Does Your Draft Need From You?

    55: What Does Your Draft Need From You?
    Jan 19 2026

    In this episode, we explore the subtle, often-justified reasons writers wait to start or finish their work—and why that waiting carries a significant relational cost. We dive into the difference between true writing resistance and the need to simply honor the work by giving it a proper container, rather than forcing it with pressure and deadlines.

    Key Takeaways:

    • Waiting is a Decision: The decision to wait, even if it feels like the responsible thing to do, is still a choice that can accumulate a quiet cost over time.

    • The Real Cost is Relational: The cost of waiting isn't just fewer pages — it's the fading relationship you have with your own writing.

    • Resistance is Often Mislabelled: What's often called "resistance" is frequently grief, fear, or a nervous system signaling that the work cannot be rushed but also cannot be ignored.

    • Writers Need a Creative Container, Not Pressure: Pushing through ("Be more disciplined!") often backfires. Instead of deadlines, writers need to honor the work with a container, where a draft can take its time to become what it needs to be with attention and flow.

    • Start Something, Anything: I share a quick personal story to illustrate that starting something (a food blog) led to something else (stories about working motherhood and life lessons, then books) that was truly calling.

    • Meet Your Draft: The path forward involves greeting your drafts without judgment, asking them, "What do you need from me?" and then listening.

    Timestamps:

    00:00 Introduction to How Women Write

    00:30 The Quiet Cost of Waiting

    01:27 Personal Journey and Realizations

    03:15 The Subtlety of Waiting

    03:46 The Real Cost of Unfinished Work

    05:20 Honoring the Writing Process

    06:04 Conclusion and Call to Action

    Key Links:

    • Explore Signature Services for Writing Coaching & Mentoring

    Connect with Jacqueline Fisch:

    • Substack: Energy-First Writing

    • LinkedIn

    • Instagram
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    6 mins
  • 54: The Power of Surrender: Naomi D. Williams on Writing a Book Born in the NICU

    54: The Power of Surrender: Naomi D. Williams on Writing a Book Born in the NICU
    Jan 14 2026
    This is a special episode for me. In 2017, as I first stepped into freelance writing, Naomi reached out, looking for support in transforming her 2009 journal entries into a book. I didn't set out to work on books, but the work found me — and I'm so glad it did. Listen in as I chat with Naomi D. Williams, the author of And God Remembered Noah: A mother's heart-opening journey through 22 weeks in the NICU. Naomi shares how her book came about from the raw, real-time journal entries she wrote while her son, Noah, a micro-preemie born at 26 weeks, spent five months in the NICU. We talk about the challenging process of revisiting those honest entries eight years later, and how important it was to maintain her original, authentic language — curse words and all — to serve both parents and medical providers. We also dive into the beautiful, adventurous life she and Noah share now, including his numerous marathons and triathlons. Naomi shares the incredible origin story of NoahLand Art — her son's abstract art business, where "everyone belongs." Finally, we discuss her current writing practice, giving herself permission to write what feels dark as well as light, and the freedom found in surrender and a non-linear writing process Hear about: The Book's Origin: And God Remembered Noah was written from raw, real-time journal entries Naomi kept while her son was in the NICU. She organized the book into 22 chapters, mirroring the 22 weeks he spent there. The Dual Purpose: The book's goal is twofold: to let parents know all their emotions are real and they're not alone, and to give providers an authentic perspective on the parent experience. Authenticity Over Polish: Naomi chose not to edit the original journal entries years later to maintain transparency, even though she became a different person through the experience. Writing Wisdom: If you're considering writing a book from your journal entries, Naomi urges you to just "do it." Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Today's Guest: Naomi Williams 00:12 Naomi's Journey to Becoming an Author 01:59 The Birth of Naomi's Book 07:19 Challenges and Emotions in Writing 17:45 The Impact of Naomi's Work 21:57 Adventures with Noah 23:23 The Importance of Teamwork in Travel 24:38 Noah's Artistic Journey & Noahland Art 28:17 Early Reading and Writing Experiences 31:44 The Writing Process and Overcoming Challenges 35:21 The Impact of Publishing and Future Projects 39:45 Encouragement for Aspiring Writers 41:53 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Meet Naomi D. Williams Naomi D. Williams is a Life Doula and Grief Coach who supports parents and family caregivers as they navigate the complex systems that accompany a life-altering medical diagnosis. As the mother of a micro-preemie given a poor prognosis, Naomi models what a good quality of life looks like despite severe neurological impairment and medical complexities. She is an author, an avid traveler who enjoys naps, getting lost in nature, and taking long, deep breaths on her yoga mat. Key Links: Buy Naomi's Book: And God Remembered Noah: A mother's heart-opening journey through 22 weeks in the NICU Naomi's Website: exceptionalliving101.org Noahland Art Website: noahland.art Connect with Jacqueline Fisch: Substack: Energy-First Writing Signature Book Coaching Services LinkedIn Instagram
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    43 mins
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