Home - Master Writer Mindset

Self-doubt will stop you.

Time management will trip you up.

Discouragement will deflate you.

Success will seem forever out of reach.

You’ll burn out and quit.

Your writing dreams will fade.

WELCOME!

I’m Colleen M. Story, and I help writers master the mental game of writing.

I’ve published seven award-winning books so far—four novels and three nonfiction books for writers.

But things weren’t always so great.

For over 15 years, I battled self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and fear of failure before landing my first traditional publishing contract. I spent years overthinking, rewriting, and holding myself back, convinced I wasn’t good enough. Even after publishing, I faced the overwhelming challenge of marketing my work and putting myself out there.

I know what it’s like to dream of success but feel stuck, frustrated, and uncertain about the path forward.

That’s why I created Master Writer Mindset—to help writers like you build confidence in your craft and career. Whether you’re struggling to stay consistent, afraid to hit publish, or feeling lost in the marketing maze, you’ll find the mindset shifts and practical strategies you need to move forward.

Subscribe now for weekly motivation, pep talks, and new ideas for mastering your writing world!

Let Your Backstage Brain Write Your Novel
If you feel like the only way to write your novel is to clear big blocks of time, your backstage brain is about to become your new best friend. If you’re trying to write a book while working, caregiving, or raising little kids, you already know how hard it is
What Really Happens When You Stop Writing
When you stop writing, it usually feels like the most reasonable, grown-up choice you can make. Life gets overwhelming, the schedule explodes, and most writers do the same thing. We push the writing aside, promising that we’ll get through the chaos first and then come back to the writing when
Why “Writing Should Be Easy” Hurts Your Work
If you’ve ever secretly believed that writing should be easy, that could be the reason you’re struggling. Somewhere along the way, you were probably told that writing should feel effortless, that if you were really a writer, the words would come easily. But that belief is a lie, and it’s
Don’t Feel Like Writing? Do This for 60 Seconds
When you don’t feel like writing, it can feel like you’ve failed before you’ve even typed a word. You have to write. You want to write, but your brain just hits the brakes. What if I told you there’s a psychological trick that top writers use to shatter that feeling
Still Not Where You Want To Be With Writing?
Still not where you want to be with writing? Don’t be too hard on yourself. Here’s what I learned. A couple of years ago, I posted my very first YouTube video, and I thought it was okay. But when I watch it now? Yikes! It’s hard not to cringe. And
Why “Believe in Yourself” Fails Writers
“Believe in yourself” sounds like writing advice that should help, and yet for a lot of writers, it lands like a shrug. How many times have you heard this: You just have to believe in yourself. As if writing success is that simple. So you try. You tell yourself you
When You’re Struggling to Write, Try This
When you’re struggling to write, try this simple shift. Have you ever thought to yourself, This whole writing life is just way more complicated than I thought it was going to be. Not only is there learning how to write a good story, novel, or poem, but then there’s the
Bookstore Marketing for Writers: Why It Still Matters
Bookstore marketing for writers gets dismissed a lot these days. You hear the same message over and over: it’s not worth trying to get your book into bookstores anymore, and don’t bother doing signings because nobody shows up, nobody buys, and it doesn’t move the needle. Honestly, there’s some truth
Building Writing Momentum: Why You Can’t Wait Until January
Building writing momentum is about starting now, not waiting for the new year! If you’ve ever promised yourself that this year would be your year as a writer, only to find November and December rolling around to once again bring disappointment, you may be tempted to throw up your hands
Writers and People Pleasing: Why Your Creative Gift Might Be Holding You Back
If you’re a writer, you’ve probably heard that writers and people pleasing don’t usually go together. One is about self expression. The other is about self abandonment. But here’s something I didn’t know until recently: the same traits that make you creative can also make you a world-class people pleaser.
Is Writing Worth It? An Honest Answer for Writers Questioning Their Path
Is writing worth it? If you’ve been working on your book for a long time, or maybe you’ve written and published several books already, you’re probably starting to wonder if all the time and effort you’re putting into this thing called the writing life is actually worth it. Most of
Writing Seasons: How to Work With Your Natural Rhythm
Writing seasons show up in every writer’s life, and the sooner you recognize them, the easier it gets to keep going without beating yourself up. I’ve been writing for over twenty-five years, and publishing books for more than a decade. Over and over, I see the same pattern: progress comes