476: Trusting Your Gut with Mary Laura Phillpot (Ep 5)

In this podcast Write Big session, Jennie Nash talks with author Mary Laura Philpott about the surprising choice she made after her acclaimed book Bomb Shelter —to stop writing on purpose. Mary Laura shares how, after pouring everything into that project, her gut told her she didn’t need to rush into another, despite the pressure of “what’s next?” from the industry and readers. This conversation reframes writing big not as chasing ambition, but as honoring your gut and giving your whole heart to whatever season you’re in—even if that means not writing at all. THINGS MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST: Mary Laura Philpott’s website Bomb Shelter The New York Times Review SPONSORSHIP MESSAGE Hey, it’s Jenny Nash, and if you’ve been writing a new book through the month of November and wondering if it’s any good, this might be the perfect time to work with an Author Accelerator certified book coach to get a professional gut check. Eighty-six of our certified coaches are offering a Black Friday special. For just $299, you get a mini blueprint strategy session, which includes a one-on-one call, some feedback on your pages, and the kind of insight and inspiration you need to write forward with confidence. Visit to find the book coach who’s a perfect fit for you. Looking for the transcript? Check us out at Substack

You can listen to 476: Trusting Your Gut with Mary Laura Phillpot (Ep 5) online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

476: Trusting Your Gut with Mary Laura Phillpot (Ep 5) is an episode from #AmWriting with Jess & KJ by Audioboom.

This episode is 24:27 long.

This episode was published on Nov 21, 2025.

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