The War of Art Episode
Babe Cave
If you keep asking yourself "Am I really a writer?"—that's your answer. You already are. In this episode inspired by Steven Pressfield's The War of Art, writing coach Amanda Polick tackles the creative resistance that keeps writers stuck in planning mode and afraid to put words on the page. From her own experience resisting personal material in her novel to coaching clients who avoid their most powerful stories, Amanda reveals why fear is actually your creative compass. In this conversation, you'll discover: Why the question "Am I really a writer?" proves you are one—and why confident...
info_outline
The Best Of Episode
Babe Cave
Are Michelin stars and James Beard Awards actually worth pursuing? Amanda Polick reveals the uncomfortable politics behind best-of and awards lists—and what they really mean for your career. In this episode, you'll discover: → Why restaurant awards are often more about PR relationships than food quality—and what happened when Amanda's Oakland restaurant picks got killed for "not fitting our demographic" → The truth about the Michelin Guide's Southern expansion and why Top Chef's Gail Simmons says she "hates that cities judge themselves by awards" → How awards impact cookbook deals...
info_outline
The Cookbook Coach Episode
Babe Cave
Ever wondered what a cookbook coach actually does? (Most people don't even know it's a thing!) In this solo episode, Amanda pulls back the curtain on my work helping food creators and influencers turn their ideas into traditionally published cookbooks. From the detailed intake form that reveals everything about working together, to the 4-month breakthrough moment that every author experiences, this is your insider look at the cookbook publishing process. In this episode, you'll discover: ✨ What makes a cookbook proposal so critical (and why you can't skip sections) ✨ Why platform size...
info_outline
The Day Job Episode
Babe Cave
Let's talk about the thing nobody wants to admit: most writers have day jobs. In this episode, Amanda shares the story of how she tried to go full-time with her cookbook coaching business, the months of panic that followed, and how a friend's honesty about her retail job changed everything. You'll discover: → What Jane Friedman reveals about writer income throughout history → Why having a day job doesn't make you less of a "real" writer → How Amanda writes 500 words daily in just 30 minutes while working full-time → Why multitasking is physically impossible and destroying your...
info_outline
The Audacity Episode
Babe Cave
What if making the WRONG creative choice is better than making the safe one? In this episode, Amanda looks at creative audacity—the willingness to take bold risks even when you don't know if they'll work. From LA acting auditions to Elizabeth Gilbert's rejection story to why "easy to read" is actually a superpower, this episode is about leading creative conversations instead of following them. Discover: Why bold choices (even wrong ones) beat playing it safe every time The Elizabeth Gilbert story that proves timing matters more than "fixing" your work How your personality becomes your...
info_outline
The Jannell Lo Episode
Babe Cave
What happens when nobody signs up for your class, but you leave it posted anyway? Sometimes, two months later, the exact right person finds it—and four years later, you're celebrating their debut cookbook launch. Jannell Lo is a food creator and writer whose journey to publication defied every traditional publishing rule. She got her cookbook deal without an agent, through a cold email that led to a call with Penguin Random House Canada six weeks later. But between that email and her book launch this week, she raised $150K fighting anti-Asian hate through Dump the Hate, learned to write "hot...
info_outline
The Banned Book Episode
Babe Cave
Book banning isn't new—it's a 2,000-year-old playbook designed to control what people know and think. From Emperor Qin Shi Huang burning books in ancient China to 16,000 documented book bans in American schools since 2020, the pattern is always the same: those in power fear ideas that challenge their narrative. In this deep-dive episode, Amanda Polick traces the history of censorship from ancient Rome to the firing of Dr. Carla Hayden from the Library of Congress, revealing how book banning has always been about control, never protection. In this conversation, you'll discover: How the...
info_outline
The Welcome Back Episode
Babe Cave
After 1955 days, Babe Cave is back with bold conversations about writing, publishing, and creative authenticity. Host Amanda Polick returns from her journey as a cookbook and food memoir coach with a powerful message: nothing you create is ever really gone, and sometimes stepping away is exactly what you need to come back stronger. This comeback episode explores the messy truth about creative pivots, the danger of playing small, and why authentic boldness matters more than ever in the writing world. In this conversation, you'll discover: Why "failed" creative projects might just be waiting...
info_outline
The Pivot Episode
Babe Cave
After 3 Seasons of conversations about the in-between things of life, Babe Cave is riding off into the sunset. In this final episode, Amanda Polick reflects on the journey that brought her and you here and shares her own next steps. Welcome to The Pivot Episode. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com
info_outline
The Recognition Episode
Babe Cave
We spend a lot of time thinking about goals and end products and very little time on small wins — like acknowledging that a tiny shift might make the process work better. This week, Amanda shares words of encouragement for the ones who need to linger in the moment a little longer. Welcome to The Recognition Episode. >>> https://www.amandapolick.com
info_outlineIf you keep asking yourself "Am I really a writer?"—that's your answer. You already are.
In this episode inspired by Steven Pressfield's The War of Art, writing coach Amanda Polick tackles the creative resistance that keeps writers stuck in planning mode and afraid to put words on the page. From her own experience resisting personal material in her novel to coaching clients who avoid their most powerful stories, Amanda reveals why fear is actually your creative compass.
In this conversation, you'll discover:
- Why the question "Am I really a writer?" proves you are one—and why confident people aren't always the real artists
- How creative resistance points directly to your most important work (and why the things that scare you most are exactly what you need to write)
- The difference between amateur and professional mindsets: why waiting to overcome fear keeps you stuck forever
- Why your "easy" lived experiences are actually your strongest material—and how avoiding them makes your work lifeless
- Practical strategies for moving past perfectionism and finally finishing that book you've been dreaming about
Perfect for: Writers struggling with imposter syndrome, creative professionals facing resistance, aspiring authors who keep starting and stopping projects, anyone tired of treating their writing like a hobby
Amanda Polick is a cookbook and food memoir coach guide influencers and creators through the book writing process. Her clients have landed literary representation and Big 5 publishing deals.
Resources:
Show notes and full blog post: https://www.amandapolick.com/blog/war-of-art-episode
Newsletter signup: https://amandapolick.myflodesk.com/writinggold
The Done Club 6-week writing workshop: https://amandapolick.myflodesk.com/doneclub
Connect: @amandapolick on Instagram | amandapolick.com