Conversations with Nichole Williams

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nichole Williams.

Hi Nichole, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved to write — written words have always been the way I express myself best. For a long time, I wanted to share my poetry with others, but I wasn’t quite sure how to start. One day, while researching how to publish a book, I joined a Zoom call hosted by a man who spoke about the importance of building a following first. He encouraged writers to create a dedicated page and an email community to connect with readers.
That advice really resonated with me. In 2018, I officially began my writing journey by launching my website, Nichole Nichole Deals with Reality, a poetry blog where I share my reflections and real-life experiences through poetry. I started small — reaching out to friends and family, inviting them to join my poetry community, promising I’d only send meaningful pieces. Each month, I wrote a new poem and shared it through my website and email. Around the same time, I created my Instagram page, Nichole and Reality, to share my work and connect with a wider audience.
Over time, my audience grew — not astronomical, but a beautiful community of about 500 subscribers. To me, it’s always been about quality, not quantity. As I continued writing poetry that dealt with real-life experiences, I began thinking about expanding my creativity. I decided to try writing short stories — fun, heartfelt pieces that I could see fitting right in with the Hallmark Channel. In October 2019, I self-published my first short story on Amazon titled Oh What a Night. I’ll admit, I took a leap and published it without editing, but even with a few grammatical errors, readers loved the storyline.
That encouragement inspired me to write more, and soon I had published six short stories in total. My last one, The Petition, touched on deeper themes — a mother’s fight for her son in an unjust world. It was a shift from my usual lighthearted tone, but it reflected what I was feeling and witnessing in society at the time. Writing takes time and heart, and while I’ve paused my short stories for now, I plan to return to them soon.
In the meantime, I continue to write poetry for my community. I’ve even had opportunities to collaborate with others — creating poems inspired by paintings or nature videos, which I’ve truly enjoyed. Also during Covid I was asked to join a few virtual poetry open mics and that was fun. Wanting to strengthen my craft, I applied for a 12-week writing program with the Toronto Writing Collective. Although it was primarily for Ontario residents, I was thrilled when the Director of Programming personally called to tell me I’d been accepted. It was such an exciting moment for me.
During that program, some of my poems were published in two anthologies, and today my work appears in three in total. Seeing my poetry in print is an incredible feeling — it’s proof of how far I’ve come since I first started.
My writing journey is still unfolding. My ultimate goal remains the same: to self-publish my own poetry book. And as I continue to share my poetry, I’ve also started something new this year (2025) — weekly motivational emails that blend encouragement with short poems. I write about love, health, money, relationships, career, and self-care, and the feedback has been wonderful.
Writing, for me, will always be more than words on a page — it’s my way of connecting, uplifting, and putting smiles on people’s faces. Written communication is, and always will be, my favorite way to reach the heart

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Like many writers, I’ve faced moments of writer’s block — especially over the past couple of years. I’ve had two short stories that I’ve been working on but haven’t quite finished yet. The ideas are there, but sometimes finding the creative energy to bring them to life can be tough.

Balancing writing with a full-time job, raising kids, and managing everyday life hasn’t always been easy either. There are days when I’m mentally and emotionally drained, and carving out time for my craft feels like a challenge. But even when I can’t focus on my stories, I still turn to poetry — it’s my constant outlet, my way to express and release what I’m feeling.

I’ve learned to be patient with myself and to honor my creative process. Writing doesn’t always happen on a schedule, and that’s okay. What matters is staying connected to the passion and remembering why I started — to write from the heart and share words that touch others.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a writer and poet, and I share my work through my poetry blog, Nichole Nichole Deals with Reality. What truly sets me apart is my commitment to writing about reality in an honest, heartfelt way. I want readers to feel seen and understood through my words, to know they’re not alone in what they’re feeling or facing.
One of my proudest accomplishments is that my blog has been consistently recognized among the top poetry platforms online. In fact, in 2025, Nichole Nichole Deals with Reality was ranked number 19 on the list of the 100 Best Poetry Blogs and Websites. Since launching my site, I’ve remained in the top 50 — which feels incredibly rewarding.
Beyond the recognition, what means the most to me is the connection I’ve built with my readers. When someone reaches out to say a poem touched them or helped them through something, that’s the real success for me. My goal has always been to write from the heart — and if my words can make even one person feel inspired, comforted, or understood, then I know I’m fulfilling my purpose as a writer.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
For me, the biggest risk has been putting myself out there — sharing my writing with the world. Writing is such a personal form of expression, and once you release it, you never really know how people will respond. I used to ask myself questions like, Am I writing too much or too little? Is this good enough? Will anyone connect with it?

It was scary at first because my words come straight from my heart, and sharing them felt like exposing a piece of my soul. But I decided to take a leap of faith and trust that my voice mattered. Once I did, I realized that being vulnerable is actually one of the most powerful things a writer can do.

Taking that risk opened doors I never expected — from building a loyal poetry community to being featured in anthologies and recognized among top poetry blogs. More importantly, it taught me that courage doesn’t mean not being afraid — it means creating anyway, even when you are

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nicholenichole.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicholeandreality/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicholeandReality/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nicholenichole2