Author Interview: Nina Amir on Creative Purpose, Writing That Matters, and Changing the World
- Kaecey McCormick
- 13 hours ago
- 8 min read
Happy Monday, creatives!
Today I’m delighted to welcome transformational coach author Nina Amir to the blog as part of her tour for Change the World One Book at a Time.
Nina’s work is rooted in the idea that books are not just artistic expressions or career milestones—they are tools for change, connection, and community.
This feels especially meaningful for writers of all kinds (poets, essayists, memoirists, and storytellers) because it reminds us that why we write can be just as important as what we write.
In her book, Nina invites authors to go beyond self-expression and consider how their words might influence, inspire, or even transform the readers who discover them.
In this conversation, Nina shares insights into how she first recognized the power of writing with purpose, how aligning creative work with personal values has shaped her own writing life, and how writers can stay connected to their work in sustainable ways.
Whether you’re just beginning to explore your creative voice or you’ve been writing for years, I think you’ll find her reflections both encouraging and thought-provoking. You can also jump ahead to learn more about Nina here or learn more about her book here.
Enjoy the interview
-Kaecey
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Nina Amir on Creative Purpose, Writing That Matters, and Changing the World
Kaecey: Nina, welcome! I’m so glad to have you here today because I think your book will resonate with so many. Let’s dive in!
Change the World One Book at a Time is built around the idea of becoming an “Author of Change.” Can you share the moment—or moments—when you first realized writing could be more than self-expression for you, but a way to actively shape lives or communities?
Nina: In college, all magazine journalist majors were asked to have a concentration in an area, so they
could write about or specialize in that subject. I chose psychology, because I wanted to help people
through my writing. As a magazine journalist, I hoped to work for a publication like Self, which offered
helpful advice to readers. That didn’t happen, but I have gone on to write for a variety of
publications—always articles meant to help their audiences.
I always read books about personal and spiritual growth as well as metaphysics. I edited several books
meant to inspire change, and that was probably when I began thinking about writing one of my own.
I later got involved with the San Francisco Writers Conference, which led me to involvement with the San
Francisco Writing for Change Conference. That inspired me to not only write for change in my own way
but to write a book for other writers who want to inspired and motivate through books.
Kaecey: I love hearing about the evolution of your journey. And we're so lucky that it evolved the way it did, because Change the World One Book at a Time is such a useful guide. Your book places a strong emphasis on creative purpose before productivity. For writers who feel called to write but unsure what their “big why” actually is, what are some gentle ways they can begin listening for that purpose without forcing answers too soon?
Nina: Of course! Pay attention to the things you are passionate about or can’t stop talking about. What
makes you angry? What makes you want to do something? What inspires you? What do you want to stop
or start? Also look at your unique gifts. These all lead to purpose and, potentially, to a book that authors
change.
Kaecey: I love that advice to look to our passions, or our obsessions as I sometimes think of them. I think that's a helpful tip when trying to figure out what to write about in any genre, but especially when trying to answer big questions. You write about the importance of embodiment—that writers must live the change they want to inspire. How has your own creative life shifted or deepened as you’ve aligned your writing practice more closely with your values?
Nina: I think the biggest change in my creative life is a recommitment to express the things I value through
my writing. I don’t know that my creative life itself has shifted, although I am doing more writing and
publishing now that I have realigned with my passions, purpose, and identity. I feel I am doing more of
my life’s work; even the busy work required for authorship feels aligned.
Kaecey: Mmm, that's really important isn't it? For our writing or authorship, as you say, to be aligned with our passions and identity. Love that. Speaking of alignment... many writers on my site juggle creative work alongside full lives, doubts, and interruptions. What does sustainable writing look like to you when the goal isn’t just finishing a book, but staying connected to the work over time?
Nina: My new book, Change the World One Book at a Time, took 15 years to go from idea to reality.
Sometimes staying connected to the work over time means remaining committed to it, having the tenacity to continue pursuing the project and it’s completion, or believing in it enough to take a small step toward
completion on a somewhat regular basis.
Other times, staying connect to the work over times means putting in time with the project at least
weekly. That could mean rereading, revising, or writing chapters or doing research or writing for a book
proposal or your website or blog. Time spent could be as small as 15 minutes or as large as 2 hours. But
stay connected.
I will say that my goal is always to finish the manuscript and publish the book. But when life gets in the
way, the goal is to work toward that end with small, consistent steps.
Kaecey: Yes, small, consistent steps! I'm nodding along here, because as someone juggling many plates while trying to write, I, too, have found that to be key. I just finished one manuscript and am editing it while starting work on the next book. Doing one small step at a time rather than focusing on the whole project has really helped.
Okay, before we wrap up, I'd love to offer our readers something they can take directly to the page. Is there one reflection or question from Change the World One Book at a Time that you often return to—and that writers could try this week to clarify what kind of change their writing might be pointing toward?
Nina: This isn’t directly from Change the World One Book at a Time, but it is inherent to the book’s
message—my message.
If you could change just one thing—big or small—in someone’s life or in your community, organization,
government, or country or even in the world at large, what would you want to change? What matters to
you most when it comes to creating change?
Now, write a book about how to accomplish that change.
Kaecey: Wow, yes. I mean, those can feel like big questions, but I like that you include that it can be a small thing. For many of us, that can lead to a bigger change. I'll have to journal about this and maybe find a book! :) Finally, for writers who worry that their voice is “too small” or their audience too niche to make a real difference, what would you want them to understand about impact and how it actually works through books?
Nina: Impact happens when a person reads your book and feels both inspired and motivated to follow the
recommendations you made in its pages. You can have that impact with one person, and you have
authored change.
No one’s voice is too small or audience too niche to make a difference. You will make a difference in
your target market…and then you can continue to grow from there. The main thing is to commit to
making your books successful so it has the ripple effect you desire. That means not giving up on building
a bigger audience or making your voice heard in your niche.
And sometimes you can have more impact in a small niche than in a large one.
Stop worrying about these things. Instead, continue being the voice of change and moving forward
without excuses for why you can’t author change.
Kaecey: Beautiful advice. Nina, thank you for sharing your perspective so openly and thoughtfully. Your reflections offer so much to writers navigating both the page and the world beyond it.
Nina: Thanks so much for having me on your blog! You asked some great questions, and I am honored to be featured here.
Kaecey: Happy to have you! I hope you'll come back again in the future, as I've really taken so much away from today's interview.
Readers, you can learn more about Nina and her book below!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nina Amir, the Inspiration to Creation Coach, is an 19X Amazon bestselling hybrid author. She supports writers on the journey to successful authorship as an Author Coach, Transformational Coach, and Certified High Performance Coach (CHPC ® )—the only one working with writers.
In addition to her most recent book, Change the World One Book at a Time: Make a Positive and Meaningful Difference with Your Words, Nina wrote three traditionally published books for aspiring authors—How to Blog a Book, The Author Training Manual, and Creative Visualization for Writers. Additionally, she has self-published a host of books and ebooks, including the Write Nonfiction NOW! series of guides. She has had 19 books on the Amazon Top 100 List and as many as six books on the Authorship bestseller list at the same time.
Nina is an award-winning journalist and blogger, as well as a successful nonfiction developmental editor. Some of her editing clients have sold 300,000+ copies of their books, landed deals with major publishing houses and created thriving businesses around their books.
To further support writers, Nina created the Nonfiction Writers’ University, where members access a huge archive of resources, such as courses, ebooks, and interviews with writing and publishing experts, and receive monthly group Author Coaching. Additionally, she created the Write Nonfiction in November Challenge and Author of Change Transformational Programs. Nina also founded the Inspired Creator Community, which provides group transformational (spiritual and personal growth) coaching around the topic of creating what matters.
Connect with Nina online here:
Her websites: https://ninaamir.com, https://writenonfictionnow.com, & https://howtoblogabook.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspirationtocreationcoach/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NinaAmir
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ninaamir
ABOUT THE BOOK
Writing has the potential to effect change. One look at the world makes it clear that creating change is more critical now than ever. Yet, writers face a roadblock: lack of guidance through the process. Change the World One Book at a Time: Make a Positive and Meaningful Difference with Your Words provides a handbook to help them achieve their mission.
In Change the World One Book at a Time, Nina Amir details how to produce books that serve as potent tools for transformation. A variety of books have been published about how to become an author, however, none have focused on providing strategies specifically geared toward writers who want to inspire and motivate change. These writers need a better-than-average manual on how to write and publish.
This nonfiction reference book will provide activists, coaches, healers, clergy, speakers, leaders, writers, and anyone who wants to write a book that makes a difference with a comprehensive guide to understanding the change process, building engaged communities around their missions, and writing books that move readers to action.
You can pick up your copy of Change the World One Book at a Time on Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, or through Bookshop.org. And be sure to add this title to your GoodReads reading list!
Want to join in the conversation? Comment on the post or send me a message!
Happy reading and happy writing!
