No Mess, No Magic

About Annie:Annie is a German-born author who now lives in the Netherlands, where she cycles through the countryside like a main character in a moody indie film—if that character were also late to school pickup and covered in cat hair. She writes romcoms full of grumps, banter, and emotional chaos, because love should come with laughter and a mild identity crisis. She lives with her British husband, two small tornadoes disguised as children, and exactly two cats. When she’s not writing or drawing, she’s watching drag and pretending her fictional characters didn’t just emotionally damage her.Find her website here!Annie Abel discusses her book 'Two Truths and a Lie' and her experience with self-publishing and audiobooks. She also shares insights on creative freedom, marketing, and the indie publishing community. The conversation covers topics such as marketing strategies for indie authors, staying true to one's creative vision, self-publishing advice, and managing a busy life as a writer. Anne-Marie Alcott shares insights on book launches, writing processes, and the challenges of balancing family and writing career. She also emphasizes the importance of authenticity and creativity in the writing process.TakeawaysCreative freedom in self-publishing allows authors to take risks and write stories they want to read.Networking and seizing opportunities play a key role in indie book marketing. Marketing strategies for indie authorsStaying true to creative visionSelf-publishing adviceBalancing family and writing careerChapters00:00 Introduction and Book Overview07:55 The Audiobook Journey15:01 Creative Freedom in Self-Publishing22:20 Approach to Marketing and Networking31:39 Self-Publishing Advice37:20 Balancing Family and Writing Career

Join this conversation with my mommyyy, Stacy Blum-Hay. What happens to creativity over a lifetime?Visit my mom's website here.The conversation explores the therapeutic nature of art, the influence of family on artistic pursuits, the challenge of overcoming critical self-perception, the balance between art and family responsibilities, and the impact of education on creativity. The conversation delves into the importance of education and its impact on creativity, the influence of society on creative pursuits, the challenges of pursuing creative writing, the role of art in society, raising creative children, the impact of stability on creativity, the need for support and recognition of the arts, and encouraging creativity and artistic expression. The discussion emphasizes the significance of education in fostering creativity and the societal impact on artistic pursuits.TakeawaysArt as TherapyThe Impact of Family on ArtOvercoming Critical Self-Perception Supporting creativityThe impact of education on creativityChapters00:00 Art as Therapy09:35 Overcoming Critical Self-Perception17:39 Balancing Art and Family26:16 Creativity and Education31:39 The Importance of Education and Creativity40:19 The Role of Art in Society45:31 The Need for Support and Recognition of the Arts52:16 Encouraging Creativity and Artistic Expression

Join Monica and Gala for a low-key chaotic discussion about the writing life.Gala Russ helps creatives understand how they work and build sustainable creative lives and businesses that fit them. After writing and publishing nine romance novels under the pen name Willa Drew, she developed a practical path to help writers start their novels and bring them into the world. Through workshops, small groups, and one-on-one coaching, she teaches writing craft, storytelling fundamentals, and creative systems so creativity becomes part of everyday life—not something squeezed into the margins.The conversation covers the journey of a writer and the impact of life transitions on the writing process. It explores the concept of making peace with one's writing practice and the influence of emotional bandwidth on writing pace. The conversation covers the themes of self-compassion, creativity, writing process, and originality in writing. It delves into the importance of self-compassion in creative pursuits, the challenges of finding time for creativity, and the process of discovering one's unique writing voice and niche in the market.TakeawaysWriting pace varies based on individual factors such as writing speed, book length, and writing frequency.Life transitions and emotional bandwidth can significantly impact a writer's pace and writing process. Self-compassion is essential for making space for creativity in times of uncertainty.Discovering and embracing one's unique writing voice and niche is crucial for successful and fulfilling writing endeavors.Chapters00:00 Journey as a Writer and Writing Practice08:31 Making Peace with Writing Practice24:41 Impact of Life Transitions on Writing Pace32:07 Self-Compassion and CreativityGet Gala's Write Your Novel Check InFollow Monica on InstagramMonica's WebsiteWant to explore working with Monica? Click here to book a curiosity call!

Today we have guest Dani Fankhauser! Dani is a writer and energy healer. Her fiction has been published by NonBinary Review, HAD, Sheepshead Review, and Nightshade Publishing, and long listed by Uncharted Magazine. Sister Earth is her first novel.Learn about Dani and find her book here.Want to learn about working with Dani? Click here.The conversation explores the spiritual side of writing and channeling, discussing the impact of social media on writers' ability to connect with themselves and their intuition. It delves into the struggle to write, the path to channeling, energy healing, meditation, and the process of channeling in writing. Additionally, it addresses the learning process of channeling and overcoming the inner critic, as well as creating inner and outer changes for channeling. The conversation delves into the healing process of creativity, the distinction between intuition and fear, the recognition of channeling in writing, and the spiritual practice of writing. It explores the frustration and clearing of the subconscious in creativity, as well as the surprise and recognition of channeling in the writing process. The discussion also highlights the role of writing as a spiritual practice and the importance of honesty as a high vibration in creativity.TakeawaysChanneling and writing are interconnectedThe impact of social media on writers' ability to connect with themselves and their intuition Honesty as High VibrationChanneling and Writing as a Healing ProcessChapters00:00 Introduction to Spiritual Writing06:30 Social Media and Distraction13:01 Understanding Channeling in Writing19:00 Learning to Channel and Overcoming Inner Critic24:30 The Healing Process of Creativity30:25 Distinguishing Intuition from Fear and Anxiety35:29 Recognizing Channeling in WritingMonica's Links:WebsiteInstagram Subscribe to the Literary Lantern

We talk about why lowering the bar sets you up for success in your writing life! Subscribe to my newsletterCheck out my Instagram!Website New here? Hi, I'm Monica! I'm a writing coach who specializes in helping writers overcome resistance. I help writers finish drafts even when their brains are screaming “maybe reorganizing the spice cabinet would be better right now.”Because here's my take:Writing isn’t hard because you don’t know enough craft or because you're not skilled yet.Writing is hard because:it’s vulnerableit’s uncertainyour brain wants to protect you from failureSo I help writers build systems, friendships, and practices that let them keep writing anyway.Mess and all.

Today, we’re covering the 9 unsexy truths I’ve learned from being a writer the last 10+ years. And I introduce myself and what this podcast is all about!