No Mess, No Magic

When you hear the words shadow work , what comes to mind? For a lot of people, it's trauma. Darkness. Digging up painful memories. That's not the whole story. In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Chelsey Pippin Mizzi to talk about the surprising connection between shadow work and creativity. Chelsey explains how our "shadow" isn't just the parts of ourselves we don't like—it's often the...

In this episode, I'm joined by author Hannah Callan to talk about writing in the margins of life, and building an author platform. We discuss what it looks like to pursue creative dreams while juggling work, family, social media, overwhelm, and all the other responsibilities that come with being a human being. We also dive into author platform-building and some of the biggest misconceptions writer...

Many writers spend years trying to force themselves into writing routines that simply don't fit how their brains work. In this episode, Monica sits down with Dr. Bailey Lang—book coach, writing studies scholar, and self-described literary witch—to discuss why traditional writing advice often fails neurodivergent writers and what to do instead. Together, they explore the overlap between ADHD, autis...

What happens when life forces you to stop writing? In this episode of No Mess, No Magic , I sit down with developmental editor and story scientist Lori Puma to talk about creativity, rest, uncertainty, and what happens when your plans are completely upended. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2018, Lori underwent an eight-hour brain surgery that changed her life overnight. For years after...

Writing a first book isn't just about learning craft. There's a lot of mindset work involved, and a lot of it feels invisible. It's about learning how to keep going when your brain is telling you you're not talented enough, your book isn't good enough, and maybe you should quit altogether. In this episode, I'm joined by author, writing coach, and founder of First Book Finish, Rhonda Douglas. We ta...

If you've ever opened a beat sheet, stared at a plotting template, and immediately wanted to throw your laptop out a window, this episode is for you. (This is how I am lol) In this conversation, I sit down with book coach and editor Lewis Jorstad to talk about intuitive outlining —a flexible approach to story development that helps writers create stronger stories without sacrificing creativity, cu...

In this episode of No Mess, No Magic , Monica talks with fiction author and educator Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer about dictation, accessibility, and why writing with your voice is still writing. Sarah shares how she went from struggling with dictation for seven years to using it to draft 14 books, and now teaches other authors how to make the shift from typing to speaking their stories. Together, Monic...

We get SPICY in this one! About Rachel: Rachel May is a published author and powerhouse coach who brings a refreshingly down-to-earth approach to writing craft, mindset, and process. As a writer with ADHD, Rachel is intimately familiar with the frustrations that traditional writing “rules” can bring—especially for writers who feel like they just don’t fit the mold. Rachel’s sessions go beyond typi...

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 husba...

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 d...

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 gr...

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...

We talk about why lowering the bar sets you up for success in your writing life! Subscribe to my newsletter Check 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: Wr...

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!