A Beautiful Mess Podcast

We get a lot of questions from people starting on their very first novel. So in this week's episode, we're giving you all the advice that we wish we could time travel back and give ourselves on the day we started our first novels. There's so much writing advice out there, and no matter who you are, it's not all going to work for you. So in this episode, we'll share things to think about and consider as you plot and plan to begin a draft of your very first novel. And the bottom line is, you can do it, and we are here to cheer you on.
 
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Tips for new writers:
Give yourself a writing assignment
Just write your first novel
Immerse don't tell
Read
Get really comfort drafting unpolished
Be a joyful student
Invest a lot of time in ideation
Learn about the business of publishing
Your writing routine matters
 
Resources:
Show Don't Tell by Sandra Greth
Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes
Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass
Write your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell
The Author's Publishing Playbook by Carly Watters
https://www.laurenkaywrites.com/
 
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Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're discussing big and small things we want to learn. This episode is a great space for brainstorming. If you've been thinking that you'd like to pick up a new hobby. We're each discussing five big and small things that we'd like to learn in the near future. And we're also doing a hot take debate on the topic of plastic treat bags at children's birthday parties.
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5 Things we want to learn
Emma:
Learn Spanish
Play piano
Learn to write microfiction
Cooking and recipes
Painting
Elsie:
Water Marbling
Writing poetry
Classical painting lessons
Make 3 Ina Garten recipes
Book binding
Book Report:
Emma - The Cottage Around the Corner by D. L. Soria
Elsie - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com
Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're talking about Elsie's new newsletter, why newsletters are sometimes even better than blogs, and our advice for how to make your newsletter stand out if you're starting your own. We are also going to be debating a listener hot take that's about homeschooling.
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Check out Elsie's newsletter: https://www.elsielarson.com/
 
Check out Elise's newsletter: https://www.elisejoy.com/
 
What will the newsletter be:
Cozy
Curious
Photos of crafts and things she's making
Stories and essays
Life updates
Entertaining
 
What the newsletter won't be:
Writing DIYs
Not written by AI
 
You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com
Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

This week we're sharing our winter bucket lists (aka how to survive the cold season if you live in a region like we do). We'll also be debating a hot take that personally makes Elsie's blood boil. Let's jump in!
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Emma
Always have a candle burning and always make tea with dinner
Organize library room
Go room by room and clean and organize all the closets and cabinets in her home
Work through reading all of her craft book stash
Bake herself a birthday cake
Elsie
Declutter year - eliminate ALL the clutter in her home
Paints are always out this time of year
Old movie bucket list
Start a new photography era
Thrifting and flea markets (going more frequently this year)
You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com
Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.

We just wanted to wish you a wonderful Christmas or holiday, and we decided to put together a supercut of all of Nova's meditations, just for fun, because they bring us so much joy. Thank you for being here all year, and we're so excited to keep going into the new year.
You can support us by leaving us a couple of 5 star recipe reviews this week at abeautifulmess.com
Have a topic idea for the podcast? Write in to us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 417-893-0011.