Write Your Damn Novel: A podcast about writing a book in a month
Published by Kristina Horner & Liz Leo
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Write Your Damn Novel (formerly How to Win NaNo) is a no-nonsense guide to writing a novel in 30 days. Like it or not November comes every year, but don't you worry — your hosts are here for you! Kristina Horner and Liz Leo are 'writing-50k-words-in-a-month' experts (and lifelong writing friends) with a passion for helping people write their damn novel. Join them each week as they share their personal tips, tricks and other things they've learned over almost two decades of consecutive NaNoWriMo wins.
There are only 4 days left... and things might be looking pretty grim. But THERE IS STILL TIME. Our resident come-back queen, Liz Leo, recorded a special espiode today for everyone who needs a gently nudge in the right direction, or perhaps a swift kick in the pants. Take a moment to listen to her empassioned pep talk, and then get back to work! <3 Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
When the shine wears off and you still have 45,000 words to go
Okay I'll admit, this episode was supposed to go out a week ago. So pretend every time we talk about the 5k slump, we're actually talking about the... 15k slump. Either way, being in a writing slump can be tricky, especially when you're starting to realize things aren't working quite as well as you envisioned it and there's so, so many words left to write and should you even call yourself a writer why did you sign UP for this again writing is the worst!? Phew. Breathe. We've all been there. Your hosts Liz and Kristina have got your back. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
How to stay focused and block out immediate distractions while writing
November is here! Are you ready? Too bad, we all have to start writing anyway! In today's episode, your hosts Kristina and Liz discuss how to buckle down and get words written, despite the many distractions out there vying for your attention. HAPPY NANOWRIMO, ALL! Best of luck on your stories! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
100% Writer-approved novel outlining MAD LIBS!
There are only 3 days until NaNoWriMo begins! If you're scrambling like we are, we've got a tool that might help: MAD LIBS! All joking aside - in today's episode, your hosts Kristina and Liz realize the silly outlining mad lib they created is shockingly useful, and might have just helped them stumble upon Liz's next great American novel concept. Try the madlib for yourself here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQZ40mEEgE9/?igsh=MXdkZmI1cmlkMnJvYg== Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
Slow burn romance: why we love it
What exactly makes a romance "slow burn", and why is it having such a moment right now? What makes this trope so appealing? How can you raise the tension and add delicious slow burn romance to your own writing without it feeling like things are dragging? In today's episode, your hosts Liz and Kristina discuss the craft of writing slow burn romance, why we love it, and which well-know slow burn romances throughout history have most enthralled and inspired us. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
Interview with our Discord mods (and the creators of Rough Draft Month)!
Not only are today's guests Sara and Lucie two of the amazing minds behind the Rough Draft Month challenge, but they're also our Discord mods! Join us in today's episode as we talk writing, how these two came to be our moderators, and what it's like behind the scenes over at Rough Draft Month! This might be one of our favorite episodes yet. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
What is NaNo 2.0???
Liz is off cruising the Mediterranean, so this week you get ~ solo Kristina ~ talking about a new website making the rounds that we may have had a hand in... NaNo2.org is a community-focused hub for all things NaNoWriMo, created entirely by community volunteers and former staff who left the org way before it started going downhill. The goal is to provide resources and encouragement for current participants, information for new participants, and to highlight all the great NaNo alternatives that have been popping up in the wake of the former program's destruction. Check it out, or don't! It's cool! <3 Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
Writing Confessions (Featuring listener participation by YOU!)
What's your deepest, darkest writing secret? 👀 This week, your hosts Kristina and Liz tell all, including anonymous submissions from our listeners. Thank you to everyone who shared a writing confession with us... your secret is safe with the Write Your Damn Novel community! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
The 10k Day: Can you do it? Should you?
To some, the idea of writing 10,000 words in a day is a wild fantasy they may only dream of; to others, it's a standard part of NaNoWriMo. What does it really take to write this many words in such a short period of time? Why is it easier for some folks than others? In today's episode, your hosts Kristina and Liz talk about how to prepare for a 10k day, the mental cost of acheiving one, and whether it's even worth it. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
Kristina's 20th novel but mostly KPop Demon Hunters
It's time for an update with your hosts! In today's episode, we talk about what we've been working on since last season, what we might do for this year's novel, and then basically decide to turn this podcast into a KPop Demon Hunters show. Also, Kristina is hitting an important milestone this year, so we miiiight have something special planned. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
Catching up with Write Your Damn Novel!
Hey everyone! Your hosts Kristina and Liz are back for SEASON 7 of Write Your Damn Novel , and we're so excited to jump in with ya'll for 2025. In this first episode, let's talk about the elephant in the room: the fact that NaNoWriMo as a non-profit organization is, uh... gone. What does that mean for this year? How do we feel about this? And most importantly: what's coming up this season for the podcast? Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
Tropes we love & tropes we hate
Love 'em or hate 'em, tropes are a major part of narrative storytelling. The important thing is understanding them, so you can either use (or avoid!) them to your heart's content. In today's episode, your hosts Liz and Kristina talk through popular tropes in many different genres of novels and discuss which ones they love, which ones they hate, and most importantly... which ones they love to hate. :) Thanks to this website for giving us a great springboard for which tropes to discuss! https://kindlepreneur.com/book-tropes/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
Oh no I'm behind on my word count
You know, sometimes it happens. You prepare in whatever way works for you, you carve out time, you buy new fuzzy socks... and you still manage to fall behind. In today's episode, your hosts Liz and Kristina give you some #realtalk about what to do when your graph is looking bleak. Spoilers: It's going to be okay. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
Writing with a full time job
Listen, we get it. You go to work, and then you come home exhausted . All you want to do is relax, or watch TV, or collapse in bed. How do you prioritize writing when your job leaves you lacking in energy or inspiration? In today's episode, your hosts Kristina and Liz tackle the topic of how to continue to make progress on your writing while working full time. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
November 2024 Pep Talk + Updates
Generic store-brand November Writing Challenge begins in 2 days! Listen for words of encouragement and an update on the ways your hosts Kristina and Liz will be tackling the challenge in this most unprecedented year. Most importantly: we've chosen our tracking tool for the year and have a LEADERBOARD you can join! Best of luck this November, fam—we're all in this together. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
Side characters are people too
How do you make your side characters feel like real people? Do you need side characters? How many should you have? There's so much to consider when developing your cast of characters! In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz dive into the wonderful world of character development. We discuss how many characters is too many characters, how to build flawed & complex people, and how to make sure every choice serves your plot. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
Can I write fanfiction in November?
This is something we hear a lot when people are considering what to write in November: does fanfiction count? is it allowed? can I write it? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss why their answer is an incredibly enthusiastic yes, including the many merits of fanfiction writing and a bit about why it sometimes has a bad reputation. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
How to write a novel in November without NaNoWriMo
This year, it's the wild west for novelists who still want to participate in some kind of November writing challenge. Where do we track our words? Will it feel the same? How do we find our commmunity? Will winning still "count"? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss options for how to still write in November without supporting NaNoWriMo, and whether we even need an official organization at all if we've still got each other. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
Let's talk about tense, baby, let's talk about POV
Even if you're a true pantser, there are some decisions that must be made before you can start writing. Choosing a point of view to write from is necessary, as is deciding on a tense. But how do you know which one is right for you? What are your options, and what's the difference? In today's episode, hosts Liz and Kristina discuss the different use cases for past, present and future tense, and weigh the pros and cons of the many various POV options out there. Links referenced in the episode: Different verb tenses Second person point of view Third person narrator POV Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
How to get back into writing
What if you've taken a break from writing and find you've forgotten how to do it? Is noveling like riding a bike? How exactly do we rebuild the habit we may have lost? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss the various reasons we might stop writing at points in our lives, and how to get it back. Thanks to lovelycastellan for the question! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https://www.patreon.com/writeyourdamnnovel We write books! Check out our anthologies: Boys, Book Clubs, and Other Bad Ideas The Mistletoe Paradox What Happened to Annabell? (All published by Kristina's publishing company: @84thStreetPress )
