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Every November brings a familiar dilemma: do you start something brand new, or return to that unfinished novel that's been sitting in your drafts folder since last year (or the year before that)? Starting something new can be exciting, but when you've already got a story you love, it can be surprisingly hard to convince yourself to move on. In this episode, hosts Kristina and Liz talk about the challenge of choosing a NaNoWriMo project, especially when an old idea is still taking up space in your head. They share their favorite ways to get excited about something new, from making playlists to finding inspiration in books, movies, and TV, plus how the process differs for planners and pantsers. They also discuss why it's worth holding onto old ideas, taking creative risks, and remembering that not every November has to be your best one. 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)

After 20 years of NaNoWriMo, Kristina decided her 20th win deserved a slightly bigger celebration. So last November, she brought six friends (including Liz!) on a cruise, where they attempted to balance vacationing, exploring, and, you know, writing an entire novel. In this episode, hosts Kristina and Liz recap the trip and all the ways they improvised their way through doing NaNoWriMo at sea, from unreliable internet to creative methods of tracking their word counts on the ship. They share what worked, what definitely didn’t, their favorite moments from the cruise, and whether they’d ever try writing a novel at sea again. 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)

There’s nothing quite like a twist that makes you want to immediately go back and reread the entire story. But what separates a reveal that makes everything click into place from one that just makes you want to throw the book across the room? In this episode, hosts Kristina and Liz dig into "The Big Twist", including audience expectations, dramatic irony, planting clues without giving the game away, and how to make readers feel fooled without making them feel cheated. Plus, they talk about some of their favorite twists, the ones that absolutely did not work, and what writers can learn from both. 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)

We’re back for Season 8! Liz and Kristina catch up on what they’ve been up to since last season, share what’s coming to the podcast this year, and begin the annual tradition of confidently speculating about what they might write this November before immediately changing their minds.  New projects! Big plans! Questionable decisions! It’s good to be 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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)