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Write Your Damn Novel: A podcast about writing a book in a month

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.

Copyright: © 2022 How To Win NaNo: A Writing Podcast

Latest Episodes:

November 2024 Pep Talk + Updates Oct 30, 2024

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.

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 Oct 25, 2024

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.

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? Oct 17, 2024

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.

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 Oct 10, 2024

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.

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 Oct 03, 2024

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

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 Sep 26, 2024

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!

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 the heck is going on with NaNoWriMo? Sep 18, 2024

Welcome to Season 6! You might have noticed we've done a bit of a rebrand... this podcast (formerly known as How To Win NaNo) is now called "Write Your Damn Novel"! In the first episode of our new season, hosts Kristina and Liz talk a bit about what's been going on with the NaNoWriMo organization and why we felt the need to distance ourselves from it.
Things wont change too much around here otherwise, as we still plan to write 50,000 words in November. It might just look a little different from now on.

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)

Post NaNoWriMo Tip: Note to Your Future Self Dec 13, 2023

Do you want to make your future self the happiest writer in the world? Then leave yourself a note at the end of NaNoWriMo! Because listen, we get it. November is over and you've earned a break. But now is the best time to set your future self up for success.
In this final episode of the season, hosts Kristina and Liz give tips for the best things to do to make sure you can hit the ground running next time you pick up your writing project.

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 Best NaNoWriMo Merch & Winner Goodies Nov 30, 2023

It's the LAST DAY of NaNoWriMo, which means... well, either you're already celebrating your win or you're still still furiously writing. Either way, we all know the best part of succeeding at NaNoWriMo (aside from the feeling of a job well done) is the WINNER GOODIES!
In today's episode, your hosts Kristina & Liz take it a bit easy, discussing their favorite winner goodies as well as the best NaNo merch over the years.

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 Do I END My Story?! Nov 26, 2023

The end November approaches... and for some, that could mean getting to the end of your novel! But... what does that mean? How do you finish such a huge project?
In today's episode, your hosts Kristina and Liz discuss some tips and strategies for ending strong, from resolution to twists to cliffhangers.

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)

Introduction to: The White Room (a tool for writers) Nov 15, 2023

Have you ever been totally stuck on your writing project and had no idea what to do next? Maybe you need a trip to the white room! And just what is this mythical 'white room' you ask?
In today's episode, hosts Liz and Kristina interview guest speaker Katrina Hamilton on what the white room is, how to use it a a writing tool, and all the ways it can help you.

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 Develop Your Writing Voice Nov 10, 2023

What is "voice" when it comes to writing and how do you develop your own? Can it change over time, and do you need one at all?
In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss why voice is important, define the difference between character voice and author voice, and share some of their favorite voice-y authors.

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)

Where do I START my novel?! Nov 01, 2023

It's November 1st! Happy NaNoWriMo! Now... where on earth do you START?
The good news is, the only wrong way is to not start at all.
In today's episode, best friends and hosts Kristina and LIz discuss some strategies for starting your NaNo novel, how to hook your reader, how to write a killer opening line, and more!

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 Finish NaNoWriMo Early Oct 25, 2023

Do you have limited time to write this November? Are you going on vacation, or just know there will be days you wont be able to focus on writing? Are you worried you wont have the full thirty days to spend on this? You're not alone!
In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz discuss some strategies and tips for finishing NaNoWriMo early, recalculating your word count goals, or just plain writing quickly.

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)

NaNoWriMo Survival Kit for Plantsers Oct 18, 2023

Last season we covered our survival kits for Planners and Pantsers, but there's another category of NaNo participant we wanted to make sure was represented on the podcast.
In this week's episode, your hosts Kristina Horner and Liz Leo welcome guest host Katrina Hamilton to talk about what it takes to be a Plantser.

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 Plan A Writing Retreat Oct 11, 2023

Have you ever wanted to take part in a writing retreat, but don't know how? What if we told you it could be as easy as setting one up yourself?
In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz are joined by their good friend Katrina Hamilton to talk all things writing retreats. We discuss what they are, why they can be such a big help to writers, and how to DIY one on a budget!

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)

Music to Write To Oct 05, 2023

Do you listen to music when you write? Does music inspire ideas for your writing?
In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz talk about the many varying ways music can help or hinder us as writers, and delve into a plethora of strategies for using music to your advantage this November!

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)

So You Want to Write a Series Sep 28, 2023

Do you have an idea for a series? Are you planning a novel you know will have multiple installments, or maybe you've already written book one and you're ready to tackle book two for this year's NaNoWriMo?
In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz talk about what it takes to write a series and how to use NaNoWriMo to acheive your goals.

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)

Co-Writing a Novel with Another Person Sep 20, 2023

Lots of novels have more than one author, but how do they make that work? What's the writing process like? And is it at all feasible during NaNoWriMo?
In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz talk about what it takes to co-write a novel with another person.

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)

Working on an Old Project vs. Starting Something New Sep 13, 2023

Having a hard time deciding what to work on for NaNoWriMo this year? Are you flirting with the idea of starting a brand new, shiny project while your older ideas give you side eye from the shelf?
In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz talk about the pros and cons of going either direction.

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)

Welcome to How To Win NaNo Season 5! Sep 06, 2023

Another season of NaNoWriMo is upon us, and what better way to celebrate that than with the advent of our fifth season of this podcast? It's hard to believe how long we've been doing this, and couldn't be more grateful for your support.
In today's episode, best friends Liz and Kristina look at what's coming in Season 5, and take a moment to discuss some of their own favorite books, movies, and more.

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)

See You In November! Aug 30, 2023

It's our last episode of Season 4! We might have forgotten to wrap up this season, so here's a farewell episode before we jump into Season 5 for the upcoming NaNo season!
In today's episode, we talk about how to take advantage of the break between Camp NaNo July and November, when to start prepping for the next NaNoWriMo, and say goodbye...for now!

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)

Overcoming Negative Thoughts as a Writer Apr 13, 2023

There's one universal truth when it comes to writing: IT'S HARD. Listen, we get it. We've all had those moments where we question why we even try. If you've ever sat in front of your laptop feeling like a fraud, you're not alone.
In today's episode, best friends Liz and Kristina discuss why this happens, give advice on what to do when you get discouraged, and suggest some ways to beat your inner critic.

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)

April Camp NaNoWriMo Pep Talk & Writing Sprint Music Apr 06, 2023

It's officially April! That means we're camping, fam!
In this week's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz talk a bit about their own experiences camping (NaNoWriMo and otherwise - who says this podcast is only about writing?!) as well as sharing ten uninterrupted minutes of inspiring music to write to this month, custom made by our very own Liz!
Happy writing. :)

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)

Writer's Block: Is It Real? Mar 29, 2023

It's a writer's worst nightmare: the dreaded "Writer's Block".
In this week's episode, your hosts Kristina and Liz discuss what writer's block is, whether or not it's real and what can you do about it if you're feeling stuck.

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 APRIL Camp NaNo Episode! Mar 22, 2023

We're back for the first time ever in SPRING to talk about Camp NaNoWriMo! Stay tuned for 10 more episodes for a very special part two of Season 4.
What is Camp NaNoWriMo? How is it different than the NaNoWriMo that happens in November? Join us this week for a discussion on what kinds of projects you can do for "Camp" and how to track unconventional project progress.
It's good to be back!

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 Pick a Book Title Dec 07, 2022

Book titles are the first thing a potential reader sees! But they can also be super hard to come up with. In this episode, best friends Kristina and Liz walk you through a number of things to consider when thinking up a title for your novel.

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)

Why Do We Keep Doing This? Dec 01, 2022

NaNoWriMo 2022 is now over! In this episode, best friends Liz and Kristina talk about why why they keep coming back to this challenge, year after year.

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)

Unique/Non-Standard Writing Formats Nov 23, 2022

Are you wanting an extra challenge this year? Are you interested in trying out a story idea using braided narrative, found documents, non-linear narrative, captain's logs, etc? Best friends Liz and Kristina talk through all the ways they've gone off the beaten path in their writing and how you can too!

Support the show

Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review!

Follow us on:
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Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm
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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 Dreaded Question: "What is your book about?" Nov 16, 2022

There's no avoiding it: people are always going to ask you what your book is about. It's extremely helpful to have a succint answer ready for this dreaded question! In today's episode, best friends Kristina and Liz discuss the difference between a "blurb" and a "pitch" and how to get people hooked on your idea without putting them to sleep first.

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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)

Doing NaNoWriMo as a Caregiver Nov 09, 2022

Do you have kids? Are you a caregiver? Are you responsible for the day to day care of another human in some way? In this episode, best friends Kristina and Liz walk you through tips for making space for writing amidst the chaos of caregiving, and more importantly - discuss why it's so important that you feel empowered to take that time.

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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)

Joining NaNoWriMo last minute? WHAT SHOULD YOU WRITE? Nov 01, 2022

Maybe you JUST learned about NaNoWriMo and haven't had time to prep. Maybe you weren't sure you were going to do it this year and made the decision to try in the eleventh hour. Or maybe you're a panster and just haven't figured out what you're doing yet because that's how you roll! Whatever your situation, we've got you covered.
In this episode, best friends Liz and Kristina share some of their best tips for how to get last minute story ideas, and also just suggest a few interesting prompts for those who might need them.

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Follow us on:
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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)

Making Memories With NaNoWriMo Oct 31, 2022

A very special bonus episode for Halloween!
One of our Discord members requested we talk about some of our favorite NaNoWriMo memories from over the years! So in today's episode, best friends Liz and Kristina take little a trip down memory lane.

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Follow us on:
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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)

A Step By Step Guide to Writing Your Novel in November Oct 26, 2022

Ever wished there was just a TEMPLATE for how to write an entire novel, start to finish, in November? 50,000 words, 30 days, every step of the Hero's Journey accounted for. Now, there is!
In this episode, best friends Kristina and Liz map out where you should be in your novel at each point in the month, so feel free to use this episode as the ultimate hand-holding guide for not just starting but also FINISHING your novel during November.

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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)

NaNoWriMo Survival Kit for Pantsers Oct 19, 2022

Are you a panster? Do you turn your nose up at outlines, but still want to find some way to prepare for NaNoWriMo? In this episode, best friends Liz and Kristina break down the basic neccessities pansters need to prepare for (and survive) NaNoWriMo.
Thanks to listener lexisnexis for this great topic suggestion!

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Follow us on:
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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)

NaNoWriMo Survival Kit for Planners Oct 19, 2022

Are you a planner? Do you wish you were a planner? In this episode, best friends Liz and Kristina break down the basic neccessities planners need to prepare for (and survive) NaNoWriMo.
Thanks to listener lexisnexis for this great topic suggestion!

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)

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing Groups Oct 12, 2022

Believe it or not, writing can be a social activity! In this episode, best friends Kristina and Liz talk about all things writing community: how to convince friends to join in on the fun with you November, how to join a virtual or in-person writing group, or how to create your own!

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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 2022! Let's Write a Novel! Oct 05, 2022

That's right... it's officially October, and this episode marks the start of SEASON 4 for the How To Win NaNo podcast! Best friends Liz and Kristina couldn't be happier to be back for another year of stories, struggles, and advice.

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Follow us on:
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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 Continue Writing After NaNoWriMo Dec 08, 2021

NaNoWriMo might be over for another season, but that doesn't mean you have to stop writing! In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss how to make writing a habit, how to not burn yourself out, and accountability in general.
We also talk a bit about what's next for the podcast, so stay tuned for more!

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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)

I've won! Now What Do I Do With All These Novel Drafts? Dec 01, 2021

First of all, YOU DID IT. Another NaNoWriMo has come and gone and whether you wrote 50,000 words or not, you've now got another draft to add to the pile of "now what" novels. These tend to stack up if you've being writing for awhile, and that's okay!
In this episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss some options for how to next the next step on your writing project.

Support the show

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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 more than 50k for NaNoWriMo Nov 24, 2021

There are a whole bunch of reasons why a person might write more than 50,000 words for NaNoWriMo: maybe you're just a naturally fast writer, maybe you're trying to finish the book, or maybe you just need a bigger challenge! In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz get into the nitty-gritty of being NaNo over-achievers.

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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 Important is Story Theme? Nov 17, 2021

Something you might find yourself asking is, "how important is theme when writing my story?" Should theme come before you start writing, or is it something I can figure out along the way?
Like most things with writing, there's no wrong way! In this episode, Kristina and Liz discuss different approaches to story theme and why it's sometimes something you might be already doing without even realizing it!

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Follow us on:
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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 Happens When Your Plot Doesn't Go As Planned? Nov 10, 2021

Have you outlined your book, but then once you start writing everything falls apart? How do you push through when feeling disorganized? What if the urge is strong to go back and edit?
In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss a number of tips to help you through this frustrating experience.

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 Make Book Covers (For Fun & For Real) Nov 06, 2021

Book covers definitely aren't the MOST important thing to be thinking about during NaNoWriMo, but since the NaNo site gives you a nice spot to upload one, it's something that's likely on your mind!
In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz share some great tips on making your own!

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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)

2021 Kickoff - Your Annual Pep Talk! Nov 01, 2021

Why this is going to be the best year of NaNoWriMo ever and how you're going to absolutely crush it. Or something like that.
In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz do their very best to get you pumped.

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)

Halloween Spookfest: Tarot Reading for NaNo Novels Oct 31, 2021

Have you ever thought about using tarot cards to help inspire your novel? Or just want to find out what's in store for your writing future?
On this special Halloween episode, hosts Kristina and Liz do just that.

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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 When Your Tank is Empty Oct 27, 2021

It's almost November, and maybe you're worried that your tank is ALREADY empty! Whether that be creatively, physically, of just straight burnout, the idea of finding any sort of creative reserves to draw from might be daunting.
In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss a number of options for how to fill that tank and get the words written.

Support the show

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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)

Naming Characters for Fantasy Writing Oct 20, 2021

Are you writing a fantasy novel? Do you need to name way too many characters? Not sure where to start?
In this week's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz give a few tips on how to tackle this very specific writing problem.

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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)

Continuing a Project vs. Starting Something New Oct 13, 2021

Picking which project to work on is the first challenging step in NaNoWrimo...especially for veteran wrimos! Do you always start a brand new project? Do you pick up something you've worked on before?
In this episode, hosts Kristina and Liz weigh the pros and cons of each idea.
Thank you to @froznmangos for inspiring this topic.

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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 2021 and we're HERE for you! Oct 06, 2021

Can you believe it's already NaNoWriMo season again? In this economy?!
Your hosts Kristina and Liz are back for SEASON 3 of How To Win NaNo, in which we get you ready to crush that daily word count and hopefully come out the other end with a novel you're proud to have written.
It's so good to be back!

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Follow us on:
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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 Over! You Did It! Dec 05, 2020

Or you didn't, and that's okay too! As we wrap up a particularly strange year of NaNoWriMo, your hosts Kristina and Liz leave you with some final thoughts on what this year was like, and what to do next.

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Follow us on:
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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 2020 Homestretch "You Can Do It!" Episode Nov 28, 2020

What if you're behind? What if all of your friends are ahead of you? What if you *gasp* finish early? In this episode, we discuss all things related to the home-stretch.

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Follow us on:
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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 2020 Halfway Pep Talk Episode Nov 17, 2020

We're halfway! How are you feeling? Need a pick me up? Then you've come to the right place.

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Follow us on:
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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)

NaNoWriMo, Screen Fatigue and You Nov 13, 2020

How to write your novel this November when you're just plain tired of being on your computer.

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Follow us on:
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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 Cultivate a NaNo Community From Home Nov 06, 2020

Feelin' blue about the pandemic? Missing all your IRL NaNo buddies? Here are some tips for connecting with people even when you have to do it remotely!

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Follow us on:
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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)

2020 Kickoff - A Pep Talk! Nov 01, 2020

It's November 1st! Feeling overwhelmed? US TOO! HAPPY NANO!

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Follow us on:
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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)

Non-Traditional NaNoWriMo Ideas Oct 23, 2020

Thinking about doing short stories, a memoir, a rewrite, or some other kind of non-traditional idea for NaNoWriMo this year? In this episode, Liz and Kristina discuss strategies, and how this is a totally okay thing to do.

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Follow us on:
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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)

Getting Motivated When It Feels Like the World is Ending Oct 16, 2020

In this week's episode, we talk about ways to find inspiration, ways to reward yourself for hitting certain world milestones, and just plain pushing through when things get tough. It's going to be a wild NaNoWriMo, folks, but we've got your back.

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Follow us on:
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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 NaNoWriMo in a Pandemic Oct 08, 2020

Has 2020 already taken its toll on you? Need some advice on how to get yourself to write in a pandemic? We're here for you. <3

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Follow us on:
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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 in 2020! Sep 18, 2020

2020 didn't turn out to be quite the year we expected it to be, but our second season of How To Win NaNo has finally arrived! Things might look different this year, but NaNoWriMo is still on its way. We're here to be your #1 source for surviving National Novel Writing Month in a pandemic.

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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 Next for "How To Win NaNo"! Dec 23, 2019

Love the podcast and sad to see it over? YOU'RE IN LUCK. Here's a rundown of what to expect in 2020 for our little writing community.

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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 To Do After NaNoWriMo Dec 14, 2019

Is there life after NaNoWriMo? Of course there is! We're here to help you deal. Have a plethora of free time now and you're not sure what to fill it with? Not sure what to do next on your writing project? We got you.

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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)

NaNoWriMo: It's Over! Dec 05, 2019

NaNoWriMo ending can be jarring for a number of reasons! In this episode we talk about the things we've learned this year, regional epilogue parties, and how much we think about NaNoWriMo the rest of the year.

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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 In The Home Stretch! Nov 28, 2019

There are 3 days left in NaNoWriMo. Let's talk about how it feels, how those last 10,000 words feel, and what we'll miss about NaNo once it's over.

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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)

30 Min Writing Sprint - 2 [Focus Time!] Nov 24, 2019

Need to buckle down and get some words written? We've got you! Put this episode on when you've got a free 30 mins and want to focus on writing. Music by Marc Straight.

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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 30k Slump Nov 21, 2019

The hardest part of NaNoWriMo -- week 3, or the 30k slump. Why it's the worst, but we're all in this together.

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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)

This Is Too Hard, What Am I Doing Wrong? Nov 16, 2019

We discuss a bit of the darker side of NaNoWriMo: bad writing days, how to recover when falling behind, and why you should keep going anyway.

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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)

Meet the Writing Sprint Composer: Interview with Marc Straight Nov 12, 2019

Marc Straight wrote the music behind our word sprint bonus episodes and he's also a fellow NaNoWriMo participant! Join us for a quick bonus episode where we interview Marc about all things writing, music and NaNo.

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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)

30 Min Writing Sprint - 1 [Focus Time!] Nov 08, 2019

Need to buckle down and get some words written? We've got you! Put this episode on when you've got a free 30 mins and want to focus on writing. Music by Marc Straight.

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)

Motivation: Writing Rewards and Punishments Nov 06, 2019

Rewards and punishments can be strong motivators during NaNoWriMo. In this episode, we talk about how to set the right ones for yourself and then get completely derailed and talk a LOT about pie.

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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)

Panic!! It's NaNoWriMo! Nov 01, 2019

A quick bonus episode to help get you through Day #1! We discuss naming your document, the new official website and how it feels to finally START.

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)

Committing to an Idea: Interview with Grant Faulkner Oct 30, 2019

Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of NaNoWriMo! This week he joins us for a discussion on how to pick your novel idea — and stick to it.

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)

NaNoWriMo Crash Course for Beginners Oct 24, 2019

Everything you need to know about NaNoWriMo as a beginner, or some excellent tips and refreshers for veterans!

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)

Naming Your Characters is the Best Part! Oct 18, 2019

This episode is all about naming your characters! We discuss how to choose names, what happens if you decide to change any names, and how to avoid making naming mistakes.

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 Dreaded.... Writing Distractions! Oct 10, 2019

What are your biggest writing distractions? How do you cope with distraction? And does "writer's block" actually exist?

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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 Outline or Not to Outline Oct 02, 2019

What type of outlining is useful for writing a novel in a month? Is there such a thing as overplanning? How can you tailor your outline in a way that keeps you excited to work on your novel?

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)

Our Favorite Writing Tools + Fanmail! Sep 26, 2019

In this episode, we dive into some of our favorite writing tools and take a look at some lovely messages from listeners!

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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)

Choosing the Right Genre and Setting Sep 18, 2019

In this week's episode, we delve into genre and setting — and how the two are connected.

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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)

Creating Characters That Don't Suck Sep 12, 2019

In this episode we talk about how we come up with ideas for characters, what makes a character interesting, and how to make those characters feel like living, breathing beings you can form empathy for.

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)

Get To Know Your Hosts Sep 05, 2019

Get to know Kristina and Liz, the hosts of How To Win NaNo! In this episode, we delve into our writer origin stories, including how we got started writing, what we like reading, and ways we've been involved in NaNoWriMo in the past beyond just writing our novels.

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)

Preparing Your Life for NaNoWriMo Aug 28, 2019

The secret to NaNoWriMo is in building strong habits. It takes 21 days to build a habit, so we're here to help you get this stuff down BEFORE November starts!

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)

Where Do You Get Ideas? Aug 22, 2019

Where do story ideas come from? How do you choose what to write? How do you keep track of your ideas? Join us this week as we discuss tips for generating novel ideas.

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)

Why Does NaNoWriMo Work? Aug 14, 2019

Liz and Kristina dive into what it means to be successful at NaNoWriMo, and why this tool for getting your book written works for so many people.

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)

Why Do We Do NaNoWriMo? Aug 05, 2019

A brief intro to what NaNoWriMo is and why we do it every year.

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)

Trailer: How To Win NaNo Jul 09, 2019

How To Win NaNo is a writing podcast aimed to get YOU ready to tackle NaNoWriMo this November. Episodes will go live every Wednesday starting in April, but until then: please enjoy this trailer!
Kristina Horner and Liz Leo are best friends and 13/12 year NaNoWriMo champions respectively. They've known each other since middle school, and stayed friends all these years thanks to their shared love of writing.
Join them each week as they share their tips, tricks and things they've learned over a decade of consecutive NaNoWriMo wins.

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)

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