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

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Everything You Need to Write a Novel (It's Not Much) Oct 31, 2026

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NaNoWriMo has ARRIVED! Is your outline finished? Have you named all your characters? Got the perfect writing playlist ready? No? Good news: you don't actually need most of that.

In this episode, hosts Kristina and Liz share one last pep talk before November, breaking down what you actually need to start writing and what you can figure out along the way. Plus, a look at the latest NaNo 2.0 features, including the new word-count tracker, badges, and more!

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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 Art of Letting Go Oct 26, 2026

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Sometimes the hardest part of writing a novel isn't figuring out what happens next. It's accepting that the brilliant scene you planned, the character you love, or even the entire story you've been working on just isn't going to work out the way you imagined. And that's okay!

In this episode, hosts Kristina and Liz talk about the art of letting go, from abandoning old projects and beloved ideas to making peace with unexpected changes in your story. They explore the importance of staying flexible, accepting that your creative priorities can change, and recognizing that even the ideas that don't make it into your finished novel still have value.

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Tropes We Love: The Reluctant Hero (I didn't sign up for this!) Oct 19, 2026

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Not every hero dreams of saving the world. Some would much rather stay home, mind their own business, and let literally anyone else deal with the impending disaster. But there's something especially compelling about watching a character who wants nothing to do with the adventure end up right in the middle of it.

In this episode, hosts Kristina and Liz dive into one of their favorite storytelling tropes: the reluctant hero. They explore why these characters are so relatable, what makes their journeys satisfying, and how to keep a reluctant protagonist from becoming a passive one. Plus, they share some of their favorite examples from books, movies, and TV, and discuss what writers can learn from characters who never asked to be heroes in the first place.

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The Shiny New Idea Dilemma Oct 12, 2026

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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.

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We Tried NaNoWriMo on a Boat Oct 07, 2026

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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.

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Tropes We Love: The Big Twist (It was Earth all along!) Oct 02, 2026

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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.

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Season 8: Here we go again! Sep 26, 2026

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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.

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Falling behind? Here's a pep talk for you! Nov 27, 2025

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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

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When the shine wears off and you still have 45,000 words to go Nov 13, 2025

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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.

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How to stay focused and block out immediate distractions while writing Nov 01, 2025

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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!

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