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

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 s...

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 ev...

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 y...

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...

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-kno...

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 En...

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 par...

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...

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, a...

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 sho...

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...

Love 'em or hate 'em, tropes are a major part of narrative storytelling. The important thing is understanding them, so you can either use (or avoid!) them to your heart's content. In today's episode, your hosts Liz and Kristina talk through popular tropes in many different genres of novels and discuss which ones they love, which ones they hate, and most importantly... which one...

You know, sometimes it happens. You prepare in whatever way works for you, you carve out time, you buy new fuzzy socks... and you still manage to fall behind. In today's episode, your hosts Liz and Kristina give you some #realtalk about what to do when your graph is looking bleak. Spoilers: It's going to be okay. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a...

Listen, we get it. You go to work, and then you come home exhausted . All you want to do is relax, or watch TV, or collapse in bed. How do you prioritize writing when your job leaves you lacking in energy or inspiration? In today's episode, your hosts Kristina and Liz tackle the topic of how to continue to make progress on your writing while working full time. Send us Fan Mail Support the sho...

Generic store-brand November Writing Challenge begins in 2 days! Listen for words of encouragement and an update on the ways your hosts Kristina and Liz will be tackling the challenge in this most unprecedented year. Most importantly: we've chosen our tracking tool for the year and have a LEADERBOARD you can join! Best of luck this November, fam—we're all in this together. Send us Fan Ma...

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...

This is something we hear a lot when people are considering what to write in November: does fanfiction count? is it allowed? can I write it? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss why their answer is an incredibly enthusiastic yes, including the many merits of fanfiction writing and a bit about why it sometimes has a bad reputation. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show...

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 a...

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...

What if you've taken a break from writing and find you've forgotten how to do it? Is noveling like riding a bike? How exactly do we rebuild the habit we may have lost? In today's episode, hosts Kristina and Liz discuss the various reasons we might stop writing at points in our lives, and how to get it back. Thanks to lovelycastellan for the question! Send us Fan Mail Support the sho...

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 muc...

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 run...

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...

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.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , o...

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. Send us Fan Mail Support...