Send us a textLove 'em or hate 'em, tropes are a major part of narrative storytelling. The important thing is understanding them, so you can either use (or avoid!) them to your heart's content.In today's episode, your hosts Liz and Kristina talk through popular tropes in many different genres of novels and discuss which ones they love, which ones they hate, and most importantly... which ones they love to hate. :) Thanks to this website for giving us a great springboard for which tropes t...

Send us a textYou 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.Support the showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagram: @writeyourdamnnovelThreads: @writeyourdamnn...

Send us a textListen, 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.Support the showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagr...

Send us a textGeneric 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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow...

Send us a textHow 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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episo...

Send us a textThis 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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagram: @writeyourd...

Send us a textThis 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 showEnjoy the show? ...

Send us a textEven 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 t...

Send us a textWhat 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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagram: @writ...

Send us a textWelcome 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...

Send us a textDo 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 showEnjoy the show...

Send us a textIt'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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, g...

Send us a textThe 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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagram: @writeyourdamnnovelThreads: @writeyourdamnnovel...

Send us a textHave 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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagra...

Send us a textWhat 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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagram: @writeyourdamnnovelThreads: @wri...

Send us a textIt'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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagram: @writeyourdamnnovelThreads: ...

Send us a textDo 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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs u...

Send us a textLast 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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagram: @writeyourdamnnovelThreads: @writey...

Send us a textHave 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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review...

Send us a textDo 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 showEnjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up, or better yet - leave a review! Follow us on: Instagram: @writeyourdamnnovelThreads: @writeyourdamnnovelJoin ou...