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

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

Kristina Horner & Liz Leowriteyourdamnnovel.buzzsprout.com

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. 

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Episodes

Music to Write To

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! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join o...

Oct 05, 202319 minSeason 5Ep. 5

So You Want to Write a Series

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ wr...

Sep 28, 202329 minSeason 5Ep. 4

Co-Writing a Novel with Another Person

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang o...

Sep 20, 202320 minSeason 5Ep. 3

Working on an Old Project vs. Starting Something New

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnove...

Sep 13, 202328 minSeason 5Ep. 2

Welcome to How To Win NaNo Season 5!

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

Sep 06, 202333 minSeason 5Ep. 1

See You In November!

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! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ w...

Aug 30, 202313 minSeason 4Ep. 17

Overcoming Negative Thoughts as a Writer

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

Apr 13, 202328 minSeason 4Ep. 16

April Camp NaNoWriMo Pep Talk & Writing Sprint Music

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. :) Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us ...

Apr 06, 202325 minSeason 4Ep. 15

Writer's Block: Is It Real?

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://disco...

Mar 29, 202324 minSeason 4Ep. 14

The APRIL Camp NaNo Episode!

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! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leav...

Mar 22, 202319 minSeason 4Ep. 13

How To Pick a Book Title

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writer...

Dec 07, 202223 minSeason 4Ep. 12

Why Do We Keep Doing This?

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm Become a Patron and help keep the podcast ad-free: https:...

Dec 01, 202214 minSeason 4Ep. 11

Unique/Non-Standard Writing Formats

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! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel ...

Nov 23, 202233 minSeason 4Ep. 10

The Dreaded Question: "What is your book about?"

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ wri...

Nov 16, 202223 minSeason 4Ep. 9

Doing NaNoWriMo as a Caregiver

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamn...

Nov 09, 202227 minSeason 4Ep. 8

Joining NaNoWriMo last minute? WHAT SHOULD YOU WRITE?

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 ...

Nov 01, 202218 minSeason 4Ep. 7

Making Memories With NaNoWriMo

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of wr...

Oct 31, 202226 minSeason 4Ep. 6

A Step By Step Guide to Writing Your Novel in November

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like thi...

Oct 26, 202224 minSeason 4Ep. 5

NaNoWriMo Survival Kit for Pantsers

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! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourd...

Oct 19, 202218 minSeason 4Ep. 4

NaNoWriMo Survival Kit for Planners

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! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of...

Oct 19, 202221 minSeason 4Ep. 3

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing Groups

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! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord serv...

Oct 12, 202219 minSeason 4Ep. 2

It's 2022! Let's Write a Novel!

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https:/...

Oct 06, 202222 minSeason 4Ep. 1

How To Continue Writing After NaNoWriMo

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! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyou...

Dec 08, 202118 minSeason 3Ep. 12

I've won! Now What Do I Do With All These Novel Drafts?

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on...

Dec 01, 202122 minSeason 3Ep. 11

Writing more than 50k for NaNoWriMo

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Thread...

Nov 24, 202120 minSeason 3Ep. 10

How Important is Story Theme?

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

Nov 17, 202123 minSeason 3Ep. 9

What Happens When Your Plot Doesn't Go As Planned?

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel...

Nov 10, 202123 minSeason 3Ep. 8

How to Make Book Covers (For Fun & For Real)

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! Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord ...

Nov 06, 202119 minSeason 3Ep. 7

2021 Kickoff - Your Annual Pep Talk!

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgAYm...

Nov 01, 202121 minSeason 3Ep. 6

Halloween Spookfest: Tarot Reading for NaNo Novels

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. Send us Fan Mail Support the show Enjoy the show? Like this episode, give a thumbs up , or better yet - leave a review ! Follow us on: Instagram: @ writeyourdamnnovel Threads: @writeyourdamnnovel Join our Discord server to hang out with a community of writers: https://discord.gg/u92vfhgA...

Oct 31, 202112 minSeason 3Ep. 5
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